Mississippi pet parents: Whether you’ve got a Jack Russell in Jackson, or a Saint Bernard in Southaven, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll take you through the hidden gems and insider tips of being a Mississippi pet parent, and while we’re at it, we’ll go through the ins-and-outs of pet insurance so you can keep your furry companion (and your wallet) covered.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance assists in covering the costs of your veterinary bills. You pay a premium each month to the insurance company, and in return, you can care for your canine or feline fur family members without having to worry about how much it will cost.
With Lemonade pet insurance, there are numerous ways to customize your policy with our coverage options:
To begin with, a base Lemonade pet health insurance policy will assist in covering the costs of medication, exam fees , and treatments if your cat or dog has an unexpected accident or illness.
A base policy is excellent for the unexpected things in your fur family’s future. Still, Lemonade also offers preventative care packages, which are designed to keep your pet healthy and help cover health care expenses you’re probably paying for anyway. By adding this package to a Lemonade policy, you’ll also get access to a live medical chat option and will get covered for all kinds of things—like your annual blood tests, vaccinations, wellness plans, and more. There may be some applicable exclusions.
Lemonade offers a Preventative, Preventative+, and a Puppy/Kitten Preventative package. Depending on your pet’s age, this package covers things like spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, and flea and tick treatments.
You can also customize your Lemonade policy by adding a physical therapy, vet visit fees, dental illness, and the end-of-life and remembrance add-ons to take the bite out of pricey treatments, services, and check-ups.
Here’s an example of how a Lemonade pet insurance policy works:
- Buy a policy. You answer a few quick questions about your German Shepherd, Missy, and build your pet’s policy with the help of our friendly AI chatbot on our mobile app. The monthly premium you pay is determined by various factors, primarily things that you can customize, like your annual deductible, co-insurance, coverage package, and the annual limit on your plan. (If you would like, you can take a deeper dive into how pet insurance works to help you create your perfect policy.) Pet insurance coverage with Lemonade can cost as low as $10/month. Here’s a handy breakdown of the whole (simple) process.
- Go to the vet. You rush Missy to your licensed veterinarian after he suffered a broken bone from playing too rough at the dog park. The exam, x-ray, and cast cost you $1,000. Woof. But since you have pet insurance, you don’t have to worry about the total amount.
- Get your money back. Missy is safely on the mend, and you get up to a $900 reimbursement back in your pocket from Lemonade!
It’s worth noting that as your dog ages, they will require more veterinary care and treatments, which is why it pays to take out a pet insurance policy for your dog as early as possible. If you try to sign your 13-year-old dog up for insurance for the first time, they might be declined due to their age; either way, they’re more likely to have pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered by insurance. But if you get your new puppy a Lemonade policy right away, you’ll be able to continue renewing their policy as they age.
Apply now to get your free pet insurance quote.
Protect your pet from Mississippi threats
Wild hogs, hemlock, and snakes oh my! If you’re a Mississippi pet owner, here are a few local dangers to be aware of so you can avoid an emergency trip to the vet and move around the state with peace of mind.
Wild Hogs
Wild hogs, or pigs, are actually native to Eurasia. They were brought to the United States by the Spanish, and have thrived here ever since. They are one of the most invasive land mammals worldwide, and they can be very destructive. These huge porcines can get up to 190 pounds and have sharp, long tusks. They have a lifespan of 10 years and are at the top of the Mississippi food chain.
Wild hogs tend to live in rural or prairie agriculture areas, eating crops, nuts, grains, eggs, and whatever else they can find. However, they can also become nuisances in urban areas, knocking over garbage cans, and causing damage to gardens and the landscape.
Wild hogs can be very aggressive when cornered, or when they feel their young is being threatened. They are strong and fast, and will charge at humans or pets. In addition, they often carry diseases and parasites which can be dangerous for livestock and pets. So in some ways they are a double threat.
As with all wild animals, the best way to avoid being attacked by a wild hog is to leave them alone and give them a wide berth. Under no circumstances should you feed a wild hog, and you should certainly never rile one up. Keep your dog on leash while hiking at all times, and if you are walking off-leash, make sure your pup’s recall skills are perfect. If you and your dog do find yourself under attack from a wild hog, try to get to higher ground, such as a boulder, which will make it harder for them to charge at you.
Try to keep wild hogs out of your gardens and off your property with sound fencing. They can be scared off by lights and noise if one does happen to wander onto your property. Make sure all food sources on your property are locked up tight and are inaccessible. Don’t let your pets outside at night if you think there’s a risk of a hog encounter.
Water Hemlock
Water hemlock is probably the most dangerous plant in the United States. It is most certainly the most dangerous plant in Mississippi. This plant grows in freshwater, and thrives in marshy and swampy areas throughout the US. It looks and smells harmless. Its flowers look like Queen Anne’s Lace, and its roots resemble a purple version of a parsnip, and its leaves smell somewhat like carrots and parsley (that is because it is indeed related to both carrots and parsley). But don’t be fooled: ingesting just a little bit of water hemlock can be fatal to humans and animals alike.
The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your pets from water hemlock is to be aware of what it looks like. Likewise, it is wise to train your dog not to eat anything that isn’t made specifically to be ingested by dogs. Even so, keep an eye on your pets if you are in an area where water hemlock tends to grow.
