#Yes it’s that one arthritis breed but I am not here to tell you about that

[identifying-unusual-cat-flavours]

High rufous gray (maltese dilution) broken mackarel tabby with folded ears. Breed: Scottish Loop/Fold

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #209

Doggo survey.

What is your dog’s name? Teddy. What breed of dog is it? Cocker spaniel/beagle mix. Male or female? He's an old man and you can tell if u get my drift. :^) Birthday? November 1st. Have you had it since it was a puppy? Yes. If not, how did you get this dog? N/A What is your dog’s favorite toy? He doesn't care for toys. Never did much. Do you take your dog to the pet stores? Not anymore; I wouldn't really take him out anywhere due to his arthritis. Do you take your dog to the dog park? No; last time I did was for a photography class a few years back, and he just wandered around and pooped everywhere like son you do that in our backyard, there's no real point in taking him. Then again, see the above reasoning, too. Does your dog like riding in the car? No, but he'll get in the car if he knows he has to. He used to get motion sickness; he's in the car so rarely now that I can't say with certainty if he still does, but he definitely improved. Gone on vacation with your dog? No. Any very cool tricks they know? He used to be able to say please (our equivalent to the beg command), but he no longer can because of his legs. Does your dog like cats? He's totally indifferent. Do you have other pets? If yes, what? Another dog, a cat, a rat, a snake, and an iguana. Does your dog like other dogs? Like cats, he's typically nonchalant. He's dominant towards other adult males he's lived with, though, but doesn't actually portray aggression. He is pretty easily annoyed by super-energetic dogs like our other one though, but he very rarely lashes out; he just whines or growls quietly if he's being pestered. What brand of food does your dog eat? It varies. Do you give your dog treats? Sometimes. Do you take your dog to the groomer? No, we clean him ourselves. How often is your dog brushed? Oh god, like never. He needs to be though, he sheds quite a bit. He loves being brushed too, sooo I should really start making a habit of regularly doing it. Do you brush your dog's teeth? No. Is your dog fixed? Sadly, no, because apparently my dog having an enlarged prostate and needing to be fixed more than the usual dog wasn't enough to convince my parents getting him fixed was very high on our list of priorities. I heard "we'll get him fixed" every few months with no action. I mean we've struggled with money most of my life, but getting Teddy fixed especially when that issue was discovered should've been a MUCH more pressing matter. A load of other things could've taken the back seat, especially with that situation being a cancer risk. Now he's too old to have surgery. End rant here. Other than being fixed, has your dog had any other surgery? No. Has your dog ever ran away? A couple times when he was younger and keen on being outside smelling and marking everything. He'd sometimes fly through the door if it was opened enough. There was one snowy night in particular he ran off, and I was soooobbing because of it being dark and cold. My dad had to go out and find him. Every time he eventually came back in maybe less than 30 minutes, and each time scared the shit out of me. If we followed him, he'd just dash off if we got close enough. Has your dog ever won a contest? Yes, actually! As a puppy, we took him to PetSmart on their anniversary date, where they were having a little puppy tricks and training thing. Teddy won best trick with "say please." :') He could do it so well when he was young. Do you take your dog to daycare? No. Do you ever board your dog? No. Does your dog sing? Thankfully, he's no beagle in that category. Does your dog like to watch tv or movies? No. Where does your dog sleep? He usually starts off in my bed and ends up settling down for the night on the couch. Is this your first dog you ever had? He was *my* first dog, but not first family dog. Are you more a dog or cat person? I tend to enjoy dogs as companions more, but cats are more suitable for me. Do you dress your dog? No; I am nooot a fan of dressing dogs unless it's for warmth or comfort. Do you like to photograph your dog? Yes, though I don't do so a lot now because of my phone camera being actual shit. Has your dog ever bit someone? According to Mom, he nipped at her once for idk what reason, and he even did at me on one occasion when Cali was in heat. I grabbed his collar to get him off the couch to come outside, and I think I surprised him (I was behind him). He was an asshole during all that... He's never full-on tried biting anyone, though. Does your dog like kids? He's totally unfazed by them. Does your dog come when called? Not anymore; Mom and I are pretty sure something's up with his hearing. He seems surprised sometimes when you come from behind him and into his periphery, even if you were talking to him before he saw you, and he doesn't tend to start barking when we get home unless Bentley starts, and even then, sometimes he doesn't join in. Yet he also sometimes barks at what seems to be nothing??? Idk dude. Mom's mostly convinced he's just lazy, which I believe with his old age, but I feel like there's something more to it. On walks, are you walking your dog or is it walking you? When we used to go on walks, he was good about not pulling and actually being walked. Man, you used to say "walk" in a sentence and that pup would go bonkers. Do you walk your dog often? Not anymore for aforementioned reasons, and there's also the fact I would not DARE walk him along this busy road that people fly around the curve too fast. Does your dog play any sports? What? No. Does your dog like water? Oh boy, no. If it's raining outside or it's wet from previous rain and he needs to go out? Good luck. Does your dog live outside all the time? He doesn't stay outside at all. What color eyes does your dog have? Brown. Does your dog like going to the vet? Like with most things, he doesn't care. Any idea what your dog weighs? Around 25 lbs.? I can't remember, other than it's normal for a dog his size. Do you celebrate your dog's birthday? Absolutely!!! A peanut butter sandwich is a guarantee, and starting last year, I decided we've always gotta make chicken nuggets for dinner so he can have a plate. His favorite food on the face of the planet is chicken nuggets. Lazy as that dog is, he perks the FUCK UP when he smells them. Buy your dog Christmas gifts? Yeah, Mom gets the dogs treats. Why did you choose their name? My sister named him, ask her. Ever go visit shelters and see the dogs there? No. Can your dog swim? He's actually never been swimming. I should try that for him at least once though, as it's good with arthritis. Remember the first trick they learned? I'm sure it was "sit." Do you read to your dog? No. Ever wrote a song for your dog? No, but I did write a poem about him for school. Ever taken your dog on a plane? No. Is your dog a good listener? See above explanation on hearing. Scariest moment involving your dog? I can't remember the first instance all too well, but Teddy used to occasionally have these trembling episodes where he seemed to be having a mild seizure. His face would distort and he couldn't stand up. We never figured out what was wrong, I think, but he hasn't done that in years. Do they give kisses? So many. :') <3 Can your dog shake? Yes. Ever biked with your dog? No. What color collar does your dog have? Red. Is it microchipped? No. Does it have an ID tag? Yes, but the engraving is so faded, and the information is entirely outdated. Every time we go to the pet store and I bring up getting him a new one, I get the "it's too expensive right now" response. I'm getting one myself once I have a job. Is your dog just the best ever? You may think you have the best dog, but no, I absolutely have The Best Dog.

