The UK has a wide variety of pet insurance plans available. When making a comparison it can be tempting to go for the cheapest policy, but cheap pet insurance doesn’t always offer the extensive cover included in more comprehensive pet insurance plans. It is well worth investigating policies in depth before your pet becomes ill; an illness such as urinary tract problems should be dealt with as quickly as possible as if it develops it can be life threatening -and you would not want your insurance plan to delay your pet’s treatment.

Triggers:
The most common trigger for conditions such as FLUTD is stress. Cats are sensitive animals and changes within their immediate environment can leave them feeling anxious. Social change can also have an impact on your cat; the loss of a family member or a new addition to the household can shift the social dynamic. Cats can find readjusting to these social changes just as challenging as adapting to physical disruptions.

Symptoms:
If your cat has a urinary tract problem, they may go to the toilet more frequently, and could even have blood in their urine. They may have difficulty urinating, only passing small amounts of liquid at any given time.

Cystitis can be very painful and your cat may come to associate this pain with the litter tray itself and look for other places to relieve themselves. Thick rugs and piles of clothes or laundry are often popular spots.

Blockages:
If FLUTD is left untreated, it can become extremely serious; the backup of toxins can lead to kidney failure and death within 72 hours.[1] Therefore, if you notice that your cat is displaying the symptoms mentioned above, it is important to act quickly.

Treatment:
Most vets will put your cat on a course of antibiotics; some of these have anti-inflammatory or pain relieving effects.

There is also a wide range of complementary therapies available and as FLUTD is often stress related, some people believe treatments that attempt to address the underlying causes can be extremely effective. Reputable pet insurance plans will often pay for complementary therapies as well as clinical treatments.

Whichever course of treatment you go for, clinical, complementary or a combination of the two, if diagnosed quickly your cat should make a full and speedy recovery.

[1] – merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/130615.htm

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The number one fear of any Havanese owner is that their dog will get out the front door and immediately run into the street where they will get hit by a car. It’s a horrible fate and one that even the best behaved dog is in danger of if you’re not careful.

So, how do you stop your dog from running off and getting hit by a car? There are a few specific training exercises that will get your dog in line. But, be prepared to pour a bit of effort into the process. After all, they want out that door.

Keeping Them in the House

Number one, and always most important is to keep your Havanese in the house. Most dogs that get away and hit, are ones that managed to sneak out the door to enjoy the great outdoors. You can’t blame them. It’s all they want – a chance to get outside and see everything the world has to offer.

But, simply sticking your foot out when you go out the door isn’t going to get the job done. You need to teach her that the door is yours and they cannot go through it. To do this, train them to sit and wait whenever you go near the door.

You’ll need to set a boundary near your door and not let your dog ever pass this boundary without your leave. Everyone in the family will need to abide by the same rules – something that can often be hard to control.

As you train her, provide treats whenever she sits and waits successfully for you to open the door. Eventually, if you can go to the door, open it and step foot outside without your dog trying to go with you, you’ll be able to worry far less when someone else opens that door.

Leash Training and Curb Control

Another important way to protect your dog is to properly train them on a leash. A dog that has proper respect of the leash and the space they have available to them outside is far less likely to run away if the leash falls.

To do this, never let your dog pull ahead of you. Additionally, don’t let your dog sniff anything without getting your go ahead. I like to control the pace of the walk for 15 minutes before letting my dog sniff anything. Then, the sniffing becomes a reward that you offer up for their good walking.

Additionally, always have your dog sit and wait patiently at curbs and corners. Your dog should never be permitted to cross the street without your express permission.

This creates the same effect as not letting them near the door. They will eventually recognize that the street is something they do not have leave to pass without you. Ideally, if all else fails, they will then stop at the curb if they do get outside, instead of running openly into the street.

Keeping a Close Eye on Your Dog

With all the precautions in the world, it is impossible to ensure your dog never gets out the front door or pulls the leash out of your hand. That is why training is so incredibly important. As you can see, it is not just for your convenience – but for the dog’s safety.

The second you start letting your dog run off down the street without you or giving them free reign over the yard, you teach them that they have no boundaries outside. Cars become a much more enticing target when this happens. Your goal should be to protect them, keeping them away from threats like the street.Practice the points stated above and you’ll never need to worry about this terrible event from happening.

The post Ways to Prevent Your Havanese From Getting Hit By a Car first appeared on Puppy Blog.

If your dog is having sneezing fits your vet should be able to identify the root cause of the problem. Reputable pet insurance policies will protect you financially from the costs of these visits.

Healthy dogs breathe 16-20 times per minute however this figure is often disrupted by a wide range of respiratory problems, including sneezing.[1] Canine sneezing can have a number of underlying causes. Here are four of the most common:

Allergies:
Like people, dogs can develop allergies to a wide range of substances including pollen, food, fleas, mites, and even dust. Your vet may be able to carry out an allergy test, but if they are unable to undertake tests in their own practice, they will probably refer you to a specialist who can help.

