From the first time we lay eyes on them as kittens, puppies, or whatever size and shape they came in, our pets tug at our heartstrings in a very special and unique way. Five years or a decade later, they’ve added on some twenty pounds or ten inches, but they’re still our beloved furry babies.

Every pet parent wants the best for their furry children, and this is why today, I want to talk about the serious topic of pet insurance. Try as we might to make life easier for our pets, there will likely be unexpected accidents and illnesses that we have no control over. Far too often there are diseases, illnesses, or emergencies inflicted on our beloved pets that can drain our savings – a real risk in this economy. I’ve heard stories of parents weighing heartbreaking decisions to pursue veterinary treatment at the expense of their own health and family budgets.

This is where pet insurance can step in to help. Its primary benefits are: a financial investment towards your pet child’s health, and a priceless peace of mind that their medical needs will be seen to.

Pet insurance plans come in different shapes, sizes, and sums. This is why it is crucial to contrast and compare insurance plans to make sure you’re getting the right kind of veterinary coverage for your investment. You can start by looking at different quotes at a pet insurance comparison tool like ValuePenguin’s. Next, dive into their benefit coverage and exclusions to see if it fits your pet’s needs. Here are five tips to help you wade through the complexity of pet health insurance policies:

Five Tips on Pet Insurance

• Accident and Illness coverage makes the most sense: Consider getting coverage for accidents and illnesses as a safe baseline. At some point, your pet can be reasonably expected to have at least one of each. Generally speaking, these plans can cost on average $20 – $40 a month (this varies with features and where you live). As for wellness coverage, does the additional premium each month adequately cover your pets routine care?

• Understand your plan deductibles and limits: Insurers have creative ways to structure benefit reimbursements, that you can picture in terms of floors and ceilings. Most plans require you to spend a minimum amount before they start reimbursing your veterinary expenses – a floor, or deductible. Now, is there a true plan-wide deductible, or does this insurer’s plan have individual deductibles for different categories? On to ceilings: this is the policy limit. Is there an annual, incident, or lifetime limit? If a pet has cancer, which can require multiple rounds of treatment and therapy, is the insurance only covering up to $1,000 per year or $2,500 for the lifetime limit?

• Research your pet’s breed history: Chances are, if your dog is purebred, there are certain types of diseases that it is predisposed to. In any event, do some research to see if 1) there are any genetic conditions or illnesses, and 2) the insurer will cover that medical event for your dog. At times, there can be an age requirement to when your insurer will cover hereditary or congenital diseases, such as enrolling your pet before its second birthday.

• Read the fine print, especially on what gets covered. I found insurers who excluded different items from their claims reimbursements, which makes it harder to do a clean comparison across pet insurance companies. Do they cover the vet office visit fee, the diagnosis and treatment fees, and prescription medications? It is important to compare policies from different pet insurers you’re considering.

• Insure your pet sooner rather than later: Insurance providers start phasing older dogs out of general medical coverage, and this can begin as early as six years of age. Like in human health insurance, insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions, so by the Fido or Kitty develops something, it will probably be too late to get a plan that will actually pay for their diagnosis and treatment.

The post Considerations and Tips on Pet Insurance appeared first on All Pet News.

If you have a few hours to spare, check out the Banfield Pet Hospital page on the Consumer Affairs website. Seriously, we’re talking hours here folks, because what you’ll find is an endless pit of complaints by people who were left feeling far from satisfied, with pets who seemed worse-off after being taken care of by the national vet chain that’s found inside PetSmarts across the country.

Many people avoid chain stores like the plague, while others are a bit more tolerant. When it comes to your animal’s welfare, you might think that the name recognition and clout of a national chain (PetSmart and Banfield) is a plus, rather than going to a local vet. But if you read any of the complaints on the Consumer Affairs page, you might think differently.

What’s one reason people don’t like chains? The lack of personal attention certainly rates highly and that seems to be a common theme in the complaints vs. Banfield and their Wellness Plan. Banfield’s Wellness Plan has as many friends on the Consumer Affairs forum as Howie Mandel has hair…

There are countless testimonials claiming that Banfield ignored customers’ requests to cancel the Wellness Plan, meaning that these folks kept being billed monthly. One testimonial, from Susan of Wellington, FL, explains: “I specifically asked if I could cancel (the Wellness Plan) at any time, and the answer was yes. This is totally untrue, as they will continue to charge you until the year is up.”