Snakes
Mississippi is home to six types of venomous snakes: the copperhead, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake, and the cottonmouth. These snakes can be encountered in a number of different habitats and areas, from marshes to pinewoods. However, no matter where you encounter these snakes there is a lot you can do to keep you and your pets safe.
The first thing to know is that in general, snakes are shy and reserved, and will not bother you if you don’t bother them. Most snake bites in humans occur in cases where humans have inadvisably tried to kill the snake. Still, look carefully where you and your dog are walking when you are out and about. If you are camping, make your campsite away from woodpiles, caves, or swampy areas. If you do see a snake, keep yourself and your dog away from it. Certainly do not let your dog engage with it.
The best thing you can do to discourage snakes from inhabiting your property is to make it an unwelcome environment for them. Remove plant cover, such as weedy, overgrown areas, as well as piles of wood, rocks, or leaf piles. Put fencing around crawl spaces or around the foundations of your home to prevent snakes from entering. Make sure to lock up food sources in such a way that they are inaccessible to rodents—the more rodents you have around your property, the more snakes will be drawn to the potential for a tasty snack.
If your pet is bitten by a snake, seek veterinary care immediately. Most snake bites, even venomous ones, are not fatal to pets if medical care is given as soon as possible. The veterinary team will probably treat your pet with an anti-venom and keep them under observation for a day or so.
Top Mississippi dog parks
Energetic pup? Let them run wild in one of Mississippi’s many dog parks. Just make sure your doggy family member is up-to-date on their vaccinations and spayed or neutered before you let them cut loose.
- Love’s Travel Stop. Located in Magee, Love’s Travel Stop is a dog-friendly gas station and rest-stop. It offers a fenced-in dog park and other facilities for you and your traveling pup. So, the next time you want to take a nice road trip through the Magnolia State, keep Love’s Travel Stop in mind.
- Tupelo Bark Park. This dog park has been called “one of the best dog parks I’ve visited” by a reviewer on BringFido.com. It has a very large area for big dogs to run around in, as well as a smaller area for small dogs. Pine trees provide shade, and there is a small baby pool for dogs to play and cool off in. Though the park does tend to get muddy when it rains, there is a water hose available for you to rinse your pup off before heading back home.
- Ocean Springs Beach. Though technically you have to keep your dog on leash, people still rave about this little beach in Ocean Springs. It is a small strip of a beach with shallow, clear water, and is a perfect place for you and your dog to enjoy. Visitors say that it is consistently clean and not too crowded. In addition, there is sometimes an ice cream truck in the area if you want to get a little treat. It should be noted though that you should bring your own fresh water for your dog to drink as there is no fresh water source nearby.
- Bark Park at Propst Park. Located in Columbus, this dog park features dog water fountains, agility equipment, benches for pet owners, and more. The entirety of Propst Park is also a great place to hang out, with several sports fields, tennis courts, a skate park, and a playground.
- F.E.T.C.H Park. F.E.T.C.H Park in Long Beach is a whopping three acres of fenced-in dog park. It features tunnels, hills, water fountains, and dog rinsing stations. In addition, it also has plenty of benches and waste stations. It is run by a non-profit and maintained by the Long Beach Dog Park Association.
Support Mississippi-based pet businesses
Support small Mississippi businesses while keeping your best friend totally pampered!
- Hollywood Feed. Located in Southaven, Hollywood Feed is a natural and holistic pet specialty retail store. They offer high quality pet food, toys, beds, and treats. In addition, all of their employees go through 40 hours of training with veterinarians, nutritionists, and behaviorists every year. Hollywood Feed also hosts adoption days and includes dog washing stations.
- Animal Health Products. Animal Health Products has been serving the Jackson area since 1974. They carry all sorts of products from dog food to grooming products, but their main area of expertise is equine care. They pride themselves in having a friendly, knowledgeable staff that are eager to help educate and help their customers.
- Wag-N-Swag. Established in 2020, Wag-N-Swag has already become a Biloxi institution. The store offers grooming services, and specializes in helping dogs with matted fur. In addition, Wag-N-Swag also offers the latest in doggy fashion, from collars and leashes, to designer inspired clothing. It’s definitely one of the more unique pet-business in Mississippi.
- Tuesday Morning. Tuesday Morning in Oxford is actually a department store. However, it also carries a wide range of pet supplies and pet apparel—from beds, toys, treats, and fun doggy clothing. It’s a great place to go if you need more than just pet supplies.
- Desoto Aquatics. Independent, and family-owned, Desoto Aquatics has been serving the Southaven area for years. They are experts in all things aquatic, and specialize in corals. Their staff is well-educated and is also available to install both residential and commercial aquatic tanks. Whether you are into freshwater fish, saltwater fish, or corals, this is the place to go.
Before we go…
Isn’t being a pet owner just the best? The companionship, the kisses, the laughter! Pets really add so much to our lives.
We love our pets, but sometimes those vet bills can take a real bite out of our wallets, which is why more and more pet parents are choosing to get covered with pet insurance. Learn more about how much pet insurance costs, and whether or not pet insurance is worth it for you.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
