Pleasing 4 Pets

Whether it is for financial or health reasons increasing numbers of pet owners in the UK are considering offering their pet a diet of the home made variety.

But what exactly do animals require in their basic diets?

Anne Tebb, a chief veterinary surgeon at Bristol University revealed:-

“Cats and dogs, like all animals, require six components for a healthy diet. These are water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Although cats and dogs are classified as carnivores, their nutritional requirements are different”.

The greatest difference between canines and felines is that cats require a high protein diet, making them poor vegetarians, whereas surprisingly a dog actually requires just 10%.

Both animals also need calories and this should be taken into consideration when preparing pet food at home. In shop bought foods calories are most often added in the form of cereals.

The head of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association advised :-

“Sledge dogs need 10,000-13,000 calories a day, whereas a Yorkie that spends most of the day on someone’s lap would probably need only 1,000. If your pet is gaining weight, then it is either being fed too much or is not getting enough exercise.”

Home made pet food requires careful planning but is perfectly viable with the assistance and advice of a good vet. Recommended ingredients include lean mincemeat, bulgar lecithin, kelp, vegetables in addition to iron and vitamin A,C and E supplements provided by a vet.

The credit crunch has lead to a reduction in spending throughout many households in the UK, and those who haven’t yet curbed their spending are now looking for ways to reduce their outgoings.

According to a study carried out recently the average UK pet owner spends somewhere in the region of £3.50 each week on food for their pets, 50p more than is spent on average per household per person on vegetables and fruit.

From the bog standard meat in jelly ranges to the finest gourmet varieties, the pet food industry in the UK is worth an incredible £1.9billions per year.

It is believed that the further into recession the UK slips, the less likely it is that pet owners will continue to purchase expensive pet foods and will instead offer the pets scraps from the family table and cheaper pet food alternatives.

Many pet owners in the USA, prompted by the dramatic downturn in their economy, and high numbers of pet foods recalled by manufacturers are attempting to produce home made pet foods.

Home produced calorie restricted or organic diets for domestic pets are popular in the United States and there are increasing numbers of pet nutritionists on hand to offer pet owner’s advice on improving their pet’s diet and encouraging the production of home made pet food.

But just how easy is it to produce a good quality home made pet food. One leading vet and pet nutritionist from Bristol University recommended that animal lovers deliberating whether to prepare their own pet food should consult a veterinary surgeon for advice on balancing a their pets diet, and said recently:-

“It is possible to feed pets home-made diets, but there are numerous potential problems that can arise if the diet is not correctly balanced.

In a study of home-made food for dogs, certain nutrients were below recommendations. Ready-prepared, shop-bought food contains the correct amount of nutrients to keep your pet fit.”

January is traditionally a time when a lot of us feel down in the dumps or are inflicted with the post Christmas blues and the days are short and grey and the nights are long and cold.

But at this time of the year, it isn’t just us that are suffering; apparently our pets feel the effects as much as we do.

Key animal charity the PSDA is advising pet owners that the meagre summer of last summer combined with this winters appalling weather, below average temperatures and prolonged dark nights has resulted in an increase in the numbers of domestics pets enduring the misery of SAD’s - Seasonal Affective Disorder.

A survey carried out recently confirmed that the owners of one in three dogs notice a considerable downturn in the moods of their much loved four legged friends, revealing that they appear dejected and less lively than they would ordinarily be.

Leading vets at the PDSA believe that it is possible for domestic pets to display symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, including fatigue, a decline in levels of activity and a shift in the number of hours slept each day.

The survey also showed that more than 50% of dog owners believed that their pets slept more often and for longer periods of time during the winter months, were less active and appeared to lose interest in walks.

And it would seem that the weather doesn’t just affect dogs, with a third of cat owners confirming that their feline appeared subdued and much les playful in wintertime.

One veterinary surgeon from the PDSA, Elaine Pendlebury said recently:-

“The cause of SAD in people is thought to be linked to the levels of melatonin in the body.

More melatonin is produced when it is dark, which is why it is also called ‘the hormone of darkness’. When this hormone is released into the bloodstream it is thought to make us drowsy and a little down in the dumps.