This is the problem with large chains. They have protocol. They have processes. They often times don’t have the time to look at each of us as individuals. Sometimes a little heart (often shown by a local vet/business owner) will go a long way. Just listen to what PJ of Columbia, S.C. had to say: “The fourth month into my plan, my dog and I were hit by a car. Emma was unable to recover and passed away … I called Banfield to let them know about the situation and to see if I could get refunded any of the year that I had prepaid. The customer service representative said that if I canceled the account that they would charge me even more money …”

Is this technically wrong of Banfield to do? No, they run a business and are in their right to operate it as they see fit. But is it right?

No. Business isn’t always business. People (and in this case, animals) are involved. This is where chain operations fail miserably, time and time again, showing heart. Just that phrase alone – Customer Service Representative – rubs me the wrong way. This is my pet’s health we’re talking about! I want to talk to someone with a more humanizing title than Customer Service Representative. That’s just one step away from an automated voicemail service.

You might think that you save money by going to larger chains, and in some cases that might be true. But sometimes that’s not always the case. Complaints regarding Banfield include extremely high medication costs, nearly impossible-to-pay procedures, and (just as I see when I go to my national-chain dentist) the attempt to convince you of the need to get more procedures done than is required (the up-sale).

Are all local vets bound to be more inexpensive and caring than Banfield and other chain vet clinics? Not necessarily, but what you will usually find in a vet clinic that only has itself to answer for is the ability to be more flexible with you and your specific situation. More flexibility (in our minds, as consumers) means compassion. With national chains, there’s too much protocol put into place to allow for flexibility. No flexibility means no compassion, as we see it.

You might save a few bucks on your TV, or a few cents on your gallon of milk, by going to a chain store. But your pet’s more important to you than either of those things, right? In a world where every city’s beginning to look the same because of streets aligned with the same chain stores from LA to Long Island, why not support your local vet? In the end your pet might be better off for it.

The post Banfield: A Pet Hospital Horror appeared first on All Pet News.

Summertime is the perfect time to start a new exercise routine. It is recommended that adults take at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, and yet very few people manage to meet this target. A great way to motivate yourself to start exercising daily is to exercise with your dog: Dogs make great work out partners because they love to move, they’re enthusiastic, and they don’t try to distract you by chatting whilst you’re running! But not all dogs are getting the exercise they need either. Estimates suggest that nearly 35% of all pets are overweight, and this can have serious health implications for your dog. The effect of obesity on dogs can include arthritis, diabetes, breathing problems, and heart disease. Definitely an incentive to get both of you up and moving! So how do you get started?

Running with your dog

Unless your dog is elderly or physically challenged, they should be able to run for at least 20 minutes every day. But if it’s been a while since you’ve taken daily exercise then a 20 minute run might be a little more difficult for you straight away. Start slowly: interval training is a great way to build your fitness levels before you both attempt a lengthy run. Walk for one minute, then jog for 20 seconds. Repeat this five times. Then try walking for one minute followed by running backwards for 20 seconds, and repeat this five times. You can keep adding new moves as your confidence grows: galloping, running sideways and even lunges will all increase your cardio output and improve your fitness levels. The change of pace will keep your dog interested and excited too.

Explore other exercise options

Although walking and running seem the obvious options when starting to exercise with your dog, they aren’t the only ones. If you have a dog that loves to be in the water then swimming together is a great exercise option. Although most swimming pools won’t allow you to bring your canine companion, there are plenty of lakes and rivers that make great swimming locations in the warm summer months. Keep an eye on your dog throughout the swim to ensure he isn’t struggling or having trouble while in the water, and that he is always keeping his head above the water. If your dog isn’t comfortable in the water, then this isn’t a good option to try. Instead another fun option for land-loving dogs that are full of energy is to cycle alongside your pet. Take a bike ride at a really slow pace whilst your dog runs beside you getting rid of all his pent up energy. Just be sure to keep an eye on your pup to make sure he isn’t becoming too tired (bear in mind that during a bike ride your dog is working much harder than you) and remember to stop regularly so your dog can take bathroom breaks. It’s not easy to go to the bathroom and run alongside a bike at the same time!

