Pleasing 4 Pets

UK Veterinary Charity, The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) issued a stark reminder to pet owners recently, warning them of the dangers of hypothermia and frostbite in pets during the winter months.

Despite often having thick coats of fur, the PDSA confirmed that any animal has the potential to develop frostbite after ongoing contact with any cold surface, although Hypothermia is more likely to be seen in small, aged or sick animals, particularly in breeds with thinner coats or naturally low body fat.

The PDSA advises owners of small furries, such as Guinea pigs and Rabbits to house them indoors during sever winter weather. Puppies and kittens experience particular difficulties controlling the temperature of their bodies and the PDSA recommends that they are kept indoors during spells of cold weather.

The charity also advises pet owners to dress smaller dogs particularly those with thinner fur, appropriately, and to remember to clean and dry body and paws thoroughly when they have been outside in cold or wet weather.

One senior veterinary surgeon, Sean Wensley revealed that shivering in an animal is the primary sign that an animal is cold, but that shivering stops when an animals body temperature becomes critically lowered after which animals appear subdued with cold paws and ears. He said:-

“Frostbite, which develops through prolonged contact with cold surfaces, can affect a pet’s ears, paws, tail, scrotum and mammary glands. Affected skin will at first appear white and will be itchy and painful.

In severe cases, the skin will turn black. Owners should check their pet over regularly as a pet’s fur can hide frostbite damage. The first thing you should do if you suspect your pet is suffering from hypothermia or frostbite is to make sure they are dry.

Then, gradually raise their body temperature by placing them next to a well-covered hot water bottle or use a hair dryer, on a low heat. It is very important to call or visit your vet for advice.

Don’t ignore the signs of possible hypothermia and don’t take any chances.

It’s easy for us to wrap up warm and add on layers to keep us snug, but it’s not that simple for our pets, That’s why, at PDSA, we are keen to give owners some important seasonal advice to help keep their pets safe and healthy as the cold winter weather sets in.”

At least 10% of individuals will experience an intense phobia during their lifetime, and one of the most common known phobias is a fear of animals - or Zoophobias.

By definition, a phobia is an illogical and irrepressible fear of a certain entity or circumstance. Some people suffer from such extreme phobias that will go to incredible lengths in their daily lives to avoid the subject of their phobia.

An illustration of this is an individual suffering from a phobia of birds - or ornithophobia may be too afraid to go outdoors in case they encounter one.

When confronted with the subject of their phobia, some suffers may even experience panic attacks.

Others become so stressed when they encounter the source of their phobia that they suffer from panic attacks.

Rather than a general fear of animals some phobics are affected by a fear of certain animals, for example common animal phobias include dogs, cats, mice and spiders.

Regrettably, most phobics never attempt to seek help, although the vast majority of sufferers who do undergo therapy for a phobia are cured.

Some common Zoophobias are:-

Alektorophobia Fear of Chickens
Cynophobia Fear of Dogs
Gatophobia Fear of Cats
Ichthyophobia Fear of Fish
Hippophobia Fear of Horses
Entomophobia Fear of Insects
Musophobia Fear of Mice
Batrachophobia Fear of Reptiles
Ophidiophobia Fear of Snakes

The number of pet owners choosing to travel with their pets is on the increase. Some airlines will allow passengers to travel with a small pet for a small fee as long as the pet will fit into an approved pet carrier which will fit under the aircrafts seats.

Airlines which will allow pets to travel inthe aircraft cabin with their passengers include KLM and Lufthansa, whilst British Airways World Cargo and Virgin Atlantic airlines will only permit pets to travel in the cargo hold. Virgin Atlantic even operate a ‘Flying Paws’ frequent-flyer scheme which enables animals to claim gifts for themselves in addition to banking air miles for their owners.

If you choose to take a flight accompanied by a domestic pet it would be prudent to make reservations for the both of you with the airline as far in advance as is possible, as most airlines will only permit limited numbers of animals on each flight.

The department for environment, food and rural affairs, more commonly known as DEFRA operates a pet travel scheme, which incorporates a ‘pet passport’.

