By joining Healthy Pets New Zealand as its Principal Partner for 2022, pet insurance specialist PD Insurance (pd.co.nz) is helping to improve the wellbeing of cats and dogs in New Zealand. The insurance provider’s support means greater resources will be available to an important local charity that focuses on better lives for Kiwi pets.
Established by the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Companion Animal Branch, Healthy Pets New Zealand (HPNZ) has funded research into the ‘big health and welfare issues’ of Kiwi pets since 1998.
PD Insurance chief operating officer Michelle le Long says the two organisations share a similar ethos and have common goals.
“We’re thrilled to bring our two organisations together for the benefit of pets everywhere.”
“At PD Insurance our mission is improving pet health and welfare, which we primarily achieve with low-cost, high-quality insurance plans that make medical care decisions easier. We’re also very focused on educating the community about pet health, behaviour and lifestyle.”
“Healthy Pets New Zealand has a similar vision, with its key objective driving advancements in veterinary medicine through research that supports better care of our furry companions.”
This extensive and well-respected research contributes to a scientific body of knowledge that underpins enhanced pet care, by improving diagnostic investigation and treatment options. It also supports studies into the value of pets to society and the human-pet bond.
Current research that has been supported by grants from HPNZ includes the health implications of raw food for dogs and cats, a novel treatment for feline cancer, and a study into how cat fostering programs benefit cats and humans alike.
The Chair of HPNZ, Dr Catherine Watson notes the research is essential in expanding the veterinary industry’s knowledge base, introducing innovative ideas and supporting informed problem solving.
“Research helps improve our understanding even of those topics in which we are already well-versed. It can not only give us new diagnostics and treatments, but also help us use existing treatments in the best possible way by helping separate fact from opinion,” says Dr Watson.
To date, HPNZ has helped fund more than 30 studies benefiting the NZ veterinary community, pet parents and their animals. Topics range from antimicrobial usage by veterinarians, cancer and skin disease treatments, effectiveness of hip and elbow dysplasia schemes, understanding the distribution of diseases like leptospirosis, hardware store solutions for fracture repairs, and many more.
Dr Watson says, “Our mission is to support the generation and distribution of knowledge about companion animal health and wellbeing. We achieve this through providing support for such projects, informing veterinary professionals about industry developments, and through educating the public around advancements in veterinary medicine.”
With no Government funding available for research into pet health and wellbeing, Dr Watson says the support of organisations like PD Insurance is crucial to Healthy Pets NZ’s success.
“We aim to be here well into the future, helping the local veterinary sector lead the advancement of companion animal health and wellbeing in New Zealand. Thanks to PD Insurance, our mission is more secure,” she says.