Petsecure Pet Health Insurance

Pet Tips from HSN

Check out this educational video from the HSN network, featuring Prince Lorenzo Borghese on the important benefits of insuring your pet.

Is your cat curious about your Christmas tree?

Here are three quick tips to follow for a stress-free holiday.

#1 - Keep your tree tight to the wall. If you’re concerned about your cat knocking the tree over, tie fishing wire around the trunk and attach it to nails or hooks behind the tree.

#2 - Use shatter-proof ornaments so if your kitty does knock one of the tree there isn’t glass all over the floor.

#3 - Avoid tinsel at all costs! Cats are very attracted to these shiny pieces of garland and tend to nibble on the pieces. Tinsel is very dangerous to a cat’s intestine and can cause life-threatening problems.

Take a look at this video to see what can happen with your curious cat and your tree!

Have a safe and happy holiday season, from all of us at Petsecure!

Winter Health Tips for your Pet

Dogs and cats can’t tell us when they’re feeling under the weather, so it’s important as a responsible pet owner to pay attention to your pet’s well-being during the winter season. Here are some tips to help you out.

Pet parents should avoid:

• Antifreeze - Keep it away from your pets! Antifreeze, which often collects on driveways and roadways, is highly poisonous. Although it smells and tastes good to your pet, it can be lethal.

• Rock salt
- Used to melt ice on sidewalks and may irritate footpads. Be sure to rinse and dry your dog's feet after a walk.

• Frostbite - Is a huge winter hazard for pets. To prevent frostbite on its ears, tail and feet, try not to leave your dog outside in the cold for long periods of time.

Pet parents should watch out for:

• Supplemental heat sources - Fireplaces and portable heaters can severely burn your dog. Make sure all fireplaces have screens, and keep portable heaters out of reach.

• Frozen bodies of water - Be extra careful when walking or playing with your dog near frozen lakes, rivers or ponds. Your dog could slip or jump in and get seriously injured.

• Not enough fresh water - Providing plenty of fresh water for your pets is always important. Your furry friend is just as likely to get dehydrated in the winter as in the summer. Snow is not a satisfactory substitute for water.

Tips for winter care for your canine friend:

• Towel or blow-dry your pet if they gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean their paws, too. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. A little petroleum jelly may soften the pads and prevent further cracking.

• Groom your pet regularly. Your dog needs a well-groomed coat to keep properly insulated. Short- or coarse-haired dogs may get extra cold, so consider a sweater or coat. Long-haired dogs should have excess hair around the toes and foot pads trimmed to ease snow removal and cleaning. If you do the trimming, take care not to cut the pads or other delicate area of the foot.

• Feed your pet additional calories if they spend a lot of time outdoors or if they are a working animal. It takes more energy in the winter to keep body temperature regulated, so additional calories are necessary.

• Don't leave your dog alone in a car. If the car engine is left on, the carbon monoxide will endanger your dog's life. If the engine is off, the temperature in the car will get too cold.

Have a safe and happy holiday season, from all of us at Petsecure!

Dog (and Pet Owner) Etiquette for the Holidays

As pet parents, we do everything we can to include our dogs (and cats) in many family events, including the fun-filled holidays. Although your immediate family is comfortable with your pup participating in these events, the rest of your guests may not be. So how can you ensure a safe and stress-free holiday for everyone, including your furry loved ones? Here are some etiquette tips to follow that will keep your holidays happy and hazard-free.

Ask first
If you are having guests over to your house for the holidays, make sure you ask if they are allergic or scared of dogs. If either applies, it's best to set up a quiet room away from the party for your pet to stay in. Make sure the room has your dog's bed, fresh food, water and some toys to play with. Check on your dog frequently and make sure to take them outside throughout the night.

Keep your dog away from dessert
Or any food for that matter! Nobody likes a dog sniffing around the appetizers or dainties left out at the end of the night. Be sure to keep an eye on your pet at all times and never leave food or drinks on a lower table unattended, this could be a calling for disaster and not only for the mess it could potentially make, but for health risks as well. Various types of food can be toxic or even deadly for your dog. Chocolate, macadamia nuts, grapes and avocados are just a few examples of foods that can cause serious problems for your furry loved ones. Check out more information on these and other hazardous foods for dogs here.

