Health, vaccinations, vets and insurance

Vets

Vets are there to keep your dog healthy and to treat it if it becomes sick. You will want them to give your dog their vaccinations at the right time, and most will remind you when it comes up on their computer. Most times when you get a dog, whether from a breeder or rescue centre, they will have been vaccinated with the normal vaccines as it is vital puppies are vaccinated before coming into contact with other dogs. Diseases vaccinated against are: Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis, Leptospirosis.

Apart from regular vaccinations, you should have the vet give your dog a thorough health check at least once a year, even if they appear perfectly healthy. Vets are very experienced and highly qualified and can detect lumps and abnormalities with careful examining of the dog's body, checking temperature as well as eyes, teeth and tongue.

In cases where the dog becomes very sick, they can take blood tests and scans to diagnose what is wrong, and can operate in many cases. They are not cheap, and as insurance even if you have it doesn't cover the first sum, usually around £50-70, most vet treatments will cost you. Be prepared by saving a little each month for your dogs well being.

We have always found those vets who treat only small animals to be the most caring and sympathetic. Those who work for farmers, treating livestock destined to be eaten, seem to have a different attitude towards animals and can be a bit callous. This is obviously not true of all, but something to bear in mind when choosing a vet. Once you have settled on a vet and tehy get to know your dog, unless you move, it's best to stick with them. This also means paying your bills on time.

If the vet is closed, and your dog is in need of emergency treatment, first try this site for advice on first aid for dogs.

Fleas and other parasites

These can be a problem for dogs unless you treat them with one of the preparations marketed to kill fleas; they usually also kill lice, mites and ticks. Treatments can work in different ways, some just kill the insect, others amke them infertile ths breaking the life cycle. Untreated, fleas will not only make you dog uncomfortable and cause itching, often leading from scratching to obsessive biting resulting in infected wounds, but they will bite you as well and any other animals within reach, and your house will become invested with the eggs and larvae. The only way is to stop your dogs picking them up from other dogs [or cats], and while not recommending any product above others, we have found that Frontline ensures dogs stay flea and parasite free, the odd flea jumping on for a quick snack becomes infertile and drops off. Some may wonder at the side effects of such a strong chemical that it stays in the dog's blood for a time [usually a month between applications], so we have noticed nothing untoward in our dogs, and without it, we all get scratching!

Ticks are a problem largely in rural areas and are usually found where sheep or deer graze. They will jump onto a dog and then burrow into the skin until their head is buried, and then drink. A tick will stay on the dog for as long as several days, growing as it absorbs more blood, and then it drops off to complete its lifecycle. They can transmit Lymes disease if it exists in the area, and so vaccination should also include this disease which is a killer. Unlike the others, Lymes Dsease vaccine needs to be given annually if you live in an area where it is common. If removing a tick from your dog, be sure to have someone hold the dog as you don't want sudden movements. Some advise spreading vasseline petroleum jelly over the visible part, others suggest holding something hot close to it like a lighted cigarette, but these are all bad ideas since any attack on the tick is likely to cause it to regurgitate and that means more toxins get into the dog's bloodstream. With tweezers, grasp the tick as lightly as possible as pressure can squeeze it with the same result as before, then slowly rotate while easing it outwards. If any part is left in, it must be removed and the wound cleaned. This is an excellent information site all about ticks and Lyme disease.

Lice are another parasite dogs can get just like us, and anyone who has removed nits from a child's head knows all about this one. The are pretty much the same for dogs, and the best treatment is an insecticidal shampoo. Good grooming habits can help keep lice at bay, but be sure to clean combs and brushes thoroughly if lice are suspected or found or you will just spread the eggs around. Vets and animal food shops stock a range of nit shampoos.

Teeth

It's all too easy to assume that because dogs can crunch up bones and have far superior teeth to humans, that there's no need to think about a dog's teeth. Not so. Though we aren't going so far as suggesting brushing a dog's teeth every day as some do, it is important to check their teeth for signs of decay, and the gums for a healthy pink. If you do this regularly the dog will get used to it and not mind in the slightest. A good diet is the key to your dog having no problems with teeth, and the odd bone, however messy, can do a powwer of good not only for exercise of the jaw muscles, cleaning of the teeth but also as a vital source of calcium which helps keep the bowel regular and healthy as well as supplying the building blocks for bones, and teeth. Dental chews are good, if expensive, and all dogs love them. They don't last long enough though, so hide sticks are another good scouring chew which will help the teeth to remain clean.

