In a nutshell, regular pet insurance coverage includes routine veterinarian costs such as check-ups, deworming, and microchipping. These plans are beneficial for pets requiring frequent trips to the vet. However, many of these plans do not include vet costs incurred abroad, which is why people purchase pet travel insurance.

Travel pet insurance provides coverage involved with emergency flight cancellations as well as illnesses and injuries that happen abroad. Travel insurance plans are usually purchased and canceled within a shorter period compared to regular pet insurance. This is because travel insurance is only needed for a set time while regular pet insurance is usually ongoing.

What is Pet Travel Insurance and What Does it Cover?

Vet bills are expensive and are the last thing you want to deal with on a costly trip or vacation. On the same token, traveling with a pet introduces all sorts of risks you wouldn’t face at home. These risks include long flights, foreign germs, and dangerous environments. Any of these risks could lead to a detour to the nearest emergency clinic. 

Pet travel insurance ensures that a pet will be financially covered for the whole trip. There are three general categories for what the average travel pet insurance companies cover: illness, injury, and pet return.

1. Illness: If your pet suddenly falls ill while away from home, travel pet insurance will help finance veterinarian and medical costs. Such illnesses include but are not restricted to vomiting, diarrhea, or infections.
2. Injury: Sometimes pets get into trouble in new environments and injure themselves. Others are injured on the plane ride to their final destination. Insurance coverage for injuries will compensate for veterinary care related to broken bones, cuts, or other bodily harm. 
3. Pet Return: This type of pet coverage ensures the return of your pet in case of an emergency. This coverage is helpful if you unexpectedly require emergency transport back home. In these situations, pets usually need alternate arrangements to return home. Insurance for traveling pets will help manage the costs of the pet’s unexpected return flight, and some even provide attendants.

Pets with pre-existing conditions aren’t covered equally by pet travel insurance providers. Make sure to double-check with your insurance agent before making a final decision.

Pet Van Lines offers reliable and stress-free nationwide ground transport for dogs, with drivers trained in reducing dog anxiety. Get a free quote now for your dog’s safe transportation.

What is Pet Health Insurance and What does it Cover?

Pet health insurance covers common veterinarian costs over the long term. This type of coverage compensates for accidents as well as yearly services such as physical exams, vaccinations, and nail trims. These wellness plans may also cover fecal tests, spaying/neutering, deworming, heartworm tests, and flea control. 

Regular pet insurance may not cover injuries or illnesses experienced by traveling pets, let alone unexpected pet returns. Those with pet insurance plans should double-check for travel coverages before making risky assumptions. 

How Does Pet Travel Insurance Work?

Travel pet insurance policies operate using a reimbursement program. Any vet bills or travel fees due to emergency cancellations must be documented in a claim and then sent to the insurance company. This claim will be assessed by the insurance company which will either reimburse your costs or reject your claim. 

Does Pet Travel Insurance Cover Canceled Flights?

Depending on the company, your pet insurance provider may compensate for a flight cancellation due to pet injury, illness, or death. This coverage will either be included in a travel insurance package or an added feature that would increase the package’s premium. Many of these plans require 48 hours notice before the travel date for cancellation coverage to remain valid.

If you’re worried about last-minute changes but can’t find any coverage for canceled flights, try searching for Interruption for Any Reason (or IFAR). This might be more expensive, but ensures coverage for any changes in flights or other travel plans. 

How Much Does Pet Health Insurance Cost?

Insurance rates will depend on a pet’s age, species, breed, geographical location, and the type of plan you choose. Generally speaking, older and larger animals have higher insurance rates, and dogs are more expensive than cats.

The cost of your pet insurance will also depend on the provided maximum annual covered services, deductible choices, and reimbursement choices. Pet owners will pay more for their pet insurance if they choose plans with greater annual coverages and reimbursements. Similarly, a lower deductible will result in a higher premium. 

All things considered, the monthly cost of pet health insurance ranges from 25$ to 100$ USD. Many pet insurance providers offer online quote estimators to help plan out your potential expenses. 

