Dapper Dog

Dogs are such an integral part of family life that they are included in local and interstate travel in automobiles and recreational vehicles. Pet participation adds joy to family travel because the entire family is present for every event along the way. Dogs love to participate and enjoy seeing new places and meeting other dogs from all over town and around the country. Once the family pet becomes used to going in the car or RV, leaving them behind is almost impossible.

When the unthinkable happens and a dog is injured in an automobile accident, the pet’s injuries have not been covered by the automobile insurance policy, until now. One of the most innovative insurance advancements is pet injury insurance, pioneered by Progressive (and discussed in detail below given that many other car insurance companies are taking note and designing similar pet car insurance benefits), which has been developed to address the gap in coverage incurred by the insured motorist to care for his loving pet.

Pet Injury Insurance vs. Pet Insurance

Standard pet insurance covers pet illness and injury that occurs at home in the normal course of life. Dogs that love to travel with their owners have not been covered for injuries that occur in the car. Automobile insurance companies have recognized the financial impact of injuries to man’s best friend and are beginning to create an additional benefit to cover veterinarian bills.

Pet injury insurance is typically nestled in the collision coverage of automobile policies offered by certain auto insurance companies. Injuries incurred in the accident that are treated by a veterinarian are typically covered up to $1,000. A simple fall that injures the pet while in the moving vehicle is not covered by the pet injury insurance. The car must be damaged in an accident and require repairs that are sufficient to require payment from the collision or comprehensive portion of the auto insurance policy.

Coverage Specifications

The automobile insurance policy must have a collision component to include the pet injury insurance coverage. Comprehensive policies automatically include collision insurance. One coverage component of a typical pet car insurance policy is $1,000 toward veterinarian bills incurred when a pet is injured in an accident that requires repair of the vehicle under the collision component.

Deductibles are paid on the automobile repair and do not apply to the veterinarian bills. After treatment has been obtained for the beloved pet, copies of the bills are provided to the insurance company, and the owner is paid up to $1,000 for the incurred expenses.

Pet injury insurance coverage is typically built-in to the collision coverage without increasing the premium charged for the policy. The added benefit is focused on relieving expense for the insured driver in the event of an accident that would require repair to the vehicle.

All collision automobile insurance policies have the pet injury component without having to be requested by the insured motorist. When a family pet is acquired, that animal is covered by the policy if the pet is inside the vehicle at the time of an accident. No special effort to record pets on the policy is necessary.

Circumstances Covered

One nice benefit to look for in a pet car insurance policy is that any pet belonging to the same household that is riding in the vehicle will be covered by the pet injury coverage. Typically each pet is not required to be listed on the policy to qualify for the coverage. When multiple pets are inside the vehicle and injured in an accident, the veterinarian bills are covered up to $1,000 per incident. Use of the collision coverage qualifies the insured to file a claim for the pet injury expenses.

An additional benefit that can be offered is if a pet is stolen from a vehicle and then injured in some way then that will covered under comprehensive component of the auto insurance. Also, an automobile fire that invokes the comprehensive coverage should also cover the pet for injuries sustained in the fire.

If the pet dies in an accident or fire that invokes either comprehensive or collision coverage component of the auto insurance policy, the pet injury insurance will likely pay out a death benefit to the pet owner for the loss of the beloved pet. No amount of money could replace the pet, but the money can relieve some of the final expenses as average pet burial expenses can be pricey.

Minor incidents that do not require automobile repairs under the collision component of the auto insurance policy will typically not trigger pet injury coverage. If the pet simply falls out of the vehicle while it is moving, the veterinarian bills associated with that injury are usually not covered under a policy.

When the dog loves to ride in the car with his head out the window in the wind, an eye injury incurred by a small piece of debris or insect is also typically not covered under the pet injury insurance. Just because the pet is inside the vehicle does not invoke the pet injury coverage in an auto insurance policy.

For the unfortunate pet that is hit by a car, the pet injury insurance in the automobile insurance policy typically does not cover the veterinarian bills incurred to treat the injuries associated with the event. These injuries would be covered under the separate pet insurance policy.

Traveling with Pets

Traveling with pets has become much easier in recent years because hotels, resorts, and campgrounds welcome pets with special play areas and daycare facilities. Since pets spend more time in the car than ever before, pet injury insurance is a logical addition to auto insurance coverage. No one wants to need the insurance coverage, but peace of mind comes from knowing there is a monetary compensation component to the auto insurance policy for the care of a beloved pet.