Dogs don't need toothbrushes; they only drink water unlike us with our sweetened drinks, and their food is usually dry and crunchy which is good for keeping teeth clear of plaque. The wet meaty or gravy food which comes in either tin or pouch isn't so good for the teeth, so should be followed by either a hard bone or chew, or tooth brushing, followed by a drink of water. They shouldn't be eating cream cakes or maple flapjacks, just good plain food, the more fresh meat the better. This site is one of many with more information of dental care for dogs. Avoid giving your dog human food, other than the odd titbit, as it is mostly too stodgy. Raw vegetables are excellent though, and they particularly love crunchy stalky bits. As dogs need a varied diet, vegetables should always be a part of what you feed your dog.

Is chocolate poisonous to dogs? Yes, it's the theobromine in it. Dark chocolate or cocoa is the more dangerous, and small dogs can take less than larger dogs without being poisoned. It is always a bad idea to give dogs chocolate, but if your dog accidentally gets hold of some youy should induce vomiting and take her to the vet. Find out more here.

Vaccinations

When To vaccinate?
Vaccines are usually first given to puppies at around six weeks of age. Two doses are usually given some two to four weeks apart, and then each year a booster is given.

Which diseases are vaccinated against?
Canine Parvovirus is an aggressive disease, attacking the immune system and intestine linings, and causing usually fatal, vomiting and diarrhoea. Young unvaccinated pups are especially susceptible, and you do not want to see a puppy suffer and die from this awful disease. It's heartbreaking.

Canine Distemper
This attacks the gut, lungs & nervous system and is also mostly fatal.

Infectious Canine Hepatitis
This attacks the liver, lungs, kidneys and eyes. Most cases are fatal but a few dogs recover.

Canine Parainfluenza Virus
This virus is an important component of `kennel cough' , a highly infectious upper respiratory tract infection causing a dry hacking cough.

Leptospirosis This disease is caused by bacteria from the family Leptospira. Two types exist, both can be protected against. The first is contracted from watercourses, spread by the urine of infected rats [it can also affect humans]. The second is caught from the urine of infected dogs. Antibiotics can help with Leptospirosis, but it is most often fatal, or can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

Canine coronavirus
Which can cause serious diarrhoea, is included in the modern vaccine.

Kennel cough vaccines protect against a bacteria called bordetella bronchiseptica which is one of the more serious strains of `kennel cough` infection. Vaccination is often a requirement of boarding kennels to reduce its spread.

Rabies vaccines are used only occasionally but can enable pets to travel freely from the UK to Europe provided they comply with the rules set down under the Pet Travel Scheme

Do dogs need annual boosters?
Some people say that although some components of the routine vaccine do stimulate a long-term immunity that can last for a few years, some components do not and so an annual booster is essential to ensure full protection in those cases. Some, however, doubt an annual booster is justified or necessary, some dogs manage with a booster every two or three years, while increasingly, many dog owners refuse to have repeat vaccinations done at all. See here for a radical view of why vaccines can even harm your dog if given annually, and why it's in vet's interests to encourage you to have your dog given annual jabs.

And the cost?
Prices will vary a bit from vet to vet and will depend on which specific vaccines are used. The first course of two injections may range between £30-£70 and a booster from £18-£40 [so you can see why vets are keen on annual vaccinations]. National Vaccination Month offers vouchers to help with vaccination costs.

Insurance

Many dog owners don't insure their dogs. This may be because they can't afford to, or think they can't, or because they have never thought about the need. Their dog may live a full, healthy life and never need anything other than an annual check up and vaccine booster. But others hate the thought that at some point their dog could be in need of a life saving operation, and to not be able to afford it and to have to have their friend put to sleep for lack of money is just unnaceptable. Enter the world of dog insurance; full of money-grabbing sharks as well as honourable people.

The first thing to do if considering various pet insurers is READ THE SMALL PRINT! This is where all those little clauses are hidden away that allow the unscrupulous to evade their moral responsibility with get-out clauses which use every trick in the book to allow them to refuse payment.

You'd think that an expensive dog insurance would pay your vet bill even though at the end of the treatment the dog was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer and had to be put to sleep. You'd think it was bad enough to suffer the sudden loss of a previously healthy dog. You'd think there would be some sympathy as well as a full and speedy payment of the bill, less the excess of course. No, there was a cold letter stating that as the dog had died the rest of the year's direct debits were due, that as the insurance had only just a month earlier been renewed for the fourth year, that left 11 months direct debits 'owing', even though there was no dog to be insured. The 11 months payments came to more than the vets bill of approx. £500, so cancelled it out. The grieving owners got nothing. This company was M&S Money, you might know them as Marks and Spencer, once a much-respected high street firm known for middle-class integrity and values. No longer it seems. Be warned, there are others, but they are not obliged to bring this get-out to your attention when you take out insurance.