How Much Does Pet Travel Insurance Cost?

Like regular pet insurance, the cost of travel insurance varies based on a pet’s species, breed, and age. These plans also have adjustable maximum annual coverages, deductibles, and reimbursement limits.

The monthly cost for insuring a young and medium-sized dog for travel is around 50$. Cats, on the other hand, are covered at a monthly premium of around 30$. 

Is it Worth Getting Pet Insurance while Traveling with a Pet?

Pet insurance for travel is a preventative measure with the potential to save you thousands of dollars worth of vet bills or cancellation costs. Even if you are an experienced traveler, nobody can expect the unexpected. Ensuring your pet will protect your wallet and give you peace of mind while you enjoy your trip of vacation.

If you have a young and healthy pet and feel confident they won’t get into trouble, it’s understandable if you opt out of pet travel insurance. Or maybe you’re making a routine trip to a safe neighborhood where there’s a low chance your pet will come into harm’s way. It’s reasonable for pet parents to abstain from purchasing pet travel insurance in both of these situations.

FAQs

1. Is pet illness covered by travel insurance?

It’s common for pet travel insurance plans to cover veterinary costs for sick pets. This can come in handy if your pet comes into contact with bacterial diseases, rabies, infections, or diseases spread by mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.

2. Do pets need flying insurance?

Flying insurance is not mandatory for pets traveling internationally. That means it is not a legal requirement. 

The post Pet Travel Insurance vs. Pet Health Insurance: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

As a trusted dog transport company, we also aim to help protect our clients from the heartache of losing a pet. 

One of the best ways to protect your furry friends is through microchipping technology. A microchip gives you the best chance of being reunited with your pet. These devices enable veterinarians and animal shelters to identify the dog’s owner and notify them that the dog has been found. This way, their owner, can retrieve them immediately.

In this guide, we discuss:

• What animal microchipping is
• How it works
• How much it costs
• Why it can make all the difference in pet safety

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a tiny electronic device contained in a glass cylinder.  It is injected under the animal’s skin using a hypodermic needle. 

Microchips can be injected into different animals, including: 

• Dogs
• Cats
• Horses
• Birds
• Rabbits
• Llamas
• Sheep
• Goats
• Snakes

When a lost pet is found and taken to either a vet practice or animal shelter, one of the first things they will do is scan the animal for a microchip.  

Each chip comes with a unique registration number and the phone number of the microchip manufacturer. A special handheld scanner is used to read the chip’s radio frequency and access its registration number. Shelters then contact the microchip company where the chip is registered to get the pet owner’s name or phone number.

The microchip is not a GPS device. It cannot locate or track down lost animals, and neither does it contain the animal’s medical information. However, there are newer microchip registration databases that can store the animal’s medical history in a database for quick access.

How effective is microchipping?

A study of more than 7,700 stray animals in shelters revealed that microchipped dogs were returned to their owners 52.2% of the time. Meanwhile, dogs without microchips were reunited with their owners 21.9% of the time.

Unlike collars and ID tags, microchips are designed to last your pet’s entire life. They won’t break, wear off, or become illegible over time, so there’s no need to replace them. A microchip will not expose your personal information to anyone who finds your pet.

How is a microchip implanted into an animal?

The entire implant process is fast and simple, and no anesthetic is required. In fact, it’s similar to a regular vaccine routine. A long needle is used to implant the microchip underneath the animal’s skin. 

In dogs and cats, the microchip is usually inserted between the shoulder blades. To ensure that the chip stays in place, microchips are often inserted with anti-migration features. 

Microchip implantation can be performed in most veterinarians’ offices and animal shelters. The process is so straightforward that it can be done during your dog’s routine vet exam. 

Most rescue shelters already microchip their animals before they are put up for adoption. If you’re unsure whether your adopted dog has been microchipped, simply bring them to a shelter or veterinarian for a quick scan.

If your adopted dog already has one, you must register their ID number with your contact details.