Hide wires
With lights and decorations come electrical cords and wires. Dogs can find cords interesting and fun to chew but these cords can cause electrocution or burns. Secure cords by positioning them higher than your pup can reach, or hide them under a special wire cover. This will avoid any unplanned and stressful emergency veterinary visit.

Know the plants to avoid
There are many pretty and popular holiday plants, but some can be very dangerous to our pets. For example, poinsettias will irritate a dog's stomach and eyes. Berries of the Jerusalem cherry are toxic, and holly, mistletoe, amaryllis, chrysanthemum and winter bloom can cause major problems if ingested. Check out ASPCA's toxic plant list for more details.

Inform your guests
Your guests may think it's a nice gesture to give your dog a treat from the table but they may not know the risks. Educate your guests when they arrive about what they can and can't give to your pup. More often than not, non-pet owners don't know which foods are toxic to dogs (i.e. chocolate) and this could result in a potentially poisonous situation.

By following these simple tips, your friends and family will be sure to enjoy celebrating the holidays with your entire family, including your beloved pets.

Friday’s Funny Pet Video

It’s always important to exercise with your pets. Today’s funny pet video brings that statement to a whole new level. Squats anyone? Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Do you have a pet video you’d like to share? Let us know! Leave a comment with a link to the video and we may feature it on our blog.

Should I buy health insurance for my pets?

We came across this great article written from a veterinarian’s point of view on why health insurance is also a great idea for your pets.

Check it out here - Should I buy health insurance for my pets? | Culpeper Star-Exponent.

Petsecure Pet Health Insurance Pays Out Over $100 Million in Claims

Petsecure just announced that they have reached the $100 million mark in claims paid to pet owners across Canada. In 2009 alone, Petsecure has paid over 56,000 claims contributing to this total. Some of the most common conditions that Petsecure
members claim for include gastro intestinal problems, respiratory problems and cruciate problems.

The top three claims that Petsecure paid in 2009 totaled over $26,000. This included a $12,242 claim for a Tabby that had a tumour and associated conditions, $7,899 towards a Newfoundland with an immune mediated disease and $5,926 towards a Basset Hound that also had a tumour.

“1 in 3 pets will require unforeseen veterinary care each year. Pet insurance can help families across Canada financially plan and emotionally prepare for the unexpected,” states Randy Valpy, President and CEO of Petsecure pet health insurance. “Our Petsecure members are part of a community and feel good knowing that even when they don’t need to claim, their premiums are still helping to ensure other Petsecure members receive the protection, care and access to treatment they need. As pet parents ourselves, we all share the same goal, to ensure that pets enjoy longer, fuller, healthier lives and that their needs are…All taken care of.”

Since 1989, Petsecure has been providing innovative pet insurance to pet owners across the country, all the while giving back to the pet healthy community through humane societies, breed clubs, rescue groups and veterinary associations. One of the ways Petsecure has recently given back to the Canadian pet community was through their Pet Cancer Awareness Month initiative this past November. For every new Facebook fan they received at www.facebook.com/petsecure they donated $1.00 to the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust Fund. In total, Petsecure donated $1,477.

Friday’s Funny Pet Video

Today’s pet video may just be the cutest kitten video we’ve put up on our blog yet! This video was seen on Ellen earlier this week and our team has been passing around the clip ever since! We hope you think it’s as adorable as we do.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Do you have a pet video you’d like to share? Let us know! Leave a comment with a link to the video and we may feature it on our blog.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month Has Officially Come to a Close!

Our goal for November was to raise funds and awareness about a disease that affects 1 in 3 of our household pets. We encouraged pet parents across Canada to become a fan of our Petsecure Facebook page and to read up on articles, stats and true tails on pet cancer at our Pet Cancer Awareness Month page on our website.

For every new fan we received in the month of November we have donated $1.00 to the OVC Pet Trust Fund. With that being said, we have raised $1402.00 (plus $75.00 from our staff) for this great cause.

Thank you to all those who became a fan of Petsecure and helped FURther the fight against this deadly disease!