Only a couple of insurance companies currently offer the pet injury coverage, but others will follow in the coming years because of the appeal to pet owners. Consumer pressure will encourage most major insurance carriers to add this compassionate benefit to auto insurance policy coverage. Until then, care must be invested to keep pets safe while in moving vehicles of every size and type.

Our Guest Blogger: Samantha is a dog lover and part-time writer for a consumer website to compare car insurance quotes. When she is not researching money saving car insurance tips and tricks she can usually be found hiking trails near her house with her husband Tom and their German Shepherd Leonidas.

Being a dog owner is worth it, for all the troubles that it carries. Sure, you have a harder time finding an apartment and you have to do twice as much vacuuming in the summer, but at the end of the day, you live a lot longer than people who don’t own pets, and you have a friend who would take a bullet for you, so really, the extra hassle when it comes to finding cheap home insurance rates is nothing if not worth it.

Still, when you have a dog, insurers aren’t just looking at you, they’re looking at your dog and often making the assumption that your dog is some kind of untrained wild animal. Whether or not your dog is house trained, whether or not they’re even capable of biting the mailman, insurers are often working under the assumption that your dog isn’t doing anything in a day but biting people and soiling carpets.

Of course, when it comes to car insurance, some insurers will “throw you a bone” by offering free pet car insurance coverage with a standard car insurance policy but for homeowners insurance companies it can be quite a different story.

Risk Management

When it comes down to it, insurance is all about risk management, of course, so it makes more sense in the long run to ensure that you are protected in the event of mistakes, misunderstandings and even in the instance of a dog doing the right thing to the wrong person.

If, for instance, a burglar hops into your backyard and gets bitten, their story might not include the fact that they were planning on robbing your home. Their alibi may include a frisbee they tossed over the fence by accident. Even if you have the most well trained dog in the world, these are the kinds of claims you’re up against.

Just watch a court TV show sometime. No matter the circumstance, the judge seems to side against the dog owner almost one hundred percent of the time. In civil court, it’s one party’s word against the other’s, and if the only eyewitness on your side can’t speak, that puts you at a disadvantage in a court of law.

The “Trouble-Makers”

Whether it comes down to urban legend and misunderstanding, or real, scientifically backed points regarding the dog’s temperament, the following dog breeds can be hard to add onto a homeowners insurance policy:

- Staffordshire Bull Terrier

- Siberian Husky

- Presa Canario

- Rottweiler

- Pit Bull

- Doberman Pinscher

- Akita

- Chow Chow

- Alaskan Malamute

- German Shepherd

Pit bull owners will tell you that they’re really not anymore likely to attack random strangers than the next breed, but unfortunately, they have a bad reputation, and that matters in a court of law, so it matters when it comes to buying insurance.

Keeping Your Costs Down

There’s good news in all of this doom-saying: there’s a handful of things you can do that will be very effective in keeping the costs down. They include:

- Use A Beware of Dog Sign: Or a couple of them, even. These will let people know to keep out of your backyard. Yes, it’s odd that in this day and age we have to tell people not to trespass, but be that as it may, a beware of dog sign at least lets people know that your dog may bite intruders.

- Consult with a Professional if Your Dog Shows Aggressive Behavior: Even if the aggressive behavior was perfectly understandable, making sure that you keep that behavior in check is vital to keeping your costs down and protecting yourself should a case go to trial.

- Avoid Games of Aggression: In a broad sense, you may be thinking “what, no tug-of-war?” but aggression here is defined as being anything that can be construed as violence.

- Buy a Well Bred Dog: This tip is a little silly, actually, as pure-bred dogs often suffer from various aggression problems due to in-breeding. But, the courts don’t know this, so it doesn’t matter. Anyways, dog owners don’t choose who they fall in love with by breed, but by personality. Still, if you own a pure-bred, at least know that you have the upper hand here.

- Train Your Dog Well: A dog who’s been to a training school, or whose owner can show the receipts for a dozen books and tools for training, is going to result in much lower home insurance costs than a dog who’s been trained by the owner’s intuition alone. No matter how much you think you know about training, making sure they’re trained by the book can be a big help in keeping costs down.

- Talk to a Professional Before Adopting a Dog: Again, this tip sounds a little odd. Nevertheless, just showing that you bought or adopted a dog after consulting with a dog trainer who knows breeds can help in keeping your liability insurance cheap.

- Be Careful in New Situations: Try to avoid situations where you’re not one hundred percent sure how your dog is going to react. Even the most well-trained dog might have a bad reaction to certain situations.

