February, 2023 - Barky.com.au

February 2, 2023

Knose Pet Insurance Review 2023: Pros, Cons, FAQ & Verdict

Pet insurance will help to cover health costs that occur with your cat or dog due to accidents or illnesses that arise throughout their lifetime. Knose Pet Insurance makes it quick and easy to obtain a pet insurance quote based on exactly what your pet needs based on their breed, gender, and age. With multiple options for coverage in terms of cost and reimbursement, in addition to added benefits, Knose makes pet insurance easy and provides 24/7 support to its customers.

Our Verdict

We give Knose Pet Insurance a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Click to Compare Knose Plans

Knose Pet Insurance Review

Pros

24/7 customer support
Up to 90% coverage
Same-day coverage for accidents

Cons

Lower number of reviews
Does not cover house calls or boarding costs
Claims processing time is long

Other Top-Rated Pet Insurance Companies

Most Customizable

Our
rating: 4.5 / 5

COMPARE QUOTES

Best Wellness Plans

Our
rating: 4.0 / 5

COMPARE QUOTES

Best Holistic Coverage

Our
rating: 4.2 / 5

COMPARE QUOTES

About Knose

Knose is a two-time award-winning pet care and pet insurance brand in Australia known for its high value and high reward to its users. It is available to both cat and dog owners and backed by veterinarians to ensure it has a decent amount of accident and illness coverage.

The focus of Knose seems to be how easy it is to understand in comparison with other pet insurance plans. Knose has been rated highly across multiple user reviews with positive attributes such as being very easy to use and having non-stop customer support. The everyday person searching for simple care for their pets can turn to Knose and leave without feeling frustrated or unsatisfied. The website also provides a quick 3-minute survey where you can fill out the information about you and your pet and receive a general pet insurance quote in a matter of minutes.

Knose provides coverage for Australian pet owners and will cover most veterinary costs and medications manufactured locally. Similar to most other pet insurance companies, pre-existing conditions are not covered by insurance and extra therapies are an added cost.

Find The Best Pet Insurance Companies in 2023

Pricing & Plans (Updated in 2023)

Pet Insurance Cost Comparison

Company	Sample Monthly Cost For Dogs	Sample Monthly Cost For Cats	Learn More
Knose	$25.95	$19.95	Click to Get Quote
Spot	$36.54	$16.51	Click to Get Quote
Trupanion	$70.12	$30.88	Click to Get Quote
Fetch by The Dodo	$29.70	$12.22	Click to Get Quote
Wagmo	$26.89	$11.93	Click to Get Quote

Base Policy

Knose has a base policy that covers the average pet needs from insurance. This includes things like annual limits, benefit percentages, and excess coverage of your choosing. There are additional benefits to their base policy such as the ability to include add-ons in your coverage plan.

You also get access to their customer support portal and have 24/7 access to a Knose contact to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have. Submitting claims is a generally simple process, as it can be done through their online portal, but waiting times across claim types vary.

Customizations

Optional Extra Benefits

In addition to the base policy, Knose provides its customers the option to add extra coverage to their policy. This includes dental illness and disease, behavioral problems including pacing or destructive behaviors, and alternative therapies like acupuncture or hydrotherapy. It can also be used to extend the time of coverage for certain benefits under the Optional Extra umbrella.

Knose Essential Pet Care Plans

For a flat monthly fee, pet owners can choose to go with the Essential Pet Care Plans offered by Knose. With a subscription to this plan, your dog or cat will have their vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, deworming and routine vet visits covered for a certain monthly amount (from $23–$31/month). The cost depends on the size of your pet’s breed, in addition to the extent of monthly coverage you desire.

This plan also includes 24/7 access to customer support. These plans have three levels of coverage, ranging from the Essentials package to the Essentials Plus, leading up to the top-tier Comprehensive package.

