National Pet Week is May 2-8! – Founded in 1981 by the AVMA, National Pet Week aims to promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine. To do your part, be a responsible pet owner and make sure your pets' ID tags are up to date, or spring for a microchip. (Pets with microchips enjoy an additional discount on their Petplan pet insurance policy!) Spend some extra quality time with your pet this week or lend a helping hand at the local animal shelter! Peruse The National Pet Week site for more pet health tips.

Hold the Guac – Throwing a Cinco de Mayo bash? Be careful where you leave that guacamole. Despite being included as an ingredient in some dog foods, avocados (especially the Guatemalan variety often found in stores) can be dangerous for dogs because they contain a toxin persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in some dogs.

Tick, Tack, O! – Walks in the woods can yield lots of surprises, but the most unwelcome are ticks. If you find a tick on your dog, grab it by the head with a pair of tweezers and pull it out in one smooth motion.
Clean the area where the tick was lodged with a pet-safe antiseptic and keep an eye on your pet in the coming months. If he shows signs of illness or fever, take him to the vet immediately for a blood test. And before your next walk, make sure your pet is protected with a monthly tick preventive, such as Frontline.

Vets for Pets
(May blogs to boost your pet prowess!)

Blooming Allergies! – Did you know that your pets can suffer from seasonal allergies, just like you do? Whether it’s due to pollen or ragweed, the common signs of allergies in pets are licking and chewing at paws or skin, increased scratching at ears and sometimes obvious reddening or scabbing of the skin. Dr. Benson gives some tips on what to watch for, and more importantly, what you can do to help when your four-legged friend has got the itch on Petplan’s Vets for Pets blog.

Don’t Rush to Flush – Studies have shown that municipal wastewater treatment facilities do not remove all pharmaceutical wastes and by-products. This means that our nation’s rivers, streams, and even our drinking water have trace amounts of our pets (and our own!) pharmaceutical by-products in them. Dr. Benson provides easy-to-follow advice on how to properly deal with and dispose of unused medications on the Vets for Pets blog.

Let's Talk Money – ABC's Live Well HD Network visited the Petplan offices for a feature on the costs associated with owning a pet as part of Mary Talks Money with Mary Caraccioli. The feature, which aired the week of April 7, showed how Petplan helps families budget for caring for their four-legged family members. Tune in online to see Petplan's Chris Ashton, as well as two of our beloved office pets – Peanut and Jethro – in action on the Petplan on TV section of GoPetplan.com.

Who's Your Addy? –We love receiving our pet's praise (in the form of slobbery kisses, usually), but getting it from people is always nice, too! Natasha Ashton and the rest of the creative team recently won a Silver Addy Award from the Philadelphia Ad Club for their work on the fetch! magazine sales kit. Way to go guys! To see the full list of winners, visit the Philadelphia Ad Club website.

Extra, Extra! – Philadelphia Inquirer’s Dan Rubin visited Petplan in April as part of a feature on tackling the health insurance crunch - for pets! Petplan's own office cat, Jethro, gets yet another mention, firmly securing his status as a famous feline! You can ‘read all about it’ here.

Say Cheese – In addition to making sure you have an airline-approved crate and documentation for your pet pre-flight, bring along a picture to attach to the crate. If your pet somehow escapes, the picture may be the best chance airport staff have of identifying him. Plus, what dog doesn't enjoy showing off their drooling mug?

Expect the Unexpected – May 8 is Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, so it's as good a time as ever to brush up on your disaster plans, especially when traveling with your pet. At the hotel, map out the quickest way to the fire exit. Know where to go in case of a tornado warning. And when choosing a vacation spot for you and your pet, make sure there is an emergency vet clinic nearby. To find the vet nearest to your ZIP code or airport destination, visit petflight.com. For more tips on how to include your animals in your disaster preparedness plans, visit Ready America.

