Cry Havoc – Not only are tear stains (the darker reddish-brown streaks under the eyes of some dogs, a condition called epiphora) unsightly on a bright white puppy face, but they can be dangerous. Bacteria and yeast infections like to colonize in these areas and can easily infect the eyes. Epiphora is more common in puppies and breeds such as the Maltese Terrier, Bichon Frise, Miniature Poodle, Pomeranian, American Eskimo and Shih Tzu. Normal dogs may occasionally have tear overflow or minor eye discharge. However, excessive, chronic or recurrent bouts of epiphora suggest a problem may be present. See your veterinarian to rule out any serious problems and to determine the best course of treatment.
Be Pup-ared – A pre-made first aid kit for pets is definitely handy, but in an emergency you'll also want to make sure you have all your pet's essential information at hand. Make copies of your pet's vaccination and medical history and keep a set in the kit, along with contact numbers for her regular vet and an after-hours emergency vet clinic. It's also helpful if you learn some basic first aid skills, so head over to redcross.org, and type in your ZIP code to find some classes in your local area.
Hear No Evil – Checked your cat's ears lately? The insides of the ear should be pale pink, clean, and odor-free. Redness, excessive or dark wax, discharge, or foul odor could all indicate signs of problems and require a visit to the vet. Clean your cat's ears weekly to monitor ear health and keep them debris-free.
Vets for Pets
(March blogs to boost your pet prowess!)
The Breakdown on Bloat – While all dogs are susceptible to GDV (bloat), large breed dogs with deep chests are more likely than smaller breeds to get bloat. Learn about all the factors that contribute to this life-threatening condition, and what you can do to prevent it happening to your dog on the Petplan blog.
The Real Deal – When our four-legged friends aren't feeling like themselves, we naturally want them to get better as soon as possible. But how can you distinguish between a problem that can wait till morning and a genuine emergency? Check the Petplan blog, of course!
March Poll Results
Will you & your pet celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year?
Yes, our parade costumes are all ready: 91%
Did someone say pot of gold?: 2%
No, we'll stay at home and snuggle instead: 7%
Sick As a Dog?
Does puppy act funny in the car? She may be suffering from motion sickness. Dogs and cats can get motion sickness just like we can, and may become dizzy, nauseated, or even sick during trips. Conditioning your pet to travel with short, frequent trips may help; if not, talk to your vet about other options, such as medication.
Cool Comforts in "Hotlanta"
When it comes to pet friendly airports, Atlanta is the place to be. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport took the top spot in Tripswithpets.com's list of Top 10 US Pet friendly airports, thanks to their off-leash 1,000 square foot fully fenced poochie park. See the full list at the Trips with Pets Blog.
Fox and the Dachshund
Petplan founders Chris and Natasha Ashton (and Welly!) talked the benefits of pet insurance, and how their own cat Bodey was the inspiration behind starting Petplan USA on Fox Business News’ Your Questions, Your Money program on Saturday, March 6th. The program, which aims to bring viewers ‘the best and brightest business owners’ is a live, hour-long broadcast where viewers call in and ask the guests questions in real time. You can watch Chris, Natasha and Welly’s appearance now by going to the Petplan on TV section of our website.
He's Our Top Dog
We love our Chairman, and apparently, so do the big dogs! Petplan Chairman and banking guru Vernon Hill was recently featured in a write up in Fortune Magazine. Read why now, more than ever before, Hill believes pet insurance is necessary coverage for pet owners. And as an added bonus, read all about Duffy, the Hill family’s beloved Yorkshire Terrier!
|
New iPhone App Puts The HSUS at Your Fingertips
Staying in touch with the Humane Society of the United States has never been easier, especially for iPhone or iPod touch users. HumaneTV, a new video app, gives users an easy way to keep up-to-date on the organization's far-reaching (and lifesaving) work to protect all animals. Best of all? It's completely free in the App Store. Users can select professional quality videos from categories such as Latest News, Pets, Wildlife and many more. HumaneTV also includes a Facebook share feature and a "press room" for journalists to preview footage available for download. Content can be updated daily or more often, as the user chooses. Get connected at itunes.com/apps/humanetv or by searching for "Humane TV" in the App Store.
Orange You Glad to Love Animals?
The ASPCA will kick-off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month on April 7th, and iconic buildings and landmarks across the country will "Go Orange for Animals" by lighting up in the ASPCA's signature color. You can join supporters throughout the country by "going orange" for animals. Learn the top ten ways you can help prevent animal cruelty at the ASPCA website.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Animals take center stage every year at Oscars time thanks to the American Humane Association and the "Pawscar" awards. The awards build awareness about animal humanitarianism and celebrate animals in film. This year, three films, "Avatar," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" all earned the coveted "No animals were harmed" seal of approval from the American Humane Association. "Transformers" director Michael Bay even cast his own Bullmastiff in the film! See all the other A-list animals who earned Pawscars this year.
April 24 is World Veterinary Day!
This year's World Veterinary Day theme is One World, One Health: More Cooperation Between Veterinarians and Physicians. Started by the World Veterinary Association in 2000, World Veterinary Day is a day to celebrate the profession's diversity and its contributions to human and animal health and welfare. This year's theme aims to raise awareness of the link between animal diseases and public health. The National Veterinary Association that best exemplifies this year's theme will be awarded the 2010 World Veterinary Day Award. To learn more about World Veterinary Day, or to enter your association, visit www.worldvet.org.
Cute as a Kitten – These reusable totes will make you smile twice. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they're vibrant enough to brighten any day.
Did Somebody Call a Dog-ter? – April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month. The best way to protect your pet in an emergency is with preparedness. The American Red Cross Deluxe First Aid Kit for Pets contains supplies for emergencies such as antiseptic wipes, bandages, gauze, eye wash, and much more! All in a lightweight bag in bright red for easy visibility in times of stress.
Life, Liberty, and the Purr-suit of Happiness – National Pet ID Week begins April 18. Upgrade your pet's ID tags Philly-style with some colorful, aluminum Liberty Bell tags. Available in four fun colors for patriotic pups, these tags allow for two lines of personalization and 18 characters for "freedom" of expression.
"Healthy Pet!"
Tell us what you do to keep your pet healthy and you could win one of five Planet Dog balls featured in the latest issue of fetch! magazine.
March's Contest Winner
"My pet Cockapoo Amber and I loooove taking drives down Sunset Boulevard to star-watch. That was, until we got T-boned last month by a drunk driver. I had a seatbelt on and only suffered a few bruises. Thankfully, Amber was in a booster seat secured by a doggie seat belt and harness, so she stayed safe as well!
I used to let Amber ride up front with me, but when I read about the importance of keeping your pet safe and secure during car trips on Petplan's "Vets for Pets" blog ["Time to Belt Up"], I bought a pet booster seat. Just after the crash I looked over my shoulder and saw Amber shaken, but safe (and most importantly, alive). I knew then that it was the best investment I have ever made.
Thanks for the advice! It saved Amber's life, and now we can get back to enjoying our "Walks-of-Fame" down the Sunset Strip."
— David, Los Feliz, CA
|