- Spay and Neuter: This is simply an important tip whether or not you’re shopping for insurance but it’s also important to know that spaying/neutering may curb aggression.

- Don’t Leave Your Dog Alone with Children: Even if you know your dog can be trusted, other people don’t, so don’t leave your dog alone with infants or small children.

For dog owners, the world is full of people who misunderstand our best friends, who see aggression where a dog lover sees playfulness. Sadly, we’ve chosen as our best friends a breed of animal that some people are unjustly afraid of. This means we pay more for insurance and always have to be aware of the issue of liability. However, if you plan things through and make sure that you’re covered, you don’t really have too much to worry about in the long run.

Author Bio: Crystal is a freelance writer and mother. She writes for a number of different personal finance websites including a website for comparing homeowners insurance quotes online. When she is not researching and writing money saving articles she is probably getting some exercise walking around the block with her English Bulldog Charles.

There is an ongoing debate in animal health, about whether pets are in danger of frostbite during the cold months.  We have heard dog owners and veterinarians alike swear that dogs simply can’t get frostbite — but they have exposed skin and sensitive parts like us, so why not?  As it turns out, it takes much lower temperatures and much longer exposure for dogs to experience the kind of frostbite that can debilitate and even permanently injure a human within minutes.  It is still something of a phenomenon how dogs manage to keep their noses, feet, and ears warm even in bitter cold.  However, despite dogs’ superior resistance to cold, frostbite is not completely impossible.  Also, in temperatures where frostbite is a concern, hypothermia could be an even more frightening possibility for an exposed animal.

Dogs may never show you the first signs of frostbite, what we experience as numbness, followed by itching or mild discomfort when the exposed area is warmed up again.  How can a dog tell you his foot is going numb?  He won’t cry in pain if it doesn’t hurt.  And just like our own mild frostbite, you can’t see the damage right away.  If your dog spends significant amount of time outdoors in the winter, always check his paws when he comes back inside.  You take the time to wipe the snow from his paws and fur, so you can take the time to have a look at his feet too.  If you live in a northern state, you will want to keep his excursions short, and check his skin every time.  What to look for:

• White or pale patches on skin or paw pads

• Skin that is cold to the touch even after coming inside for a bit

• Skin that turns red and swollen within a day or so of exposure

If your dog exhibits signs of frostbite, you should warm the area very slowly.  Mild frostbite may disappear completely after warming.  More severe frostbite will take time to heal, and may become painful as it heals.  If redness and swelling appears, see a vet immediately.

Despite denials of the possibility of frostbite in dogs, it is a real threat in some climates, and especially for some breeds, and dogs with health conditions.

Sure — if you live in South Carolina and have a Mastiff you might never be able to imagine your dog getting frostbite.  But think about the Chihuahua who lives in Buffalo, or even the Mastiff who lives in Anchorage!  Frostbite is a real concern for many dogs, and should not be written off as something “impossible.”  Dogs have circulation systems that shut down blood-flow to extremities in extreme cold — just like us.  Dogs have been domesticated to spend most of their time indoors — hey, just like us!  Just because you see badgers and bunnies braving the snow all winter, doesn’t mean your dog should stay outside all night or take long snowy hikes without protection.  You want him to lead a much more comfortable life than those badgers have to endure!

Some things you can do to prevent frostbite and keep your dog safe this winter:

• Limit his outdoor time when temps fall below freezing.  If he needs his exercise, take walks rather than letting him have his run of the yard.  If you are with him in the cold, you will feel it too, and get inside before the two of you get too chilly.

• Put baby oil on your dog’s paws before a long excursion.  The oil will keep snow and slush from sticking between his toes and forming little ice packs that could damage tissue.

• Don’t expose a dog to lower temperatures than he is accustomed to.  If you took Florida Fido on a ski trip to Wisconsin, you’ll need to supervise his snow play.  He doesn’t have his own tactics for staying warm.

• Wipe and inspect your dog’s paws and fur to look for frostbite, remove packed on snow, and clean off any icemelt chemicals.

• If your pup just loves the outdoors and can’t be contained no matter the temperature, consider investing in dog booties.  Booties from good outdoor gear companies will fit well, keep paws warm, and make walking comfortable in all kinds of weather.