[archerwindsor]

My Dog-My Weight Loss Partner

My Dog-My Weight Loss Partner

A tribute to my fur baby.

Reposting as a tribute to my baby who left us for heaven today.

I am a mom of three kids; a son and a daughter who are my biological children and an adopted one who is a Black Labrador. The biological ones have grown up and are independent enough to handle their own daily life but the third one, I really doubt will ever grow up.

  He is the most pampered baby of mine to the extent of causing heated arguments with my daughter when in place of listening to what she has to say I seem to be more worried about his “Sussu – Potty and Meal timings”. LOL  I have no shame in admitting that he is the best part of my life who listens to me, follows my instructions without answering back, makes me feel important and is my ‘Feel Good Factor’. when I look back towards my weight loss journey I realise that although I started every thing by being motivated by my daughter, was gifted and suggested weight loss apps and gadgets by my son but my third one ‘Cherub’ (meaning little angel) had always been the one who had helped me in this journey in different ways.

Now all those who are reading this and thinking “OMG! Poor woman, age is really catching up on her fast. See what she is talking now… Crazy old woman, going wonky.”

to all those who have their thought process wandering on those lines, I wish to tell them that yes I am getting older day by day (despite of my refusing to accept it), I might sound crazy at times (blame it on my dancing hormones) but what I am saying here is all facts and I am 100% in my full senses. LOL

Research shows that when people embark on weight-loss programs with supportive friends, they do better. So what if that “Supportive Friend” turns out to be a four legged furry friend called dog! And here I testify this that dogs can be better walking partners than your best friends or even family. My pet had been assisting me mainly on two fronts:

Portion Control

Working Out

Let me begin with the first thing that is:

Portion Control

This is a fact of my life that when I become aware of something I start thinking about it in all directions. I started thinking about weight loss for every one and once was commented by my kids,”Mommy, how do you feel about this big round pumpkin? Any weight loss suggestions to this round watermelon?”

LOL Yes, I want every one around me to lose weight.

And here I was aware of another fact that Labradors are prone to obesity and joints related problems at a later stage in their life. The cause of pet obesity is the same as human obesity: overeating and under activity. So I decided to handle food issues first of mine and my dog’s. It began with eating together, No not from the same bowl silly ;P but the timing had to be the same. Eat every two hours and eat healthy. So we both eat curd, cucumber, tomato and sprouts as snacks. Now the trick how he helped in my portion control was that what ever I was eating I was sharing with him. Had a craving for rusks and biscuits, my baby was always there to keep me under control. So basically I was and still am eating less than 50% of what I want to eat (I am really glad when I am craving junk). Look at this, Can you deny anything to such innocent eyes?? Awww!

My Weight Loss Partner

 Working Out

There was a research done on the topic if pet owners were better exercisers or not. Though the results said that there was no special effect seen on the work outs of pet owners yet I feel that personally speaking my work outs and walks improved when I started taking him along on my morning and night walks. At times when I don’t feel like walking briskly Cherub feels like running and ensures that I too run along with him. Now whether or not you feel like it, you have to do it.