The most important part of microchipping is completing the registration process. This can be done online or at the clinic or shelter on the day of the procedure. Remember that the chip will be useless if your contact details aren’t on the microchip company’s database.

How much does microchipping cost?

Microchipping isn’t exactly expensive. The average dog microchip cost ranges from $40 to $60. That includes the cost of the actual chip, the procedure, and the online registration process.

The procedure and chip size are the same regardless of the dog’s size or breed. 

Are there any risks or side effects?

Microchipping is generally safe as long as it’s performed by a licensed veterinarian who knows where and how the chip should be implanted. Risks, side effects, or complications are rare. The worst-case scenario is that the chip will move slightly to a different spot in your dog’s body. This is why vets usually scan the dog’s entire body when checking for a microchip.

In some cases, dogs with sensitive skin may experience mild hair loss for a few weeks. Swelling is also common immediately after the procedure and resolves itself within a few days.

Should your dog experience any pain or discomfort after the procedure, it’s best to visit a veterinarian right away.

Should you microchip your dog?

Definitely! Thanks to microchips, it has never been easier to reunite lost pets with their owners. With microchipping, owners can be contacted faster, helping prevent overcrowding in shelters and reduce stress levels for all animals.

Keep your dog safe 24/7

Microchipping is one of the most effective ways to ensure your dog is easy to identify if they  get lost. For more lost pet prevention tips or dog transportation services, feel free to contact Pet Van Lines anytime. 

The post How Are Dogs Microchipped? appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

Many dogs can also be found living in the streets and in some areas of the US and abroad, street dogs are all too common. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a dog in the streets and wondered if they have just escaped from a loving home or are homeless and in need of assistance. Every homeless dog has a story. Due to countless unfortunate reasons, thousands of perfectly adoptable dogs have ended up in the shelter. Some have endured hideous abuse and neglect. Others have been left behind in a move or abandoned for financial reasons. The list goes on. Whatever his story, every dog deserves a stable, loving, “forever home” so he needn’t ever return to a shelter. Adopting a dog is extremely fun and rewarding, but it is also a big responsibility. Before adopting a dog, you must understand that you will be dedicating considerable time and finances to his care and comfort. It is essential that you commit to training, regular exercise, veterinary care, the highest quality food you can afford and as much patience as you can muster. In this chapter, I help you determine whether you are ready for this responsibility, and get clarity on some important resources you will need.

Before you embark on the dog-parenting journey, here are a few basic questions you should ask yourself: Do I have the time/energy? Am I willing and able to feed and water my dog daily? Am I willing to take my dog on regular walks and spend time exercising and playing with him? Will my new dog affect the way I am able to care for pets I already have?

Does everyone living in my house agree on the decision to add a dog to the family? Am I willing to put in the effort to be patient and diligent during the chewing and housebreaking stages? (Protecting your things without getting overly frustrated.) Am I willing to train my dog? Is anyone in my family allergic to dogs? Will there be a new baby in the house any time soon? Am I open to falling in love with my dog and caring for him until the end of his life? Do I have the resources? Does my apartment or house rental allow pets? Am I willing and able to spay or neuter and microchip my dog?

Am I prepared to take my dog to the vet for annual check-ups and emergencies and pay for all of his recommended vaccinations and care? Is there someone to care for my dog when I’m not around or traveling? Am I willing to hire a dog-walker or enroll him in professional daycare if my dog will be alone for extended periods of time? Is my house/yard big enough for the breed I want? Can I afford quality pet food, toys, and treats and pet care when I travel? Can I accommodate my dog if he travels with me?

While it is generally less expensive to adopt than purchasing from a breeder, it is critical to enter this relationship knowing the true financial costs of pet care.

The good news is there are wellness programs and pet insurance that you can purchase to help mitigate veterinary costs. The even better news is that a study was just released by the Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) showing that pet ownership saves an estimated $11.7 billion in human health care costs. While I maintain that a family should be comfortable with the financial responsibilities of pet parenting, the benefits, including the potential financial benefits due to improved overall health are now documented.