California Dreamin' –Next time you visit Cali's Pacific coast, consider a stay at Casa Laguna. The hotel offers numerous services for your pet, including a pet welcome kit complete with local pet info, a water bowl, and treats. You can even pamper your pet with massages by a certified canine massage provider. For more info, visit casalaguna.com.

Mum’s the word – Looking for the perfect gift for Mom? The HSUS can help. By shopping in The HSUS online shop, you can celebrate all the moms in your life, and give gifts that help animals too. Humane
Domain has a wide variety of Mother's Day merchandise: jewelry, loungewear, decorative accessories, and much more. Visit the
Dog Store or check out the Cat Store today — you won't be disappointed.

You're My Boy, Blue! – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and for 3-year-old Victoria Bensch, her hero was her dog, Blue. When Victoria wandered away from her home in Cordes Lake, Arizona, wearing no coat or shoes, her family became frantic. Thankfully, Blue, stayed by her side for 15 straight hours, helped keep her warm and safe from desert predators until rescue crews were able to locate them. Read more about this amazing story and Victoria's hero.

Best Buddy – Alaska state troopers say Buddy and his owner, 23-year-old Ben Heinrichs, were in the family workshop when a build-up of gasoline and chemical fumes found a heater, and ignited an explosion. Heinrichs, who sustained minor flash burns on his face, ran out of the shed as the fire grew. He told Buddy "we need to get help." Buddy, a consummate modern-day Lassie, ran to the road, where he eventually found a trooper responding to a call about the fire. Buddy led the officer to the house and the trooper guided firefighters to the scene. Read more about this amazing story and Ben Heinrich’s best Buddy!

Dogs of War – May 31 is Memorial Day, a day to remember the veterans who gave their lives to their country. But don't forget all the faithful canines that have also served since WWI. That's the mission of one Air Force Sentry dog handler Larry Chilcoat, who is part of a team of Vietnam veterans spearheading the effort to build a national monument to honor military working dogs. According to the Pengtagon, a metro spot in Washington, D.C. is being planned for the monument's location. To learn more about the project, visit NationalWarDogsMonument.org.

Booty and the Beast – Got a less-than-attractive litter box? Give it a makeover. Unique litter box slip cover turns your cat's toilet into a Surf Shack, Beach Bus, or elegant Le Dresser. Katty Sack, kattysacks.com.

Genie in a Bottle – Thirsty for a fun gift for your pet? Drink up the fun with these Pet Water Bottles endorsed by the American Canine Association. The stainless steel bottles only dispense water when you invert them and let your dog lick away, meaning no spills. BPA-free and recyclable, so it's good for your pet AND the earth! Pet Water Bottle, by Good Life Gear.

Show off Your Dog-Ma – This Mother's Day, show Mom you love her and her favorite pet with a Little Charmer Dog Necklace. Designed by jewelry artisan Mark Poulin, this special keepsake will keep your mother's love for her best friend close at heart. Little Charmer Dog Necklace, HSUS.petfulfillment.com.

"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.

April's Contest Winner
"We like to take our two Corgis, Jack and Jasper, down to the beach to let them run off-leash, a great benefit to them (and us). That was, until Jack got sick from eating another dog's droppings. We caught him in the act but figured all was well until a couple days later when he developed diarrhea. Vomiting was next, and he acted very weak. We took Jack to the vet the next day and after some tests he was diagnosed with a severe case of hookworms – nasty buggers! The vet gave Jack blood transfusions to get some healthy blood in him. It was a costly treatment, but thanks to our pet insurance, we saved more than a few "sand dollars." It's been a few weeks now and Jack has fully recovered from his scare, but needless to say, we'll be a little more careful next time we're at the beach!
— Robert F., Duck, North Carolina

April Poll Results
April showers bring May flowers…what does your pet think of rainy days?
Just like Gene Kelly, he loves singing (howling) in the rain!: 66%
Rain, rain go away: 21%
He doesn't mind, but I mind the mess!: 13%

contact us | unsubscribe | join us on facebook | follow us on twitter