Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman B R O O K F I E L D — T h e phrase "pet insurance" might bring to mind images of the monocled gentleman from the game "Monopoly," Mr. Monopoly, sitting about his mansion, drinking tea with an extended pinky and chortling about another windfall earned on oil stock. Pet insurance sounds like a luxury reserved for only the very well-off among us. When considered rationally, it is another expense associated with pet ownership. For some, it is a tool as important as food, medicine or pet day care. "It's health insurance for pets," said Heather Gehrke, executive director of the Elm- brook Humane Society, 20950 Enterprise Ave. in Brookfield. "It's very similar to health insurance for humans, but structured for pets." Gehrke said Elmbrook offers a free 30-day trial of pet insurance with every new adoption. It is offered through 24PetWatch Pet Protection Services. "Anyone who adopts with us, you will at least be intro- duced to the concept of pet insurance," Gehrke said. "It's really up to you as to whether it's something you want to pursue." Gehrke said Elmbrook is not in the insurance business and she is not in insurance sales. She's worked at Elm- brook since 2000 and has served as the organization's executive director since 2013. Uncommon sense, upfront costs "A lot of people don't talk about whether they have it or not," Gehrke said of pet insurance. "It's not a common topic. It's not something that typically comes up. "I think there's a fair amount of people that honest- ly don't know it exists, unless they know a friend or family member that has it and encounter a major medical situation with their pet." The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates recurring annual medical costs of $235 for a medium-sized dog and $160 for a cat. Recurring medical costs are described as exams, vaccina- tions, heartworm prevention and topical flea and tick pre- vention. The ASPCA estimates health insurance costs of $225 per year for small, medium and large dogs and $175 per year for cats. Insurance costs can vary depending on the policy. Some policies cover spaying and neutering, vaccinations and heartworm medicine. The annual deductible can also vary, depending on the policy. The financial publishing house Bankrate reports that the cost of pet surgery can run into the thousands of dol- lars. It is easy to see where the concept of pet insurance is appealing. There are caveats. Most car- riers do not cover pre-existing conditions, an issue men- tioned both by Bankrate and Gehrke. For pet insurance to be effective, the policy must be in place from the time the human begins caring their pet or prior to a major health event. Gehrke and Bankrate also said most pet insurance works through reimburse- ment. An owner must pay the bills and file a claim with the insurance company. There are also conditions insurance will not cover. According to Consumer Affairs, a consumer advocacy group based in Lake Tahoe, Nev., this is most common for dogs. Depends on the breed It also costs more to insure some dog breeds. Rottweilers, great Danes and Burmese mountain dogs are among the most expensive to insure because of genetic disposi- tion to maladies such as can- cer and hip dysplasia. Factors such as your pet's age at enrollment, gender, where the pet lives and whether it's been spayed or neutered might also be con- sidered. The American Veterinary Medical Association recom- mends that, regardless of the insurance provider, your pet should be cared for as part of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship According to the AVMA, that exists when your veteri- narian knows your pet well enough to be able to diagnose and treat any medical condi- tions your animal develops. A conversation with your vet- erinarian is the best course of action when deciding to obtain pet insurance. "Understand it's really not for everyone and, for some people, it makes complete sense," Gehrke said. "It's the person who looks at the whole life picture for their pet and decides they'd rather pay a lit- tle bit out of pocket to create a safety net." By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman BROOKFIELD — Doctor Dolittle might be the one per- son who always knows what to feed an animal. Sadly, fic- tion will not help keep Fido's tummy full. Feeding our pets would be much simpler if they could express their desires through spoken word. However, con- versation is still the best way to determine your pet's ideal diet. "In general, the best advice that I could give to any pet owner is to make sure they have an established relation- ship with a veterinarian," said Heather Gehrke, execu- tive director of the Elmbrook Humane Society, 20950 Enter- prise Ave. in Brookfield. Gehrke stresses developing a relationship with a veteri- narian. Let the doctor get to know your animal and its personality and needs. Take the veterinarian's recom- mendations to heart, and be willing to endure some trial and error as you and your pet work the issue together. "Start with the vet closest to