For more on winter safety for your dog, visit these links:

http://www.canismajor.com/dog/winter2.html

http://www.dogguide.net/winter-safety-2.php

Summer is a time to be out in the sun, and if we have a canine friend they are likely to be out in the sun with us.  You take precautions to make sure you don’t burn, you get to the shade when you start to get exhausted,  and you drink plenty of water.  Right?  Be aware that you need to do all of these things for your dog, too!

Because of their thick fur and sometimes tough skin, we don’t often think about a dog getting sunburn.  But it happens every day.  White dogs and dogs with thinner hair are more susceptible than others, and every dog is susceptible to sunburn on his ears and his little pink (or black, or brown…) nose!  Sunburn appears on dogs as it would on humans, as red, dry skin that may become itchy and irritated, and in severe cases may form blisters and cause hair loss.

Luckily for dog owners there are many sunscreens available at your pet store.  Many are of the spray-on variety, because yes it does seem kind of yucky to slather lotion all over a dog’s fur.  But be sure you reapply spray-screen often and liberally if you are out in the sun for long periods, or if your dog is swimming.  For noses and ears, lotion sunscreen works best.  You can purchase the dog-specific brands, or you can simply use an all-natural baby sunblock.  Baby sunblock may cost less and is much easier to come by if you end up at the beach without protection.

In addition to sunblocking your dog, you can also keep him under wraps from those nasty rays.  Doggy swimsuits, light colored t-shirts, and even doggy sunglasses can help reduce your pup’s exposure.  Bun in the hottest conditions, don’t forget that the best thing to do after a good round of fetch or a good dip in the waves is to simply get the dog out of the sun for awhile.  On top of sunburn, heat exhaustion can set in and ruin your dog’s fun summer day.

Ask your vet about sunscreen options for your dog, especially if he has sensitive skin or is a less hairy breed.  You local pet boutique may also be able to recommend a good sunscreen.  But in a pinch, you are certainly a good dog parent even if you have to run to the drugstore for plain old Coppertone — protecting your dog with the same products you would use on your baby seems funny, but your furry babies need the same care in the summer sun.

Reflective Mesh Harness with Reflective Dot Lead

You wouldn’t go out for a nighttime stroll wearing black.  You wouldn’t ride your bike at night without reflectors or even a set of lights.  Why let your dog go invisible after dark?

Spring and summer mean warmer nights, and for many of us active dog owners, that means more time to get outside.  Taking longer walks on city streets, venturing into the woods for a hike, or just staying at the dog park until the sun goes down are all fun ways to spend those extra hours of daylight.  However, the only way to stay safe and fun in these situations is to make sure your dog is visible at all times.

Nylon Reflective Weave Collars

For city dogs, a reflective harness or reflective collar coupled with a reflective leash is a good idea.  The collar helps you and motorists see the dog, and the leash gives both of you a long strand of added visibility.  In cities, where night lights are plentiful, the two (or three, or more) of you will be hard to miss with just a little bit of reflective material setting you off.  For areas where street lighting is poor, glow-in-the-dark or LED options are also available for your dog.  These enable you to see the dog even when no car headlights are approaching.

For country dogs, or just those of you who like to spend time out in nature, LED collars are a great option.  You can see them without any additional light, they will be visible even at dusk before all the sunlight is gone (you should really get out of the woods by then, or bed your dog down at camp!).  For dogs spending more time in the woods or on hikes, there are dog pannier packs trimmed with reflective materials.  The bright colors of the packs are especially important when hunters may be out.  With a doggy day pack and an LED collar, you’ll be ready for a safe adventure — Fido can carry his own supplies and remain visible to you day and night, by flashlight or around the campfire.

Argyle LED Collar

Finally, even if you keep your dog safe at night by keeping him off the streets and out of the bush, summer events like dog park outings and backyard barbeques can end with a lost dog or two, especially when dogs and people have been having fun and don’t notice daylight slipping away.  Reflective, glow-in-the-dark, or LED collars can keep your dog visible after hours, ensuring he won’t disappear off into the sunset.  Worst case scenario, if he wanders off, the lighted collar will make Fido visible to passers-by who can tell he’s a cared for dog (not a scary night wanderer!) and they can look for his tag and information.  With “high-visibility dogs,” everyone can safely collect their pup at the end of the day, and get some much needed rest for the next fun filled summer adventure.

Check out Dog Collar Boutique to outfit your dog for a safe summer of outdoor adventures.  Our “Outdoor”, “DogeLites”and “Kurgo” categories contain some great collars and accessories, and “Cloak & Dawggie” features reflective and glow designs for smaller pups.

Reflective Wander Pack