Healthy Pets

How often do you walk your dog

Published

3 years ago

February 26, 2021

Nowadays, walking your dog is the most natural thing in the world. Yet this is something of the past decades, when the dog became our family friend.

Where does our outlet habit come from?

How often should you actually walk a dog?

And what rules apply for this?

In this article we will give you all the information about walking your four-legged friend.

Why walk your dog?

Walking your dog seems like an all-time habit. You will think. Doesn’t he just have to pee and defecate? And how else does he get enough exercise?

But many of our dogs were bred many years ago for some task in our society. No matter how early!

First we had wolves and wolfdogs to hunt with. Later we had canids as guards, keepers and even pack animals.

Enough to do, for the dog of the past! And peeing and pooping, they did that in between somewhere in a bush or corner. Nobody cared about that.

But today most of the dog’s tasks have been taken over by machines and other modern developments. This left only the luxury position of pet for our four-legged friend.

Now, of course, there are dogs with tasks. Think of guide dogs, police dogs and of course the house and yard guards. Yet these are also held differently than in the past.

Just walking out the door for a visit to the toilet or a round about is no longer possible in our busy, modern society. So we let our dogs out.

How often should you walk a dog?

We usually walk our dog so he can go to the bathroom and get plenty of physical exercise.

Nowadays we see that dogs are often taken out three times a day. Early in the morning, noon and late at night. This is on average every 6 to 8 hours.

But consider that you can only pee or defecate once every 8 hours. And only has a few minutes to do so.

Of course your dog will get used to a certain walking rhythm. But that does not have to mean that urinating once every 8 hours is enough.

Especially for dogs that are not allowed to pee in the garden, making a pee and poo round once every 4 to 6 hours is a nice habit.

Holding stools for a long time can cause health problems. From bladder stones to nasty infections.

How much exercise does my dog need?

In addition, every dog needs sufficient exercise for a good condition and health. However, this differs per breed.

For example, walking for an hour makes a Chihuahua completely tired, but a Border Collie is far from wanting to go home.

Therefore, read carefully about the specific breed needs and observe your dog.

Appropriate movement also has to do with the condition of the body. Is your dog sick , old, pregnant or is he still a puppy? Then of course other rules apply.

These individuals can take it easy, and at temperatures above 20 ° C . For polar dogs, a temperature limit of 15 ° C even applies!

The type of exercise must also suit your dog.

Does your dog have an increased risk of hip or elbow dysplasia ? Climbing stairs, slippery floors, wild games with sharp curves and hard stopping times are not recommended.

But walking or swimming is ideal for these dogs !

Where can you walk a dog?

Have you figured out what to do with your dog? Always keep to the rules of the environment.

In all municipalities in the Netherlands, the dog must be on a leash in built-up areas. There is only an exception to this when you enter an area with the official signs “dog play area” or “loose run area”.

Outside the built-up area, dogs are often allowed to run free, but always keep to the signs of the municipality.

Read the given information carefully. Sometimes running free is only allowed at specific times or during special months of the year.

An example of this is the beach. Here dogs are often allowed between October 1 and May 1 loosening freely .

However, between May 1 and October 1, the busier summer months start with many visitors. Then adjusted times apply for running free.

Dogs are not allowed at all in some areas. This is indicated by means of a prohibition sign.

Another special situation takes place in natural areas. To protect wildlife in nature, dogs often need to be on a leash here. Sometimes they are not even welcome at all.

When entering these areas, the four-legged friend must be kept under control by the owner at all times.

The game can be hunted and cause serious accidents. The breeding area of certain birds and shelters for animals such as foxes, badgers and rabbits can also be disturbed in such a way that this has a detrimental effect on the natural population.

Is your dog going after game after all? Or can you not prove that he is perfectly under appeal? Then it can be concluded that you are present in the nature reserve with an ‘unauthorized hunting tool’. This is punishable.

For this reason, it is always advised to keep wind and hunting dogs on a leash in a natural area, to avoid unpleasant situations.

Healthy Pets

Comparing Medical Insurance Plans: Key Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Policy

Published

6 months ago

June 16, 2023

Rabbi IT Firm

In today’s unpredictable times, medical insurance plans have become a necessity more than a luxury. You or your family member might fall sick, get sick, or require immediate hospitalisation that can cause an emotional breakdown. But those pilling bills can add to the stress and lead you to struggle financially as well.

