I highly recommend a raw diet. I switched both of my dogs over and haven't looked back. Fish Oil is also essential if you're feeding raw.
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Pet Insurance - Advise / pros / cons ?
- Thread starter frekeyguy
- Start date
I highly recommend a raw diet. I switched both of my dogs over and haven't looked back. Fish Oil is also essential if you're feeding raw.
suzuki2000
Well-known member
we have pet uinsurance though PC. they have differnet levals of coverage and this obviously means different $'s
We had never had insurace until we got a puppy this parst spring. Sad story, but we unfortunately had to put him down at 9 weeks just when we got him due to a reaction to a shot. Breeder ended up covering everything, but would much rather have had our puppy.
Anyways... ended up gattuing anotehr puppy some time after. we were paying ~$70/month 2 dogs , 2 cats
then this summer one cat got sick, he ended up having to be put down, he was experiencing kidney failure apparently, they think he may have gotten into something poisonous? 2 days at the vet $1500.00 bill
Then just recently our 7 month chow ended up needing elbow surgery, cost was about 2500 for surgery and 500 for the diagnostic
he is all good now except his shaved legs are still growing back in.
Irony is we never had pet insurance for the longest time, and this year we decided to get it and we have had many issues with the health of our pets...
We had never had insurace until we got a puppy this parst spring. Sad story, but we unfortunately had to put him down at 9 weeks just when we got him due to a reaction to a shot. Breeder ended up covering everything, but would much rather have had our puppy.
Anyways... ended up gattuing anotehr puppy some time after. we were paying ~$70/month 2 dogs , 2 cats
then this summer one cat got sick, he ended up having to be put down, he was experiencing kidney failure apparently, they think he may have gotten into something poisonous? 2 days at the vet $1500.00 bill
Then just recently our 7 month chow ended up needing elbow surgery, cost was about 2500 for surgery and 500 for the diagnostic
he is all good now except his shaved legs are still growing back in.
Irony is we never had pet insurance for the longest time, and this year we decided to get it and we have had many issues with the health of our pets...
suzuki2000
Well-known member
Our dogs trainer does the same, some insurance plans have exclusions for certain breeds that have genetic issues
suzuki2000
Well-known member
We just had elbow (knee) surgery with one of our dogs (see earlier post), check OVC as they are affordable compared to some, as an alternatrive you could seek pricing in the US at Cornell (NY) or Ohio State Vet Schools.
we looked at these as options, they are viable options...
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frekeyguy
Well-known member
so it was well worth it?
suzuki2000
Well-known member
unfortunately?
Very much a catch 22 situation, I would rather have my pets healthy but then I would feel like my $ was wasted.
Our insurance payiouts this year have been over $4000, had we not had insurance, my wife and I would have had some very tough and different discussions
Jimsun
Well-known member
Do yourself a favour and train yourself about the type of dog youll be getting. Its worth the time to know what youre grtting into than have everything unfold before your eyes.
I have rotti/gsd mix - gsd body, thick bone, wide body, deep chest and rotti head, ears, and colours.
I knew this guy will hit 120 easily so I prepared myself and im keeping him well around 105
lbs.
A well branded dog food (orijen) will be good. Or you can go raw like most of us.
Train your dog and dolots of exercises and you will be good.
I have rotti/gsd mix - gsd body, thick bone, wide body, deep chest and rotti head, ears, and colours.
I knew this guy will hit 120 easily so I prepared myself and im keeping him well around 105
lbs.
A well branded dog food (orijen) will be good. Or you can go raw like most of us.
Train your dog and dolots of exercises and you will be good.
Yep. If we are forced to go the surgery route, i was going to check into the US as an option.
suzuki2000
Well-known member
Those that do raw, what if any issues have you had if you have needed to board your dog? I know some people who do raw, but they have challenges when boarding where many places will not provide the raw diets when in their care.
Ours get high quality food with fresh cooked recipes my wife makes including essential oils, proteins, anti-oxidants etc... We have reviewed and approved with our vet.
Ours get high quality food with fresh cooked recipes my wife makes including essential oils, proteins, anti-oxidants etc... We have reviewed and approved with our vet.
suzuki2000
Well-known member
a lot of resources with a search: https://www.google.ca/#q=raw+diet+for+dogs.
one concern I have been told about is the possibility of needeing suplements for any missed or low vitamins, minerals, etc..
Jimsun
Well-known member
thats why you feed organs too. Such as liver heart lungs etc. those have high nutrients your buddy will need
Although I have not had to board my dogs, I would only board them at a facility that would feed raw. I have found at least one place near me that will do that should I need to board them in the future.
roadtoruin
Well-known member
I feed my dog all homemade. I tried the premium kibble orijen and some other ones and it gave him the runs every time. So finally I decided to make the switch and hes had healthy solid dumps since and i've never gone back to kibble. As easy as it is to just drop dry food in the bowl It's a pain in the *** to clean up bingo dots all over the house. I dont do raw because my dog makes a huge mess when he eats and frankly I dont want to handle raw meat or clean it up all the time.
We should start a dog food recipe thread. Here's mine on average:
Large pot of water 1/4 to 1/2 full, bring to a boil throw in a large package of chicken breasts (I alternate with ground beef and fish every few weeks) a few handfuls of carrots and few handfuls of broccoli (alternate beans/zuchini/whatever), let boil up then add some quick oats at the end to soak up the remaining water (alternatively i use rice but i find the oats are easier for him and bind the food together nicer). Pile it all in bags and toss some in the freezer.
