pet-medical-insurance

The Benefits of the Companionship of Pets

Tue, 18 May 2010 09:40:01 +0100

Dr. Platzhund

All people in rural areas and mostly those in peri-urban areas are raised in an environment with animal contact and understanding. The high density dwellings where body corporates, in their constitutions, and property developers, in the title deeds, have placed a NO PETS policy are denying companionship for the lonely people in an isolated society, are causing pets to be relocated or euthanased, and creating a society of youngsters who have not had the privilege of growing up and owning a pet. Children deprived of this human-animal interaction have been proven scientifically to most likely become dysfunctional parents.

The benefit of pets is a thesis on its own. The unconditional love and attention derived from a doting, obedient dog can never be emulated by friends or family. A compatible animal in any home environment is a cost-effect therapist and stress modulator. It has been scientifically proven that patting a cat on one’s lap causes the releases of chemicals (e.g. phenylalanine) in the brain that helps to reduce human blood pressure, causing relaxation.

What you see in an animal is what you get. They do not have hidden agendas. Want an honest relationship? Get a pet! Pets are non-judgemental! One can be old, ugly, disabled or poor and the animal just accepts you as the best thing since bones fell off the truck.
A dog can be a most effective 24-hour alarm protection that does not fail due to a flat battery or electricity outages. The small breeds are highly vocal as a vigilant warning system, feared mostly by potential intruders, whereas the medium to large breeds are formidable in size and strength and only the foolhardy would dare enter their turf unescorted.

A pet offers loyalty, genuine interaction and a bond of inter-dependence. Pets convert a house into a home. People derive a feeling of being needed and a belonging. Pets help formalize family structures. A dog and cat are good listeners and when people who need to talk, or like to talk, have got such a receptive audience all personal secrets can be revealed with the guarantee of confidentiality.

Owning a pet has no stigma attached to it. Once a suitable pet is chosen one can enjoy an uncomplicated and forgiving relationship.
How many people that own pets look for the first opportunity to tell others about the activities, idiosyncrasies and entertainment they derive from their beloved companions? Pets are a stimulant for laughter and an effective conversation catalyst not only amongst family and friends but on a walk in the park with strangers. Pet-owning people are perceived as more socially acceptable therefore companion animals positively influence one’s image.

A socially acceptable pet relieves depression and gives many people a multitude of
reasons to live:

•    Forced physiological exercise e.g. walking, spend more time outdoors, breathing in fresh
     air
•    A personal interest in a “family member” that needs to be needed
•    Alleviates boredom
•    Mental stimulation and emotional fulfillment
•    More sociable and more ambitious
•    Increases person’s self-esteem and psychological well-being
•    Helps perceives stressful events as surmountable challenges rather than threatening
     impossibilities
•    Instills friendship values
•    Gives humans a reason to wake up in the morning, etc.
•    Decreases people’s feeling of isolation, especially the elderly, the infirmed and those
      without family or friends

Dogs, cats and horses can teach children:

•    the cycle of nature: birth, growth, illness, recovery, pleasure, ageing, death
•    safe physical contact i.e. to touch, hold, hug, kiss
•    responsibility and commitment for health care, feeding, recreation, grooming
•    the meaning of unconditional love and vigilant attention. Children growing up with a
     positive association with animals are far better, kinder and understanding parents.
•    Nurturing skills

The elderly receive more family visits. Old people live longer and healthier lives, with pets. In this modern age elderly people are sent off to retirement villages and old aged homes where families hardly ever visit. The therapeutic benefit of pets can mostly alleviate the loneliness of senior citizens, who can competently look after themselves.

Pets are more tolerant and sensitive towards people who suffer from problems e.g. autism and depression
In institutions or hospitals pets can take off a large percentage of pressure from professional staff supervising patients with disabilities and ill-health

People who own pets have empathy for those without.
If you do not own a pet there may not be anything wrong with you, but certainly there is something wrong with your life.

Article courtesy of Dr. Platzhund
PetSure's Medical Advisor

Old Age Homes and Pets

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:42:59 +0100

PETS IN RETIREMENT VILLAGES AND OLD AGE HOMES CAN DELAY THE INEVITABLE WITH QUALITY OF LIFE

Dr. Platzhund

It has become a gradual societal trend for elderly family members to be placed in retirement villages and old age homes, banished from the family structure and familiar suburban life. Any move to a new home is regarded as the third most stressful human situation following death and divorce, how much more so for senior citizens?!
Old people are lonelier today than ever before. Loneliness must, however, be distinguished from being alone. It is possible, therefore, for a human being to be alone, yet contented, hundreds of kilometres from the nearest soul, while the same individual may feel desolate with loneliness in the midst of a large crowd.

Loneliness is regarded as such a painful and unpleasant sensation that, since time immemorial, societies have utilised solitary confinement, exile and social ostracism as methods of punishment. The autobiographical accounts of religious hermits, castaways and prisoners of war often elucidate the psychological effects of enforced social isolation

Most families are either too busy in the rat race and neglect to visit their aged family members in such institutions and the only truly special companionship which the elderly could benefit from under these lonely circumstances are pets. However, management committees in charge of retirement villages and old age homes do not allow lonely old people companionship in a depressing and stressful time of solitude and banishment. I regard this attitude as cruel and inhumane. If any committee member could be placed in the same position for a given period of time I am certain they would rescind the insensitive decision of a “No Pets” policy.