But today you don’t have to worry about the hospital bills burning a hole in your pocket. With numerous medical insurance plan options available nowadays, your life has become easier.

So, how to decide which plan is best suited for your family? it’s a smart move to compare some important factors before making a final decision.

Factors to Keep in Mind

● Things it Covers

One of the most important things to keep in mind when selecting a medical insurance plan is the level of coverage it offers. Different companies may provide varying levels of coverage for the same insured sum. It’s crucial to opt for a comprehensive plan that includes additional benefits such as coverage for outpatient department (OPD) expenses, critical illnesses, pre-existing conditions, and ambulance services.

● Good Renewable Age

Choosing a health insurance plan that offers lifetime renewability or a higher renewal age is advisable as one may face various complex health issues during their old age. Opting for a plan with lifelong renewability is even more advantageous as it ensures continuous health coverage throughout one’s lifetime.

● Hospitals

When comparing various medical insurance plans, it’s essential to review the list of hospitals covered under the insurance provider’s cashless network and check if your preferred hospital is included. This will come in handy during emergencies, as it allows for cashless transactions. Additionally, it’s important to determine whether the insurance provider has tie-ups with a large network of hospitals.

● Waiting Time

It’s important to note that certain medical conditions such as cataracts, pregnancy, or preexisting conditions may not be covered immediately after purchasing a health insurance plan, and a waiting period ranging from 1 to 4 years may be required. Therefore, it’s crucial to check the waiting period for such conditions while comparing different health insurance plans.

● Expenses for Pre and Post Hospitalisation

Certain medical treatments may involve expenses before and after hospitalisation, such as diagnostic tests, biopsies, and follow-up visits to the doctor. It’s important to ensure that your health insurance policy covers all of these expenses to avoid any financial burden. Therefore, it’s advisable to check for coverage of such expenses when comparing different health insurance policies.

● About the Premium

The primary goal of comparing and knowing which medical insurance is best is to obtain the maximum coverage that you need while paying a premium that you can afford. However, it’s crucial not to select a policy with a high premium that may become difficult to maintain in the future. Therefore, when comparing different health insurance plans, it’s important to consider the affordability of the premium to avoid any financial strain in the long run.

● About Super Top-up Plans

Choosing a super top-up plan in addition to your regular health insurance policy is a smart move. This ensures that if your hospitalisation expenses exceed a certain limit, your insurance provider will cover the remaining amount. Additionally, top-up plans generally have lower premiums, making them a viable option for individuals who cannot afford high premiums. Therefore, opting for a super top-up plan can provide added financial security and peace of mind.

● About Sub-limit

Sublimits are applicable to certain medical expenses, such as doctor visits, room and bed charges, etc., and are covered by the insurer based on the policyholder’s sublimit. If these charges exceed the sublimit, the policyholder must pay the difference amount. That’s why many policyholders prefer policies without sublimits, and even if one chooses a policy with a sublimit, it’s wise to opt for a higher limit. This ensures that there’s sufficient coverage for all medical expenses and reduces the possibility of incurring additional out-of-pocket expenses.

● Customer Reviews

It’s important to check the reviews and ratings of different insurance providers on social media platforms. This can provide valuable insight into the user experiences related to their products, including:

The time taken to settle claims
How quickly they respond to customer queries

By checking these reviews and ratings, you can make an informed decision about which insurance provider to choose, ensuring that you receive the best possible service and support.

Types of Insurance Plans

There are several types of health insurance plans available, such as family floater, personal, and senior citizen plans. However, your main objective is to obtain the maximum benefit from your insurance policy. To achieve this, it’s recommended to compare similar types of plans offered by different health insurance companies providers. This allows you to evaluate the features and benefits of each plan and select the one that best meets your needs and budget.

Conclusion

Buying an insurance policy is a huge decision for you and your family as it would impact the way your medical bills would be covered in case of an emergency. Make sure that you keep the factors discussed above in mind and make an informed decision. If you want to learn more about the different types of health insurance plans and which one would be best suited for your family, you can consult the experts at Niva Bupa.