Knose Price Comparison for Dogs

	Maltese Cross	Labrador
Male or Female	Female	Female
Age	2	4
Location	Australia	Australia
Reimbursement Level	70%–90%	70%–90%
Annual Deductible	$7,500–$25,000	$7,500–$25,000
Annual Max	$25,000	$25,000
Price per month	$70	$100

Breed Name	Under 1	5 Years Old
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	$70	$100
Border Collie	$82	$111
Cavoodle	$76	$103

Deductibles & Claims

With Knose, there is a lot of flexibility in terms of choosing your levels of coverage. Your options vary from 70%–90% of coverage, which will increase your monthly payment depending on which level you choose. This includes the option to choose what your annual deductible will be, meaning that there is a yearly amount that will be covered. As long as the claim is covered under Knose, then you will receive a certain level of coverage based on your expenses.

It’s important to understand that deductibles will affect how much you pay out of pocket for a claim. If you choose to stick with 70% of coverage and you don’t expect any large costs in vet bills, then you might be okay with this option. Knose is known to have one of the highest maximum deductibles with Australian pet insurance at $25,000. You can pay a higher monthly premium for maximum coverage.

% of Medical Expenses

Annual Deductible Options

$0
$100
$200

Maximum Coverage Options

$7,500
$12,500
$25,000

What Does Knose Pet Insurance Cover?

Knose has a three-tiered approach to their pet insurance coverage. It ranges depending on how much percentage of coverage you prefer (70%–90%), which will increase your monthly premium.

Knose has a basic coverage plan for pet insurance that will reimburse pet owners for things like accidental injuries, unexpected illness, emergency vet costs and boarding, and more. It also has the option to add extra coverage for benefits that are not covered by basic pet insurance. This includes dental coverage, behavioral costs, and wellness or therapy costs at a higher monthly price.

Knose does not cover a few things you might pay out-of-pocket for your pet. This includes things like any pre-existing conditions, meaning illnesses or genetic anomalies that your pet was born with or attributed to their breed. If you are boarding your pet at a daycare for travel reasons, this would not be covered. Things like grooming, training, etc., are also not covered under their basic plan.

Coverage Item	Annual Limit
Emergency Boarding	$25,000
Illness	$25,000
Accidents	$25,000
Chronic Conditions	$25,000
Extra Benefits	$25,000

Covered

Illness
Accidental injury
Emergency boarding
Overseas costs
Dental, behavioral, therapies (extra $)

Not Covered

Pre-existing conditions
Boarding (non-emergency)
Wellness costs

Pre-Existing Conditions

Similar to other pet insurance companies, pre-existing conditions will not be covered by Knose. This is because they are considered conditions that were already present before pet owners sign on to a pet insurance company. It’s built to ensure costs that are not expected are covered to avoid financial constraints for pet owners.

Waiting Periods

Knose has different waiting periods depending on which claim is submitted. If the claim is related to accidental injury, the average waiting period for approval is around 1 day.

Claims for illnesses will be processed within 14 days after submission. For the additional coverage such as dental benefits, the waiting period is 14 days for pets under 1 year old and can go up to 6 months for pets older than 1 year. Optional behavior coverage will also have a waiting period of 6 months.

FAQ

Will you pay the vet directly?

In most cases, Knose will ask that you pay your vet directly and submit your claim through the customer portal afterward. The claim process is done between yourself and Knose, unless specified by the customer.

How do you assess a claim and calculate the benefit?

When you have a claim to submit to Knose, it usually takes around 5 days for their end to process it. The usual waiting periods apply, but there are some exceptions where they will ask for additional documentation or proof of payment. If proof is not enough for Knose, they will consult with a trusted vet and decide how much you will be reimbursed.

The calculation is simple and easy to understand once you know your selected percentage of coverage, annual deductible, and additional excess coverage. Your claim will be X amount, then a percentage of it is covered by Knose, and this applies annually until your maximum coverage is reached.

Are there exceptions to pre-existing conditions?

Pre-existing conditions are determined by a shared medical history by the pet owner for assessment. This can be done by sharing your pet’s medical history yourself, either before or after signing up with Knose. A complete assessment will be filed with yourself and Knose for review, and any conditions considered pre-existing will be identified. You may have conditions that pass without any symptoms for a specified amount of time and then be cleared as pre-existing.

