Your dog’s age can affect your dog's health insurance coverage. Typically, policies begin veterinary healthcare coverage when dog is 6 to 8 weeks old, although some will start when dog is younger. Similarly, some dog health insurance companies only will cover dogs under 8 years old unless animal was already insured with them before turning 8.

Many dog health insurers will not cover your pet if she has a preexisting condition or a terminal illness. Some will insure dog only if condition is controlled or stable, usually for 6 months.

With all these options, it is important you check out various dog health insurance companies, their pet insurance policies and corresponding dog healthcare plans.

In short, if you care about your dog, you should care about his health. If you care about your wallet, you should care about your dog's health insurance coverage, too.

About the author: You can read more of Joel Walsh's articles on dog issues such as Dog Health Insurance at: http://www.i-love-dogs.com

Some breeds, like Weimaraners and Boxers, are predisposed to cancer. Therefore, they must have extra protection from sunburns and UV rays to avoid a kind of skin cancer.

How you can protect your pets:

Think about precautions that you take to prevent yourself from sunburn and UV exposure. You stay out of sun at peak hours like noon to 3PM, use sunblock and cover up, don’t you? Those same suggestions can work for your dog.

Here’s more dog health advice:

• Be sure that your dog is inside house or in a shaded area during sun’s peak hours, even on overcast days.
• Apply sunblock to bridge of dog’s nose, ear tips and other small, sensitive areas whenever dog is outside for more than a few minutes.
• Consider some sort of covering for your dog. Some veterinarians say that most important and effective protection is a type of bodysuit for dogs, which is designed to block ultraviolet rays and prevent sunburn.

Our dogs give us hours of pleasure and years of unconditional love. In return, all we must do is love and keep them healthy.

It's still good dog health advice to let your dog play outdoors. But spare your “best friend” pain of sunburn and its consequences.

About the author: You can read more of Joel Walsh's articles on dog issues such as Dog Health Advice at: http://www.i-love-dogs.com