  One thing the research also proved that dogs made exercise more enjoyable. I can swear by my dog’s cuteness factor when he hears the familiar “Leslie Sansone beat and voice”, he can’t stop himself and stands in front of me asking for his favourite bed sheet which he loves to chew on the beat. Its amazing to find his musical sense as the speed of his chewing also increases and decreases according to the changing beat.

So this experience makes me do extra miles just to see him enjoying the beats. Every morning and late evening becomes fun with pets if you take them for long walks. They will automatically make you do Intervals.

In fact my suggestion to every one who is wanting to lose weight is keep a dog in your house and the breed which specifically requires a lot of exercise. I and my Cherub are genetically prone to arthritis and bone related issues so both of us are actually assisting each other in staying healthy.

And just in case if you don’t have a dog to walk with, borrow one. There is no harm in walking an elderly neighbor’s pet or exercise rescued dogs at a shelter. Believe me it will add value to your emotions as well as weight loss efforts.

Do you think this post has inspired you to keep a pet?

You may also like reading-

Best Foods for Flat Belly – Part 1

Food Steamer For Weight Loss & Healthy Cooking

My Latest Lifestyle Changes to Lose Weight

6 tips to prepare for Weight Loss

My Dog-My Weight Loss Partner published first on https://olimpsportnutritionuk.tumblr.com/

[mielikki-austin]

My imperfect recollection of the pilot episode of 9-1-1: Lone Star

So, Master Pancake did a live mock of the pilot for a show I somehow never knew existed called 9-1-1: Lone Star. JD and I watched it, and told friend Josh about it the next day. Me: I have to describe this show though Josh: please do Me: so this was made recently Rob Lowe is a fireman his son is also a fireman they live in NYC so RL was firemanning when 9/11 happened and he keeps a bit of melted slag on his desk Josh: This already sounds like the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon where he's setting up a huge collision between a plane, a tanker truck, a dinosaur, and whatever other toys he has around. Me: RL is tortured because many of his friends have died from 9/11 cancer, and in the episode he finds out that he has.... LUNG CANCER! (dramatic music!) His son, who is gay (dramatic music!), has a history of drug addiction (dramatic music!), and ODs when the man he proposes to dumps him (dramatic music!) we're like 10 minutes in at this point Meanwhile, in Austin! Josh: Okay, you can cancel the previous statement I made. Me: A security guard puts a foil-wrapped burrito in a microwave, and sets an entire manure plant on fire, which explodes and kills the entire Austin FD except for one guy (dramatic music!) Josh: okay now this is turning into my favorite movie ever Me: Some Official Guys come to NY and ask RL to head the Austin FD, which he initially refuses because he loves NY so much but when his son ODs, he decides he's gonna move to Austin with his son and they're going to whip the FD into shape and he'll live with his son in a gorgeous house with a view of the Hill Country that costs $4500/month to rent Josh: (Checks off "The Refusal Of The Call To Action" from the Joseph Campbell monomyth checklist.) Me: RL gets applications for firefighters "from all over the state" He hires: -a Muslim woman who has 6 citations for insubordination, because she is a loose cannon -a black trans guy -an illiterate Hispanic guy who can't pass the written FD test, but has a heart of gold the one guy who WASN'T killed from the last batch of firefighter guys applies, but is a dick, barely keeps himself from ripping RL's head off in the interview, denies he has PTSD, but loses his shit when RL says he isn't ready to come back (dramatic music!) Josh: This is already a lot. Me: Meanwhile! Josh: WHAT MEANWHILE THERE'S ALREADY TOO MUCH STUFF TO DO A MEANWHILE IF YOU WANNA DO A MEANWHILE YOU GOTTA GET ANOTHER MOVIE Me: Liv Tyler is seen screaming outside of a house, accusing the occupant of murder. Josh: WHYYYY THIS IS TOO MUCH MOVIE Me: she runs out into the street to the crowd of people who've gathered to watch her scream at a closed door, and a kid in the crowd is having an asthma attack! (dramatic music!) Josh: WHAAAAAAA Me: She scolds his dad, who says he can't afford to take the kid to a doctor because he is poor and Hispanic She tells him to come to her vaguely-described clinic or business or something The police show up, and they know her, because her screaming at this door is apparently a regular occurrence Evidently her sister disappeared and she thinks someone in the house (or maybe the house) murdered her sister. (dramatic music!) NEXT, the FD is called out to a spicy food emergency Josh: NO EFFING WAY JD: This is not a movie, it’s a show and this is the first episode Me: a man eats a hot pepper and starts to die (dramatic music!) Josh: NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPERS NOPE Me: RL and the multiculture pals show up, and start dick-swinging "clear the area, the FD is here!" Josh: Was this one of those "written by an AI trained on disaster television" scripts? Me: Then Liv Tyler shows up and swings her dick and tells RL &c. to back off, because unlike in NY, the FD has to back off in medical emergencies to her, as head of the PARAMEDIC DEPT (dramatic music!) Josh: How... um... how... how did any of the actors deliver their lines without falling over laughing? Me: RL is skeptical, and she says "You didn't read the Travis County manual, did you?" and throws the spicy food victim on the table, cuts his lung open, and saves his life (dramatic music!) Josh: wait no no no no Me: next emergency! (dramatic music!) Josh: no cutting on lungs that's not a thing you do for spicy food NO MOAR EMERGENCIES EVERYONE GO TO BED NAO Me: a woman is in a car wreck, her car is upside down on the road and we find out that she is PREGNANT (dramatic music!) RL directs everyone to do things, because the water on the road smells like gas, and jaws of life are invoked, and stuff happens Josh: of course stuff happens absolutely everything happens in this thing nothing is not happening Me:  then the woman cries "but my baby!" Turns out, there was another child in the car (dramatic music!)  everyone looks for the baby, who is eventually found 30 feet up in a tree (dramatic music!)

