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This Week in Testimonials – 5/24

On May 24, 2013, in Testimonials, by Articles by Stacy

I wanted to take this moment and thank trupanion for the way they helped our family save our Shadow. They paid over 6,000 dollars of a 7,000 bill. While the doctors preformed the surgery, with out Emma, Emilia , and Lana we would never have been able to pay for the surgery. They pre approved all payment and called the Vet to say so. This all happened in less the 10 hours on a Sunday night. I would like to thank trupanion for hiring such incredible people. -Mohamed Y.

Shadow

just wanted to say how great Trupanion has been. Our year and a half old female boxer tore both cranial cruciate ligaments in her rear knees. She had to have bilateral knee surgery last week and thankfully for the quick pre approval she was approved with in 2 hours of us calling and faxing what was needed. Every step of the way every person we spoke with was so great and understood the situation we were in and really made us feel great. It made the process of putting our little girl through surgery just a little easier knowing trupanion was there to help us along the way. Now that she is home the recovery begins. Just a big thank you for all your help!!!!!!!!!! -Tessa G.

@Trupanion We’ve valued our pet policy investment since enrollment in 2008, it has saved us many hard decisions & kept our cat’s healthy. -@o2wannabe

This was our baby girl Dakota. She was taken from us by the evil cancer monster a month ago.

We miss her every day.

The reason I’m writing is because Trupanion handled all the claims concerning her illness (it took three visits to the docs for a final diagnosis by an specialist) with the utmost care and promptness you can expect from a first grade insurance company. Libbie Grant, a Claims Specialist, was very helpful and gracious; she took Dakota’s claim and handled EVERYTHING and for that I’m grateful beyond words… I wish companies had employees as caring and devoted as Libbie.

You can rest assured that I will recommend Trupanion to every dog parent I know because you care and have an amazing team.

Thank you, Trupanion.
-Johann M.

Dakota

You have my Loyalty and word of mouth. You already helped my Angel R.I.P. She was young and you all did everything possible to keep he healthy till it was her time. Thank you all for everything. You are all great people who care and have huge hearts. -Jeff D.

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The Benefits of Canine Hydrotherapy

On May 23, 2013, in Pet Insurance & Pet Health, by Articles by Guest Blogger

Canine Hydrotherapy, a natural remedy for tissue, bone and joint damage, has become a fairly common way of treating dogs with mobility problems, including arthritis and other injuries. Hydrotherapy facilities are equipped with at least one type of 30 degree pool, usually staffed by an associate who guides your dog though the process. The treatment has been so successful that its being introduced to other animal species, even those who categorically detest water.

What are some pros of hydrotherapy?

Photo via swimatsplashdog.com

No impact on the bones, tendons and joints.
Increasing heart rate & oxygen consumption improving overall aerobic & cardiovascular fitness.
Warm water increases the circulation of blood to the muscles, leading to muscle relaxation and a reduction in pain and stiffness.
Improves circulation reduces swelling around an injured area and enhances healing from injury.
Improves general fitness, weight loss and cardiovascular stamina.
Improves muscle tone and helpful in recovering from injury or surgery and improves fitness, especially in the management of obesity.
Post operatively after orthopedic surgery e.g. Cruciate ligament

What conditions can benefit from Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is Greek word, which means water healing.

Hydrotherapy is known to improve the over all health and general fitness level of canines.
It can help YOUR dog with:

Pre and post operative conditions
Arthritis—relieves pain, swelling & stiffness
Hip & elbow dysplasia
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
Spinal injuries and paralysis
Cruciate ligaments injuries
Muscle strengthening, maintenance and restoration
Cardiovascular fitness (hearts & lungs)
Obesity (weight loss in conjunction with diet)
Swimming just for fun! Teach your puppy to swim!
Arthritis/ stiffness or old age
Lameness
Hydrotherapy for dog helps improve stamina in show and racing dogs

Some people say “why not take them to your nearest lake to save money?” but this may end up causing more discomfort, due to the many hazards such as poisonous algae, injury from slipping down muddy banks or injuring themselves on unseen hazards, such as sharp sticks, or discarded metal object or broken glass or the danger of them getting out of there depth. Also, the cold water can reduce blood circulation, where as in a controlled environment the warm water of the heated pool combined with the jets has a massaging effect which promotes circulation and helps to reduce swelling.

Eliza works for HandicappedPetsCanada, providing mobility aids to special needs and ageing dogs.

