How many have to die?

Costco and many other retailers don't seem to be getting the message despite the fact pet owners, veterinarians and pet nutritionists are shouting it from the roof tops. Pet jerky treats from China are bad. Just this morning CBC released yet another story about a dog death in Calgary that the attending veterinarian, Julie Schell from Bow Bottom Veterinary Hospital attributed to Vitalife Duck Tenders purchased at Costco. Both PetCo and PetSmart have made the smart decision (pun intended) to pull some China sourced treats from their shelves in recent weeks after a renewed interest in the topic.

2014 Jerky Stats (Source: Rodney Habib, Pet Nutrition Blogger)

• 1,000 deaths in dogs and more than 4,800 complaints about animal illness;

• Since last October the FDA has received about 1,800 new reports of illnesses and deaths; 

• Total : 5,600 dogs and 24 cats;

• Two toddlers and an adult who ingested became ill;

• One of the children was diagnosed with a salmonella infection. The other child developed G.I. illness and fever that mirrored the symptoms of dogs in the house that also ate the treats. The adult reported nausea and headache.

Effects of Jerky Consumption on Pets:

• About 60 percent of the cases involve symptoms of gastrointestinal trouble and liver disease;

• 30 percent involve kidney disease;

• 10 percent other problems, including neurological and skin conditions.

What should you do as a pet owner? 

Start by reading the labels of anything you buy your pet. If there is still a question, contact the manufacturer for Certificate of Origin to verify where their ingredients come from. 

Survey Says.... Petsecure is #1

A recent independent survey* of veterinarians across Canada revealed that Petsecure Pet Health Insurance is the number one recommended brand of pet insurance with 8 out of 10 veterinarians recommending Petsecure pet insurance to their clients.
"It is rewarding to be recognized by the veterinary community," says Randy Valpy, President & CEO of Petsecure. "We continue to invest our time and financial resources in the veterinary community and we are pleased to see that this investment is being recognized and that veterinarians trust and value our pet insurance product enough to not only recommend it to their clients, but to recommend us more than any other brand of pet insurance."

"We were also thrilled to hear the results of this survey," adds Larry Evans, President & CEO of PetLynx Corporation. "We are proud that Petsecure is one of our valued community partners and look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with them in our on-going efforts to provide lifetime protection for pets... and peace of mind for pet families."

Petsecure also:

• Is a corporate partner with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA)
• Belongs to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Business Management Program
• Has the American Animal Hospital Association Seal of Acceptance (AAHA)

Along with their Chief Veterinary Officer, Petsecure has a team of Territory Managers who work with veterinary clinics across the country educating pet owners and practice staff on the importance of pet insurance.

Not only is Petsecure the number one recommended brand of pet insurance by veterinarians, it's also currently the top ranked brand by Canadian pet insurance policyholders according to customer ratings on www.petinsurancereview.com. This independent third party website allows pet owners with insurance to rate their provider and offer advice to others looking to buy pet insurance. "Knowing that we have the support of both veterinarians and pet parents shows us that we are doing something right," says Valpy.

As the oldest and largest pet insurance company in Canada, Petsecure will continue to work with the veterinary community to provide the best and most innovative pet insurance coverage in the country.

*Survey conducted by by GfK Kynetec, a leading market research company.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Power Paws: The latest fashion for dogs with hip dysplasia

Power Paws – recently launched and developed by Woodrow Wear, Inc – in its most basic description are socks for dogs with rubber–non-slip treads. Power Paws combine fashion and function to help dogs (and their owners) like never before.

Basically, Power Paws enable large breed dogs with hip dysplasia to move around on slick surfaces such as hardwood, linoleum or tile floors. Far less expensive that installing carpets in your house!

Inventor of Power Paws and CEO of Woodrow Wear, Lorraine Watson, says, “Dogs slipping because of dysplasia or slick surfaces is common, yet nothing practical has been invented to help. Power Paws give dogs the power to stand, the power to stop, and the power to go. Since then, they have been 100% successful on hundreds of test-dogs. No product available is this simple or effective.”

Raising Funds for Cancer Research

Petsecure pet health insurance has declared November as Pet Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this initiative is to raise funds for cancer in pets and was pioneered five years ago in the USA by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

"In 2009, we've paid out nearly $1,300,000 towards claims for the cost of veterinary treatment and care due to pet cancer," says Randy Valpy, President & CEO of Petsecure pet health insurance. "Although cancer is the leading cause of death among older pets, 50% of pet cancer is curable. Our goal for this month is to raise money for researching cancer in dogs and cats across the country and to educate Canadian pet parents on how to prevent and treat a disease that affects 1 in 3 household pets."

By raising funds for cancer research, Petsecure hopes to decrease the sad pet stories they hear by helping to find a cure for this deadly disease. Petsecure is encouraging pet owners to help 'FURther the Fight' by becoming a fan of their Facebook page. For every new fan they receive in November PetSecure will donate $1.00 to the Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust Fund.

November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer Among Most Common and Costly Pet Conditions

Cancer is not strictly a “human” condition. As the #1 disease-related killer of dogs and cats, cancer claims millions of pets each year. This November, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI) will seek to increase awareness about the prevalence, detection and treatment of pet cancer during its fifth annual Pet Cancer Awareness Month.

VPI started Pet Cancer Awareness month in 2005 after noticing that cancer diagnoses often caught pet owners by surprise. Many either did not know their pets could develop cancer or underestimated the cost to treat cancerous conditions. In 2008, VPI received nearly 30,000 claims for pet cancer.

To raise funds for pet cancer research, VPI has partnered with the Animal Cancer Foundation and organized bi-coastal pet cancer awareness walks in Long Beach, Calif., and Brooklyn/Manhattan, NY.

VPI's website also provides pet cancer detection tips. To detect cancer early, pet owners should be attentive to any growing lump or sore that fails to heal, drastic changes in a pet’s appetite or weight, unusually strong odors coming from a pet, discharge or bleeding from any body opening, difficulty chewing or swallowing, or an unwillingness to exercise.

Overall, cancer claims were the sixth most common type of medical claim received by VPI in 2008. According to VPI’s claims data, which draws from a population of more than 450,000 insured pets, the following are the 10 most common types of cancer found in dogs and cats:

Top Pet Cancer Claims in 2008
1. Lymphosarcoma
6. Neoplasia - Liver
2. Mast Cell Tumor
7. Neoplasia – Thorax
3. Neoplasia – Spleen
8. Neoplasia – Brain or Spinal Cord
4. Neoplasia – Eyelid
9. Fibrosarcoma
5. Osteogenic Sarcoma
10. Hemangiopericytoma