The post Are You Ready To Be a Dog Parent? appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

It’s important, however, to know how to take care of your new best friend from day one, and for new dog owners, there are important mistakes to avoid. Explore some important veterinarian’s advice for new dog owners, and learn how to keep your new four-legged family member happy and healthy for years!

Veterinarian’s Advice for New Dog Owners

The first piece of veterinarian’s advice for new dog owners is to be sure you really want a canine companion. Dogs require a lot of care. They’re not as self-sufficient as cats are; they have to be walked, let out for the bathroom, and given a great deal of love and affection. They can be strong-willed and messy if they’re not properly trained.

Owning a dog is a lifelong commitment. Just like people get broken hearts, if you take in a dog and decide later it’s not for you, your puppy will be devastated when you drop them off at the shelter and leave them. So, be sure you’re ready for the commitment.

Do Your Homework

This cannot be stressed enough. Research the different breeds of dogs, their needs, and tendencies, and compare them with your lifestyle. Know what you can afford; you’ll have vet bills, feeding bills, bills for toys and puppy beds, grooming tools, training costs and more. Be sure that the dog you get fits your lifestyle and pocket book!

Be Patient

Patience is key when integrating a dog into your home. If it’s a puppy, they’ll require the same kind of love, attention, and patience that any baby does. They’ll need to be potty trained (house trained), they’ll need to learn discipline, and they’ll need plenty of bonding and affection. If it’s an older dog, they’ll need time to adjust to your home. This will require time, patience and love on your part.

Proper Care for Dogs

Caring for a dog entails a lot more than a leash, collar and daily walks. It means regular vet appointments, regular feeding, obedience training, socialization, and affection. Dogs are inherently social creatures and they need to understand how their new family dynamic works. You can’t always plan for everything, so consider pet insurance to cover illnesses.

Consider a Rescue

Everyone has a fantasy about owning a purebred, but the truth is, there are tens of thousands of amazing animals in rescue shelters all over the country looking for their forever home, many of which may even be specific breeds. Consider a rescue animal; you’re getting a great companion and saving a pet from an uncertain fate.

Pet Van Lines

Of course, after you get your pet, you’ll need the best services when it comes time to move to a new home, and that’s where Pet Van Lines comes in. Our pet care experts are ideal to move your pet from your old home to their new digs. We care about pets and are even qualified to provide breed-specific care. Give us a call for help today!

The post Advice from the Vet to New Puppy Parents appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

Exercise the proper amount of caution during swimming sessions to ensure that your dog stays safe, doesn’t get exhausted and can be brought back in the event they stray too far into the water. As dog lovers and an experienced pet ground transportation company, we can offer the following dog swimming safety advice to help prevent scary incidents and ensure your pup has a safe, fun summer.

Always Supervise Swimming

Rule number one with pet swimming is simple: no swimming without supervision. This includes giving animals access to areas like backyard pools where they may enter the water without permission. Fence off these areas if your pet is allowed to free-roam near them, and keep constant watch near bodies of water in case your dog decides to take an unscheduled plunge.

Know Your Dog’s Abilities and Limits

Dogs are just like us: they need to learn to swim. If your pet has limited experience swimming, make sure they know how to use both their front and rear legs to tread water. You can practice with them by holding underneath their belly while they paddle and getting them to engage their feet. Give the animal lots of praise when they are able to get all four legs a-wigglin’.

Practice in shallow water, and definitely practice getting the animal to come to you from the water when you call them. Also, teach them a good spot to exit the water anytime there is not a gradual shore, such as when you are at a pool or a dock. Consider getting a doggy dock if there are no stairs or a clear, safe exit. Most importantly, teach them when “no” means “no” in regards to jumping in the water since not all areas are safe.

