Importance of Wellness Visits + a Financial Plan, A Guest Blog By Heather Kalinowski Of Trupanion Insurance

Heather Kalinowski is a pet lover and new mom who spends her days helping other pet owners protect their pets with dog and cat insurance. Trupanion offers 90% coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if a pet becomes sick or injured.

Today, cats are not just pets, they are family members. And, like we would for any family member, we will always try to protect our beloved cats from anything that may cause them harm. But these curious creatures have a way of surprising us, and it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected.

Most veterinarians encourage you to schedule once- or twice-yearly wellness visits, even if your cat is healthy. These visits serve many purposes – they confirm your cat is up-to-date on vaccinations and dental cleanings, they help strengthen the relationship you and your cat have with your veterinarian, and most importantly they help ensure that any illnesses or injuries your cat may be suffering from are caught as early as possible.

Cats are instinctually solitary animals and they tend to hide any health problems from their families. This could mean that once they start showing signs, the illness or injury could be quite advanced, requiring extensive treatment.

Pre-screening during wellness exams will catch any health concerns they may be hiding, allowing you to start treatment as early as possible, saving your cat from extended periods of pain and suffering. Ultimately, this leads to a better quality of life for your cat – and you! What follows, however, is an emotional burden that is often heightened by the financial stress of paying for treatment.

Cody and "Dr.Smiley"

For many of us, our love for our pets has no financial limit, and we develop a plan for these unexpected expenses. There are several ways to pay for unexpected veterinary bills, such as credit cards, savings accounts, pet insurance, and borrowing from friends and family members. Whatever the option, having a plan is vital so we can easily say “yes, do what you need to do to save my pet.”

Unprepared pet owners are forced to opt for less effective treatment, no treatment, or in the worst situations, euthanasia. Pairing a scheduled wellness plan with a financial plan for treatment costs will help ensure that the furry member of the family will have the best chance at living a long and healthy life filled with many more playful moments.

Does your cat see his or her veterinarian regularly? Are you prepared for those unexpected expenses that might present themselves?

Pets And The Holidays, From Trupanion Pet Insurance

Pets and the Holidays graphic created by Trupanion.

Grape and Raisin Toxicity, A Guest Blog By Heather Reynolds Of Trupanion Pet Insurance

Heather Reynolds is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance company. Trupanion offers 90% coverage of veterinary bills with no payout limits. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they become sick or injured.

Did you know that cats should never eat grapes or raisins? Grape and raisin toxicity is a serious health condition and can occur in cats after they ingest just one grape or raisin. While it is not clearly known what makes this fruit toxic, the outcome is severe.

Because grapes and raisins are so commonly found in households, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms in case your curious little friend finds one. If the fruit is ingested, a cat will normally start showing symptoms within 48 hours, so it’s important to see a veterinarian right away. 

Symptoms include:

·        Vomiting

·        Diarrhea

·        Weakness

·        Refusal to eat

·        Increased thirst

·        Abdominal pain

Eventually, the cat will be unable to urinate and will develop acute renal failure (where the kidneys suddenly fail to do their job). It’s a very quick and sad progression.

But this condition is curable! If grape or raisin ingestion is suspected, the main goal is to prevent the toxins from being absorbed by the body. So, a veterinarian will most likely induce vomiting with the use of hydrogen peroxide or apomorphine and then use charcoal pills to prevent any remaining toxins from being absorbed. Often, intravenous fluid therapy is also needed.

The cost of treatment can range from $100 to over $1,700, depending on the severity of the condition.

Obviously, prevention is key for this condition. Make sure to keep all grapes and raisins fully out of reach of cats (remembering that cats have incredibly climbing skills and some ‘hiding spots’ like the top of the refrigerator may not be effective). Also, make sure all family members and visitors know the danger of this fruit, as well as other common foods that are toxic to cats like chocolate, onions and garlic, because if your family is anything like mine, ‘people food’ sometimes finds its way to pets from well-meaning friends who just can’t stand those sweet begging eyes.

How do you keep toxic items like this out of reach of your feline friends?

Diabetes in Cats-A Guest Blog By Heather Reynolds of Trupanion

Heather Reynolds is a pet lover and internet journalist at Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance company. Trupanion offers 90% coverage of veterinary bills with no payout limits. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they become sick or injured.

A report recently released by Banfield Pet Hospital found that there is a rise in diabetes among pets in America. Unfortunately, cats are the most affected. The study of 450,000 cats showed a 16% increase of the disease.

Diabetes occurs when the pet cannot control its blood sugar level. As with humans, there are two types. Type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic disease where the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to help control blood sugar levels. Type 2 is adult-onset diabetes and is non-insulin dependent. Dogs are more prone to Type 1 while cats are more prone to Type 2.