Keeping your dog safe

If you are going to exercise with your dog regularly then it’s important to ensure you have adequate pet insurance for him. Accidents can and do happen: a trip or fall whilst running could result in a broken leg which, without insurance, would result in a very expensive vets bill. Vet visits cost pet owners an average of $505 dollars in 2011 : You could face a financial headache if you don’t have the right insurance in  place for your pet. According to money.co.uk, it’s also important to ensure that your pet’s pre-existing conditions are covered as well, to avoid any surprise financial outgoings. There are other relatively inexpensive ways you can keep your dog safe as you exercise too. Although it sounds obvious, don’t forget to carry water for your dog. You should provide an ounce of water for every pound your dog weighs, and look out for signs of exhaustion: you don’t want to push your companion too hard!  You can buy reusable sports water bottles from almost every supermarket, and they often come with clever cases, making them easy to carry as you exercise. Finally, think about the time of day you choose to exercise. Morning or early evening are the best times to exercise outside both for people and pets, and you should both avoid being in the sun in the heat of the day.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll soon find that you and your dog are feeling fitter and losing any excess weight in no time. Why not give it a go?

The post How to Exercise With Your Dog appeared first on All Pet News.

Ernesto Rodriguez of Stokes County North Carolina, who owns a tattoo parlor in Pilot Mountain, created quite an uproar on Facebook recently when he posted a picture of a new tattoo. The uproar wasn’t so much of the tattoo, but of who had it: his puppy.

Since the backlash began Rodriguez has said that he tattooed Duchess, a 4-month-old American bully, and his other dog, Duke, for identification reasons. But that’s not the full story, if you listen to what else Rodriguez has to say:

“It’s just art. I’m an artist. I wanted to put art on my dog,” he told the Fox 8 news channel. On his Facebook wall, at the time he gave his dog a tattoo, he wrote: “bored and tattooing.” Only recently has he said it’s for identification reasons, an act that the National Dog Registry actually endorses.

The NDR has a specific page dedicated to answering the question: Why Should You Tattoo Your Pet. The page discusses how dogs can run away, or be stolen (they state one out of every five dogs in the US are stolen). The NDR also talks about the high demand for animals to be used in research, food, and fur.

Obviously there are other ways of identifying your pet, such as tags and a microchip, but the NDR claims that a “simple, painless tattoo” is a permanent way to ensure your dog will always come home.

Back to Mr. Rodriguez. His dogs’ tattoos aren’t what the NDR suggests. They suggest simple numbers, whereas Rodriguez really went to town on the two animals he claims to love as if they were his own children.

But his story is particularly fishy. He tells Fox 8 that he decided to tattoo Duchess after picking her up from the vet, where she had her ears clipped. He said she was asleep when he picked her up from the vet, asleep during the tattooing procedure, and continued to sleep afterwards.

“Really, that’s kind of suspicious in my mind,” said N.C. Voters for Animal Welfare President Caleb Scott. “Usually when you pick up a dog or cat from the vet, they’re already awake after a procedure. They don’t usually hand you over a dog that’s asleep.”

According to North Carolina’s animal welfare statutes, a person cannot inflict unjustifiable pain and suffering, which is exactly what Scott believes Duke and Duchess must have endured. Rodriguez disagrees. When asked if he regretted his actions, he replied, “No, not at all. I’ll do it again to my next dogs.”

Is dog tattooing animal cruelty? Or does it depend on one’s intent? If the tattooing is for ID purposes, does that make it better than if you decide to turn your dog into the next Miami Ink spokesperson?

The post Dog Tattoos – Cruel or Cool? appeared first on All Pet News.

You may suffer from allergies. Heck, you may suffer from allergies because of your pet. But have you ever stopped to wonder if your pet suffers like you? Unless your pet has severe allergies (and at that point it’s impossible not to notice the suffering and discomfort), you might not have ever considered the potential. But yes, your pet can suffer from allergies. And yes, you can do something about it.

Allergy symptoms in animals are a lot like in humans: itchy skin, runny eyes, and sneezing. But pets might also exude symptoms such as itchy ears, swollen paws, and constant licking. So, what can you do to help your pet through this discomfort?

First you should know that most dog and cat allergies are caused by the environment, so unless you want a Bubble Beagle, you’ll have a hard time completely eliminating potential allergens. However, you can reduce your pet’s exposure to common allergens by practicing these tips:

• Be a flea flicker. Many animals are allergic to fleas. An allergy to fleas goes beyond basic itching. In order to avoid this type of flea allergy, make sure you give your dog and cat flea preventative treatment all year round. Did we mention all year round. Fleas don’t just join your pet’s party in warmer months. They can hang out on your dog’s body for months. Would you want fleas setting up camp on your skin?