Josh: YOU ARE MAKING THIS UP THIS IS NOT A REAL THING THAT REAL HUMANS MADE FOR SERIOUS Me: he was flung out of the car (still in his car seat) into the tree when the car rolled I AM NOT KIDDING Josh: I KNOW YOU ARE NOT KIDDING BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE THIS THING WAS ACTUALLY MADE Me: Meanwhile! Josh: NO MOAR MEANWHILE I MEAN IT TOO MUCH MEANWHILE MOVIE Me: Guy with PTSD is at home getting shitfaced and continuing to insist to his black wife (dramatic music!) that he doesn't have PTSD she reminds him of his nightmares and stuff he whines that it's not fair Josh: that checks out Me: she reminds him that she is black so he can shove it with this not fair bullshit Josh: new favorite character JD: Seriously this is a 48 minute pilot Josh: it was gonna be toddler-in-a-tree but black wife is my new favorite character Me: she coaxes him to take her out to the apparently one bar is Austin, which is possibly the actual Broken Spoke bar Josh: WHY NOT Me: so they can at least get fucked up in a bar instead of at home like losers turns out, RL and Liv Tyler and their crews are there celebrating after the tree baby incident Josh: this movie needs more Adderall. Or less Adderall. I don't know. Me: Liv dares RL to join her in line dancing, which RL is REALLY GOOD AT (dramatic music!) Josh: YAY RL YOU MIGHT HAVE PICKED A BAD MOVIE BUT YOU'RE STILL AN OKAY DUDE Me: RL explains that country was really popular in NY a few years back Josh: It was. Sigh. He's not kidding. Me: RL also has a touching moment with his gay drug son, who thanks him for making him move to Austin, then gay drug son starts line dancing with, I think, illiterate Hispanic guy with the heart of gold? Josh: BINGO That's a BINGO on the card I just invented for this pilot. Me: black wife confronts RL in the parking lot and tells him to SAVE HER HUSBAND because he SAVES PEOPLE RL agrees to let clearly mentally unstable PTSD guy come back to work THE NEXT DAY Josh: IF THIS THING MEANWHILES AGAIN I SWEAR TO GOD Me: PTSD guy comes to the station, and notices all the dead flowers people had left for the dead fireguys at the station in the garbage so he immediately starts giving RL shit about being a city slicker who is a Big Damn Hero because of 9/11 who's coming down from on high to help the FD that was fucked up by exploding poo RL says "I have cancer" (dramatic music!) Josh: YES Me: and PTSD guy is all, okay, but you're still on my shit list for throwing away the dead flowers then he turns the corner, and over the bay where the trucks come out of the station is a thing with the pictures of all the dead poo firemen and a sign that says "WE REMEMBER" or some shit (dramatic music!) PTSD falls down and starts crying Josh: YAAAAAY Me: RL tells him it's going to be okay and PTSD is a bummer and stuff then a little white girl and her white mom show up to give cookies that they made to the new crew, turns out they are the daughter and wife of one of the dead firemen Josh: this show just fires pathos at you like a six-year-old with a t-shirt cannon Me: cue montage of Muslim woman praying, trans guy considering his skin care regimen (I forgot about the part where RL helps trans guy with his skin care regimen), illiterate Hispanic guy is cleaning the firetrucks or something, and roll credits Josh: THREE MORE PATHOS PLEASE FOONT FOONT FOONT Me: I wanted to lay it all out before I forgot, and marvel at the trope-fest Josh: How many people wrote this movie? And how much speed did they have in the writers' room? Me: all of it oh man, check these out; the first episode was a harbinger of trope saturation to come: (Wikipedia episode synopses) "The team responds to a man suffocating in corn within a grain silo" "The team is called to a brawl at a male strip club; Paul helps Josie, who got hit in the eye with stripper glitter." Josh: I like how they have to clear out a rattlesnake infestation with a fire extinguisher. Me: "At a sirloin eating contest a woman collapses" Josh: "Owen gets good news about his cancer while learning that his experimental immunotherapy drug was tested on dogs, some who were abandoned. He adopts Buttercup, a Bernese Mountain Dog who has the same kind of lung cancer, as the 126's new semi-destructive mascot." Me: "On another call at a cow breeding facility, a disgruntled customer sets a fire to distract from his theft of bull semen." Josh: "On another call, a handyman's epileptic seizure is mistaken for electrocution." THIS PAGE IS THE GODDAMN BEST JD: And don’t forget this is all very clearly filmed in Southern California that is standing in for Austin Me: yeah, the trees were all wrong Me: "On another call Grace helps an older man with a flu who ingested a cloud of cremains while disposing of a friend's ashes." "The team responds to a used car lot event where a bull got caught in the side of a vehicle and needs the hydraulic jaws-of-life" "a man hit in the head reveals to the paramedics he has CPPD (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease), a condition characterized as extra painful arthritis. En route to the hospital he goes into cardiac arrest needing defibrillation; the treatment reacts with the man's ingested medication causing a toxic vapor which causes the ambulance crew to pass out, and the vehicle to flip." Josh: THIS IS AUSTIN WHY ARE THERE BULLS EVERYWHERE Me: "The team at 126 deal with a call at a gender reveal party when a man is burned by a grill." TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS JD: Austin is a small town where people ride horses to work Josh: I'm not gonna lie, living in this fucked version of Austin would be awesome. Me: Jesus. Just read the whole last episode.

