Most pet owners aren’t aware that health insurance for their loved animals has been available for about 15 years now. However, both the availability and restrictions on most plans have made this type of health insurance out of reach for most pet owners.

Interestingly enough, pet health insurance has changed in the past couple of years. Now, animal owners are able to afford medical procedures previously prohibitive because of the cost. But many skeptics are concerned that health insurance for pets will see an increase in the red tape us humans already encounter every day.

Animal medicine is one of the few health care services that isn’t financially dependent on health insurance. Medical, dental, surgical and pharmaceuticals are all pretty much covered by health insurance in humans, but veterinary patients are responsible for all of that, themselves. Or, at least their owners are.

Health insurance for pets is very similar to insurance for humans. The same fees, deductibles, coverage rates and plans are all in place, with different plans based on the age, species, and general health of your pet.

Epilepsy in dogs and cats is similar to that in humans. The main symptom is a type of seizure. Seizures can come in many forms and several of these are listed below:

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures are the most common type of seizures in dogs and cats.

There are several variations of these seizures:

Absence seizures (petit mal): sudden brief loss of consciousness, rare in animals

Myoclonic seizures: muscle jerk of one or more muscles

Clonic seizures: rhythmic muscle contractions

Tonic seizures: increase in muscle tone in all skeletal muscles

Tonic Clonic seizures (grand mal): the most common form of seizure in pets.

Tonic Clonic Seizures

Tonic Clonic (grand mal) seizures account for 60% of seizures in cats and 80% of seizures in dogs. They are usually accompanied by a loss of consciousness, and consist of a tonic phase, where the increased muscle tone causes the animal to fall on its side with its limbs extended, and a clonic phase, consisting of intense muscle jerking or paddling movements.

Dog Travel Prepping Your Dog For An Overnight Visit To A Friend’s House

Often during travel times, such as the holidays, we have no choice but to take our puppy or adult dog with us and stay overnight at a friend or family’s house. This overnight visit can prove to be a ton of fun or quite the opposite, and unnerving disaster. Of course this situation can go either way which totally depends on how you handle it.

For starters, do your best to pack all of the items necessary in which your dog may need. Some overnight stays with pets in another person’s home can be quite troublesome when important doggy items are left behind. For example, it is imperative that you bring a crate that properly fits the size of your dog. Be sure to take along plenty of dog treats as well as his standard food for feeding times.

Bringing a doggy bed is also an integral part of making your dog feel comfortable while sleeping in a strange place. It will also make your host feel more comfortable knowing that your dog or puppy will not be shedding and slobbering all over the furniture when he sleeps.

If you have a pet at home, you naturally want him to display best behavior and not harm humans or spoil indoor décor or create trouble outside. For this purpose you have to care for your pet in a manner that is conducive for the pet you have, whether it is a cat or a dog or any other pet that you may have chosen to keep.

When you bring home a pet it means you are adding a member to the family. Just like other members of the family, pets too require health care. Although sometimes you will see a veterinarian prescribe similar to human drugs for your pets, health care for pets is however pretty different from what we are used to in regards to humans.

One of the most common mistakes that we commit is with regard to feeding our pets. We usually tend to associate our own dietary habits on our pets without realizing that pets are animals and are structured differently. For example, dogs require to be fed according to their weight and that too only once or twice a day. On the other hand, some pets like cats and dogs need to be neutered to avoid strong urine and unwanted pregnancies.

You can make a bug repellent pillow for a cat or dog by adding equals amounts of Lavender flowers, Cedarwood chips and Pennyroyal herb (NOT THE OIL), to the stuffing of a pillow or small homemade pet mattress. If you are substituting essential oils for the dried herbs, us ONLY 5 drops TOTAL to pillow or mattress and again AVOID PENNYROYAL OIL. I know that Penny royal oil is used in many animals recipes but I feel that it is too strong to be used directly on an animal. Also AVOID using Citrus Oils.