Whether these tests are carried out by your vet or by the specialist they recommend, your pet insurance should be able to cover the cost.

Tooth root problems:
Dental problems are as common in dogs as they are in people. If the root of your dog’s tooth becomes infected, the pain they can suffer is extreme. Deep infections of the root, and even the surrounding bone, can leave no visible trace on the exterior of the tooth so don’t be too hasty ruling out dental problems as a possible cause of breathing problems.

Foreign objects:
As dogs spend a lot of time sniffing around, they can get foreign objects such as grass, wood chips and other debris stuck in their airways, which can cause sneezing.

Nasal infections:
Fungal infections are a relatively common cause of nasal diseases in dogs. If this is the cause of your dog’s sneezing it will probably be accompanied by a nasal discharge.

Whatever the underlying cause, there is plenty your vet can do to investigate. In addition to a thorough physical examination, they can take x-rays of the tooth roots and nasal passages and, if necessary, examine your dog’s airways under anaesthesia for a foreign body.

Reputable pet insurance should cover the costs of treatment, whichever course of action you and your vet decide on. Once your dog is rid of their incessant sneezing, the contented calm of your home will be a breath of fresh air for you both.

[1] – vetinfo.com/dognorm.html

The post Prevent Your Pet Having Sneezing Fits first appeared on Puppy Blog.

If your dog is having sneezing fits your vet should be able to identify the root cause of the problem. Reputable pet insurance policies will protect you financially from the costs of these visits.

Healthy dogs breathe 16-20 times per minute however this figure is often disrupted by a wide range of respiratory problems, including sneezing.[1] Canine sneezing can have a number of underlying causes. Here are four of the most common:

Allergies:
Like people, dogs can develop allergies to a wide range of substances including pollen, food, fleas, mites, and even dust. Your vet may be able to carry out an allergy test, but if they are unable to undertake tests in their own practice, they will probably refer you to a specialist who can help.

Whether these tests are carried out by your vet or by the specialist they recommend, your pet insurance should be able to cover the cost.

Tooth root problems:
Dental problems are as common in dogs as they are in people. If the root of your dog’s tooth becomes infected, the pain they can suffer is extreme. Deep infections of the root, and even the surrounding bone, can leave no visible trace on the exterior of the tooth so don’t be too hasty ruling out dental problems as a possible cause of breathing problems.

Foreign objects:
As dogs spend a lot of time sniffing around, they can get foreign objects such as grass, wood chips and other debris stuck in their airways, which can cause sneezing.

Nasal infections:
Fungal infections are a relatively common cause of nasal diseases in dogs. If this is the cause of your dog’s sneezing it will probably be accompanied by a nasal discharge.

Whatever the underlying cause, there is plenty your vet can do to investigate. In addition to a thorough physical examination, they can take x-rays of the tooth roots and nasal passages and, if necessary, examine your dog’s airways under anaesthesia for a foreign body.

Reputable pet insurance should cover the costs of treatment, whichever course of action you and your vet decide on. Once your dog is rid of their incessant sneezing, the contented calm of your home will be a breath of fresh air for you both.

[1] – vetinfo.com/dognorm.html

The post Prevent Your Pet Having Sneezing Fits first appeared on Puppy Blog.

If you own a dog, you must give it the same health care you give yourself in order to have a healthy pet dog. Dogs suffer from many of the diseases that we contact such as fever, arthritis and cancer. In addition to that, they suffer from diseases that are specific to dogs also. Therefore, you must be prepared to handle dog health problems if you are a dog owner.

Prevention is better than cure even with dogs. Therefore, you must do everything possible to avoid facing dog health problems with your canine friend. The most important thing with a dog is to give it a balanced diet. Choose a good brand of dog food and stay with it. A cup of yoghurt once in a way is a good way to avoid dog health problems

Exercise for your dog is as important as it is for you if not more. Due to this reason, large breeds such as Dalmatian and German shepherd should not be had if you are not able to provide it sufficient space for exercise. If you give your pet the exercise it needs, you will be able to avoid a lot of dog health problems.

Another very important issue with dogs is that they love the company of their master. Therefore, you must spend some quality time with it. If you have a pet dog, you cannot avoid this due to your busy schedule. If you do not find time, your pet will develop anxiety which will lead to serious dog health problems.

Proper care and grooming is essential for your dog for its health as well as your health. As dogs could harbor a multitude of bacteria and viruses you must clean it frequently and comb its hair. Also you need to take care of its teeth in order to avoid dog health problems. Most dog lovers brush the teeth of their pets as the dog trainers suggest. In addition to these basic issues, you need to keep records of any dog health problems your dog faced and you need to give the right vaccinations on time in order to have a healthy pet.

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