While swimming with your pet, note how long it takes for them to get tired. Keep in mind that certain breeds or builds of dog are poorer swimmers and more prone to sinking like a rock than keeping up with Michael Phelps. For instance, breeds with broad chests like English bulldogs and short, stocky dogs like basset hounds and dachshunds can get tired more easily since they have a harder time keeping afloat.

Don’t Let Your Dog Get Exhausted

Most dog drownings occur because the animal completely ran out of energy to swim. Observing this point can be tough because dogs like to act like troopers even as they start to feel drained. Take frequent breaks, give your dog lots of clean water and keep them from going back in if they have already had a long day of swimming.

Also, keep in mind that large dogs can take you underwater with them when they get tired, so be particularly wary of energy levels if you have a dog over 20 lbs.

Get a Dog Life Vest

Dog life vests are a must-have for dogs entering larger bodies of water. No matter how great of swimmers they are, there are just too many risks when swimming at a lake, large pond or ocean for an extended period of time. Find a vest that fits them comfortably, won’t slip off and that has a sturdy handle for pulling them out the water when needed.

Look Out for Their Health

Dogs tend to swallow a lot of water when they swim, so be sure that the water is safe and doesn’t have bacteria. Many lakes have toxic algae blooms during hot summer months, for example. Also, be sure to take a look at their ears and clean them out after swimming since dogs are more prone to swimmer’s ear than we are.

Consider Using Dog Ground Transportation When Moving

If you are moving long-distance to a new pond and do not want to board your dog on a plane or take them along for the initial big haul, consider using dog transportation services like Pet Van Lines. We keep your dog comfortable and make sure they take frequent exercise breaks during their long journey. While we can’t let them take a dip before getting back in the van, we can bring them right to you for more splashy summer fun in your new town!

If you are moving soon and interested in pet moving alternatives, you can get a free quote today.

The post Tips for Safe Summer Swimming With Your Dog appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

So, rather than considering a purebred dog from a breeder, bring home a new family member who truly needs your love. Whether you stay in one place or use pet moving services to relocate after a few years, you and your mutt can enjoy a long, fulfilling life together.

If you are still on the fence, consider the following reasons why adopting a mutt can bring both you and your new pet joy.

You Won’t Find Another Dog Like It on Earth

Breeding standards mean that purebred lines are purposefully maintained to minimize the occurrence of non-standard traits. Unique purebred dogs are often isolated from the line and prevented from creating an offshoot with “undesirable” physical traits.

While some people may want a dog that is audited for X, Y and Z traits to ensure it is exactly like all the others, many people want a more special dog that they could not find anywhere else.

Mutts can be this special dog. No two are alike. Even within litters, some pups can look dramatically different from their siblings and have different ways of expressing their genes. Small dogs crossbred with medium dogs may have different-sized pups, for instance.

Also, while purebred dogs may have their own well-loved set of traits, mixed breeds often find adorable and endearing ways to combine them into irresistible hybrids. No matter what kind of mixture you end up with, your mutt is guaranteed to be one of a kind with endearing physical attributes and a unique personality that could never be replaced.

You Help Support Loving, Ethical Adoption Practices

Around 6.5 million animals enter animal shelters throughout the U.S. every year, according to the ASPCA. 1.5 million animals will be euthanized every year, but this number has gone down by over a million since 2011. Why? Part of the reason lies in better systems for returning lost pets, but eager adopters can also take a large portion of the credit.

The thing is: dogs have no problems breeding on their own. Owners who don’t have either the education or the will to sterilize their dogs contribute to millions of unwanted puppies born every year, many of whom will become strays or end up in shelters.

Dog lovers should want to reduce the number of euthanized animals and the suffering of abandoned animals forced to live meager lives on the streets. Adopting a purebred animal not only takes away from a possible home for these animals, it also encourages breeders to needlessly produce more dogs when we have plenty already!

Unless you plan on showing a dog or using it for specific work practices, a mixed breed will provide all of the utility you need while saving an animal’s life.