If this applies to pets too, the recent poor summers, together with the current dark nights, could certainly have an impact on their mood. So, owners need to kick-start their pet’s winter health routine with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.”

Of course, the change in our pets’ mood may be simply due to the cold weather and fewer opportunities to stretch their legs outside, but diet and exercise can play a big part in perking up your pet. Even if you can’t go out, there are various indoor games that you can play together.”

A shelter which homes abandoned cats has been flooded with new additions as the declining economic climate in the UK drives pet owners to discard their pets.

The Cats Protection unit in the village of Nuthall in Nottinghamshire has the facility to shelter 30 cats but currently has 44 in house with a waiting list of at least 200 more.

The Deputy Manager at the unit, Debbie Heathcote commented:-

“There has been an increase in the number of people needing us – the phone calls have gone up dramatically.

We are starting to hear more that people cannot afford them.

This year will probably see more cats coming in.

This means the numbers on the waiting list will go up.

The quicker we can home the cats, the quicker we can get them off the waiting list.”

Over the course of 2008 the centre was home to around 84 stray cats, 33 abandoned moggies and 173 other cats whose owners decided that they were no longer able to keep them, mostly because they couldn’t afford to look after them.

The Cats Protection unit at Nutall covers the entire Nottingham area in addition to Long Eaton. Its doors are open from the hours of 11.00am until 3.00pm daily, including weekends.

For further information on Cats Protection in the Nottingham area call 01159
386 557.

If your cat is otherwise fit and healthy, she probably won’t require a higher level of care than usual when she is carrying kittens. A pregnant cat will happily engage in conventional activities and will remain reasonably self sufficient throughout the course of her pregnancy.

Feline pregnancies typically last between 60 and 70 days, and an average litter of kitten’s totals around 4. During the earliest weeks of the pregnancy it is unlikely that she will show any symptoms.

The first signs of pregnancy are usually noticeable after around 4 weeks, and early indicators are swollen nipples that are pinker that they would ordinarily be and increased appetite followed obviously by weight gain.

As soon as you suspect that your cat is expecting it would be wise to take to her your local veterinary clinic for a check up.

Your vet will advise you on dietary requirements during pregnancy, as the expectant Mother - or Queen will require a higher intake of both calories and protein from her second month of pregnancy, both of which are found in abundance in good quality kitten foods.

Your vet may advise you to add kitten food to your cat’s diet during the pregnancy, continuing until after her litter have been weaned.

Throughout the last two weeks of her pregnancy your cat may appear to lose her appetite, but it may be that she requires to eat more frequently in smaller quantities due to the decreased space in her abdominal area.

That said, if a pregnant cat refuses food or water for more than a couple of days, consult a veterinary surgeon for advice.

UK Veterinary Charity, The Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals more commonly known as the PDSA, has released a list of the top ten most bizarre items removed by their registered veterinary surgeons from the stomachs of poorly pets.

Items on the list included a kitchen knife and a rubber duck.

One senior veterinary surgeon for the trust, Sean Wensley commented:-

“There is a medical term for pets eating strange objects - pica.

Dogs, especially puppies and younger dogs use their mouth to investigate objects as well as to eat. Sometimes a dog will swallow an object by mistake, even though it had only meant to investigate it.

PDSA is urging pet owners to do a ‘pet safety audit’ of their homes to identify and remove any dangers.

Owners should give their pets the chance to investigate new objects by providing them with plenty of pet-safe toys to play with.”

The complete list was published as follows:-:

1. Ten-inch tent peg
2. Christmas decoration (star shaped)
3. Kitchen knife
4. Alphabet fridge magnets
5. Man’s wig
6. Ann Summers underwear
7. Bell
8. Fishing hook
9. Socks
10. Rubber duck

Pet owners who would like further information regarding pet safety in the home can visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petcareleaflets for a free copy of the PDSA Pet Safety Indoors leaflet.

It has been reported that the infamous Battersea Cats and Dogs home has reached its full capacity for the very first time in its history.

Another animal charity the Dogs Trust has confirmed that it also is running at full capacity.

