Posts in Category: Pet Health & Wellness

No one wants their pets to be anxious or stressed, yet anxiety in one form or another is not an uncommon diagnosis at The Bluffs Pet Clinic. While it may not seem like your pet has a whole lot to worry about, anxiety in pets can cause real problems.

We all want to do the very best we can to provide health and happiness for our pets. They’re members of the family, after all! And we’re fortunate that in this day and age, we all have access to the very best in advanced medical care for our pets, from puppy or kitten-hood to adulthood and into their senior years. But this advanced care doesn’t come without cost. And with average annual pet care costs topping $1800, taking great care of our pets can put a significant financial strain on many families.

That’s where pet insurance comes in. Just as human health insurance is designed to offset our own health care costs, pet insurance can ease the financial burden of unexpected injury or major illness in our pets. But is it worth it? Here, The Bluffs Pet Clinic lays out the basics so that you can begin to weigh the costs and benefits for your situation.

Pet Insurance 101

Pet insurance is usually designed to help pet owners meet the costs of unplanned injury or illnesses. Some pet insurance plans also cover wellness care, such as dental cleanings, exams, and vaccinations. However, those plans are typically more expensive on a monthly basis.

Unlike human health insurance, most pet insurance companies expect you to pay for veterinary services up front and then submit bills to them for reimbursement.

Leg Work

Selecting a pet insurance company is an individual choice, and so it’s important to do some preliminary research and make a selection based on your needs. Many of our team members have purchased pet insurance for their own pet companions, so if you have questions, give us a call.

When researching, consider comparing the following points:

• Monthly premiums/ costs
• Deductible amounts
• Waiting periods
• Exclusions
• Lifetime limits
• Payout maximums per incident
• Add on costs
• Pre-existing conditions
• Age limits

After you’ve looked at these points, call your top three companies and talk to them. Customer service is key, so make sure you like the service provided and that all your questions are answered. Lastly, looking at online reviews from other consumers can be enlightening.

Peace of Mind

Perhaps the biggest benefit of pet insurance is the peace of mind it can afford you. If your pet is critically injured and needs to be hospitalized, or is diagnosed with a major illness such as cancer, pet insurance can allow you to focus on what’s most important – your pet’s care – instead of how you will pay for treatment.

If you have other specific questions about pet insurance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We brush our teeth twice a day, and the results of those efforts are definitely noticeable. Most of us wouldn’t dream of going an entire day (not to mention weeks, months, or years) without brushing, and we also benefit from regular cleanings, x-rays, and exams.

The same could be said for the benefits of dental care for our pets. And although applying these same principals to your pet could seem challenging at first, the health benefits to them are nothing short of astounding. 

With that in mind, The Bluffs Pet Clinic takes a deeper look into why pet home dental care is so important.

Each season brings an array of unique hazards. Winter increases a pet’s risk of hypothermia, aching, arthritic joints, and frozen paw pads. Unfortunately, antifreeze is also highly toxic to pets. What’s worse, the smell and taste of antifreeze doesn’t warn them that it’s unsafe. Antifreeze poisoning in pets is a very real threat this time of year, and prevention is key.

The body is pretty amazing, and it is incredible what it can do. Despite all of its abilities, though, it is not infallible. Time, general wear and tear, and injury can definitely affect performance. Osteoarthritis is a common diagnosis in our patients at The Bluffs Pet Clinic. It is also a diagnosis that, while not curable, has a wide variety of treatment options available. Treating arthritis in dogs does not have a one-size-fits-all prescription, but in most situations, our veterinarians can find some combination of treatment options to help all of our patients live happy and functional lives. 

A common barrier to routine veterinary care is financial. Added to this is the assumption that if a pet looks and behaves normally, they’re healthy. But in order for a pet to truly thrive and meet their healthiest potential, prevention is the key to success. Warding off contagious and/or preventable diseases, reducing the impact of external and internal parasites, and maintaining optimal weight are all part of our pet wellness plans. Designed to help owners achieve maximum pet wellness, these plans also promote fiscal responsibility. Win-win!

Traditional veterinary medicine has elevated disease prevention, treatment, surgery, and pain management to benefit millions of companion animals. When paired with holistic veterinary medicine, pets can achieve whole-body health, vitality, and longevity. This integrative approach is becoming more mainstream, in part because of the myriad alternatives to prevent or soothe various illnesses/injuries. In response to the growing curiosity, we’d like to share a few effective natural pet remedies that can provide relief and support. 

Our companion animals are living longer than ever before. This is obviously great news, but their longevity also increases the chances of chronic conditions, such as cognitive impairment, blindness, or deafness. In addition, many pets are either born with physical abnormalities that impact mobility, or are recovering from an illness or injury that resulted in a surgical amputation. Whatever the case may be, differently-abled pets are deserving of our love and protection. With certain considerations of their abilities, they can live long, healthy lives.

The Bluffs Pet Clinic knows that you want the best options when it comes to your pet’s health care. It is important to us to offer a range of care encompassing the best of both Eastern and Western veterinary medicine. 

Herbal treatment can be a great option for many of our patients but is not always familiar to pet owners. Read on to learn how veterinary herbal therapy can be used to help your pet.

Have you ever noticed your dog racing in circles at top speed, or a kitten leaping and pouncing non-stop? As an observer, it can be difficult to restrain your laughter at the cuteness overload.  You may wonder at the mystery of why your pets have the zoomies in the first place. The team at The Bluffs Pet Clinic is here to explain the phenomenon known as pet zoomies and the reasons for this strange behavior.