• When it rains. If you suffer from allergies, you might have discovered that rain makes it all go away. After a rain, your symptoms subside. The same goes for your pet. Try to time long outdoor activities shortly after the rain, or on cooler days, as that’s when pollen count is at its lowest.

• Pollen is a late sleeper. Are you a morning person? If you are, you’re in luck. Old man Pollen likes to sleep in, meaning that you can take your dog out for longer walks before 10 a.m., without fear of sparking major symptoms. Take your dog for shorter walks during other times of the day.

• Wipe your feet! That exclamation point was mostly targeted at your pet (but goes for you, too). Pollen and other allergens can be found all over the ground. When your dog or cat walks around outside, they can track those allergens inside, and embed them into the carpet and furniture. So, wipe your feet! Okay, since your cat or dog likely won’t wipe their feet, do it for them, by investing in hypo-allergenic moist wipes. (This also keeps your pet from ingesting these allergens as he cleans his paws).

• Cover your butt by covering. Your pet might be allergic to dust mites. Even museums have them, so you likely won’t get rid of them anytime soon, no matter how clean you claim to be. What you can do is invest in allergen covers for your bedding, your dog’s bedding, pillows and any other plush items. Note: you might see these items advertised for humans, but they still work for your pets.

And there’s always the vet

If you know, for sure, that your pet suffers from environmental allergies, then the advice listed above should help to lower his symptoms.  The key phrase here, of course, is “for sure.” You can’t be sure of anything without getting sound advice from your vet. Your vet can determine what, if any, allergies your pet has. You’d be surprised to learn that your pet could be allergic to his food, or to a type of clothing, or a number of other random things (no, probably not your in-laws, sorry). While chances are the allergy comes from the environment, you never can be too sure. Go to your vet so you can find out for sure.

The post How to Control Your Pet’s Allergies appeared first on All Pet News.

Forget snake and alligator, some Americans are embracing a new exotic meat – Guinea Pig. The animal meat is popular in South American countries, such as Columbia and Peru, where it’s known as cuy. Recent interest in TV shows and blogs of exotic foods are fueling US foodies to try something new. Guinea Pig is not a locally produced meat. They are imported frozen, whole, and hairless from Peru.  NPR reports, that Peru guinea pig imports for a Connecticut company have almost doubled in the past four years – from 600 guinea pigs per year to more than 1,000 today. The imports are not tracked by the USDA or any federal regulatory agencies.

When served, guinea pig is eaten from head to toe. The two pound meal is prepared either roasted or fried. South American restaurants in the US are serving up this meat as the interest in exotic delicacies arise from middle-class foodies. The dark gamey meat is described as tasting rich, oily, and not unlike rabbit. In addition to finding adventure on a plate, there are environmental factors are at play for some pro-guinea pig meat supporters.

There is a push from overseas conservation groups, encouraging farmers in other countries, like Columbia, to find new protein sources with a small carbon footprint. The small two pound animal has high sources of protein with very low environmental impact, unlike Americans main choices of beef and chicken. Matt Miller, a US science writer for the Nature Conservatory, claims where it takes eight pounds of hay to make one pound of beef, it only takes four pounds of hay to make a pound of guinea pig.

Roasted or fried guinea pig is a traditional meal in South America, it was only a matter of time before the exotic meal hit other parts of the world like the US and England. BBC food blogger, Paula Dear, recently put her own stomach to the test. She encountered not only a new meat but also an internal struggle when faced with a plate of guinea pig. A guinea pig once graced the home of Paula Dear as a child and  fond memories of her fluffy pet surfaced as she chose her meal. Her partner in adventure loved each  bite, which included the head, and proclaimed the guinea pig as tasty.

The question remains, with environmental factors aside – could you eat an animal that resembles a pet from your childhood?

The post Eat Guinea Pig and Save the Planet appeared first on All Pet News.

Devon, England’s Mare and Foal Sanctuary has a new resident. Found a few hours after his birth trying to nurse from other mares, Breeze seemed to be orphaned foal. Unable to locate his mother, a farmer called in the sanctuary and they came for the foal that was already beginning to show signs of shock and dehydration.

All animals receive a substance called colostrums from their mother’s within the first twenty-four hours after birth. It imparts antibodies that help protect the baby from infection until its own immune system begins to function properly. Animals that do not receive colostrums from their mother need to be given an artificial substitute or they become prone to life-threatening infections. Breeze had not had the benefit of colostrums or much in the way of nutrition and was in poor shape.