This will enable you to travel with your pet to and from the UK to certain other countries without the necessity of enduring a 6 month quarantine.

To be eligible for a pet passport your pet must be micro-chipped and have been immunised against rabies 6 months prior to departure. Your pet must then pass a blood test which proves that the vaccination was successful.

Domestic cats, dogs and even ferrets are all eligible for the scheme, as well as rodents, rabbits, birds and fish, although the micro-chip / rabies rule don’t apply to these pets.

One of the most popular birds owned as a pet in the UK is the budgie or budgerigar.

The budgie is a small brightly coloured attractive bird which is a native of Australia and which is believed to have been introduced to Europe some time in the 1870s.

Over time the popularity of the budgie has vastly increased. In 1925 the Budgerigar Club was launched. It was renamed as the Budgerigar Society as called for by King George V in 1930 when he consented to become an official patron of the organisation.

The common budgie is known as a hook-bill which indicates that they use their bills to crack open seeds in order to eat them. They can live for up to 15 years, so opting to choose one as a pet should be considered a long term commitment.

Budgies can be housed alone, but it has to be said that they much prefer the companionship of their own kind. Like their owners they prefer to be active throughout daylight hours, preferring to sleep at night.

A wild budgerigar will eat a vast array of seed and vegetation. For pets a decent quality Budgerigar or Parakeet mix will suffice as a basic diet. A cuttlefish which performs as a vitamin supplement ought always to be made available to your budgie in order to maintain their calcium levels, particularly throughout periods of breeding.

Small chunks of fruit and vegetables can also be offered as treats and access to fresh drinking water is essential to your budgie’s health and well-being. Specific foods can be detrimental to your Budgies health - steer clear of feeding your pet lemons, lettuce, potatoes, avocadoes, or any sweets or drinks intended for humans.

A recent report has revealed that there are almost twice as many domestic pet insurance policies held in the UK as there are private health insurance policies, with 23% of our pet population insured in comparison to only 12% of us being covered by private medical policies.

The report confirms UK pet owners as being amongst the most considerate and caring across the globe, surpassed only by Swedish pet owners, who lay claim to the largest populace of insured pets in the entire world.

Ewan McNeil, a former leader of the British Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons, went on record as saying:-

“We are a nation of animal lovers, and many of us regard our pet as part of the family; I’m not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular - people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets. Veterinary healthcare has made great strides in the last few years offering highly sophisticated treatment for a huge range of animal ailments. Pet insurance helps owners choose the best treatment for their pets without worrying about costs.”

In addition to this the report revealed a 41% increase in the demand for the insurance of smaller pedigree dogs – or ‘handbag’ dogs which are often more costly to insure than other types of dogs

As a growing number of people decide to treat themselves using holistic or alternative methods, it seems that an increasing number of caring pet owners are calling for their vets to treat their beloved pets using natural alternatives and organic forms of healing as a replacement for conventional medicines.

Holistic remedies can be explained as a philosophy that envisions the patient, whether that patient is human or indeed animal as a complete unit encompassing the mind, body and spirit.

The impetus of holistic pet care is on evading ailments with a combination of a healthy existence including the benefits of a decent diet and the effects of exercise to keep your pet stable and in optimum health.

While some pet owners research the benefits of holistic treatment in a last ditch attempt to relieve painful or complicated animal illnesses there are a wide range of other possible uses for these unconventional remedies, from acupuncture to deep tissue massage.

Other complimentary treatments include the use of herbal remedies to manage a variety of animal behavioural issues such as separation anxiety or uncontrollable obsessive behaviours, and all holistic remedies can be used in conjunction with traditional or conventional medicines prescribed by your vet.

If you are considering treating your pet using any form of holistic therapy you should ensure that any alternative treatments are issued under the close direction of a holistic specialist or under the supervision of a vet.

It is essential that ducks and geese kept in captivity have ample access to fresh drinking water.

Time and again this fact is forgotten when the birds have access to water for preening and grooming, but this water can quickly grow to be polluted and unclean.

In an ideal world your pet ducks or geese should have permanent access to a source of clean running water. If this is not achievable you should remember that water containers should be made readily available for your birds and should be cleaned on a daily basis in advance of being filled with clean drinking water.

