Veterinary Inflation Observations
Have you been wondering recentlywhy your veterinary care feels like it costs so much more than it used to? You are not alone.
I was digging into the inflation numbers over at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and I was fascinated by the difference between veterinary inflation (yes, they do track such a thing!) and theconsumer price inflation.
For example (see graph below), if I look at January 2007 toMarch 2011 (just about as long as weve been selling pet insurance policies), while my wages went up 10%over that time (yay!), my vet bills went up 25% in the same period (ouch!).Vet bills are definitelytaking up more of a bite out of my free cash than they used to.
Another point to note, the Consumer Price Index is defined as the change in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services andVeterinary Services are just a subset of those goods and services.
Travel Insurance Tricks and Traps: How To Avoid Them
Buying travel insurance is an easy thing to do. However, not all travel medical insurance policies will be right for you. Some may be uneconomical or provide you with low-quality coverage. What should you look for when buying travel insurance? What traps should you avoid?
If you have a pre-existing medical condition you should check to make sure you are covered for medical issues concerning this condition when you travel. Check that your insurer doesn’t have a set of exclusions that make almost any claim impossible – only choose a respected and established insurance company that doesn’t make you jump through hoops to be considered for a claim.
Make sure your travel insurance covers essentials like baggage, travel money and delayed flights. Some
High performance shock absorber could reduce accident risk for 4×4 vehicles
New HDP shock from Gabriel
Control Instruments Automotive Ltd have launched the widely-anticipated Gabriel Safari HDP shock absorber for SUV’s and 44 vehicles.
The HDP range, as with other Gabriel shock absorbers, is locally designed and manufactured for local off-road conditions and will be available at all major fitment centres and retail outlets during June 2011
“The Safari HDP is a robust big-bore shock absorber specifically designed for extreme South African off-road conditions and comes with a three-year unlimited kilometer warranty, the first in SA for a 44 shock absorber,” said Sean Staley, executive manager – marketing, at Control Instruments Automotive.
“The HDP is a clear indication of Gabriel’s market leadership in product design, development and expertise in local manufacture.”
The HDP addresses the 44 enthusiast and 44 work-horse markets. It is specifi
5 Tips On How To Keep Your International Health Insurance Premiums Low
It’s a given to have international health insurance if you are traveling anywhere, especially outside of your country. If you insure your automobiles and property, then surely, your life is worth the investment.
However, you can keep your monthly or weekly payment for international medical insurance low by staying healthy. Here are some tips for travelers.
One, no matter what city you are in, find time to exercise. It could be jogging, going to the hotel gym, or swimming. There are less chances of getting sick if you have a good immune system from a physically fit body. Worldwide health insurance will cover illnesses and personal accidents while you are traveling, but it does not have to be
Two, don’t forget to drink water, the bottled variety if necessary. Sta
Bald spot at vaccination site on a dog
We recently had a question on the Embrace Facebook pageabout a bald spot onadog:
Q: It turns out that a tiny bald spot on my daughters dog is likely a result of the rabies vaccine. She may or may not grow her hair back. The vet doesnt think she should get rabies vaccines again. Anybody know how to regrow hair or anybody have a dog regrow hair after this happened to them?
Since Im not a veterinarian, I turned to Dr Rex Riggs, one of our veterinary advisors, for help with this question.
A: Rarely you can get a small area of alopecia in the area of where the rabies vaccine was given. You dont need to treat them, as they are just cosmetic.
When do you need to exchange your international drivers license?
Question:
I have been driving in SA for the past 10 years using my international license. HOW can i get my SA license?
Answer:
A foreign driving licence can only be exchanged within 1 year of the holder thereof obtaining permanent residence. The Department has published draft regulations for comment that will extend this period to 5 years. It is rumoured that the regulations will be published before the end of this Month. Please check the Government gazette and .
In addition to the above the licence should have been obtained while the holder thereof was not ordinarily resident in South Africa i.e.
Claim Example: allergies in a dog
What does 3years of allergy treatmentcost?$2,500 and climbing. Ouch.
As an example of the cost of general allergies in adog, I found Jack, a mixed breed dog born in 2005 who has suffered from allergies since 2008. He lives in Dallas TX, so while not an inexpensive city to live in for veterinary care, certainly not the most expensive.
Here are his charges related to allergies over the last 3 years (he tore his cruciate ligament early on as well – hes had a lot of health issues going on.)
Jacks pet insurance policycosts $64.31 a month for a $100 annual deductible, 10%copay percentage, $10,000 annual maximum with prescription drug coverage.