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Meet Kaitlin, Trupanion’s New Public Relations Intern

On May 22, 2013, in Tid Bits of Fun!, by Articles by Kaitlin Hall

I am so pleased to be able to introduce myself as Trupanion’s new public relations intern! What other company offers a learning experience and the chance to come into work each day with a few dozen canine co-workers?

baby and dog

Growing up in California, I have always had pets in my family. Some of my earliest childhood memories include playing with our aging bull terrier, Max whom my mother always referred to as “her first child.” Max and I would spend each summer waddling around in our terraced yard, both falling into a heap of giggles and happy panting – me because I was an unstable toddler on my 3-year old legs, Max because in his old age his blindness meant he didn’t always notice where pathways ended and bushes or hills began. Max was considered the fourth child, – much more than a dog; truly a member of the family. My parents instilled this attitude in my siblings and I as we grew up with our animal companions and for that I am still grateful.

After Max died, we continued to keep our home full of pets. We had an assortment of cats; from a one-eyed stray named Scratch to a pair of Himalayan princesses named Sasha and Snowball, true divas who ruled the house for years. My brother eventually fell in love with all things reptile, and soon Sobe the Iguana and Dynamite, the bearded dragon came to live there, too. Just as we went to the park some days, we would also make day trips to the Humane Society and the Cat Shelter because my mom loved to take us there to walk the dogs and play with the cats awaiting adoption.

bull terrier sitting on chair

When the time came to get a new dog, we welcomed Max’s successor into the house, another bull terrier named Scooter. Luckily, Scooter lived up to Max’s legacy as a loyal companion. Once again, we had our 4^th child! Scooter took part in every road trip, every jaunt to Starbucks, and all of our vacations. The very idea that he may be left out of a family activity makes him go out to the driveway and nap behind the car to make sure we can’t back-out and leave him behind. The only time Scooter doesn’t in fact tag along is when we head out to the stables, bringing me to the latest additions to our brood of pets. (Bull-terriers aren’t exactly the biggest fans of livestock.)

Three years ago our little animal kingdom expanded by two miniature horses when my family decided to start a pet-therapy non-profit called the Little Star Pony Foundation. A combination of my mothers work with Hospice and my own brief equestrian endeavors, created the foundation to serve disabled and terminally ill children in the community.

girl with miniature horse outside

Now the two little horses, Zorro and the aptly named Little Star, are a part of our near daily routine. I would have never thought that so much personality could be packed into such little guys but the two of them have brought hours of entertainment in our time training for their pet-therapy certification.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, my current residence in Seattle means that quick jaunts home for a dose of puppy love or good horse sense, aren’t so common. While I pursue my degree from the Foster School of Business at the UW, I miss my pets just as much as I miss my siblings for they are as much a part of my family as my brother and sister. Just with more hair! It’s been amazing to find a company with a similar mindset about loving pets. Now all I have to do is convince one of my co-workers to bring a mini-horse into work!

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Pet of the Week: Pasha

On May 21, 2013, in Tid Bits of Fun!, by Articles by Stacy

This is Pasha, our Main Coon boy. He is 8 years old, but more often acts like 8 months! We found Pasha online – an elderly lady had to give him up and we were the lucky forever family who was chosen.

It took a little time for Pasha and my 16 year old Russian Blue, Wasabi to bond, but they’re buddies now. Both of them love going outdoors in our fenced yard and enjoying the fresh air and nibbling grass. Pasha also loves to roll onto his back, which of course invites lots of tummy rubs! He’s also very fond of his feather wand – he’s determined to kill it one day!

Pasha seems like such a sweet, wonderful addition to your family. Thank you so much for introducing us to him, Gail!

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Pet Insurance Claim of the Week: Foxtail in Dog’s Nose

On May 20, 2013, in Claim of the Week, by Articles by Stacy

Kylie

green foxtail plant

This time of year, our pets are spending more time outside and there are more foxtails than ever which means the odds your pet will have a foxtail incident are greatly increased.

Foxtails are plant parts that serve to disperse grass seeds. They are composed of a hard tip and several spikelets which easily cling onto pet fur.

foxtail4

It is important to keep your pet from contact with foxtails or pluck them off when found because they can irreversibly burrow into your pet’s ears, nose, paws, and skin, causing great pain and potential infection.

Kylie the 8-year-old mixed breed dog loves exploring in the fields where there happen to be many foxtails. She recently had an incident with a foxtail making its way up her nose which earned her a trip to the emergency veterinary clinic. Veterinarians gave Kylie anesthesia so they could retrieve the foxtail from her nose.

