Just like in people, allergies in pets happen when their immune systems identify substances as harmful and try to fight them off.  This month, we've got some tips for pets with allergies – and managing your allergies to pets. Over 20% of pets may suffer from some sort of allergy, according to the ASPCA®.  Allergies typically develop when pets are young, but adult onset allergies can also occur.

What are pets allergic to?
Pets can be allergic to environmental substances like pollen, mold, or dust mites. They can also be allergic to flea bites or ingredients in their diets.

What are the symptoms?
If your pet has recurring ear or skin infections, allergies could be an issue. Other common signs can include increased scratching, licking, chewing, or face-wiping.

What should you do?
Visit your veterinarian who can help identify the source and recommend treatment. You can also help by reducing your pet's exposure to allergens in your home.

Our illness coverage can help cover treatment costs related to allergies that aren't pre-existing to your plan. Sign into the Member Center to see your plan details.

"I love exploring the outdoors, and my dog Sophie goes everywhere with me. I had a feeling that giving her freedom to explore might increase her chances of injury or sickness. Signing up for ASPCA Pet Health Insurance was the best thing I've ever done. Multiple times we've needed your service to help cover veterinary costs. Sophie is naturally healthy, but as I anticipated, her high energy and accidental encounters have meant a few costly trips to the vet. I am very grateful for the reimbursements!"

— Anna H., Santa Cruz, CA

Screen Check
Before you open up your windows to let in that lovely spring breeze, make sure your screens are secure. Your pet could push them open and get hurt or lost.

Spring Cleaning
Be careful to keep potentially poisonous products out of your pet's reach as you do your spring cleaning chores and store them safely when you're done.

Garden Safety
If you're sprucing up your garden, remember that fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides can harm your pet. Read the directions and follow warnings closely.

If your pet ingests something poisonous, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center can help at 1-888-426-4435.

You can find more spring safety tips on our blog.

In our April newsletter, we offered some spring pet safety tips, including securing window screens and storing gardening products safely. Here are a few more to help keep your pet from harm this season.
 
Home Improvements
Doing some spring updates to your house? Be sure to keep potentially harmful paints and chemicals out of reach of your pet. Also, don’t leave tools where your pet could step on them, and clean up small objects, like nails or screws, which could be swallowed.
 
Little Critters
It’s the time of year when fleas and ticks can become more problematic. Talk to your veterinarian about a safe preventive program to keep those pesky bugs from bothering your pet. If you’ve been outside, check your pet for ticks before you come back in the house.
 
Allergy Alert
Pets can have spring allergies too! If you notice your pet sniffling and sneezing or breaking out in any kind of rash, contact your veterinarian. And remember never to give your pet any allergy medications without consulting your veterinarian first.
 
If your pet does get hurt or sick this spring, our plans can help cover the costs of treatment. Get a free quote to learn more. If you’re already a customer, you can see what’s covered by your plan online at the Member Center.

March 18 to 24 is National Poison Prevention Week.  Here are a few tips to keep your pet safe:

• Be aware of harmful foods like avocados, raisins, chocolate, and coffee.
• Store human medications safely — not on low night tables or counters.
• Make sure toxic plants like tulips, lilies, and azaleas are out of reach.

If your pet ingests something poisonous, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) can help at 1-888-426-4435. A $65 consulting fee may apply, but a portion of that charge is covered by your plan.

Learn more about the APCC and get a free pet safety pack at the ASPCA's website.

Do you need to check the status of a claim or update your contact or billing information? The ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Member Center can help! Sign into our Member Center to do it conveniently online.

What do you do if your pet has acute anxiety or a compulsive behavior? Troubled animals like Frisbee, a mixed breed dog who started spinning wildly 10 to 12 times a day, or Dakota, the Springer Spaniel who grew increasingly aggressive, both benefited from Prozac, according to a report on ABC News.

Mood stabilizing and anti-anxiety drugs typically reserved for humans are being prescribed by veterinarians more often to treat pets with behavioral issues. ABC News reports pet parents spent $7 billion on Prozac and Zoloft last year – up 35% in the past four years.

In some instances, diet or lifestyle changes alone can do the trick. But in Frisbee’s case, her pet parents say it’s the only thing that’s really helped.

If your pet has a behavioral issue, talk to your veterinarian about possible treatments. In most states, our Level 3 and 4 plans can cover a consultation as well as medication to treat behavioral conditions. You can see the options available for your pet with a free quote. (Note that behavioral coverage is not yet available in all states.)

For more information, watch the full report “Prozac for Puppy? More American Pets are Prescribed Psychiatric Drugs” online at ABC News.

As a pet parent, you know how much love and joy pets bring into our homes, but did you know they can also improve your health?

Over the years, studies have found that pets can boost our health in measurable ways.+  Here are  a few more reasons to shower your pet with love around Valentine’s Day and throughout the year.

Stress Relievers
Nothing melts away the stress of the day like a warm snuggle from your pet. But it may be more than psychological relief. Research has revealed that pets can help lower blood pressure and anxiety levels.

Heart Helpers
Pets can have positive effects on our hearts. Studies have reported better survival rates for heart attack patients with pets and improved heart rate variability, which is an indicator of heart health.

Mental Boosters
Our furry pals may also combat depression. In studies, pet-assisted therapy helped reduce depression in chemotherapy patients, and pets reduced stress for people caring for loved ones with dementia.

Read more about the health benefits of pets when it comes to allergies, fitness, and autism at our blog.

+Sources: K. Arhant-Sudhir, R. Arhant-Sudhir, K. Sudhir, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011; C. Westgarth, BMC Veterinary Research, 2007; M. Orlandi, Anticancer Research, 2007; S. Lupien, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2010

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, so it's a great time to check your pet's teeth and gums:

• Smell your pet's breath to make sure it doesn't smell foul or offensive.
• Gently push back your pet's lips and look over teeth and gums for obvious issues.
• Be on the lookout for difficulty chewing or excessive pawing at the mouth.

If you have any concerns, call your veterinarian. You should also schedule a yearly dental cleaning. If you have Level 3 or 4, it's covered.
Learn more about dental health for cats or for dogs at the ASPCA's website.

Recent studies have shown that pets can lower blood pressure, boost heart health, and reduce depression. Here are a few more ways pets can boost our health:

Allergy Helpers
We often think about pets causing allergies, but research has shown they may prevent allergies in certain cases. For example, one study found that infants exposed to dogs were less likely to have pet allergies or eczema.*

Exercise Buddies
Taking your dog out for walks or playing energetic interactive games with your cat can help both you and your pet lose weight and stay in shape. We’ve got more on exercising with your pet in this January blog post.

Helping Children
It hasn’t been formally researched, but some parents report that pets have helped their autistic children open up to new emotions and experiences. There are even programs set up to train pets for this purpose.

These are just a few more reasons to appreciate our pets and all of the good things they bring to our lives!

*Source: James E. Gern, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2004.