During 2008 so far, Battersea has taken in 6,430 stray dogs, a massive increase from 5,335 throughout the whole of 2007.

Not only are record number of animals being abandoned, charities are finding it progressively more difficult to find them new homes as even animal lovers are forced to tighten their belts in view of the current economic climate.

It is feared that the increasing numbers of abandoned animals finding their way to charitable organisations will reach record proportions in 2009.

An estimated 131,400 are given as gifts at Christmastime each year, and worried animal charities believe that huge numbers could be abandoned when the festive season is over.

The Chief Executive of Battersea Cats and Dogs home commented:-

“While we think part of the rise in numbers of strays is because people can’t afford to keep their dogs any more so are dumping them on the streets, we’re also worried that people losing their dogs don’t know where to turn to try and find them.”

Woman forbidden by courts to keep pets

Sylvia Bailey aged 67 if Stevenage was found guilty by Stevenage Magistrates Court of failing to care adequately for her 22 cats whilst bringing about unnecessary suffering to 17 of them.

Bailey was prosecuted after the RSPCA found and rescued the cats from her home in Sefton Road, Stevenage. She was ordered by the court to pay out £500 towards the cost of the hearing.

In court she denied the accusations, claiming that she had kept the cats in a hygienic environment but admitted that she had been unable to meet the expense of veterinary treatment.

In December 2007, RSPCA officials visited the house in Sefton Road after locals contacted them to express concerns that the cats were being kept in unsanitary and inadequate conditions.

The RSPCA informed her that a number of her cats were suffering from dental and skin complaints which required immediate veterinary treatment.

Some eight weeks later when the officers returned, none of the cats were found to have received veterinary care and so all 22 cats were removed from Baileys’ care.

The RSPCA vet who examined the cats confirmed that 13 of them had severe dental disease, and a number of others had huge numbers of ear mites, untreated skin conditions and in growing claws.

The examining vet found that 13 cats were suffering from untreated dental disease, while others were identified as suffering from ear mite infestations, in-growing claws and skin problems.

An RSPCA official said:-

“These cats were kept in an entirely unsuitable environment and were denied veterinary treatment.

“All the cats are now healthy and thankfully will eventually go to new, caring homes.”

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.”

A concerned animal charity has reported that since the downturn in the UK’s economic climate more and more pet owners are abandoning their pets amid fears that they cannot afford to feed or care for them.

The Cats Protection League in Reading said that although there are many owners prepared to abandon their pets, there are still those who are prepared to take care of them after they have been dumped.

One animal lover from Berkshire came across a cat which had been left in carrier bag at the side of canal.

The Caversham resident, known only as Joanna, spotted a carrier bag in the road whilst on a canal walk and cautiously looked into the bag.

Inside she found a tiny ginger kitten. He was shivering and both his eyes had stuck together and his nose was running.

Joanne took the poorly cat home and contacted her local Cats Protection League. She was concerned that the kitten could be suffering from cat flu and was determined to have him looked at by a vet.

Luckily the kitten was given the all clear from pet flu and it was decided that he was simply suffering the effects of the cold after being dumped by the side of the canal.

Now the lucky kitten, christened Socks, is happy and healthy and living with Joanna and her existing pet cat.

A spokesperson from the Cats Protection League admitted that the charity is struggling to cope with the increasing numbers of cats being abandoned. She said:-

“This is a heart-warming story indeed; but many kittens and cats aren’t so lucky.

We’ve had more animals being left on the doorsteps of our centre than usual, and we think that is because people think they can’t afford to feed them or pay their vets bills.

We often see an increase in abandoned animals at this time of year. Sometimes because people are getting a new pet for Christmas, so they get rid of their old cat for the new arrival. But we’ve had more than normal and I think it’s because of the credit crunch.

This time of year is very bad for abandoned animals. The weather is terrible, so they find it harder to survive outside.

We have over 70 cats waiting for homes in Reading and the surrounding areas.
We also have a disproportionate number of kittens also waiting to come in, not uncommon for this time of year but nevertheless there are more than usual.

It’s only thanks to eagle-eyed members of the public acting quickly that some are saved - young kittens are especially vulnerable during the long, cold nights.”