Reviews from Customers

“Arranging insurance from Knose was quick and easy” – Knose customer
“The customer service team in every department are extremely helpful, friendly and make you feel special” – Knose customer
“Wastes time with claims” – Finder review
“Takes months to get claims processed (even if they are approved)” – Finder review
“The insurance is easy to understand and I love that there are no sub limits. Very happy. Highly recommended.” – Finder review

Find The Best Pet Insurance Companies in 2023

Conclusion

Our final thoughts with Knose are varied with both positive and negative points. While their process is easy to understand and generally straightforward, they seem to be a newer company with few reviews. While these reviews are mostly positive, based on their great customer service and simplicity, it seems claims can take a while to be approved. This is the largest downfall, however, and being the basis of pet insurance, it could affect Knose greatly as an option.

Pet Keen acknowledges that it is not licensed as an insurance agent, and therefore will not offer any advice regarding insurance, nor recommend a particular coverage, policy, or insurance company.
All content and materials, including rewrites, that are created to announce, market, and/or advertise Lemonade will be reviewed and approved by both parties to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations

The post Knose Pet Insurance Review 2023: Pros, Cons, FAQ & Verdict appeared first on Pet Keen.

February 2, 2023

Can Dogs Eat Squid? Is It Safe? The Surprising Answer!

Dogs can eat squid in small amounts occasionally. The squid must be cooked to ensure that there aren’t any food-borne illnesses in the squid. Seasonings should also be avoided, as many are toxic to dogs. Squid itself is completely fine, though, as long as it is prepared correctly.

Squid contains a lot of beneficial nutrients, including fatty acids. It is very similar to other fish, nutritionally speaking.

However, squid doesn’t contain everything your dog needs. For that, you’ll have to feed your dog a commercial complete and balanced food (or a carefully formulated home diet with supplements). Too much squid can also cause stomach upset, especially if your dog isn’t used to it.

Squid can be a good treat, though, and may provide extra omega fatty acids into your dog’s diet. We highly recommend being cautious with feeding your dog too much squid, though.

Potential Health Benefits

There are many potential health benefits of squid. When fed in moderation, squid can provide your dog with some benefits. However, the benefits your dog gets mostly depend on what the rest of their diet is.

Raw Squid — Image Credit: Andreina Nacca, Pixabay

Protein

Squid is very high in protein. In fact, it is mostly protein. Not all dogs need high amounts of protein; it largely depends on their breed and activity level. In many cases, a commercial diet has plenty of protein. However, dogs that are very active (like working dogs) may need some extra protein. Squid and other meats can provide this.

However, too much protein isn’t a good thing. Moderation is key, as excessive protein can lead to health issues.

Fatty Acids

Fatty acids are extremely important for dogs. Omega-3s¹ are used for all sorts of different purposes. For instance, they can alleviate joint problems and inflammation. There are several studies pointing to other benefits, too. Plus, these fatty acids have few side effects (though some do exist¹).

Nutrients

Squid also contains several other nutrients. For instance, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin B12 are all contained in squid.

Potential Risks

Of course, nothing comes without risks. Squid does provide a few risks, though it isn’t outright toxic to dogs. No food is perfect, after all.

Mercury

Since the industrial revolution, all seafood has contained a level of mercury. However, different fish do have different mercury levels and luckily, squid does not have one of the highest mercury contents. Still, they do have some level of mercury. Where the fish comes from matters, as some waters contain more mercury than others. Chronic ingestion of mercury can result in health problems.

Allergies

There is always a risk of potential allergic reactions to food. Dogs can become allergic to foods even if they previously had no problems with that food. Therefore, feeding your dog large amounts of squid for a long time can lead to an increased risk of allergies. A varied diet is useful to prevent this.

Foodborne Bacteria

Like all foods, squid can contain dangerous bacteria such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Luckily, cooking the squid usually kills these bacteria. For this reason, we highly recommend cooking the squid before feeding it to your dog. Raw squid isn’t the safest food to eat.

