This is some info I recently came across from one of the Pet Med newsletters I subscribe to and I thought it would be good to pass along.
One of the following frequently occurring problems in dogs is preventable;

#9, 'ear canal surgery due to allergies'.

Many of you have heard me tell you the importance of getting rid of intestinal parasites. By doing this one thing, you increase the ability of your pets immune system to handle allergies and other opportunistic diseases. This is also the one thing you can do to increase your own health since doctors almost never address this issue until it causes some problems, even then they will prescribe meds for the symptoms and not the real problem. What happens? You keep getting sick....good for the doctors bottom line but not yours.
Protect yourself and your pet, by taking the new FFO. If you take a tablespoon, you now only need 1/4 T. I round it up to 1 teaspoon. You're also flushing out heavy metals in both you and your pet with the added Calcium component in the new FFO.

Have a fun and healthy summer
Jan

Following are the top 10 conditions-ranked by frequency-to cost pet owners more than $1,000 in 2010. This information is from Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), A
merica's #1 provider of pet health insurance.

1. Torn Knee Ligament/Cartilage - This is a hard one to prevent. It often occurs when dogs are out playing. You can't prevent them from playing...

2. Intestinal - Foreign Object - This one is easily preventable. If your dog or puppy chews on stuff (or if you have a new dog or puppy and you aren't sure how it will behave), monitor your pet closely. Keep trashcans secured and pick up anything the dog might chew. Common foreign bodies ingested include socks, panties, toys, wrappers off meat, contents of the trash and more.

3. Stomach - Foreign Object - This is easily preventable. (Same advice as Intestinal Foreign Object.)

4. Intervertebral Disc Disease - There is not a lot you can do to prevent this. For dog breeds that are predisposed to this condition, the best thing you can do is to minimize their jumping. For example, if I had a Dachshund I'd make sure to provide puppy stairs or a ramp to help the dog get off and on the bed and sofa.

5. Stomach Torsion/Bloat - This is a disease of large breed dogs that can occur after the stomach becomes enlarged with air or after drinking lots of water. Be careful how much you exercise your dog in the heat. If your dog is older and is stressed at the kennel - consider getting a pet sitter. A lot of dogs seem to bloat when boarding.

6. Broken Leg - This is one you can prevent. Don't let small dogs jump out of your arms and keep your dog on a leash. The most common cause of broken legs is trauma such as being hit by a car.

7. Laryngeal Paralysis - This is a condition of the airway where part of the larynx is paralyzed. This causes a problem when the dog is hot or excited. If you suspect your dog has this condition, keep him cool, out of the heat as much as possible and in a low stress environment.

8. Tumor of the Throat - Not much you can do to prevent this.

9. Ear Canal Surgery -This is often a problem due to chronic ear infections. The best way to prevent it is to treat ear infections and allergies thoroughly. Follow the recommendations of your veterinarian.

10. Ruptured Bile Duct - Again, there is not much you can do to prevent this.
As responsible pet owners, we need to do everything in our power to keep our dogs safe and happy. But things happen, and when they do it is also our responsibility to be prepared so that we can provide our pets with the care they need. The best way to do this is to get a pet health insurance policy right now, while your pet is still healthy. To learn more, go to petinsurance.com