Pet insurance will compensate you for the costs associated with having emergency treatment abroad. Pet insurance may pay up to a specified amount per trip, although you may find that you can only make a maximum number of trips in any period of insurance. You should then be protected against the cost of additional accommodation, repatriation costs and expenses for you and your pet if:

> Your pet requires emergency treatment and you miss your scheduled transport to the United Kingdom as a direct result.

> Losing your pet’s health certificate directly results in you missing your scheduled departure back to the UK

> Your scheduled departure is delayed by the carrier in order to get tick and worm treatment repeated

Additionally, if your pet is lost during a trip abroad, pet insurance may cover reasonable additional travel, accommodation costs and expenses whilst you try to find your pet before your scheduled return date. This will usually be valid for a maximum number of days and you’ll need to check with your provider to see if they offer cover.

If your pet does need veterinary treatment abroad, there is certain documentation you will generally need to provide for your insurance company. This includes receipts, proof of purchase or bills for all costs incurred in order to substantiate your claim. If your pet is held back for worming treatment, you should also provide documentary evidence that your pet received the initial tick and worming treatment in the time-scale required by the pet travel scheme. You must also provide evidence that the repeat tick and worming treatment was necessary to comply with the pet travel scheme.

The RSPCA recommends that you vaccinate your pet regularly, especially if you are going abroad.[1] This means your dog will be protected against canine parvovirus disease, canine distemper virus, leptospirosis or infectious canine hepatitis. The RSPCA also suggest that dogs travelling abroad may require a rabies vaccination.

Once you have your pet’s paperwork in place and you have secured pet insurance to protect yourself financially, you should be able to enjoy your time with your pet abroad. If your pet does contract an illness or is held up with international travel, you can feel safe in the knowledge that your pet insurance will assist you.

The post Pet Insurance – Financial Protection Outside The UK first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Cats love to groom themselves, and will often spend hours preening and cleaning their fur. Cats even have small hooks on their tongue which are especially designed to preen their fur and keep themselves clean.[1]

At times, however, your cat’s coat may get into such a state that no amount of preening will resolve the situation. You will want your cat to look good and feel good – but it is worth knowing that bathing, grooming or de-matting your cat’s coat is not usually covered by pet insurance unless a vet has confirmed that only a vet or a member of a veterinary practice can bath or groom the cat. You will usually find that this insurance condition is in place regardless of your personal circumstances.

Since your cat’s grooming or de-matting isn’t covered by your pet insurance, you should keep an eye on your cat’s coat to ensure that it doesn’t get into knots or become matted in the first place. If you regularly stroke your cat all over, you will not only make him or her purr with delight, but you will be able to monitor the fur’s general condition on a regular basis. If a knot begins to form, you will detect it earlier and be able to comb it out before it gets too bad.

Not all breeds need the same level of attention for their coats; longhaired cats usually require a lot more grooming and bathing as their fur tends to get matted more easily. You may find your longhaired cat even requires daily grooming with a steel comb to keep the coat in order. Shorthaired cats on the other hand may only require the occasional brush through with a fine-toothed metal comb to remove dead hairs and keep their fur looking good. If you’re not sure what kind of attention your cat might need for grooming, then you can always ask the shop or breeder where you bought the cat, or just ask your vet.

The RSPCA recommends that cat owners ensure their cat’s coat is kept in good condition by grooming it regularly. Even though grooming isn’t covered on your insurance, you should still take responsibility for it as a loving cat owner.

The post Grooming – Keep your Pet in Good Condition first appeared on Puppy Blog.