He was immediately put on intravenous drips to make sure he received colostrums drips, medication, and milk to help his recovery along. Although he received round-the-clock care, his first few days were touch-and-go. Now, the Dartmoor pony foal is much improved and in need of company. So, the sanctuary put out a public request for some giant sized stuffed animals to help provide him with something to cuddle up to since he has no mother.

This is a technique the sanctuary has used in the past but their most recent donations were already in use with another orphaned foal that had arrived in April. Luckily, they received many stuffed toys and Breeze has become particularly attached to Buttons, a giant bear. There were enough donated that there are some extras for future orphans as well.

The sanctuary takes in unwanted, abandoned, and orphaned horses including many Dartmoor ponies. Most are rehabilitated and eventually placed in new homes. Others become permanent residents of the sanctuary. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary is a registered charity and they fundraise through a variety of events and stores.

For Breeze, the arrival of sanctuary staff came not a moment too soon. Now, he spends his days in the company of his caregivers, Buttons, and two stuffed dogs which has also taken a liking too. He is now strong enough to venture outdoors for short periods of time. Dartmoor ponies are an ancient, hardy breed meant to survive the tough conditions found at Dartmoor National Park. He’s become a hit on YouTube, gathering almost 400,000 hits in just over a week. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of a new life for this young foal.

The post Meet Breeze: An Orphaned Foal appeared first on All Pet News.

Animal abuse happens quietly. Dogs, cats, horses, and more are tortured,neglected and physically harmed by their owners each day. The commercials of the ASPCA are heart wrenching and visually hard to watch. Learn the signs of animal abuse and take action to report it.

According to the ASPCA, the following are signs of animal abuse:

• Acts of defense, cowering, or aggression when their owners approach them
• Animals who are left outside in extreme weather
• Patches of missing fur
• Animals who are tick and flea infested
• Wounds on the face and/or body
• Animals who are left alone without food or water and chained
• Large amounts of animals, known as animal hoarding
• Starving or extremely thin animals
• Limping
• Animals who have been harmed or shown any of the above signs and not taken to a veterinarian
• Animals around abandoned apartments and houses – they may have been left by previous owners

The United States does not have jurisdiction to try and convict animal abusers. Each state has their own laws regarding the penalties for causing harm to animals. Most states and counties have their own animal control units that can be contacted. A call to the local police department can also be made when abuse is seen. If traveling and local department numbers are not available, dial 911 to be connected to an agent quickly.

When contacting the correct officials, make sure you are taken seriously and offer to help in any way to help resolve the issue. Animal control units only remove animals from homes when it is necessary, they will not remove them if they find the report was false or unjustified. When giving a statement provide as much information to the law enforcement as possible. Include dates, times, sounds, and descriptions of the people involved. Pictures of the location and any acts that you might have captured are also helpful. If others in your area are also willing, give their contact information as well. The more proof and back up the agencies have, the easier it is to save the animals from further suffering.

Follow up with your contact at the agency. If nothing has been done and the abuse continues, keep trying – an animal’s life depends on you.

In New York, the ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement department, finds most of their abuse cases through concerned neighbors and phone calls from the public. Animals have no way to protect themselves and speak up, without our help they remain mute and helpless. If an animals or owners’ behavior is odd, be vigilant to watch for the animals well being and contact the authorities.

The post How to Report Animal Abuse appeared first on All Pet News.

Flying can be very stressful. The airport itself is often crowded. There are lineups and then there is the reason you are flying. It isn’t always a vacation. It can be a funeral or to visit a sick relative. There may be stress at home or work to deal with as well. Since 9/11 there has also been the added stress of the risk of terrorism. Airports recognize this airport stress and are trying out new ways to make it easier for travellers.

In the days immediately after 9/11, a volunteer chaplain at the Mineta San Jose airport requested permission to bring his dog, Orion, in to help soothe agitated passengers. The dog was such a hit that they decided to make the program a permanent feature of the airport and they now have 9 dogs in the program.

More recently, Los Angeles international (LAX) and Miami International airport have added canines to their staff as well. Called Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUPs), the dogs used are certified through Wyoming-based Therapy Dogs Inc. They must be well-behaved, calm, social with strangers, healthy, comfortable in the airport environment, and able to be kept on a four foot loose leash. The handlers and dogs go through a training process that includes teaching them ways to identify people who may be frightened of dogs, have allergies or for other reasons not wish to be near the animal.