"Chaos ensues in Austin when a solar storm causes the electricity and power equipment to malfunction. Them 126 team has to rescue the passengers of a light aircraft caught in the lines of high voltage electric towers while transporting a sick man for a liver transplant. During an outing with Carlos, TK questions his relationship with him after Carlos begins asking. When the malfunctioning traffic lights cause several accidents, they rush to help people before the 126 arrives. In the homeless camp, Michelle discovers that her lost sister is alive and living there. Michelle and her mother try to get her back home but she chooses to stay at the camp, despite her schizophrenia. With the lines scrambled, Grace gets a call from the damaged ISS, and manages to connect its last astronaut, dying from radiation poisoning, with his family to say goodbye. Back at the park, TK confesses his addiction to the rest of the team and that he's realized he wants to be a firefighter after all. Later, he also reconciles with Carlos."

[jinsgrl-archive]

you have six dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!! tell me more!!!

yes!!! oh boy i posted pics of them on my old blog before i remade http://jinsgrl-archive.tumblr.com/post/164340947038/my-babies

a lot more about them under!!

my oldest dog is bella we think she is a pug/chihuahua mix she is 8! we got her from my aunt who got her from her sister but they couldn’t handle her around a 3 year old at the time so we took her in she is grumpy around kids so we have to warn them if we have my cousin’s kids over who are under 5 to get away from her or she will bite you but loves older people she loves to be petted and scratched on her back by her butt lmao she smells like frito a lot she has arthritis too so she just spends her days laying down on our couches her favorite snacks are apples/carrots she hates pumpkin anything with it in it she won’t touch it

pancho is second oldest he is 6! we think he is a chihuahua mix i got him from my cousin and his gf they left him here one night and he never left he is very moody/loud whenever we get home from anywhere he is screaming in pure joy i mean all my dogs are happy when i come home but him he is something else he doesn’t like to be touched very much by anyone but he will invade your personal space to sit by you his favorite snacks are blueberries/blackberries/strawberries 

gureo is 4! he is purely chihuahua we got him from my neighbor he is the smallest out of everyone he had some dental hygiene problems we take him to get them cleaned once a year he hates it he had really bad breathe he loves to give kisses we don’t let him kiss us so he just licks our faces or body parts arms/legs he really likes to lick my mom’s legs and feet he loves kids he doesn’t like men besides my dad and my sister’s bf but if any men come into our house he won’t shut up he loves to be called handsome he is very picky he only likes carrots/cucumbers he hates peanut butter bc he thinks it’s his monthly flea/heartworm pill hiding in it lmao

lila is 3 or 4 we don’t know her age she is the only dog that i have not raised from a puppy she came from my mom’s friend they were moving and couldn’t take her she lived in a outdoor kennel until we got her we don’t know what breed she is a poodle mix? she is my favorite it feels like she is my first dog all over again i love her so much?? she loves walks she loves it when i give her attention she gets very jealous she is the only one that does not sleep with me she prefers the couch or her dog bed she cries to get me up in the morning for what i don’t know she never has to go out she just likes to see me even though she sleeps right by me she had heartworms but she’s all good now!! she loves all fruits and veggies she hates all people besides my sisters and she doesn’t warm up to people she doesn’t like to touch by anyone else besides us

