Pet Insurance
It’s trusted protection for your four-legged family members
We’ve teamed up with Pets Plus Us® to offer two plans with nose to tail insurance coverage designed to help protect dog and cat owners from the high cost of veterinary care. It’s total peace of mind for both you and your pet from one of Canada’s top-rated pet insurers, with 5% premium savings!
Get more information or your no-obligation quote today:
No pet owner wants their veterinary care decisions to be determined by cost
Important Pets Plus Us pet insurance plan details are summarized below. Please note that medical conditions that are noted, symptomatic, or diagnosed prior to enrollment, or during a waiting period are considered to be pre-existing to coverage and not eligible for reimbursement. Additionally, benefit limits and exclusions may apply.
If you’d like more information, call 1.800.364.8422 toll-free. A Pets Plus Us specialist will help you understand what’s covered: they’ll look at your pet’s health records and let you know if anything is not covered, so there are no surprises later on.
The right pet health insurance can help
Proper pet insurance coverage can help protect the owners of dogs and cats against the high cost of veterinary care. See for yourself… the examples below are actual claims paid to actual Pets Plus Us policyholders.
Pet: Nori* a 12-month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Condition: Grape toxicity
Actual claim paid: $2,056.79**
Nori’s story
Nori was being looked after by a pet sitter while her family were away in Europe. Her eagle-eyed caretaker spotted Nori eating what they thought was 1-2 handfuls of grapes. Prudently, they brought her to the emergency veterinarian right away.
The toxicity of grapes can be unpredictable, so the emergency veterinarian induced vomiting immediately. What was suspected to be a couple of handfuls turned out to be more than 60 grapes!
About the condition: Grape and raisin toxicity
Grapes, raisins, and some currants have been known to cause toxic effects in dogs. The exact compound in grapes that causes illness is unknown, but recently, tartaric acid has been suspected. The dose of grapes that triggers illness has not been determined; some dogs that eat a lot of grapes never get sick, while others that eat just one or two have become severely ill. Ingestion of a large number of grapes is more likely to cause severe illness… but not every case follows this rule. It is known that the concentration of tartaric acid varies with the grape’s variety, growing conditions, and ripeness. Dried raisins and currents have a higher concentration of tartaric acid than fresh grapes.
The clinical signs of grape toxicity include vomiting and diarrhea, which can progress to acute kidney failure and neurological signs. Abdominal pain, appetite loss, changes in urination volume, lethargy, weakness, and staggering may be observed. 1-2 days after grape ingestion, an increase in blood nitrogen signals the kidney injury. Grape toxicity can be fatal if not treated promptly and aggressively.
Treatment
Because the toxic dose of grapes cannot be pinpointed, all dogs must be treated for the “worst case scenario” when ingestion is known or even suspected.
Upon admission, Nori was given an injection of apomorphine to induce vomiting, therefore removing as much grape material from the stomach as possible. She was then given activated charcoal, which binds certain toxins and prevents absorption into the blood stream.
Blood was collected immediately to establish Nori’s baseline (healthy) kidney function. This allowed the veterinary team to monitor for any changes periodically over the next 3 days…keeping an eye out for signs of kidney injury.
Nori was then placed on IV fluids for the next 48 hours. Aggressive fluid therapy is performed to dilute any absorbed toxins and speed the clearance of toxic compounds from the blood in an attempt to protect the kidneys.
Fortunately, and because of the quick actions of Nori’s caregivers and veterinary team, Nori never developed any signs of toxicity or kidney injury. Decontamination measures were successful, and Nori was discharged in excellent condition after 48 hours of hospital care and monitoring.
Claim outcome
Pets Plus Us pack member Nori needed $2,285.32 in veterinary care following her culinary adventure with grapes. Her family was reimbursed $2,056.79 through their Pets Plus Us Accident and Illness More plan.
Stick to the milk bones from now on, Nori!
*Name changed for confidentiality and privacy reasons
**Source: 2022 PTZ Insurance claims data. Value of claims in Canadian dollars.
Pet: Jojo* a 5-year-old male English Bulldog
Condition: Chronic otitis
Actual claim paid: $4,945.00**
Jojo’s story
Jojo was adopted as a puppy in 2018. During his first puppy vaccines, the veterinarian informed Jojo’s family that while Jojo was in great health, unfortunately, his breed was prone to numerous health conditions. Prudently, the family enrolled in pet insurance immediately, and made sure to include hereditary conditions in their coverage.