you, in case there is an emergency," Gehrke said. "If you have an emergency, you want to be able to get to the vet. Ask them questions to make sure you're comfort- able. Pay them a visit." Dietary planning Once you establish a rela- tionship with a veterinarian, that individual should be in the best position to offer advice on the proper feeding of your pet. In Elmbrook's case, Gehrke said it is important for the facility to assess each animal and come to a solution that works. "Maybe they weren't eating the best foods to suit their needs," Gehrke said. "The key for us is to make sure we're providing a good diet that gives nutritional bal- ance." Even then, the process is still filled with variables. One can consult with a veterinar- ian and come to a feeding solution that should care for their pet and still be greeted with a wet, turned-up nose. "You could analyze a leather shoe, and it might make a very good diet, but it's not digestible," Dr. Jill Kusba said. "There isn't one diet that's good for everyone." Kusba, a veterinarian since 1977, is the owner of Care Animal Clinic, 14350 W. Capi- tol Drive in Brookfield. Kusba said, for starters, the animal must like what it is being fed. "You can have the most beautiful food, but if they won't eat it, you're out of luck," Kusba said. "You spent a lot of money." Money is also a considera- tion, one that Kusba said vet- erinarians keep in mind. Not every pet owner can afford high-end food. "You have to always look at what the client can afford," Kusba said. "That's base- line." So many choices The advice offered by Gehrke dovetails with what Kusba practices when pre- scribing a diet for a client's pet. "I don't push any single food because, again, it depends," Kusba said. "Some of my clients feed raw and (pets) do very well on it. Oth- ers feed a higher grade of food and they can be fine as well. "There's quite a variety out there." A trip through the pet food aisle of most retail stores can be an assault on the senses. Kusba said pet food purvey- ors must make their product look appealing and attractive to the humans who do the buying for the pets who do the eating. "It's challenging for the pet owners," Gehrke said. "There are so many options, especially for new pet own- ers. When you walk into whatever store that sells pet food, that section in the store is overwhelming." After consulting with a vet- erinarian, going through trial and error and eventual- ly coming to a solution that suits both human and pet, don't forget that animals need variety. "There is definitely thought out there that creat- ing variety within your pet's diet is important, so they stay engaged and don't get sick of something and stop eating," Gehrke said. Both Gehrke and Kusba say owners should not be afraid to switch it up. Try feeing cats both wet and dry food, for example. Gehrke said she switches flavors frequently, but stays with the same brand of food for her pets. "There might be some nutrient or nutrition in there that your pet is not getting," Kusba said of trying new or different food. "Don't stay on the same food year after year after year." Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove • Page 3 AUGUST 2015 FOCUS ON PETS August 15 & 16 Mukwonago American Legion Post 375 Celebrate our 59 th Annual Maxwell street days flea market FIELD PARK, MUKWONAGO - Hwys 83 & NN OVER 600 SELLERS Offering a Variety of Goods (Buyers allowed on grounds after 7 am) Reasonable Off-site Parking Available (Pets, Bicycles & Skateboards Prohibited) For information and 2015 schedule: www.maxwellstreetdays.net www.mukwonagochamber.org Always FREE ADMISSION FOOD & REFRESHMENTS Available on Grounds 244393004 Cristina was diagnosed with MS when she was 27 years old. But she doesn't let that get her down. As she so eloquently puts it, "MS lives with me." She still manages to babysit for her four grandchildren, who range in age from 11 months to 10 years old. She loves to bake and cook, and still volunteers at her beloved Greek Fest each year. Her enthusiasm for life radiates through her smile. In the summer of 2008, Cristina's sister-in-law thought she needed some additional help because she was using both her walker and her wheelchair. She called Comfort Keepers and some other companies, but when a local Comfort Keepers owner Shannon Meller came out and they both saw his passion and compassion, the decision was made. A Caregiver Team Comfort Keepers chose Cindy, a caregiver since 2006 who was awarded Caregiver of the Year by the company in 2007. Shannon Meller believes she brings heart and dedication to all those she serves. Cindy has been one of Cristina's caregivers from the start and she has help from some additional caregivers throughout the week. Cristina refers to them as her caregiver "team" because "they really do go above and beyond to meet my needs and help me manage my disease on a daily basis." The family recommends Comfort Keepers because their caregivers take a personal interest and become part of your family. Comfort Keepers provides personal cares each day, using a Hoyer lift