One company which doesn't act in this way, is Animal Friends Insurance. They donate 100% of all profits to animal charities both in the UK and the world, so by choosing to insure your pet with them, you can also help less fortunate animals at the same time. They help to support UK pet charities and protection of endangered species. Their staff are all animal lovers, and very friendly, the atmosphere is distant from the world of big, greedy finance. They are also considerably cheaper than M&S.

Pet Healthcare in the Recession

While the recession may have impacted on some families' finances, and things like pet insurance may have been among the first expenditures to be considered as an "extra", there are ways to maintain pet healthcare and even to take on a new animal relatively cheaply. Before you decide to cancel your pet insurance entirely, though, perhaps look at other options, such as one of AFI's Accident Only policies, which could save you money but still give you the basic veterinary care necessary in the event of your pet being injured in an accident.

At a time when many households' finances are experiencing pressure, pet healthcare is one area that could come under families' attention. However, while there are some ways to save money while still looking after a pet well, there are other issues that mean cutting down on expenditure might not be the right idea.

Rather than buying dogs treats of their own, cash-savvy owners may choose to give them homemade snacks. However, they should be careful not to give them treats that can be poisonous, such as chocolate. Giving a dog chocolate intended for human consumption could end up causing a tummy upset or, in worse cases, requiring a potentially costly visit to the vet.

Also, anything containing the artificial sweetener xylitol is likely to cause digestive difficulties for dogs, so should be avoided by families.

One way to cut down on expenditure on treats, without putting a pet at risk, could be to simply give them less treats - a significant proportion of pets in the UK are already above their ideal weight, so cutting down could help the health of the animal as well as the finances of the owner.

Walking a dog need not be a chore, either, as it can be turned into an activity that is of benefit to everybody. As well as being good for the animal's health, a daily walk can be good for the owner too. Stopping along the way for a game can make the walk even healthier and more fun.

Easy and fun activities to get a dog involved with include playing Frisbee - which can be better for the owner than standing still and making the dog fetch. Frisbees can be bought quite cheaply, and keep the dog happy for hours, cutting out the expenditure on specialist dog toys and, for the owner, potentially removing the cost of a gym membership! Meanwhile, the ordered behaviour that comes with learning a new skill could help to improve other areas of the animal's obedience.

For families with more than one animal, the potential savings increase due to the ability to buy pet food in bulk and list two or more creatures on the same pet insurance policy, all of which can reduce the real-term cost of keeping each animal.

While all of these savings are ways to cut down on the cost of keeping existing pets, there are also methods of owning a new four-legged friend more affordably. Dog adoption is one option, not only allowing a new pet to be gained from a rescue centre for less than it might normally cost, but also helping to re-house an animal with a lot of love to give who, whatever the reason, has had to leave their previous home.

The Mayhew Animal Home helps to re-home cats, dogs and other animals by finding the perfect family to meet the creature's unique needs, but this is not all that they do. A wide variety of animal welfare, education and support programs makes this North London Animal Rescue Home a truly exceptional organisation which is really making a difference to the lives of many pet animals in Britain.

Whether finding a new four-legged friend, or just keen to keep a current creature to the same high standards of care as before the recession, there are plenty of options to make sure that your chosen pet remains a valued family member and not a drain on the household budget.

As one of the biggest independent dog insurance providers in the UK, Animal Friends Insurance products are available to buy online or the phone by calling 0844 70 50 300. The offer a wide range of affordable dog insurance options to suit all budgets from accident only policies to full lifetime cover.

If you lack the resources to afford insurance, and dread vet bills, one organisation that can help is The PDSA, while not being involved in rehoming, they care for the animals of needy people by providing free veterinary care to their sick and injured pets in PetAid hospitals throughout Britain and by promoting responsible pet ownership. There's no reason any dog need get sick and suffer for lack of proper medical care. Your local PDSA surgery can be found in the telephone book, or online here.

Blue Cross is one of Britain's oldest animal welfare charities. It rehomes unwanted and rescued animals and provides veterinary care for the pets of people who cannot afford private vets' fees.