Kylie’s temporary foxtail protection

While it took Kylie a few days to recover from the whole ordeal, she is now feeling much better and also has protection against future foxtails! Her owner purchased the OutFox Field Guard which is a mask that protects dogs’ faces from foxtails so that Kylie can continue to explore and enjoy the great outdoors. Because it took a few days for the mask to arrive, Kylie’s owner assembled a makeshift protective mask in the meantime (pictured on the right).

If your pet enjoys exploring or playing in areas that are populated with foxtails, it is recommended that you protect him/her with a mask like this and be sure to thoroughly examine your pet and remove any stuck on foxtails after play time.

Total claim amount: $737.80
Deductible applied: -$250.00
Ineligible costs (exam fee): -$94.70
10% co-insurance: -$39.31
Trupanion repaid: $353.79

Thank you so much to Marcia for sharing Kylie’s story with us!

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This Week in Testimonials – 5/17

On May 17, 2013, in Tid Bits of Fun!, by Articles by Stacy

trupanion has always been great to me and my little rescue -Maryann K.

Matilda

Thank you for making Matilda’s surgery worry free. You guys are great. My puppy is back to living the life of a very loved dog. One of the best things I ever invested in much love! -Alejandra

Remember that time I had a bad customer service experience w/ @Trupanion? #MeNeither. #firstclass -@Jman_TX

After what happened with our Mugs we have all three of our dogs insured with TRUPANION and the service is real good! -Gary P.

I would recommend this insurance to anybody that has an animal. Is a peace of mind. -Sylvi H.

Our dog just had surgery and Trupanion has been amazing! -Bobbi Jo G.

Trupanion has paid each time our Scottie has been ill. Seems like a great value to us. -Michael B.

Best program out there – saved us 7000.00 in surgery bills for our dog…keep up the great program and exceptionally friendly service!!!! Jean G.

Lil Miss Drama

I am a new Trupanion customer and just wanted to say thank you for being such a great company!! -Kirsten A.

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Infographic: 10 Common and Expensive Dog and Cat Injuries and Illnesses

On May 17, 2013, in Pet Insurance & Pet Health, by Articles by Stacy

What are some expensive dog and cat injuries and illnesses? What do they cost? In our newest infographic, we’ve laid out some real-life Trupanion claim examples to give you an idea of what some dogs and cats may face in their lifetime. Actual costs may vary by severity of the situation and your location/veterinary costs.

Click to view the larger version.

Want to put this on your website?
Copy the following code into the HTML editor of your blog or website:
Click the image to see the larger version!<br /><a href="http://trupanion.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pet-Injuries-infographic.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://trupanion.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Pet-Injuries-infographic.png" alt="10 Expensive (and common) Illnesses/Accidents in Household Pets" width="400" height="2691"/></a><br />Infographic created by <a href="http://trupanion.com" title="Trupanion Pet Insurance" target="_blank">Trupanion</a>.

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Should killing a Police Dog be a Felony?

On May 16, 2013, in Pet Articles, by Articles by Guest Blogger

I have a trading card on my refrigerator of a police dog named “MP.” I met MP when I was doing a ride-a-long with a friend of mine who is a police officer here in Anchorage, Alaska. We had gone to a park to look for a woman who had gone in to a diabetic shock and wandered in to the woods. MP’s handler handed me the trading card when I asked the dog’s name.

I was absolutely mesmerized by MP. He is an 85lb, 6 year old Belgian Malinois who started working for the Anchorage Police Department in 2008. Later in the day, I would see MP again when the police department was trying to convince some car thieves to come out of a vacant apartment they had holed up in after running from the police. MP’s bark seemed to really help persuade the suspects to come out willingly.

The officer handling MP told me about how the dog lives with his family. It associates with his children and participates in the family like a normal dog. Then he goes to work and becomes a police officer.

Earlier this year, on March 14^th, a dog just like MP, but working for the FBI in New York, was killed my a man named Kurt Meyers. This dog was significantly younger than MP, he was a 2 year old German Shepherd named Ape.

The authorities were pursuing Kurt Meyers because he had killed 4 people earlier in the week. He knew they were coming for him and he holed up in a bar armed and ready to shoot at the police. Fitted with a bullet proof vest and a camera so that he could assess the situation for the FBI Ape went in first.

Ape was shot almost immediately. An FBI Medic was on the scene and tried fervently to save his life, but was unable. The FBI described Ape’s work as “heroic.” He was only the second canine to be killed in the line working for the FBI his name has been etched into the wall at the FBI Headquarters in Quantico, VA.

