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Ensure best possible medical care to your pet with health insurance

Heart surgery can well be added to the increasing list of advanced procedures that are now available for your pet. If you love your animal and are wealthy enough, it is possible for you to provide the most sophisticated medical treatment to your beloved cat or dog.

Your Cats Health - Rapid Weight Loss - Feline heartworms are silent killers!

Is your cat losing a lot of weight? Is she vomiting without an apparent reason? Has she lost her appetite? Is she breathing rapidly or showing asthma-type symptoms? She could be infected with heartworm! Most cat owners are unaware that heartworms can be fatal. Cats acquire the parasite from mosquito bites, which although rare in the UK has happened here before.

A cat with even a single heartworm inside her can suffer. The illness can be sudden and have no apparent clinical signs. Though stray cats are more likely to be infected, even a house cat is susceptible to such infection. Heartworm infection in cats is harder to diagnose than it is in dogs. There is no known treatment for heartworm infection.

To safeguard a cat from being infected by heartworms, both oral and topical formulations are available. The oral drugs have to be administered once a month. These drugs prevent the development of adult heartworms and kill the heartworms before they start reproducing inside the cat and causing more damage. Heartworm is not yet present in the UK but ex-pats who have gone to live in Spain should take note. In such countries, besides keeping your cat free of heartworms, it should have a six monthly check-up, blood tests and appropriate vaccinations for it to live a healthy life. This means a compulsory visit to the vet. If unexpected treatment is needed then that will mean expensive vet bills! Let pet insurance prevent this if it is available where you live!

It's always wise to check that your insurer is FSA or equivalent registered and the legalities of your pet insurance contract before you sign up..

You should see to it that the insurance firm is authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority or authorised by a similar regulatory authority. For example Animal Friends' underwriters are members of the ABI, The Financial Ombudsman Scheme and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, so consumers are protected on all fronts.;they are also licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Service Commission. FSA registration can be confirmed on the FSA’s register by checking the FSA’s web site. Your pet insurance policies will be governed by the law of England & Wales unless the insurance firm and you have agreed otherwise. Check all such legalities.

Your policy is legal evidence of that contract. Here is your check-list before you sign up a pet insurance policy:

• Ask about the complaints procedure.

• Thoroughly cross-check the pet insurance policy and schedule of insurance. The Schedule of insurance and also any endorsements all form part of the pet insurance policy.

• The information you supply also forms part of the insurance contract you sign with the firm. If the policy fails to meet your pets’ requirements, you can opt to return them to the insurance firm within the stipulated period (usually 14 days of issue). Provided you have made no claim during the period, the firm will refund the premium amount in full.

Serious about getting a pet? Why not, they are great company for people of all ages. Just one thing though, Animal Friends Insurance would like to remind you to bear in mind the financial cost of keeping an animal? Also whether or not to buy one or get one from a respected rescue center, please see our partner links pages for details on some great rescue centers here in the UK..

• A puppy or kitten will need a pet bed or basket. An adult dog may need a kennel in the garden.
• Depending on the size of the pet, a healthy diet can cost up to several hundred pounds.
• Skin care and grooming will cost more for a longhaired dog or cat.
• Health problems will need to be treated. Routine check ups, vaccinations and dental care can be expensive. A young pet may need neutering. Middle aged or old pets will need extra medical care.
• With healthy food, enough exercise and good medical care a pet will live till it gets old.
• Old age will bring its own health problems like arthritis, eye problems and general old age ailments.

The dog with wheels of his own! It's very sad but just like us humans even dogs can inherit their parents weaknesses.

Max, an English springer spaniel, is back on his paws thanks to his two-wheeled harness. According to his owner, Anne Higgins (a Devon and Cornwall Police Inspector), he had to retire early because of health problems. Max is a retired drug sniffer dog who suffers from inherited hip dysplasia. The new harness supports his unstable hips and lets him walk around freely.

Max, an English springer spaniel, is back on his paws thanks to his two-wheeled harness. According to his owner, Anne Higgins (a Devon and Cornwall Police Inspector), he had to retire early because of health problems. Max is a retired drug sniffer dog who suffers from inherited hip dysplasia. The new harness supports his unstable hips and lets him walk around freely.

If one really cares for them, the best way to show it is securing their health with pet insurance for your dog or cat.

So you have a dog as a pet and are considering buying dog medical insurance? Before you actually buy the dog medical insurance policy, there a few things that you should keep in mind.

Decide how much insurance you need for your dog: Unlike what you think, expenses for veterinary medicines are very high. It is therefore important that you decide the amount to be insured. It would be a problem if you do not have adequate dog insurance cover.

Read the terms and conditions carefully Insurance companies lure you with lower premiums and attractive promises. You should read the fine print of the policy to ensure that you know what is covered and what is not.

Check the deductibles available. Generally, the higher the deductible, the lower is the dog insurance policy premium.

Does your dog health insurance policy have limits? Make sure that you are not underinsured when you need it the most.