At around three years of age, Jojo began to have ear infections in his right ear. The infections would improve with treatment, but always seemed to come back. The infections reoccurred so many times, that the tissue within his ear canal began to swell and proliferate. Bacterial cultures started to show the appearance of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The infections became increasingly painful, smelly, and difficult to treat. To improve Jojo’s health and comfort, his veterinarian recommended a surgical procedure called a TECA-BO, or Total Ear Canal Ablation with Bulla Osteotomy.
About the condition: Chronic otitis
Otitis externa is the inflammation of the ear canal. Inflammation of the skin inside the ear is often caused by allergies/atopy. The surface of inflamed skin is warmer and more moist than healthy skin…and this is especially true inside the ears where heat and moisture are trapped. Unfortunately, this creates a perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to flourish. It is normal for some microbes to live in the ears, but under the influence of inflammation, the types and numbers of microbes present become harmful, contributing to tissue damage, and increased immune response. Inside the ear canal, secondary changes occur as a result of the tissue damage, including proliferation and mineralization of the ear canal.
Repeated treatments with ear drops can lead to antibiotic resistance. Additionally, dogs with recurrent otitis are often in a lot of pain. They often start to resist cleaning and medication of their ears.
Treatment
Otitis externa is treated with ear cleaning, antibiotic/antifungal ear drops, and pain medications. Additionally, if the infections are recurrent, the root cause, such as food allergies, will be investigated and treated.
Bacterial and fungal cultures may be performed to identify the microbes present, and select the ideal antibiotic treatment.
When ear infections reoccur frequently, lead to chronic changes in the ear canal, and become resistant to treatment, a surgical procedure called TECA-BO may be recommended. This procedure removes all of the tissue of the ear canal. It also allows flushing and removal of infected tissue from the tympanic bulla, a middle-ear structure which may harbor bacteria and yeast.
The TECA-BO procedure is considered a salvage procedure because it results in loss of hearing in the treated ear. However, patients are often much more comfortable afterwards, and maintain the normal appearance of their pinna (ear flap).
The goal of the procedure is to eliminate pain and future incidents of otitis.
Claim outcome
Jojo required two years of treatment for recurrent cases of otitis. On top of that, his TECA-BO procedure cost his family $6,458.00 in veterinary fees. His Pet Partners Companion Plus policy reimbursed them $4,945.00 of those fees. We are happy to report that Jojo has many comfortable years ahead of him!
*Name changed for confidentiality and privacy reasons
**Source: 2022 PTZ Insurance claims data. Value of claims in Canadian dollars.
Pet: Tucker* a 4-month-old male Goldendoodle
Condition: Gastrointestinal foreign body
Actual claim paid: $2,945.24**
Tucker’s story:
Tucker is a bouncy, mischievous, and adorable four-month-old goldendoodle puppy. Like many goldendoodles, he explores his world with his mouth and often eats things he shouldn’t.
One morning, Tucker started the day by vomiting yellow fluid, paper towels and some other unidentified materials. His appetite was good, but soon after he ate his breakfast, he vomited all of the food back up again. Over the next 24 hours, his energy level dipped and he continued to vomit, especially whenever he ate or drank water.
Tucker’s family brought him to their family veterinarian. They told the health team about his naughty eating habits and mentioned he had been playing with a sock, which was now missing.
On physical examination, the veterinarian could feel a suspicious lump within the abdomen. A radiograph confirmed a complete obstruction of Tucker’s small intestine. Some bloodwork was completed, showing he had some minor dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. IV fluids and pain control started and surgery was planned to explore his abdomen.
About the condition: Gastrointestinal foreign bodies
Both dogs and cats occasionally ingest materials that are not digestible and can lead to obstructions or trauma to the gastrointestinal tract. Young, curious puppies and kittens and certain food-motivated breeds are notorious for inappropriate ingestions.
Common foreign bodies include things like toys, hair ties, corn cobs, socks and underwear, rocks, and plastic. Linear foreign bodies like thread, yarn and ribbon can be particularly dangerous because they can lacerate the inside of the gastrointestinal tract.
Undigestible materials can become lodged anywhere in the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. They may cause pain and partial or complete obstructions, interfering with food digestion and water intake. This results in appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhea. The resulting dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities can make patients extremely sick in a short period of time. Trauma to the stomach or intestines can even allow bacteria to enter the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, sepsis and in some cases, even death. For this reason, foreign body ingestion is a medical and surgical emergency.
Treatment
Treatment for gastrointestinal foreign bodies involves stabilizing the patient first. That means correcting dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities, treating pain and nausea, and instituting antibiotic therapy as necessary.
