Should I Buy Pet Insurance?

I finally bought pet insurance! I've been debating if I should buy it or not for a few years now. The biggest thing holding me back was always that my dogs have preexisting conditions and they wouldn't be covered for anything relating to those issues. Peanut has small white dog shaking syndrome also known as idiopathic steroid responsive shaker syndrome. Bailey has a deformed rear leg and had surgery for a luxating patella in his other rear leg. This is also the reason I want to have pet insurance. I know how expensive vet bills can be. Bailey's surgery was around $3,000 and Peanut had to visit a neurologist at Cornell for the Small White Dog Shaking Syndrome which was over $2,000. Luckily for me and my wallet both treatments were successful and we haven't had any issues since then.

Knowing I am not able to leave my dogs untreated or have them put down if something serious happened I really wanted pet insurance just in case. I grabbed a bunch of brochures from the vet's office and reviewed a few different companies before I finally decided on Pet Plan Insurance. I wanted an insurance that would cover accidents and illnesses. I went with the Bronze plan for both of them. My premium is about $55 a month for the two of them combined. This provides me with up to $10,000 in coverage a year per dog with a $200 deductible and 80% reimbursement. For the price and the coverage this was the best policy I found.

The Bronze Plan Covers:

• Accidents and injuries
• Illnesses including cancer
• Veterinary exam fees
• Diagnostic treatments
• Surgery
• Prescription medications
• MRI, catscan, ultrasounds (peanut almost had an MRI $$$$)
• Non routine dental treatments
• Rehabilitation
• Alternative therapies (acupuncture, homeotherapy)
• Referral and specialist treatment
• Behavioral therapies

Dog Shaming the Butter Thief

Last week I posted on Twitter a list of the things Peanut had stolen and either eaten or taken to her cage to save for later. Someone suggested I keep a list of all the naughty things she takes. Peanut is a very smart dog and helps herself to things left on the kitchen table. I had forgotten about Peanut's love for butter sticks because it's been awhile since she helped herself to one. Well I took the butter out to refill the butter dish and as soon as I turned around Peanut didn't waste any time grabbing a snack!

Things Peanut Steals:

• Butter
• Yogurt containers preferably lime Okois
• Granola bars
• An entire pound of Hungarian Salami 
• Anything left unattended for too long
• Shoes

Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave Dog Bed Review

This year for Christmas I got Peanut a Snoozer Luxury Cozy Cave dog bed. I bought it online at Petco, they had the best price. Peanut loves to snuggle under blankets so I knew she would love her new dog bed. And I was right the bed was a big hit with her and foster dog Cooper. I wasn't sure which size bed I wanted to buy but I ended up with the small and it is great for her. Peanut is around 20 pounds, Cooper also used it comfortably and he's 40 pounds!

Overall I think the bed is made very well. The bed it's self is very thick and the dogs love to lay on it. It didn't take long for the dogs to figure out how to use it. I just threw some treats in there and they put the rest together. I would absolutely recommend it to any dog that likes to snuggle under blankets.

Kong Quest Review

I love buying new toys for my dogs, especially interactive toys. I was excited when I noticed a new type of Kong at my pet store. Kong is a great company they have some of the highest quality dog toys. We should know we have almost one of each kind. Since I work at home I use peanut butter stuffed Kongs everyday to keep my dogs quiet during meetings. 

These Kong Quests are supposed to be interactive. I cut up a hotdog and put a piece in each of the holes. Peanut loved it! But she ripped it the first time she used it. The material is much softer and thinner than a typical Kong. Peanut is not a strong chewer. Bully sticks can last us weeks and she has some of the same bones from a few years ago. She's never chewed through a puppy Kong, classic Kong, Kong genius, or senior Kong. We've never gotten an extreme Kong because there's no need. I loved the shape if Kong ever decides to change the material we will try it again. 

A very dramatic Cooper upset that his hotdogs are gone

Adopt Ziva!

I joined Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue as a foster parent in September. Ziva is my third foster dog so far. My first two foster dogs Jack & Cooper found amazing homes. I'm hoping Ziva will soon be as lucky. We've been fostering Ziva for about a month now.  She's a 5 year old Mini Pincher / Chihuahua mix. She was surrendered to Buffalo Pugs for nipping a kid. Since we've had Ziva she has been a very shy but super sweet doggy. She is afraid of kids and takes time to warm up to people, but were working on that. She has bad knees and had surgery in 2010 for a luxating patella. My Bailey had the same surgery in 2009. Recently she's been limping so we are going to the vet this week to see whats going on.

Ziva's Likes:

• Treats! Cheese, Chicken, Turkey, Anything Yummy
• Snuggling and Blankets
• Barking 
• My Husband Ben
• Taking Naps
• Short Walks on Warm Days

If you think you may be the perfect family for Ziva you can find out more and apply to adopt her here. 

Cooper

Cooper being silly on the bed

Jack