Kurt Meyers was killed as well.

It came out in the days after Ape’s killing that it was only a misdemeanor in the state of New York to kill a police dog. The New York State legislature acted quickly and it is now a felony. Here in Alaska, where I live, it is a class C Felony. However, it is only a felony in 22 states. In other states, such as Oklahoma, the penalty is stronger for killing someone’s pet than killing a police dog.

These laws need to change. Police dogs should be seen as police officers in the eyes of the law that they are working to maintain. Just like MP, these dogs are family members to humans and go to work everyday to serve us. We hope that you’ll share this article with a few of your friends and Follow this link to contact your legislators and tell them that this must happen!

Josh Brown is a dog lover, trainer and breeder in Anchorage, AK. He owns Far North Kennel and breeds German Shepherd Puppies. Josh writes a Dog Blog with training and behavioral tips for owners of all breeds.

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Using Benadryl to Treat Dogs for Allergies, Bites, and More

On May 15, 2013, in Pet Tips, by Articles by Guest Blogger

Benadryl is an effective medicine for humans, but is it safe for your dog? It’s a common question many dog owners ask, and most vets would agree that it can be used safely and effectively. Benadryl, in its pure form, is also known as Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride (its non-trade name). It is vital that you select a form of Benadryl that does not contain other medications for cold or sinus symptoms; only the pure form of Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride is safe for your dog. Follow these tips to help you decide if Benadryl can help your dog.

Benadryl for Bites and Stings

bulldog nose

Dogs, just like humans, get stings and insect bites, especially during the spring and summer. Depending on the location of the bite, the critter that inflicted it and your pet’s sensitivity, this could be a minor irritation or an emergency.

If the bite or sting is located in the region of the neck and throat, monitor your dog carefully for signs of breathing difficulty. The most common place of injury for a dog is the face and muzzle because they bite at insects. Once a dog is bitten, swelling typically ensues. It is usually not very painful, but can cause severe itching. Be sure to monitor the swollen area carefully to make sure your dog can eat and breathe as he should.

Other Uses for Benadryl

Benadryl can be used in most instances of bites and stings. It can be used to treat seasonal and non-seasonal allergies, vomiting, motion sickness and muscle tremors. Seasonal allergies are very common in the spring when forestry equipment is being used in nearby wooded areas. Use of Benadryl is safe and will calm the allergic reaction. It can also prevent extreme swelling. If your dog is nursing or pregnant, you should avoid using Benadryl unless advised to do so by your veterinarian. The most common side effect from giving your dog Benadryl is drowsiness; sedation may be mild to moderate. Other side effects for dogs include dry mouth and the inability to urinate. Potential side effects that are less common include loss of appetite, diarrhea or vomiting.

When to Avoid Using Benadryl

Dogs with prostatic disease, cardiovascular disease, glaucoma and hyperthyroidism should not be given Benadryl. If your dog takes any medications for pain or other sedatives, interactions should be discussed with your vet prior to administering this antihistamine. Working animals such as police dogs, sight dogs and hearing dogs should not be given this type of medication. Your vet will be able to tell you the appropriate dose and frequency for your dog’s weight, age, and health.

While Benadryl can be safe and effective, always check with your veterinarian before using it or if you have any concerns.

Michelle is a blogger and current freelancer for a forestry equipment company. She’s written about almost every topic under the sun, and loves constantly learning about new subjects and industries while she’s writing. Whenever she’s able to step away from her computer she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs.

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Pet of the Week: Maximus

On May 14, 2013, in Tid Bits of Fun!, by Articles by Stacy

Max is a 10 year old golden retriever. He was adopted into our family on December 6, 2012. Last Christmas we decided that instead of buying presents that we didn’t really want or need, to adopt this little fella instead. He came from the Richmond Animal Protection Society. A couple of years ago my wife and I adopted our first golden retriever (Cody).

In December, Heather was driving to her office which happens to be close to a rescue group! She saw a volunteer walking a golden and she had to stop in of course. She fell in love with his face right away. I brought Cody the following day and they hit it off like long lost brothers. I knew from that moment we were getting another golden.

Max is quite the character! I don’t think he knows he is 10 years old. He has to be one of the most happiest, energetic, loving snuggler anyone has ever met. He loves all animals and children. He is also goes by “Mischievous Max” & Maxamoose!

We just got back from his first vacation with us. Cannon Beach, OR.

We loved it!