The main signs of diabetes are:

·         Excessive eating

·         Excessive drinking

·         Excessive urination

·         Weight loss

If you notice these symptoms in your cat, it’s important to visit the veterinarian. To determine if the cat is diabetic, the vet will conduct a medical history check, physical exam, blood count, blood glucose test, and urine analysis. If the tests come back positive, treatment will begin, which usually consists of long-term medication and regular vet visits for re-examination.

If diabetes is not treated, the results can be quite debilitating, including:

·         Organ failure

·         Urinary tract infections

·         Hormone disturbances

·         Weight loss

·         Cataracts

·         Blindness

·         Neuropathy

Neuropathy weakens the pet and can severely impact mobility, causing them to walk on the hocks of their back legs or wrists of their front legs. They will also often lie down more frequently, and will not be able to jump up and down like normal – potentially leading to injuries as they try.

Trupanion covers diabetes treatment as long as the pet had full policy coverage before the first signs or symptoms of the condition were noted.

How My Pet's Love Is My Holiday Gift

I don’t need much, never have, never will.

But what I DO need are animals in my life.

I have been blessed.

For 18 years I experienced the love that a true soul kitty could give.

I was loved, protected, adored, licked, rubbed on and adopted by a handsome tabby boy who became my “Baby Bobo”. Bobo was my life and I was his. I cried into his fur so many times, too numerous to count. He would lay with me as if he knew that it was his place to comfort me, and comfort me he did.

Bobo passed at the age of 18. A piece of my heart went with him.

I missed Bobo with all of my heart and never thought I would ever get another cat but two weeks later while visiting an adoption at a local, major pet chain, I met who would be my next lover boy, my crazy, cuddly and curious Cody.

Cody seemed to sense from the first time I held him that I was hurting.  When I picked him up he curled onto my lap as if he had already found his forever home.  He knew I needed him and he needed me.  I must have held him, petting him gently for nearly a half hour. My fingers missed the soft feeling of cat fur, the two weeks since Bobo passed seemed to be an eternity, I longed for the comfort that only the love of a cat could bring.

I felt so guilty adopting another cat. What would Bobo think? Should I have had a longer mourning period?

My vet comforted me by saying “you aren’t replacing Bobo, you can never replace him. But you CAN create new memories with another cat. Bobo would want you to give some of the love that you gave to him to help another kitty in need”.

Cody has never ceased being a “gift” in the nearly 4 years that I have had him. He still wraps himself around my neck like a furry boa, he is my little “close talker”….he asks for nothing (well maybe a big bowl of kibble) but gives so much in return. There isn't any gift I could ever purchase at a store that would even begin to compare to the love from my cat.

He is a gift to me as well as being a gift to our crazy Sheltie (Dakota)…he is patient, never once hissing but accepts Dakota never once seeming to realize that Dakota is NOT a cat!

I owe it to both my Cody and Dakota to return the gift of unconditional love that they give me every day, not just at the holidays but EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY they show me they love me by their kitty purrs, doggie licks and cuddles.

There is nothing like coming home to fur babies that give me a standing ovation...just for being ME!

Some of the gifts I can give to them are the best quality food that we can afford,  a variety of fun and stimulating  toys, comfortable places to snooze, a soft, warm lap to cuddle on, human kisses, quality vet care, love and a  safe haven to live what will hopefully be  very, very long lives.

Another gift I need to give to them both is the gift of pet insurance. I am going to  make 2011 the year I show my Cody and Dakota even more what they mean to me by giving them the gift of good, quality pet insurance. When I make that commitment Trupanion will be the place I turn to.

It is one of many ways I can return the unconditional loving gifts they give to me every day of their lives and for that I am furever grateful!

Can I Get Cat Insurance for my Adopted Cat? Guest Blog By Trupanion Pet Insurance

Cat Chat is pleased to present a guest blog by Stacy Kowalchuk from Trupanion Pet Insurance! Enjoy!

We (and pet insurance  companies in
general) often receive questions around insurance and adopted cats. Those who
have a basic understanding of cat insurance are aware that it doesn't cover the
costs of pre-existing conditions which often leads them to the question: how does cat insurance work if I adopted my cat?

The answer is actually quite simple. It works just the same way it would if you
were to have had your cat since kittenhood. When you file your first claim, we
request all available veterinary records, even if it's just an examination from
when you first adopted your new pet, and work from there.

You may be able to determine whether your cat has any pre-existing conditions
before filing any claims. Some cats that were relinquished by a previous owner
may come complete with their prior health records so you can easily see their
medical history. Or, if you notice that your cat had any health problems or
symptoms when you brought him home, then those conditions would be considered
pre-existing.

It's a good idea to get cat insurance as soon as possible, before any new
conditions occur. Cat insurance  is definitely helpful
for covering the costs of any unexpected conditions that may arise in the
future.



Stacy Kowalchuk is a rescue dog owner who works for Trupanion, an international
pet insurance  company based out of Seattle. Please feel free to contact her with any questions about pet insurance at stacy@trupanion.com.