Many people facing retirement in a completely new village are forced to euthanase their existing beloved pets before moving in. This highly traumatic loss of a beloved “family member” increases despair and insecurity when loneliness looms, as severe adjustments are made to their lifestyle. More than ever before, this is when there is the most urgent need for a meaningful, trusted, loving and unconditional relationship. How much more does this scenario resemble a young child being abandoned or separated from his or her mother?!

Members of managing committees or trustees of elderly institutions should be philanthropic, sensitive, empathic and in a rational frame of mind to plan strategies that would accommodate certain pets within old age homes. The committee members of retirement facilities will, one day, be a victim of their own decision (i.e. denying companion animals for social comfort).
Veterinarians, veterinary nurses, animal behaviourists and canine obedience instructors could serve on the management committee of an old age home in an advisory and supervisory capacity. Depending on the type of establishment and the composition of residents the ideal number and types of pets could be professionally and scientifically considered. Not all pets are suitable. Not all people like pets. Not all people are suitable for pet ownership. Those who need it and want it should be afforded the opportunity. The professional expertise consulted in these matters will be able to evaluate the health risks, temperament suitability and environment tolerance of certain animals. A calm, quiet, even-tempered, sociable dog is better than any person we could ever wish to meet.

Not every person will choose to own a pet in a retirement situation, even if they were animal lovers; they may want to travel. But those who choose to have an animal, and are independent and responsible enough for the proper care of that pet, should be allowed to do so. The frail and infirm must, obviously, be excluded from direct ownership. But they may enjoy the pleasurable presence and warm contact of companion animals living in the complex or be exposed to pet therapy visitation programmes.

Elderly residents with pets are usually so preoccupied with pet commitments that staff become, mostly, relieved of the pressures emanating from bored or depressed human beings. Taking care of another living creature improves human quality of life and longevity. Commitment to the wellbeing of a pet diverts old people from their personal problems and self-pity. Scientific studies have proved beyond any doubt that by stroking a pet there is a release of chemicals from the brain causing a drop in blood pressure, relaxation and serves as a physiological anti-depressive. Animals need to be exercised so the owners get the added physiological benefit of having to get out in to the fresh air and walk thereby stimulating the cardiovascular system and helping delay muscle atrophy and degeneration. Walking the dog is going to bring people into more sociable contact and conversation with each other. An inexpensive social catalyst adding much more meaning to their lives!

People also develop a sense of pride owning a pet and gives them a purpose for continued living. A companion animal offers the elderly, amongst other things: unconditional love, confidentiality, warmth for the arthritic joints and body, protection, something to talk to and a good listener, a feeling of belonging and the feeling of family membership. Pets are an antidote to stress and affectionate social contact is a positive contributor for recovery after any illness or surgery. In Ecclesiastes 6: 16 it says “A faithful friend is the medicine of life”. Why are we failing hands down in this necessary service to our senior family members and friends?!

Article courtesy of Dr. Platzhund
PetSure's Medical Advisor

Pet Medical Insurance

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:51:44 +0100

Owning a pet is very rewarding and can be extremely comforting during times of sadness, loneliness, illness or periods of major adjustment. Owning a pet however, is not always fun and games. Pets might get sick or injured at one time or another and need veterinary care which can be quite costly.

The pet may be taken to any vet nationwide

PetSure was started in 1992 in partnership with Hollard with exactly these unforeseen costs in mind. It offers an insurance policy to cover the veterinary costs of your pet due to unforeseen illness and accidents. To safeguard against insurance fraud, all pets on cover must be microchipped and there is a one month waiting period from the start date of the policy before a claim may be submitted. The pets may be seen by any registered veterinarian in South Africa. The pet owner pays out of his or her pocket and is reimbursed immediately after submitting the claims to PetSure. The benefit amount, less an excess of a maximum 15% of the benefit is paid directly into the pet owner's bank account.

Policy cover options meet various needs and affordability brackets

The PetSure policy has three different levels of cover to suit pet owners varying needs. As with any insurance policy, there are exclusions and limitations to keep the premium as affordable as possible. The PetSure policy cover includes the following conditions: gastro-intestinal problems, ear infections, Biliary, bite wounds, poisoning, bullet wounds, fractures etc. However, the following conditions are not covered: conditions preventable by vaccination and deworming, pre-existing conditions, behavior problems, any pregnancy related conditions as well as hereditary and congenital conditions.

After almost 18 years of providing pet medical insurance in South Africa, PetSure has proven that there is a need to be able to look after pets properly and to afford proper veterinary care. For more details on the products as well as premiums, please contact PetSure.

Telephone: 0860 738 787
E-mail: info@petsure.co.za
Website at: www.petsure.co.za

Pet categories covered by PetSure

Images: Wikipedia
Clive E Berman: Supplied