lupita & boofie (we named her sophie when she was born but it never stuck) they are both 2! when we got lila we had a stray wandering around and we thought she was fixed but turns out she wasn’t she got knocked up and had them well she had 6 puppies we gave the other ones to family friends anyways boofie is really hyper she’s just happy all the time she will approach you to be petted if you ignore her she will scratch you until you give her attention she is super smart she was most easy to train out of all my dogs she knows where i keep the treats will sit by where i have them she is the only dog i trust off leash if i take them out for walks down the street she loves meeting other dogs she has 6 toes one each of her back foot she likes to wrestle with her sister she likes all foods like her mom she sleeps by my feet lupita everyone in my family calls her an asshole she will attack anyone that comes into contact with me we took her to training for that but nothing really helped and i’m not going to spend a lot of money just for that she doesn’t bite but growls and barks super clingy to me when i get up to go to another room she follows switch to a different couch switches with me she doesn’t like cats she doesn’t like other dogs either she was the runt of the litter she didn’t look like her other siblings so we don’t know where she came from lmao she is also picky about her snacks cucumber/strawberries for her but she has a more sensitive stomach than my other dogs so i have to monitor her 

having six dogs is hard getting them all their shots their monthly flea/heartworm medication taking them yearly to make sure everything is okay buying dog food costs a bit too finding a good brand in a 25+lb bag without breaking the bank is hard hearing them bark over any little movement they see outside but to me it’s worth it you know ? i struggled with depression since i was 12/13? they help me get up in the morning they keep me alive so i love them they love me like nothing else i am their person i just dread the day they leave me

[centralparkpawsblog]

The Best Pet Insurance for German Shepherds

http://www.centralparkpaws.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Keep-your-German-Shepherd-puppy-safe-with-pet-insurance.jpg

German Shepherds (GSD) are the 2nd most popular dogs, according to the AKC[1].

Unfortunately, one of the downfalls of being a popular dog breed is the health issues that accompany their fame.

GSDs are not new to the top 10 most popular breeds list; they have been towards the top for years, which unfortunately has resulted in some irresponsible over-breeding over the years.

However, poor breeding decisions are not the primary cause of their health issues in GSDs.

Instead, many of the health problems associated with the breed come from their large size and are common genetic disorders seen in large breeds, such as orthopedic and cardiac issues.

Not all GSDs have or will have health issues.

Being a breed predisposed to specific health concerns simply means that the breed has a higher chance of suffering from particular health problems.

If you happen to have or are thinking of getting a German Shepherd, you should also be seriously considering whether pet insurance is worth it for you.

Why You Should Get Health Insurance for Your GSD?

In an earlier study, 63.43% of GSDs had at least one health disorder[2].

So when you bring a GSD into your life, you know there is a significant chance of having to deal with one or more of the many genetic disorders common to this breed.

Of the many conditions associated with the GSD, hip dysplasia is one of the most common problems.

So, using that as our example, and say the situation requires surgery, which costs between $4,000-$6,000 per hip, and more often than not, both hips will require surgery, ultimately totaling between $8,000-$12,000.

These estimates do not include physical therapy, holistic treatments, supplements, or medicine for arthritis, which will likely be required down the road as well.

And though physical therapy, holistic therapies, and supplements are optional, many dogs benefit from adding supportive care after surgery.

Assuming this is covered by the pet insurance company you chose, they could aid in reimbursing up to 80%, minus your deductible, which, when you do the math is significant, and will well exceed the annual cost of insurance.

When bringing a dog with a high risk of health issues into your life, it is always best to plan for the unexpected.

Unfortunately, beloved pets are euthanized every year because families are unable to afford the cost of vet bills for illnesses and injuries.

Pet insurance can aid in reducing the chances that you will be faced with such a choice.

Benefits of Pet Insurance

The obvious benefit of pet insurance is that it helps with coverage of unexpected medical bills resulting from accidents and illnesses.

And yes, the primary benefit is financial, but equally as important is that pet insurance acts as a stress reliever too.

Yesterday, I brought Sophie in to get a sealant applied to her teeth.

When the oral surgeon called to tell me that she required a tooth extraction, plus needed two roots dug out from a previous extraction, and a lump removal from the inside of her lip, I didn’t even ask the cost because I knew insurance would cover 80% of my bill.

Insurance companies talk about peace of mind, but I will tell you from personal and recent experience I am grateful that I didn’t have to base my decision on my bank account and could solely focus on what was best for Sophie.

So, for me, the most significant benefit is that I don’t have to stress over an unexpected vet bill.

These two benefits alone make pet insurance well worth it!

German Shepherd Insurance Sample Costs

Here are some samples of what insurance costs would look like for a 0-11 month old GSD.

There are several options and variables with most of the companies listed below, but I attempted to keep everything as close as possible for a fair comparison.

On the majority of the plans below, you can adjust the reimbursement limits, deductibles, payout percentage.