Seafood steamed squid in Korea Restaurant — Image Credit: cravingkorea, Shutterstock

Cooking Squid for Dogs

Preparing squid for dogs isn’t complicated. The most important thing to do is cook the squid thoroughly to ensure that bacteria aren’t present. It doesn’t particularly matter how you cook the squid—just that it is cooked through. Steaming, boiling, and baking all work.

You also don’t want to use any seasonings. Many spices are toxic to dogs, including garlic and onion. There are some seasonings that are safe, however, the safest option is to avoid seasonings altogether. Your dog will likely consume the squid so fast that it won’t matter, anyway.

You should avoid feeding your dog fried food, as these foods are very high in fats. Not only do dogs not need these fats, but they can also cause stomach upset. Therefore, fried calamari and similar foods aren’t recommended in the least.

What Seafood Can Dogs Not Eat?

While squid is safe, not all types of seafood are. Most types of seafood are not toxic to dogs but some are very high in mercury. Because dogs are much smaller than us, it takes much less mercury to cause side effects. You have to be much more careful with dogs.

Larger fish are typically higher in mercury. All seawater has mercury in it and fish absorb this mercury from the water. However, if fish also eat other fish, they’ll absorb the mercury in those fish, too. In the ocean, bigger fish often eat smaller fish. This leads to larger fish having a mercury level many times higher than smaller fish.

The largest fish in the sea that you should avoid are shark, tilefish, swordfish, king mackerel, and albacore tuna. Skipjack is safe, though, as these tuna are actually very small. Today, most canned tuna is skipjack. However, you should still double-check the can before serving it to your dog.

Conclusion

Dogs can eat squid in moderation. It isn’t terribly high in mercury like other fish, and it does contain many amino fatty acids and other nutrients. Therefore, it’s a great option for dogs that need a little more protein in their diet or as an occasional treat.

However, squid doesn’t contain everything your dog needs and should only be fed as an occasional snack.

Featured Image Credit: Sorratorn Phosida, Shutterstock

The post Can Dogs Eat Squid? Is It Safe? The Surprising Answer! appeared first on Pet Keen.

February 2, 2023

How to Stop a Dog From Pulling on a Leash (6 Effective Tips)

Taking your dog for a walk is an activity that can benefit you both mentally, physically, and emotionally. But it can be frustrating when your dog pulls on the leash constantly. Not only does it make the walk uncomfortable, but it can also put you in harm’s way.

Pulling on the leash puts pressure on the dog’s neck and can hurt its throat, especially if you yank it back in opposition. If you’re dealing with a giant breed, sometimes the force can be enough to send you sprawling to the ground face-first.

Do you feel like your dog is walking you instead? The good news is you can improve your dog’s leash skills and gain back control. Keep reading, and we will tell you how to stop your dog from pulling you down the street.

Why Do Dogs Pull on the Leash?

Knowing why your dog is pulling on the leash is essential. That way, you can avoid encouraging the behavior if it turns out your actions have anything to do with it. Understanding the reason behind it will also let you know which methods to employ since not all work for every dog.

dog pulling leash — Image Credit: icsilviu, Pixabay

It’s a Natural Behavior

Humans like walking in an orderly manner. As you may have noticed, that is not so with a man’s best friend. Dogs follow where their noses lead. The scents they pick up dictate when to speed up, slow down, or stop.

Your dog is also easily influenced by the environment around them. The sight of some kids playing nearby is enough to pique its interest, making it change direction abruptly and, inevitably, dragging you along.

Additionally, you may have noticed that your dog starts to pull when you clip the leash on the collar. That’s because its instinct is to oppose restraint. As such, you must teach it to walk on a leash since it does not come naturally.

They Learn From You

Do you pull the leash every time you want your dog to move? You are teaching it to use force whenever it wants to get its way. Therefore, it will use its body to knock into you, jump on you, paw at you, and pull on the leash to get what it wants.

Constantly yanking at the leash when you want the dog to do something will accomplish two things. First, it will teach your dog that pulling is okay. Secondly, the dog will always be alert, expecting you to yank it away. That will make it impossible for it to relax during those walks.