Mixed Breeds Can Have Fewer Genetic Conditions

Mixed-breed dogs tend to have a healthier genetic profile compared to their purebred cousins. They have a reduced risk for 10 debilitating genetic conditions, including aortic stenosis, a heart condition that can reduce an animal’s lifespan as well as overall quality of life.

Some biologists and veterinarians also suspect that cross-bred dogs may have hardier health overall because of a theory called “hybrid vigor,” although the actual scientific evidence is limited because of a lack of comprehensive studies.

Bring Your Mutt With You Wherever You Go With Pet Moving Services

We hope we have inspired you to go out and bring a mixed breed dog home to become your new family member. If you plan on moving soon, you can also take advantage of our pet relocation services that can bring your furry friend anywhere they need to be across the country on your schedule.

The pets also enjoy a much less stressful journey! Take a look at our happy, furry customers on their way across the country to see how much more carefree your move can be, and then request a free quote today!

The post Three Reasons to Adopt a Mutt appeared first on Pet Van Lines.

Learn more about why you should walk your dog regularly, and how it can help with things like moving with your pet.

A Great Reason to Get Some Light, Enjoyable Exercise

One of the biggest barriers to exercising for most people is that it cannot hold their interest. Sticking to a routine of regular jogs or weight lifting can get old, especially if the exercise itself does not ultimately feel that rewarding.

Walking your dog serves a distinct purpose, so you are motivated to do it as a way to care for your pet, but it also happens to get you into a healthy routine that provides real benefits. Additionally, your pet enjoys it, which provides a tangible reward to encourage you to get moving.

Lower Risk of Chronic Disease

People who walk their dogs walk 22 more minutes than the typical population, on average, according to NPR. These short trips add up to substantial benefits for your body even though they are light intensity. Studies show that those who walk their dogs regularly have a lower risk of diabetes, and are less likely to have high levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol or high blood pressure.

With a regular dog walking habit, you can boost your chances of having a longer, healthier life free from chronic disease.

Relieve Stress for You and Your Pet

Dogs, especially working breeds, absolutely require the stimulation that walks provide. They get some light exercise, but they also get to see and smell the area around them. By the end of the walk, they are not only more tired and relaxed, but they feel satisfied after having experienced things beyond their home’s four walls.

This stimulation can greatly reduce behavioral problems in dogs, especially destructive boredom like chewing, scratching or tearing up furniture. Your dog will be less likely to seek attention from you through barking or whining, and it will also reduce their chances of acting anxious or aggressive. They are also much less likely to go to the bathroom indoors, sparing you from having to clean up an unpleasant doggie mess.

While not having the stress of a badly behaved dog would seem like a reward unto itself, you also obtain your own psychological benefits while on walks. According to Psychology Today, dog walkers feel less anxious, less lonely and have a stronger sense of community when they walk around their neighborhood regularly.

Prevent Costly Health Problems in Pets

Medical supplies and medicines bought from vet offices cost pet owners an estimated $15 billion last year, according to CBS News. Many of these expenses are the result of chronic conditions in pets that could be avoided or lessened with regular walks. Dogs that are walked regularly have a lower risk of obesity, arthritis, constipation, diabetes and lowered immune response in relation to high stress levels and unhappiness.

Not every condition can be prevented through walking, but walking does lower your pet’s risk overall while raising their quality of life.

Make Moving With Your Pet Easier

Moving with your pet can be one of the most stressful times in both your life and your pet’s. Pets who are not walked regularly will have higher stress levels and respond worse to the stress of being moved, and they may have less strong of bonds with their owners, leading to compounding problems.

On the other hand, a regularly walked dog is calmer, happier, less anxious and more trusting of their owner.

Even with everyday walks, no pet wants to be boarded on a flight and given sedatives to help with transport. If you cannot drive your pet or take them with you in the passenger area, note that you have a second option. Door to door pet transportation services can bring your pets where they need to go overland, and they even get to stop and take walks along the way!
Find out more about moving your pet when you request a free quote today.

The post Fido and Me: 5 Health Benefits of Walking appeared first on Pet Van Lines.