 Annual Reimbursement LimitAnnual Deductible%Monthly RateAnnual CostEmbrace$15,000$30080%$62.43$749.16PetPlan$15,000$25080%$57.83$693.96PetFirst$10,000$25080%$43.35$520.20Eusoh$8,500$25080%$17-$65$204-$1105Spot$15,000$25080%$81.01$972.12ASPCA$10,000$25080%$72.75$873.00Prudent Pet$10,000$25080%$72.76$873.12trupanionUnlimited$25090%$95.75$1,149.00Pets BestUnlimited$25080%$30.37$364.44

*0-11 Mos Female German Shepherd Pet Insurance Costs

Common Health Issues for German Shepherd Dogs

Though I love GSDs, they are unfortunately in the top ten most likely breeds with the greatest health issues, which makes them a prime candidate for pet insurance.

Some of the most common health issues[3] that impact GSDs are, including the average cost[4,5]:

Hip Dysplasia – $4,000 to $6,000/Hip

Elbow Dysplasia – $3,000 to $5,000/Elbow

Cataracts – $2,000 to $3,000

Cardiac Issues – $1,000 to $20,000 – Specifically cardiomyopothy

Pyotraumatic Dermatitis (aka Hot Spots) – $100-$200 per occurrence

Allergy Testing – $1,000 or $2,000 (Hot spots may be a result of allergies, so if your GSD has chronic Pyotraumatic Dermatitis allergy testing is recommended)

Allergy Treatments – $10-$250/ month

Von Willebrand’s Disease – $500 to $1,000 per treatment

Cushing’s Disease – $500-$2000 Diagnosis/testing and $50-$200/month for treatment

Degenerative Myelopathy – $2,000-$4,000

Canine Cancer – $5,000 to $20,000

Corneal Dystrophy – $2,000 to $3,000

Hyperparathyroidism– $2,000-$4,000

Perianal Fistulas – $200 to $500/Month for medications or $2,000 to $5,000 for surgery and care from a specialized board-certified veterinary surgeon

Stomach Bloat – $1,500 to $7,500

Hemivertebrae – $2,500 to $7,000

Luxating Patella – $1,500 to $3,000

Spinal Stenosis – $2,500 to $5,000

Osteochondrosis of the Knee, Shoulder, or Spine– $2,000-$4,000

Epilepsy – $200 to $15,000

Aortic Stenosis – $3,000 to $6,000

MMM – $50 to $100 per month

Achondroplasia – $1,000 to $5,000

How Much Does German Shepherd Pet Insurance Cost?

Pet insurance for your GSD can be as little as $9 per month or as much as $175.29+ per month.

A multitude of variables impacts the cost of pet insurance for your GSD, including:

The age of your dog

If the company takes dog breed into account

Where you live

Coverage options

Coverage for GSDs ranges from just accidents or routine care to everything under the sun, even prescription dog food and grooming.

The wonderful thing about pet insurance is there are more than ten different companies to choose from, and most companies have multiple plans.

Some pet insurance groups even allow you to customize your coverage, including payout limit, deductible, and percent of coverage.

Best Pet Insurance Plans for German Shepherds

The plans I have chosen in the list of my top picks for the best pet insurance for German Shepherds all cover hereditary and congenital medical conditions.

However, none of the companies include pre-existing conditions.

Best Overall Pet Insurance for German Shepherds

Pets Best

Pets Best offers inexpensive coverage for your German Shepherd without any coverage limits.

You can add wellness coverage for only a little more per month, too!

Get a Quote

In 1981, Dr. Jack Stephens, DVM, started one of the first pet insurance programs in the US.

And with the help of the now CEO, Greg McDonald, rebranded and expanded the business to become Pets Best.

The newly revamped company was then launched in 2005.

The initial inspiration for coming up with pet insurance was during Dr. Stephens’s career as a veterinarian.

He had to euthanize a dog, Buffy, due to the family’s inability to pay for the unexpected costs due to Buffy becoming sick.

After that incident, Dr. Stephens made it his mission to find a solution so families like Buffy’s would be better able to handle unexpected vet bills.

Why I Chose Pets Best

I chose Pets Best because they have economical and flexible coverage.

Additionally, their policy options include unlimited lifetime coverage, and for a family with a GSD that is very appealing.

Many medical costs, especially when it comes to orthopedic surgeries and medications, vary based on a dog’s size. Combine that with the health risks associated with GSDs, and those bills can add up quickly.

But with Pets Best, you never need to worry about hitting a payout limit, which could happen with many other plans.

Policy Options

Essential

Accidents

Illnesses

Cancer

Hereditary conditions

Emergency care

Surgeries & Rx meds

Plus

Covers everything in the Essential plan plus:

Exam Fees related to accidents and illnesses

Elite

Covers the same as both the Essential and Plus, in addition to:

Rehabilitative, Acupuncture, and Chiropractic Coverage

Wellness

Also, Pets Best offers two different wellness care plans:

Essential Wellness for $16/month

Best Wellness for $26/month

Policy Pick

Though there are several customizable plans, for a GSD under the age of 1 y/o, I would choose the Elite plan with $250 deductible, 80% reimbursement, and the unlimited annual limit for $31.78 per month.