While they are an ingredient in many flea repellents, they are used highly diluted. I once witnessed a small kitten go into convulsions after an unsuspecting owner applied orange oil to its fur. I would not use pure essential oils on young kittens and dogs. I tend to use homeopathy with my cats and seldom have the need to use essential oils on them.

Just because you are dealing with a disability does not mean you can’t have a dog in your life. Studies indicate doing so will benefit you and the dog. There are some things you can do to make the experience easier.

If you need help giving your dog medicine, fluids, or shots, ask your veterinarian if he or she knows of anyone who will make home visits. If not, contact local pet-sitters to find ones who will assist you. Many pet-sitters are trained to perform these functions for the sick pet for owners who cannot perform them for themselves or for owners when they are away.

To play with your dog, use flashlights or laser pointers. Dogs love chasing the light, and you won’t have to make a move. An alternative is a remote control car for him to chase. He gets exercise and you do not get over-exhausted.

Dogs are often territorial and will fight not just new cats but other new dogs as well. They tend to mark their territory and will fight anyone who invades their space. Cats have the same tendencies and even if they are smaller than to dogs, they will scratch and fight for their territory.

The first step is obedience. This is necessary especially for the dog, which is usually the aggressor in this kind of situation. You have to train your dog to obey when you say “no”.

Allow your cat to wander around the house. Cats love to roam and this will make her scent scattered in your home. After doing this, lock your cat in one room and let your dog wander around the house sniffing for the cat’s scent. This will make your dog acquainted to your cats smell and train the dog that the cat is part of the household.

Dogs usually start barking whenever they see some other animals in their territory, hoping to scare them away. They won’t really lunge at something immediately. Once he starts barking, this is where the obedience part starts to come in. Say “no” and make him realize that the cat is also a pet.

Your pet depends on you for feeding, playing and discipline among other things and you as a pet owner depend on it for companionship and a connection with the animal world and in case of dogs, for household security and protection. Your pet is very special to you as you are to him. For these reasons and more, you should protect your pet from harm, and yourself from loss, by getting him a tag, lest it gets stolen or strays.

A pet tag is generally a small flat tag worn on collars or harnesses by household pets like dogs and cats, usually with identifying information such as the owner’s telephone number so that the owner can be notified if the dog is lost or strays. Dog collar tags hang on your dog’s collar and provides all the necessary information for calling your dog, contacting you as the owner, and alerting people to your dog’s dietary restrictions if it gets lost or strays. Some dog tags also include vaccination information, such as when your dog last received shots and when is the next one due.

NOTE: Please check with your veterinarian on the safety of these oils for your cat.

Burns & Scalds

As for people — cold water followed by neat lavender oil, as soon as possible.

Coat in Poor Condition

Add 1/4 tsp of the following blend to each feed:

1 Tbsp Olive oil
1 Tdsp Wheatgrem oil
5 drops Carrot oil
5 drops Evening primrose oil

Cuts & Bites

Put a solution of:

salt water
2 drops thyme
1 drop lavender

Then bathe the area.

Cysts

Apply:

1 drop lavender or
1 drop Tea Tree

Ear Problems

Drop & Massage around the ear

1 drop Tea Tree
1 drop Lavender
1 drop Chamomile
1 tsp Warm olive oil

Natural disasters can strike at any time; when they do is not the time to try to prepare. Having your family and pets prepared for such catastrophes as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods will save you time to respond and evacuate, if necessary, and could very possibly save your or your pet’s life. The images of last year’s hurricanes along the Gulf Coast told it all. Thousand of pets became separated from their owners and were left behind. Some survived but, like their owners, found themselves homeless. Others found new homes, and a few were miraculously reunited with their owners.

Plan now by ID’ing your pet.

Wouldn’t you want to be able to find your pet in case of such an emergency? Start now by checking with your vet or shelter about a microchip that can easily be implanted under your pet’s skin. They’re about the size of a grain of rice and can be read by a handheld scanner. If microchips aren’t for you, by all means have an ID tag on your pet’s collar that includes a cell phone number or a number where you can be easily reached. Keep in mind that home phone numbers in disaster areas could potentially be out of service.