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Many pet owners are unaware of the cost of veterinary services until their pets become ill or injured. It can cost up to thousands of dollars to treat conditions such as hip dysplasia, broken bones, torn ligaments, heart disease and cancer. One thing you can do to keep your pet healthy without having to worry about the cost of vet care is to get pet insurance.

An Overview of Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is a type of insurance coverage that provides protection for pets and their owners. It is mainly a form of medical insurance that covers vet bills that result from certain medical situations. Depending on the type of pet insurance plan you choose, such situations may include illnesses, accidents, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, disease prevention, dental care or others. It is also possible to purchase a pet insurance policy that covers liability losses that occur due to injury, death or damage that is caused by your pet. This type of coverage enables you to claim reimbursement for the compensation that you need to pay to the victim of the accident. Click here for more information about pet insurance.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

In order to get pet insurance coverage, you have to pay a certain amount of money to your insurer every month for a certain period of time. Pet insurance providers take a few things into consideration when they are calculating pet insurance cost, and these include the type of policy, coverage limits, the age and breed of the pet, and the place where the pet is located. If you want to get adequate coverage for all kinds of veterinary expenses, you need to buy a full medical coverage plan, which can cost up to $100 a month. On the other hand, if you are on a tight budget, you can opt for the basic plan, which usually costs $10 to $20 a month.

How to Get the Best Pet Insurance Deal?

It is important that you know exactly which types of coverage you need before you purchase a pet insurance policy. If you get coverage for veterinary expenses or losses that are very unlikely to occur, you may end up paying an unnecessarily high premium. For instance, if your pet is young and healthy, it is not really necessary for you to get coverage for illnesses, because it will probably only need treatment if it is injured in an accident. In this case, you can save a substantial amount of money by purchasing accident-only coverage, which can cost as little as $10 a month. Also, it is advisable that you do some research before you buy pet insurance. Compare policies and prices that are offered by a few reputable insurers to find out which one offers the best value for money. Click here to learn more about getting the best pet insurance deal.

If your pet is healthy and safe, it can be a wonderful companion and activity partner for many years. As such, it is essential that you provide the best medical care and protection for your animal friend.

Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow and declared another six long weeks of winter, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to think about springtime flea prevention for your dog or cat. It may come as a surprise, but fleas are active year-round, which means those pests that survive the winter are just as ready for the spring as your four-legged friend.

Before your dog or cat stands at the door, ready to get back to enjoying the warm air and fresh grass of the outside world, there are a few steps you need to take to ensure that your pet is safe from those bloodsucking pests. 

Examine your pet
It is not uncommon for dogs or cats to pick up fleas during the winter, so you should inspect your furry friend for any signs of fleas or their eggs. Use a fine-toothed flea comb to check your pet for flea droppings, which are small black or dark brown specks that generally clump together at the base of your pet’s fur, or tiny white dots. If your pet has this residue clinging to his coat, then he has been infested with fleas and will need treatment before venturing outside. Fortunately, there are a few ways to instantly eliminate fleas. Your pet’s health care provider can prescribe a pill that will kill all the adult fleas present on your pet within 24 hours. In addition to medication, a bath using special flea shampoo can clean your dog or cat of any flea eggs or larvae. 

Consider your pet’s lifestyle
There are so many flea-repelling products on the market that choosing just one can overwhelm pet owners. To get a better idea of what type of flea prevention care your furry friend needs, you need to take into account his outdoor surroundings and activities. For example: Does your dog like to explore wooden areas? Does your cat have a habit of climbing trees? Are there streams and other sources of water nearby? Do you and your pet live by the beach? All of these factors can increase your four-legged friend’s likelihood of contracting fleas, so you’ll need to answer these questions to better determine which flea prevention treatment is right for your pet. 

Weigh the options
Once you’ve considered your pet’s lifestyle, it’s time to choose the best flea treatment for your furry friend. Most pet owners narrow the options down to the flea collar versus flea drops. Flea collars are worn around the neck and work in two ways: some emit a gas that repels fleas, while others release medication that’s absorbed into your dog’s or cat’s subcutaneous fat layer. Once absorbed, it repels and eliminates adult fleas and larvae from infesting your animal’s coat. Flea collars can typically work for several months, with some newer designs lasting for up to eight months, making it a great option for pets that are always on the go or living in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, flea drops are a topical treatment that is applied between the shoulder blades of your dog or cat. These treatments attack fleas and their eggs, immobilizing and eventually eliminating them. However, flea drops only last for one month, so they require diligence and consistency from pet owners. 

Don’t forget the indoors
Flea prevention isn’t just for the outdoors. Fleas can hide in the nooks and crannies of your home, while flea eggs can lie dormant in your carpets or upholstered furniture for months on end. To ensure that your four-legged friend is safe from fleas, vacuum your home at least once a week, including your furniture, tough-to-reach corners and any bedding your pet touches. Studies have shown that vacuuming eliminates 96 percent of adult fleas and nearly 100 percent of young fleas.