Get a Quote

Best Choice for Older German Shepherds

Companion Protect

Covering your older dog can get expensive.

Companion Protect, however, offers accident and illness coverage for less than what you’ll pay to cover your German Shepherd with other companies.

Get a Quote

If you are looking for insurance for an older GSD, and know that pre-existing conditions are not covered, then Companion Protect is an excellent option.

Companion Protect only offers one plan, which varies in price based on the age of your dog when you sign up.

No other factors come into play when figuring the monthly rate.

Companion Protect covers accidents and illnesses and does not have a wellness plan option.

There are two main factors that set them apart from other companies:

Their deductibles are based on the incident and not cumulative over the year

They offer better rates if you choose a vet clinic that is in-network

Why I Chose Companion Protect for Older GSDs

If you had a 7-year old GSD, the monthly cost is $67.99, whereas similar plans cost more than $100 per month.

Companion Protect covers 80% of the bill with a maximum lifetime payout of $100,000.

Additionally, once you sign up with Companion Protect, your rate will not increase as your GSD ages.

Though Companion Protect covers accidents and illnesses only, it does offer coverage on one annual wellness exam per year.

You can choose to bring your dog anywhere, but if you happen to select a Vetwork Partner, you will save 50% on your deductible and will receive 90% coverage.

Policy Pick

There is only one policy available; however, if you haven’t chosen a vet clinic yet, I would recommend checking out their Vetwork Partners, since you have a lower deductible and a higher reimbursement amount.

Additionally, clinics that are part of the Vetwork group will bill Companion Protect directly, so you only have to pay your portion at the time of service.

Get a Quote

Best Premium Choice

Embrace Pet Insurance

Embrace offers the widest coverage without getting too expensive, making and excellent choice for protecting your German Shepherd from whatever life may throw their way.

Get a Quote

Embrace, founded in 2003, has won several awards over the years, including the best place to work in Ohio, multiple times.

Embrace is a traditional insurance company with several flexible policies covering accidents and illnesses.

Though they do not cover pre-existing conditions, Embrace does offer coverage, based on their discretion, on curable pre-existing conditions.

Embrace isn’t the least expensive company, and they do base their pricing on multiple factors including breed, but their coverage is quite extensive.

Why I Chose Embrace

Embrace (see our full Embrace review and our comparison of Embrace vs PetPlan and Eusoh) covers a multitude of services not covered by standard plans with other pet insurance companies.

Examples of what they cover include:

Prosthetics and mobility devices

Specialist care

Alternative therapy such as

Laser treatment

Hydrotherapy

Acupuncture

Chiropractic Treatment

Physiotherapy

Behavioral therapy

Exam and consultation fees

And if you choose a wellness add-on plan, there are some services covered that GSD parents would likely benefit from like:

Hip dysplasia exams, other OFA testing, and radiographs

Preventative teeth cleaning (GSDs have a history of having bad dental health)

Grooming – GSDs are often lovingly referred to as German Shedders since they shed year-round

Prescription diet food – Ideal for GSDs who suffer from food allergies

In addition to the above wellness coverage, other unique reimbursable items are:

Wearable pet activity monitors

Medicated shampoos

Toe nail trimming

Nutritional supplements

Reiki and massage therapy

Policy Options

Embrace does not name their plans, they just offer a variety of options:

Annual Reimbursement Limit – $5,000, $8,000, $10,000, $15,000, or $30,000

Annual Deductible – $200, $300, $500, $750, or $1,000

Reimbursement Percentage  – 70%, 80%, or 90%

Plus, Embrace’s add-on wellness coverage comes in three choices.

The options all include the same coverage, but you have three annual reimbursement choices $250, $450, and $650.

Policy Pick

Of Embrace’s many customizable plans, for a GSD under the age of 1 y/o, I would choose:

$15,000 annual reimbursement

80% reimbursement percentage

$750 annual deductible

…for $39.34/month.

Get a Quote

Side by Side Comparisons

Although some of the data below are found in the above article, sometimes its easier to compare companies when they are side by side.

Conclusion

The hard reality is that when our pups are hurt or sick, we have to pause and find out if providing care is within our financial means.

During times of such stress, the last thing we need to be worrying about is whether or not we can pay their vet bills.

Pet insurance will allow parents of GSDs to focus on what is truly important, and that’s their pups.

Resources

https://www.akc.org/most-popular-breeds/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5532765/

http://blog.vetdepot.com/top-10-dog-breeds-with-the-most-health-issues

https://www.petinsurancequotes.com/dog-breed/german-shepherd/

https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/dog-breeds/german-shepherd-dog

from https://www.centralparkpaws.net/pet-insurance/best-pet-insurance-german-shepherds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=best-pet-insurance-german-shepherds