to help get Cristina up for the day, wash her hair, bath and perform some homemaking chores. Why Comfort Keepers? Comfort Keepers' creed "to treat each and every client as if they are a family member," best matched local Comfort Keeper's franchise Shar Meller's own philosophy and Christian values. According to Shar, each caregiver has been screened, bonded, insured and trained with credit, motor vehicle and criminal background checks performed. Bonding insurance gives their clients peace of mind and takes away the fear of having a new person enter the home. Comfort Keepers is Ranked #1 in Senior Care! Comfort Keepers, a Sodexo brand, has more than 700 national owners. There are 17 Comfort Keepers' franchises in Wisconsin who work together as a team on a day-to-day basis to make a difference in the lives of seniors and those who are disabled. Interactive caregivers, like Cindy, are Comfort Keepers' best asset, and along with its continuous training program, are the reason Comfort Keepers has built the reputation it has. Comfort Keepers Homemaking and Personal care services include: meals, laundry, light housekeeping, incontinence care, bathing, overseeing medications, transferring and Hoyer Lift. Comfort Keepers also specializes in Live-in, Alzheimer's care and Private Duty nursing. Choose up to 24 hours a day; 7 days a week. 244888087 Waukesha & Milwaukee Counties. 414-858-9400 www.comfortkeepers.com Ranked the Top Senior Care Agency in America "Keeping the Comforts of Home" WE TRAIN CAREGIVERS HIRING NOW CALL 414-858-9343 Comfort Keepers helps MS client with daily living needs Cristina and Cindy, Caregiver of the Year 2007 Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Bandit takes a treat at the Elmbrook Humane Society. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Zeus faces the exam room with courage at the Elmbrook Humane Society. Pets From Page 1A Keeping a pet safe in such circumstances is simple. Don't lock them in a closed car on a hot day. If you must, then you need to plan ahead. Schelthelm advises blast- ing the air conditioner before leaving a pet in the car. She also carries a valet key. The valet key allows her to leave her car locked and running with the air conditioner going. Schelthelm owns a dog. She said she'll leave a note in her car saying when she'll be back and that her dog is doing fine if she needs to keep her dog in the car. "As long as your dog isn't going to jump out of the window, usually open it halfway, or at least a third." Schelthelm said, adding that the dog should be able to get its head, but not its body, out of the vehicle. "If they can get their head out, they can pant," Schelthelm said. Panting is how dogs get cool when the weather gets warm. Prepare for emergencies Pet safety is more than cracking car windows on a hot day. Schelthelm also sug- gests microchipping your pets. The chip can identify your pet in the event that it is lost. The chip is scanned, and the pet is identified as being part of your family. The chip is not a GPS device — you cannot track the location of your pet after chipping. Schelthelm also suggests using quick-release collars and being sure your pets are up-to-date with rabies and other vaccinations. Pet first aid and CPR cours- es are also available. Schelthelm said she took such a course at the Milwaukee Emergency Center for Ani- mals in Greenfield. "When I took the class, a lot of people were just taking it for personal use," Schelthelm said, adding that the course covered CPR and how to treat conditions like heat exposure and shock. Awareness of pet safety will forever be an unintended consequence of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in the late summer of 2005. Many people did not evacuate because of uncer- tainty regarding the fate of their pets. "They're concerned and aware of their situation, but their actions are dependent on whether they've made plans for taking their pets with them, or finding another way to keep their pets safe," said Kathy Schwei, a program analyst in the Waukesha County Emergency Manage- ment Office. Emergency preparedness and disaster planning person- nel are aware people are reluctant to evacuate without being able to take their pets. "If you evacuate, it would be best to take your pet with you, since you don't know how long you might be gone," Schwei said. "If you take your pet with you, it is important to have those really basic sup- port items." Schwei said a good starting point is food and a leash. The leash helps one control the pet, and keeps the pet and oth- ers safe. You will also want a supply of any medicine need- ed by your pet. The Waukesha County Office of Emergency Manage- ment offers several resources for disaster planning with pets on its website, accessed through https://www.wauke- shacounty.gov. Planning will help please pets' palates Variety, nutritional and budget needs must be taken into account Insurance can protect owners as well as pets Terms vary, but policies can offer protection against larger costs

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