Before acquiring a dog, it is important to consider not only the important questions regarding a suitable living environment, daily routine and care options. You should also address safety issues, which often begin with "What if...?" Yes, you guessed correctly: we are referring to insurance.
Dog owner liability insurance is not mandatory throughout Germany. Instead, individual states have their own requirements or recommendations based on breed, size, or other specific criteria. So check with your city or local government to find out what the law says.
But even if you are not required to do so, we strongly recommend that you take out liability insurance for your dog. Imagine your dog breaks free from its leash and runs into a busy street, causing a pile-up. In the best case scenario, neither people nor animals are injured, and only the cars are damaged. The costs would still be enormous... You can see where this could lead financially. Even "little things" can cause high costs, such as chewed-up women's handbags in restaurants where you have your teenager with you and aren't keeping an eye on them. Or meeting other four-legged friends in the park, which unfortunately leads to a bloody fight and injuries. You should definitely be insured against the consequences of such incidents.
When choosing a suitable insurance policy, we recommend an insurance company that specializes in animals or dogs. It is best to find a broker who knows about coverage amounts and can clarify with you exactly what the insurance will cover in the event of a claim. For example, you often have to take out additional glass insurance with dog owner liability insurance because many insurers exclude glass damage. Herding by third parties, walking without a leash, unintentional mating, property damage in rented accommodation - as is so often the case, pay attention to the small print.
In countries such as the USA or Sweden, health and surgery insurance for dogs has long been standard practice. If a dog needs surgery or has a long-term illness, veterinary costs can be very high. An illness requiring surgery can quickly cost between $3,000 and $6,000.
In addition to illness, accidents can also cause costs: if a dog jumps in front of a car and is seriously injured, for example, a longer stay in the clinic will be necessary. High costs can arise out of nowhere, which are not easy to pay from a normal salary or even for students or pensioners. In such cases, health and surgery insurance can be a lifesaver.
Nevertheless, it makes sense to calculate the pros and cons of such insurance carefully. The monthly costs vary depending on factors such as the breed, age, medical history and for mixed breeds the size of the dog. And pay close attention to what is included in the insurance coverage. Up to what amount are prophylactic measures such as vaccinations, parasite protection or dental cleaning paid per year? What rate of the veterinary fee schedule is covered by the insurance? Are breed-specific illnesses insured? Can operations and treatments be carried out with a free choice of veterinary practice? It is a good idea to seek professional advice, preferably from an independent insurance broker.
Generally speaking, the earlier you insure your dog, the cheaper it is for you.
The alternative to comprehensive health insurance is surgery-only insurance. This covers any potential surgery costs. As a dog owner, you must make sure that the preliminary examinations and follow-up treatments are also reimbursed.
Your questions about the amount of coverage, the deductible, or the provisions relating to breed-specific illnesses should be answered specifically by the insurance company: Are there any exclusion criteria? What about alternative methods such as acupuncture or magnetic field therapy during convalescence?
Compare different offers and don't hesitate to ask several times if you are unsure. After all, forward thinking is particularly important at this point – for your dog and for your wallet.
Glaucoma describes a condition of increased intraocular pressure (physical pressure on the inner wall of the eye, leading to a constant, smooth curvature of the cornea), which causes damage to the retina and optic nerve. The medical term glaucoma comes from Greek and means "sea-colored," because the cornea turns blue due to the increase in pressure in the eye.
HCM is the most common heart disease in cats. Hypertrophy refers to the enlargement of an organ, in this case the thickening of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy refers to a heart muscle disease. As a result of the thickening of the heart muscle, the heart can no longer fill itself sufficiently with blood and cannot pump enough blood into the body's circulation. This leads to a backflow of blood into the pulmonary circulation, which in advanced stages can lead to water retention and shortness of breath.
Most horse owners are familiar with and fear this scenario. The horse suddenly stops eating, becomes restless, scrapes its hooves and kicks its belly. Colic basically describes any type of abdominal pain in horses. Unfortunately, colic in horses is a very complex problem and should never be taken lightly.
This rightly feared condition is always an emergency. If suspicious symptoms are present, the affected dog should be taken to a veterinary clinic immediately, as it can quickly lead to death if left untreated. A twisted stomach can affect all dogs, but it is more common in medium to large breeds with deep chests.
What child doesn't dream of having their own pony? Many little horse fans beg for one for years. But our little ones don't really know what it means to get a pony and take on such a big responsibility. They just see themselves galloping carefree over hill and dale with their four-legged friend.
As a horse owner, you always want the best for your horse. The selection of muesli, treats, and supplementary feed is huge. But what is right for my horse? Does it really need everything that the horses next door are getting? Unfortunately, overfeeding with individual feed components can also lead to colic, metabolic disorders, laminitis, or other health problems.
Pigs are sociable animals that can become very attached to humans. With sufficient space and a love for these intelligent creatures, living together can be a great joy. However, anyone considering keeping a mini pig like a cat or dog, i.e. in their home, should first read up extensively on the subject and study the needs of a small pig. These are no different from those of large pigs. Mini pigs are sometimes called "teacup pigs" because a piglet is so small right after birth that it fits in a teacup. But mini pigs grow naturally and quickly gain weight. To keep them happy, a mini pig needs enough space and an outdoor enclosure.
Also known as wet tail disease, this infectious diarrhea mainly affects very young hamsters between three and eight weeks old. It can lead to death within 48 hours and must therefore be taken very seriously.
This chronic inflammatory bowel disease occurs in dogs and cats, with a genetic predisposition suspected in certain dog breeds (boxers, German shepherds). IBD is triggered by an excessive reaction of the immune system, can affect both the small and large intestines, and is incurable.
A balanced and species-appropriate diet is an important part of animal health. There are veterinary practices specializing in animal nutrition and dietetics that can advise on feed selection and composition.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
