Posts in Category: You & Your Pet

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.

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!

There are a variety of conditions that can cause chronic pain in pets. It can be difficult to determine if your pet is in pain, however, as some are experts at hiding their discomfort. The veterinarians at The Bluffs Pet Clinic can help you determine if your pet is experiencing chronic pain and take a holistic approach to create an appropriate treatment plan to alleviate it.

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.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is never easy, and the grieving process is highly individualized. Our pets are valued family members who provide a constant source of companionship through life’s ups and downs. They give our lives purpose; they keep us active, and they make us laugh. And for those who rely on a service animal or therapy pet, losing that pet also means a temporary loss of independence or emotional support. 

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. 

Most species of animals can develop cancer. Dogs, especially larger and older dogs, are at a greater risk for cancer than our cats. Arming yourself with knowledge about pet cancer can help you make the most informed decisions should you ever come into contact with this disease.

At The Bluffs Pet Clinic, we think that pocket pets are just as amazing as dogs or cats. From rabbits to guinea pigs to hamsters, pint-sized pets are pretty great. We often forget that they need care, though, too. Pocket pet wellness is important!

Proper Pocket Pet Care

When pocket pets are well cared for, they tend to live longer and healthier lives. Perhaps the biggest thing to understand about your pet is what species-specific needs that they have. Taking care of a ferret is way different than caring for a hedgehog.

Because they require less maintenance and room, ownership of exotic pets is booming. In addition to their super cool looks, they also have massive appeal to people allergic to cats and dogs. Despite the perception that they’re easy-to-care-for, there are highly specific requirements for exotic pet care that demand an owner’s time, awareness, and attention.

Although we are more than a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems that many facets of our daily lives are still affected by the virus. The Bluffs Pet Clinic is (and always has been) committed to offering your pets exceptional care, and we want you to know why it seems like our wait times have gotten longer recently.

More Pet Adoptions