When the patient is stable, either endoscopy (“scope”) or surgery is performed to locate and remove the foreign body. The affected parts of the gastrointestinal tract must be examined closely for trauma, and sometimes damaged sections need to be removed and healthy portions sutured together.
After surgery, most pets experience a great deal of relief. Ongoing pain and nausea management and antibiotic therapy is required for a week. Some pets need additional nutritional support, appetite stimulation and assistance with gastrointestinal motility. Potential complications include poor healing, infection, and strictures.
Tucker was taken to surgery where a sock was removed from his small intestine without complications. He recovered very well and was eating the following day.
Claim outcome
Tucker required $3,931.55** in veterinary care for the initial treatment of his intestinal foreign body. For their first claim on the policy, Tucker’s relieved family was reimbursed $2,945.24 of those fees by their Pets Plus Us Accident and Illness More plan.
Now that’s one way to demonstrate the value of pet insurance! We hope you stick to the kibble from now on, Tucker!
*Name changed for confidentiality and privacy reasons
**Source: 2022 PTZ Insurance claims data. Value of claims in Canadian dollars.
Pet: Jack* a 7-month-old male Pug
Condition: Corneal ulcer and entropion
Actual claim paid: $2,266.49**
Jack’s story:
Jack the pug started to have discharge from his eyes late one week. By the weekend, he was squinting and his eyes looked painful and swollen.
When he was examined, the vet found that the left eye was red and watering. The surface of the eye appeared wounded: it was cloudy and absorbed a special stain used to detect eye injuries. His vet diagnosed a superficial corneal ulcer – the traumatic loss of part of the surface layer of the eye. He was prescribed antibiotic eye drops to treat and prevent infection and additional eye drops to provide lubrication and treat pain.
At first, Jack’s eye seemed to improve, but after two days of treatment, things got worse. Jack started rubbing and scratching his eye, and there was more redness, squinting and swelling. The vet prescribed additional pain medications and a cone collar.
Unfortunately, the ulcer didn’t respond to treatment. The infection worsened and caused the defect to become deeper, threatening the eye. A decision was made to refer Jack to a veterinary ophthalmologist.
The ophthalmologist determined that the eye was at risk for rupturing. He discovered the ulcer was likely caused by entropion – a condition where the lower eyelids roll inwards, causing the hair on the lid to repeatedly brush against the surface of the eye.
About the condition: Corneal ulceration
The cornea is the crystal-clear tissue that we see at the front of the eye. It is made of a waterproof layer of cells on the surface and several transparent layers of cells underneath. A membrane is found at the deepest layer, separating the cornea from the liquid anterior chamber of the eye.
Physical injuries, chemical exposure and biological agents like bacteria and viruses can disrupt the superficial layers of the cornea. This is very painful, often causing the pet to rub and scratch at their eyes and worsen the trauma. Injury to the cornea also allows secondary infection to occur. Bacterial activity and the resulting inflammatory response can sometimes lead to a “melting ulcer.” Without treatment, melting ulcers become progressively deeper until the inner membrane is at risk of rupturing. Rupture and infection of the interior of the eye can be difficult to treat. It may even lead to the need for surgical removal of the eye.
Treatment
Along with antibiotic eye drops, lubrication and pain relief, Jack also needed three surgical procedures. The first two were left and right blepharoplasty – surgical treatment to correct the inward rolling of the eye lids and prevent ongoing damage. The third surgery was a conjunctival graft. In this procedure, the soft tissue surrounding the eye was sutured across the corneal ulcer to provide protection and additional blood supply while the cornea took it’s time healing.
Claim outcome
Pets Plus Us pack member Jack needed $3, 083.11** in specialized veterinary care for his entropion and corneal ulcer. His human was reimbursed $2,266.49 through their Pets Plus Us Accident and Illness More plan.
We wish you a speedy recovery, Jack!
*Name changed for confidentiality and privacy reasons
**Source: 2022 PTZ Insurance claims data. Value of claims in Canadian dollars.
Underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation.
Distributed by PTZ Insurance Services Ltd.
Pets Plus Us®, Pets Plus Us & Design and related words and logos are trademarks and the property of PTZ Insurance Services Ltd. © 2024 All rights reserved.
The information herein is summarized. Medical conditions that are noted, symptomatic or diagnosed prior to enrollment, or during a waiting period are pre-existing to coverage and not eligible for reimbursement. All pet insurance plans have limitations and exclusions. Specific products, features, rates, and discounts may vary by province, eligibility, and are subject to change. FLEX Care is not available in Quebec. For all terms and conditions please see the Accident Plan, Accident & Illness Plan, and FLEX Care user guides on this page.