Alan Percal

Alan Percal is the founder of Compare Pet Coverage and has been involved in the pet insurance industry since 2021. He started the site after 9 years of being a dog parent and getting tired of pet content that read like it was written by people who’d never actually picked up a leash or scrubbed a litter box. His Australian Shepherd mix is the reason he learned more about the pet industry than he ever expected to.

CPC exists to give pet parents the kind of plain-English, no-fluff guidance Alan wishes he’d had when he was the one Googling vet bills at 11pm and which dog food is the best for his dog. Every post is researched against primary sources — peer-reviewed studies, insurer policy documents, first hand experience, AVMA, and ASPCA guidance — and reviewed before publishing. We’re not vets, and nothing on the site replaces a conversation with yours, but we’ll tell you what we’d actually do if it were our pet.

19 POSTS

Dog tooth abscess: what it looks like, why it won’t go away, and how it’s treated

A tooth abscess is a painful infection at a tooth's root. Here's how to spot it, why antibiotics alone won't fix it, and how vets treat it.

Can dogs eat shrimp tails? Here’s the actual veterinary answer

Shrimp tails carry choking, obstruction, and perforation risk for dogs. Here's the watch-and-wait window, when to call the vet, and what changes by dog size.

Are dog teeth cleanings safe? What the anesthesia risk data actually shows

What the mortality data actually says, who is at higher risk, and why anesthesia-free cleaning is not the safer alternative it is marketed as.

Is the Diggs Revol dog crate worth it? An honest look at the premium collapsible crate

The Diggs Revol is Wirecutter's top dog crate pick for 2026, but it's pricey. An honest breakdown of who it's worth it for.

PetSnowy Snow+ self-cleaning litter box reviews: an honest analytical breakdown

Honest breakdown of the PetSnowy Snow+ self-cleaning litter box — specs, safety design, buyer reports, competitor comparison, and true cost.

Are retractable leashes bad for dogs? What the safety data actually shows

The injury data, the mechanism problems, when retractables are defensible, and what to use instead — an evidence-first walkthrough.

Are pet wellness plans worth it? An honest breakdown

Wellness plans bundle routine care into predictable monthly payments. Here's how they work and how to find the right one for your pet's situation.

Why is grain-free bad for dogs? What the latest research actually shows

The grain-free framing has been outdated since 2021. The latest research on pulses, dilated cardiomyopathy, and what to feed your dog.

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