Does your dog insurance policy allow you to choose your own vet
Some dog insurance polices do allow you to choose your own vet. It helps to have a vet that you know personally.

Check the exclusions in the policy Certain dog insurance policies will exclude certain medical conditions. For example: Hip dysphasia is not covered for German Shepards as they are predisposed to it.

It is necessary to be clear on what you are getting so that you do not face any difficulties during an emergency.

Pet control in the uk

Over the years, the UK has seen an increase in the many breeds of dogs within the country. It has also seen a change in some breeds & also a noticeable mix within the breeding circles.

These changes are related to the ever transforming social world in which we live, whether it be influenced by fashion, peerage, or unfortunately in some cases social decline. Whatever the impact these have made, it appears that there is always someone willing to take advantage. For instance, there has become an increasing number of rogue breeders that are exploiting the demand for lapdogs used as fashion accessories.

They are smuggling puppies into the UK from Eastern Europe. Naturally the welfare of these poor creatures are not the breeder’s first concern. The puppies are bred & kept in awful conditions, transported in nothing more than small cages. Most have not received vaccinations and the majority are inbred. Therefore leading to them being mentally, along with the fact that the puppies are taken away from their mothers after five or six weeks which is way too early. This results in major lifelong physical and psychological diseases, or they will simply die when they are just weeks old.

As such a fashion accessory, for many pedigree dogs the demand is high & sellers are now using reputable & professional looking websites, changing company names to stay ahead of animal welfare groups. In some European countries, it is the norm to buy one from a market, which is not only near on obscene, but it just fuels the trade even further. If only buyers realised the puppies’ background, would they care? There are many reputable dog breeders here in the UK too and please understand this is in no way a reflection on those legitimate businesses!

It has also widely been published by the BBC that there are criminal gangs worldwide that breed dangerous dogs, mostly illegal pit bull terriers, for fighting, guarding & for domestic sales. Their investigation showed that these dogs are allowed to enter the UK with false documentation, from Ireland. As we have devastatingly seen, it is these dogs that have been banned in the UK since 1991, & are responsible for tragic deaths across the country to the present day.

They are bred to fight, but are kept in domestic houses, with children. It can only end in misery & it happens in many of our major cities. Very recently the Kennel Club, has revealed a new non-breed specific dog control law, influenced by the Dangerous Dogs Act. It has since been  presented to the Government for possible approval by the Home Secretary and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

It contains that it should the norm to control the breeding of all dogs, not just specific breeds. It also states that it should now be prohibited to advertise dogs apart from where there is a certain charity , welfare cause or licensed breeder attached. Controls for imports should be tighter, whether they be live or sperm donations. Most importantly from the responsibility of the owner, they should be abiding by the rules of the DDA, that states:“ A potentially dangerous dog, while on the owner’s property, shall at all times be kept indoors, or in a securely fenced yard from which the dog cannot escape, and intowhich children cannot trespass. A potentially dangerous animal may be off the owner’s premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash of appropriate length, and if it is under the control of a responsible adult.”

Protecting the four-legged members of your household

All pet lovers know the joy and comfort of having cats and dogs as part of their family. Just like any other member of your family you should invest in dog insurance or cat insurance for your four- legged loved ones. Pet insurance will give you the peace of mind that if anything should happen to your pet and they need immediate short or long-term health care you will be covered. Animal friends Insurance offers a range of affordable pet insurance policies designed to suit your needs.

The averages say that one in three pets will need veterinary treatment each year, which can add up to quite a large sum of money that you may need to pay out. However, this is not the only thing that can be covered with cat insurance or dog insurance. There are a variety of options available when you buy pet insurance from Animal Friends such as coverage of advertising costs or reward if your pet goes missing, or cover which can provide liability protection.

Pet insurance is like having a health insurance plan yourself- it is there when you need it for those unexpected large health-related bills. By insuring your pets you can ensure they will get the very best treatment at the vet of your choice. Most pet insurance policies will also cover ongoing illnesses such as arthritis, respiratory problems and many heart conditions too. You can also get dog or cat insurance on older pets from Animal Friends Insurance. They don’t have to be puppies or kittens to be eligible; as long as you keep the premiums up they will be covered. Not only that, but it is worth noting that Animal Friends also provide full life time cover, something you will not easily find available from the insurers who advertise only the cheapest insurance plans.

Cat insurance is also a good value for your money. While we all know that cats have nine lives even their levels of agility and grace can sometimes not be enough to protect them from injury. With an Animal Friends cat insurance policy you would be able to provide the best medical attention for your feline family member should they have a fall or be struck by a car. Pet insurance for your cat may also cover some of the expenses if your cat is lost or stolen.

Today with things such as the cost of veterinary treatment at its highest and still increasing your smart move is to buy pet insurance. This will give you peace of mind and the ability to take care of your four legged family members in case of a medical emergency or injury. For just a few pounds a month you will be able to provide the best medical treatment for your pets to ensure a long and happy life.