Geese and ducks are both from the waterfowl family and as such spend a considerable amount of their time both in and around water in their natural habitats, although geese may prefer to spend a little more of their time on land than ducks as they grazers and so will require a decent area of grassy terrain to forage in.

Both types of bird will enjoy spending some time throughout the day carrying out water-related actions, like preening and grooming.

If you are considering adopting either ducks or geese as pets you should take into account their essential requirements for water, and determine if you have suitable water based facilities in which to keep them before you make your final decision.

When you lose a much cherished pet there are certain challenges that you as an owner must face. Some animal companions do not die out of the blue and can unfortunately suffer crippling and debilitating illnesses in the same way that humans can and unfortunately in these circumstances the owner is faced with the agonising decision of when their pet should be put to sleep. So in addition to their grief at losing a pet, some owners often experience feeling of guilt and culpability for the death of their much loved animal.

Pet memorials are often an effective and heartening way of remembering and honouring the existence of a treasured animal companion that has sadly passed away. A memorial to your precious pet will serve as a permanent testimony to the special bond or mutual friendship that united you as pet and owner.

Some owners choose to bury their animals in a pet cemetery and others decide to have their animals cremated and choose a significant or special place to scatter their ashes.

Many grieving pet owners opt for an intimate ceremony to commemorate the life of a pet and to celebrate the unconditional love and companionship that they offered throughout their lives. This form of tribute can often be of comfort to children who have suffered the loss of a pet, and can be a useful tool in enabling them to understand death and loss.

There are no firm guidelines relating to what you have to do when you lose a pet, but what is important is to allow yourself time to mourn as well as time to recall the happy moments and special memories that you shared.

The UK’s standing as one of the greatest nations of animal lovers in the world received considerable damage recently after a report was released confirmed a massive increase in the number of owners abusing their animals.

The RSPCA revealed that since the launch of the Animal Welfare Act, which was made law in April 2007, the number of persons found guilty of cruelty to animals rose by almost 25% during 2007.

Somewhere in the region of 500,000 pets were found to be in need of help, many of them having been abused, abandoned or neglected in some way.

The Chief Officer of the RSPCA Inspectorate, Tim Wass went on record to say :

“ These animals are helpless victims of our affluent, throwaway society - they’re bought on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off.”

The disturbing figures also exposed a 34% escalation in the number of those convicted for cruelty towards dogs and a 15% increase in convictions for cruelty towards cats. Cruelty investigations overall totalled just under 500,000, an increase of around 12% on the previous year.

Throughout the course of 2007 a total of 54 people received prison sentences on the grounds of animal cruelty and 861 individuals were prohibited from keeping animals on similar grounds.

There is a growing trend in the UK to keep farm animals, particularly hens and chickens but owners should be aware that these animals have fundamental requirements in order to maintain a satisfactory quality of life.

Primarily, chickens must always have access to clean, fresh water, and prefer to drink from familiar receptacles, so once you have established a drinker, you should continue to use it for as long as is possible. Remember that young chicks may hop into an oversized feeder and drown.

Chicks as young as a day old will start to peck at small pellets. Within days of being born most will have the ability to recognise small grains of food and as they grow chickens love nothing more than rummaging and foraging for fodder on the ground, such as seeds and roots. These offer a good supply of carbohydrates and essential proteins and minerals.

Once a female bird advanced to adulthood, she will start to lay eggs. It is a good idea to provide her with calcium supplements to complement her natural diet. She should be encouraged to lay her eggs on specially elected nest box, which is lined with dry wood shavings or straw, where she will be warm and secure. She may also prefer to lay in quiet isolation away from other birds.

The majority of chickens will choose to roost in an elevated position at dusk. This helps to protect them from any predatory attack. Your chicken shelter should be warm and dry and be equipped with elevated perches around 4cm in width with smooth rounded edges, which will allow the birds a good comfortable grip. Make sure that to your chickens’ shelter has lots of space with decent air circulation, plenty of straw and is cleaned out on a regular basis.