ThriftyPaw

Summer heat is dangerous for dogs. Dogs do not sweat like humans — they cool themselves primarily through panting, which is far less efficient. When the air temperature approaches your dog’s body temperature (101-102.5 degrees), panting stops working. Heatstroke can kill a dog in 15 minutes. But keeping your dog cool does not require expensive … Read more

Dog diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in dogs, affecting approximately 1 in 300 dogs. The lifetime cost of managing canine diabetes ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 dollars, but pet insurance like Healthy Paws can reimburse up to 90 percent of diabetes-related costs after your deductible. depending on the size of your … Read more

A good dog trainer can transform your dog’s behavior and your relationship with them. A bad trainer wastes your money, can create behavioral problems, and in cases of harsh correction methods, can cause lasting fear and aggression. Private trainers charge 75-200 dollars per session, and board-and-train programs cost 1,500-5,000 dollars. But effective training does not … Read more

As dogs age, jumping onto beds, couches, and into cars becomes difficult. Large breeds are especially prone to joint stress from jumping — a 80-pound dog landing on their front legs from a bed height absorbs the equivalent of 400 pounds of force. Over time, this repetitive impact causes arthritis, spinal injuries, and torn ligaments. … Read more

Joint problems are the number one health issue in older dogs. Over 80 percent of dogs over age 8 show some degree of arthritis, and large breeds start showing signs as early as age 5. Joint supplements can slow cartilage breakdown, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility — but the supplement aisle is full of products … Read more

Every year, thousands of dogs are poisoned by common household items that their owners never suspected were dangerous. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handles over 400,000 poisoning cases annually, and the average emergency vet visit for poisoning costs 300-1,500 dollars. Having pet insurance can cover most of that cost, and keeping a pet first … Read more

Summer means swimming, and for many dogs, water is pure joy. But water also hides dangers that can turn a fun afternoon into an emergency vet visit costing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Drowning, water intoxication, ear infections, blue-green algae toxicity, and saltwater poisoning are all risks that most owners never think about until it … Read more