The dogs wander through the airport with their handlers, wearing vests that say “Pet me”. As with all airport staff, they must pass through security. LAX has thirty dogs on staff. Although Miami only has one dog, named Casey, she is already a part of the reality series “Airport 24/7: Miami”.

Casey is a golden retriever and she knows how to make passengers feel welcome. Her presence was recently requested for the arrival of a flight from Brazil. Carina’s parents knew that the autistic child would be tired and stressed after the flight and felt she could use a break before they resumed their journey by car. Casey and her handler met Carina at her flight and brought her a gift basket. It made Carina’s day.

The dogs have also helped soldiers through difficult departures and passengers just having a very bad day. It is well known that patting a dog can bring your blood pressure down and relax you. Recent studies have also shown that dogs can identify a person in distress. Anyone who has ever flown with a dog can attest to how many people come up wanting to interact with the animal as you get him checked in. So, it is not surprising how successful the program has been.

There are already plans in the works to introduce more PUPs. Watch for them at an airport near you!

The post Dogs in PUPs Program Help Relieve Airport Stress appeared first on All Pet News.

It’s never an easy decision to choose to say goodbye to your pet forever. Whether it’s because of an illness, injury, or Father Time, saying the words that give the okay to put our pets to sleep will never roll off our tongues.

Perhaps the decision is somewhat easier if your pet is terminally ill, or gravely injured. Perhaps, but not likely. But euthanizing your pet when he’s simply showing signs of old age has to be one of the hardest things to do.

It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, isn’t it? In some ways, we should feel fortunate that many of us aren’t forced with a sudden and abrupt death of a pet. We get to watch them grow old. On the other hand … we have to watch them grow old, and sick, and lame. They continue to live long after they really are living, and so we’re left with a decision: do we give them more time, living like this, or do we say goodbye, and euthanize them?

It’s not an easy decision, but one most pet owners have to make. But how do you know when it’s the right time to euthanize your pet? Here are some guidelines to help you come to your own decision.

1. Consult your vet. It kind of goes without saying, but your vet will be the best resource you have. Each animal and medical condition is different, so researching information online is not your best bet. One dog with cancer might have a far better chance of survival (and living a healthy life) than another.
2. Get impartial advice. My sister had a bloodhound, whom she acquired with her husband years ago. During the life of this bloodhound, her husband tragically died in a fire, and this dog was a comforting reminder for my sister. When this bloodhound was nearing the end of his life, my sister grappled with the idea of putting him to sleep. She’d already lost her husband. How could she lose this dog? She did something really smart: she sought advice from people not so emotionally invested. It’s easy to look past the facts (the pain, suffering and quality of life of your pet) when emotions are running the show. By seeking advice (and support) from others, my sister came to the right decision. To send her dog away, peacefully. (Note: your vet is a great source for impartial, and educated, advice).
3. Create your top 5 list. This one will really put things in perspective. Make a list of the top 5 things your pet loves to do (hiking, walking, chasing the cat, chewing a bone, going for car rides). When your dog can’t do three of those things any longer, his quality of life has greatly diminished. This might be a sign that you need to consider euthanasia.
4. Track the good and the bad. Your pet will have good days and bad days, all mixed in with one another. In order to get a clearer picture of the progression of his condition over time, track his days in a calendar. Make it simple: X = bad days, and a smiley face = good days. Over the course of a month you might realize that his bad days greatly outnumber his good days.
5. Dr. Alice Villalobos’s HHHHHMM Quality of Life Scale. Vet oncologist Dr. Alice Villalobos suggests assessing your pet’s:

• Hurt (his lack of pain)
• Hunger
• Hydration
• Happiness
• Hygiene (keeping the pet clean from its own waste)
• Mobility
• More good days vs. bad days (see #4)

Track these categories on a scale of 1 – 10 (one being poor, 10 being great). If you can score more than 5 on at least half of these categories, then continuing with supportive care (rather than euthanasia) is acceptable.

Think of them, not of you

I have a friend whose cat had a stroke. For weeks the cat did little more than crawl across the floor. She had no balance and literally fell into her food bowl at feeding time. It was horrific. My friend’s family couldn’t bear to euthanize that cat (Fosse), until their vet nearly pleaded with them.

Fosse’s quality of life was zero, actually zero. The family wasn’t thinking of her, they were thinking of themselves. That’s not to sound harsh, of course. We’re all guilty of it. How can we say goodbye to our loved ones? But if we continue to think of them, before ourselves, we might come to this decision with a better understanding, and less guilt.

The post How to Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Pet appeared first on All Pet News.