Pet Insurance - Financial Protection From Harmful Food

Your pet is a valued member of the family, but that doesn't mean they should join you at the family dinner table. Animals cannot digest the same food as humans; in fact some foods that humans enjoy can actually be very harmful to cats and dogs. You should therefore always be very careful about the food you offer your pet from the table.

Some pet lovers say that you shouldn't give your pet any food from the dinner table at all. If you start doing this from a young age, your dog or cat may pester you for food at dinner time forever more. They may not know who or when it is appropriate to ask for food - and important guests could easily get a shock at a dinner party if Fido the dog joins you for dinner!

A more serious implication of feeding your dog or cat from the dinner table is that they may eat the wrong kind of food and become unwell. Dogs are not meant to eat chocolate, for example, as it contains Theobromine; a powerful stimulant that is poisonous to them. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are also dangerous for dogs to eat. Cats should not eat onions, garlic and chives, as they are all poisonous to cats and can cause extreme discomfort or illness. This list is by no means exhaustive, as certain breeds of cat or dog have even more specific dietary requirements. You should therefore check with you vet as to exactly what your pet should or shouldn't eat.

If your pet has eaten potentially poisonous food, you should take them to the vet immediately. If you have good pet insurance you shouldn't even need to worry about the vets bills, as you pet insurance should cover any necessary treatment. Treatment can include complimentary therapies that are deemed necessary by your vet. In extreme cases some pet insurance providers will offer financial compensation for your pet's death caused by injury or as a result of illness.

If you have good pet insurance, you will be able to help your cat or dog recover from a bout of poisoning. The best solution, however, is to not feed them inappropriate food in the first place: your pet should enjoy their own pet food, whilst you enjoy yours.

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Pet Insurance - Financial Protection From Unexpected Illnesses Due To Hairballs

Cats often suffer from hairballs, which can be uncomfortable for the cat and distressing for the pet owner too. Whilst hairballs are not usually life threatening, your pet insurance can help protect your pet against any unexpected health complications that hairballs might lead to.

Cat insurance will protect your cat against the potential discomfort that hairballs can cause. Hairballs can block your cat's intestines and prevent digested food from passing easily, which may lead to more complicated illnesses. Luckily good pet insurance will allow you to claim each year for vets' bills if your cat falls ill as a result of hairballs or any other illness.

Hairballs are a perfectly natural part of a cat's life. Hairballs form when the cat grooms itself, licking its fur with its tongue, and swallowing excessive amounts of hair. Hair cannot be digested, so it usually forms into small balls which the cat can then cough up. If your cat cannot cough up the hairball, the hair can compact with undigested food in the stomach and intestines to cause impactions. These impactions can cause painful constipation in your cat's digestive tract and may need to be removed surgically. [1]

So how can you recognize hairball problems in your cat? Firstly you may see cylindrical masses of hair on the floor as your cat coughs up hairballs. Your cat may also be coughing or dry hacking, particularly after meals, which is usually a sign that they are having trouble in their digestive system. Your cat may even be lethargic and show a complete disinterest in eating at all. If the hairballs have formed impactions in the digestive system, you may also notice that your cat is constipated or their stools have hair showing in them.

If you notice any of these signs, or you are worried about your cat's health in any way, then you should contact your vet immediately. They will be able to assess your cat's overall health and ascertain whether your pet has a problem with digestion. If your cat then needs treatment, you should contact your pet insurance provider to confirm that they are able to cover the cost of the treatment - and they may even be able to pay the vet directly.

Do try to groom your pet with a fine cat comb on a regular basis, as this should help remove the excess hair that can cause hairball problems in the first place. With a little care and attention and the financial security of pet insurance, you and your cat should be happy together again.

[1] - vetbase.co.uk/information/fur-balls-constipation.php

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