Never told my vet that I had switching his diet, he actually lost a little weight to a more healthy target and the vet ran blood tests for all sorts of things on a regular checkup and just said how healthy and balanced he was, still never told him I cook all his food.
Used to think it was crazy to cook a dog human food but now I find buying bulk dry kibble of questionable origin and quality to feed a family member kind of crazy.
p.s. to answer ops question, no insurance here, save your money I think we all give away too much to insurance companies as it is around here
p.p.s. Do not boil organ meat, made that mistake once with beef kidneys and almost puked from the smell that pervaded the entire house. maybe feed those raw as a treat.
We should start a dog food recipe thread. Here's mine on average:
Large pot of water 1/4 to 1/2 full, bring to a boil throw in a large package of chicken breasts (I alternate with ground beef and fish every few weeks) a few handfuls of carrots and few handfuls of broccoli (alternate beans/zuchini/whatever), let boil up then add some quick oats at the end to soak up the remaining water (alternatively i use rice but i find the oats are easier for him and bind the food together nicer). Pile it all in bags and toss some in the freezer.
Never told my vet that I had switching his diet, he actually lost a little weight to a more healthy target and the vet ran blood tests for all sorts of things on a regular checkup and just said how healthy and balanced he was, still never told him I cook all his food.
Used to think it was crazy to cook a dog human food but now I find buying bulk dry kibble of questionable origin and quality to feed a family member kind of crazy.
p.s. to answer ops question, no insurance here, save your money I think we all give away too much to insurance companies as it is around here
p.p.s. Do not boil organ meat, made that mistake once with beef kidneys and almost puked from the smell that pervaded the entire house. maybe feed those raw as a treat.
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suzuki2000
Well-known member
roadtoruin, something we do you may be of interested in. my wife cooks for the dogs and we freeze portions. use tyhe silicone cupcake pans and freeze. each puck is 1/2 cup and they just 'pop" out to store in the freezer. This allows us to cook a batch that will feed the dogs one or two weeks at a time
I've never had pet insurance, however my next dog wont leave the breeder until he's insured.
Three ACL's (on one dog) @ $2,000. ea
Keflex prescriptions at least once a yr @ $100. a shot
ear infections, $80 four or five times as a result of his related allergies
special food since he has so many allergies, he's 128lbs......... the other dog eats it as well since we don't want to cross contaminate.
couple MRI's @ $500. to determine pulled muscle....
Its a papered Yellow American Lab from a well known breeder, she has no explaination for this genetic train wreck. She offered to take the dog back, but he's family, I'd give her one of the kids first.
9 dogs never insured, he's made me a believer.
Three ACL's (on one dog) @ $2,000. ea
Keflex prescriptions at least once a yr @ $100. a shot
ear infections, $80 four or five times as a result of his related allergies
special food since he has so many allergies, he's 128lbs......... the other dog eats it as well since we don't want to cross contaminate.
couple MRI's @ $500. to determine pulled muscle....
Its a papered Yellow American Lab from a well known breeder, she has no explaination for this genetic train wreck. She offered to take the dog back, but he's family, I'd give her one of the kids first.
9 dogs never insured, he's made me a believer.
Jimsun
Well-known member
I've never had trouble with my dogs and his litter. I have big dogs so if he litters, go figure how it'll be. he roams the basement as i live in the basement. What needs to be done is him knowing his place. No poopoo and pee pee inside. I take him out 2x a day for pooping and walking him once a day where he may or maynot poop on walks.
I actually wanted to do cooked food but i do not have the space to do it. I could barely have room for icecream in my freezer. I had to freeze bittermelon leaves, pepper leaves, and other leaves i use for cooking during the winter.
I go to some places that would sell me beef or chicken left over that these places may not sell or throw away. I then get some beef organs for his vitamins.
All in all, keep your pet healthy. Do not over feed. It's better for him to be a little underweight (not to the point where ribs will show) than to develop hip dysplasia, or what not.
I actually wanted to do cooked food but i do not have the space to do it. I could barely have room for icecream in my freezer. I had to freeze bittermelon leaves, pepper leaves, and other leaves i use for cooking during the winter.
I go to some places that would sell me beef or chicken left over that these places may not sell or throw away. I then get some beef organs for his vitamins.
All in all, keep your pet healthy. Do not over feed. It's better for him to be a little underweight (not to the point where ribs will show) than to develop hip dysplasia, or what not.
roadtoruin
Well-known member
Good call. My dog would probably eat two or three meat muffins in 1 go. But do you feed it frozen? I always dethaw and refrigerate in the bags.
I've 3 dogs that cost as much as my bike to insure each month - but I have been paying! Here is my opinion: pay for insurance for the first year of any pup's life - it will give you time to determine if the hound is a "chewer" or whatever. If he goes a year with no issues than start setting aside $60 each month. Repeat per dog. If he chews/swallows/eats... - continue with the policy but be prepared to call your insurer and *****. I do it with each claim and generally they will listen to you and your vets reason - but be assured that their first reaction is to deny future claims that are similar to the claim just submitted. If I had to give just a general opinion I would say the industry is, generally, a scam. Having said that, my Golden just needed a $3000 surgery that was covered. Now we are arguing whether or not it was genetic or an injury - which matters for future claims. PM me for details/suggestions if you like. We use PetSmart... have to argue with them constantly... every claim.... bad experience!
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suzuki2000
Well-known member
we defrost prior to feeding. It does help to control portions easily.
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