Even if your dog isn’t diabetic at the moment, it is worth checking your pet insurance plan and doing a comparison between different policies. The cheapest pet insurance doesn’t always offer the most extensive cover, so if your pet develops health problems you could be left footing the bill.

Cataracts are a medical condition where the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque. Cataracts can present themselves as white or clouded areas within your dog’s eyes. Your pet won’t be able to see through the affected area so if the cataract becomes sufficiently large, a dog can become completely blind in that eye.

Whilst cataracts themselves rarely cause discomfort, they can lead to other more painful ocular diseases such as Lens-Induced Uveitis (LIU) and glaucoma. Once these secondary diseases have become established, cataract surgery may no longer be possible. So as soon as you notice a cataract forming, consult your vet.

Cataracts can develop so quickly that you may even notice one developing within a couple of days. If this is the case, it is worth contacting your vet immediately. Cataract surgery tends to be same day surgery with no need for an overnight hospital stay. It can be reassuring to know that your pet will be recovering in a familiar environment.

Cataract surgery should be able to restore your dog’s vision, but if surgery is not possible don’t despair. As dogs are able to smell and hear far better than humans, losing their sight does not affect them as dramatically as you may fear. Dogs are often able to adjust to vision loss quite quickly, allowing their other senses to compensate. So long as there is no pain or discomfort in their eyes, dogs with cataracts can live long, happy lives.

However, if your pet’s ocular condition is causing them pain, your vet should be able to recommend an appropriate course of action. Whether this involves surgery, medication or even complimentary therapy, reputable pet insurance should be able to protect you financially from the costs.

Whatever course of action you take, good advice is essential. Consult your vet as soon as you suspect a problem to ensure your pet stays in good health.

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The Dogue de Bordeaux may suffer from hip and dysplasia, weak cruciate ligaments and spinal problems. There may also be reproductive problems.

Bloat, heart problems and skin disease can also be issues in the breed. The Dogue de Bordeaux is also a fast-growing dog — puppies may grow 2 to 4 pounds per week — so they may experience Esinophilic Panosteitis (Pano) or juvenile lameness. Hypothyroidism is also found in the breed.

Breeders are testing for several problems. Hip dysplasia is a particular concern. Of the dogs x-rayed which were submitted for evaluation, only 42.3 percent were rated as Normal.

English Foxhounds tend to be a healthy breed, as with many dogs which are bred for performance, but there are occasionally some health problems found in individuals. Chronic hip dysplasia, renal disease and epilepsy may be found in some dogs.

Because of the rarity of the breed there is little health data in the databases of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Most breeders rely on working performance to choose dogs for breeding.

1. Pet insurance provides financial peace-of-mind in the event of your pet needing emergency veterinary care and treatment
2. Pet insurance covers illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and renal disease
3. In the event your pet is seriously injured, surgical care coverage is provided
4. Depending on the pet insurance policy, veterinary services such as tooth extractions and advanced dental procedures are covered
5. The freedom to seek a board-certified specialist for advanced veterinary care is covered

The total bill for the tests, blood work, surgery and radiation came to $14,000 — not surprising in this age of sky-high medical costs. Except for one thing. Logan is a golden retriever. After another surgery for an unrelated illness, the total cost of Logan’s care is approaching $20,000. Today Logan is healthy, but he has a new nickname: “20K.”

It’s no secret that Americans love their pets. But these days, all that love is leading to an unprecedented level of expense for millions of owners, who are only beginning to understand the pet-world concept of sticker shock. Caught up in a wave of new medical options and lured by an increasingly sophisticated cadre of veterinarians, pet owners across the country are forking over thousands — and even tens of thousands — of dollars to treat illnesses that would have gone undiagnosed or untreated just a few years ago. And then doing it again if they have to. Of course, pet owners and most vets have the animals’ best interest in mind. But that doesn’t make it any easier: With health insurance covering the humans in many families, it’s not unusual for pet owners to spend far more money on health care for their cats and dogs than for their sons and daughters. Even the Great Recession failed to take a bite out of Fido’s health care tab. According to a report by market-research company Packaged Facts, Americans spent $20 billion on veterinary bills in 2010 — an 8.5% increase from a year earlier and more than double the amount spent just a decade ago… [Read the full story on Yahoo]

Source: Yahoo Finance, Article By: Nancy Keates

This is a new breed but so far there are no breed-related health problems reported.

The Turkish Van is a generally very healthy breed. However, in solid white cats and in cats with odd eyes (one blue and one amber), there is a high incidence of deafness. Cats with two blue eyes are not usually deaf. There are studies underway about the problem.