The truth is there is no need to rely on physical force¹ to get your dog moving. Sometimes a simple command will suffice. Alternatively, you can use your body language to communicate. The stronger the bond between you, the easier it will be for your dog to cooperate.

It Works

Another reason your dog pulls on the leash is that it works. And you encourage the behavior every time you let it get away with it. Think about it. It gets to go wherever it wants while dictating the pace. Why would it ever stop?

The 6 Tips to Stop Your Dog From Pulling on a Leash

Breaking the habit will be difficult if your dog has pulled on the leash for a long time. However, it is not impossible. You can train your dog to walk calmly using the six methods below, provided you are patient and consistent.

1. Don’t Let Them Pull

pitbull pulling leash — Image Credit: Melanie Thomas, Pixabay

If your dog always gets its way by pulling, it may never stop doing it. That’s why you should never let it get away with it.

There are two training methods you can use to reinforce your preferred behavior. The first is stopping every time they start pulling until they let up. The second is making a quick turn and heading in the opposite direction.

It may take time before your dog unlearns what comes naturally. But with patience and consistency, you can train it to follow rather than lead.

2. Reinforce Good Behavior

Training your dog not to pull may be difficult. But you can make things easier for yourself by keeping your dog motivated. You are asking a lot by forcing it to abandon what comes naturally. The least you can do is give it a reason to.

Make a habit of rewarding the dog with treats and food when they do the right thing. If you do it enough times, it will learn to associate the pleasure with not pulling the leash. Eventually, it will find it more profitable to walk beside you.

Be careful not to give your dog too much food if you are worried about their weight. You can give fewer and fewer treats as the dog continues to learn, then gradually replace them with pats and praise.

3. Be Unpredictable

white dog on a leash walking with owner — Image Credit: Mabel Amber, Pixabay

You don’t need to wait for the dog to pull during training. Another effective method is being proactive by being unpredictable in your movements.

Make quick turns, reverse direction, and change your speed while walking. That will teach your dog to follow you rather than pull you along. You can reinforce the behavior with treats whenever the dog obeys your request.

4. Exercise the Dog First

Teaching your dog not to pull when it’s excited is challenging. Exercising before taking a walk can help lower its energy down a notch, thus making it easier to reinforce your preferred behavior.

Playing tug of war, hide and seek, or a good old game of catch can help take the edge off. The dog will be less likely to pull when it’s tired.

5. Switch to a Chest-Led Harness

female french bulldog walking — Image Credit: Piqsels

A no-pull dog harness is more effective¹ at controlling your canine’s movement. It makes it harder for the dog to pull and is safer than a traditional leash. Although you might struggle to put it on the first time, using it is straightforward.

You can use a chest-led harness to teach the dog walking manners. When the dog pulls on the leash, it moves to the side and turns its body towards you, pulling them to your side. It prevents injuries to the throat since it removes pressure from the neck.

However, a no-pull harness will not stop pulling forever. So, it is better to think of it as a training tool. Your dog can learn to stop pulling when it’s on, but it will immediately revert to its old ways when you strap on the loose leash.

6. Don’t Set Your Dog Up for Failure

Make it easier for your dog to succeed during training by doing it in a less distracting environment. Otherwise, it will be hard to train the dog when it’s not paying attention to you.

Pick a non-exciting area where it won’t be distracted by all the noise, sights, and smells. If you have to take them for a walk in the park, choose a day when it’s less busy to avoid distractions.

Also, choose the perfect time of day. Early mornings and late evenings would work best since you are less likely to meet people on the way.

Final Thoughts

A dog walking calmly by your side is every dog owner’s dream. However, the allure of a new environment can get some canines all worked up during walks.

Training your dog to stop what comes naturally is not a walk in the park. But it is possible if you follow the tips outlined above.

Above all, patience and consistency are imperative. Training can be frustrating and time-consuming. But the reward is worth the effort if you stick to the plan.

Featured Image Credit: Brezhneva.od, Shutterstock

The post How to Stop a Dog From Pulling on a Leash (6 Effective Tips) appeared first on Pet Keen.