Pleasing 4 Pets

Guinea pigs come from the rodent family. The word rodent is derived from the Latin word ‘rodere’ which means ‘to gnaw’ as they have large incisor teeth that are continually growing, this means that you will need to provide your rodent with appropriate foods to gnaw on, as this is a necessity to prevent them from overgrowing.

Guinea pigs com from the Caviidae family, this family is then broken down into many different Genera and then each Genera is broken down into Species. There are lots of species of guinea pig; eight all together, however you are most likely to know one as there is only one species widely kept as a pet.
A guinea pig has a small compact body much similar to a hamster without a tail, they have small little feet, in the wilderness they will live in burrows across the grassland and mountain areas and they are native to South America. They have an average life span of 4-7 years.

The guinea pig is a sociable pet and is very active during the day and therefore is a good pet for children, the guinea pig enjoys human companionship; they are good natured and rarely bite making them still the most popular smaller pet in a lot of countries.

In order to provide a soft comfortable surface for your guinea pig and to soak up the urine the floor needs to be covered. For the majority, wood shavings, though irritation to the eyes can be caused by very fine sawdust, therefore this should be avoided.

There are other types of wood shavings that should not be used such as, Cedar wood shavings, this type of wood shaving can usually be distinguished by its red tint, they uses phenols which can result in sever irritations to guinea pigs. On the other hand pine wood shavings will cause your pet less problems and are also a softwood, also you can use, without problems, kiln dried processed pine. Scented shavings should also be avoided as these too may result in irritation. Corn on the cob beddings is not recommended as guinea pigs have been known to eat it, which can result in it swelling in the stomach. The safest form of wood shavings to use is wood shavings that are made from hard woods such as those that are created from small animal litter made from wood pulp such as Carefresh. Most shops will sell a variety so be careful to look at the type you wish to buy.

Each morning and each evening your guinea pig should be fed a basic mix specifically for guinea pigs, on top of this they should be fed fruit and veg to ensure that they are receiving the correct amount of vitamin C to remain healthy. Your guinea pig should also have a large supply of hay at all times this helps to also keep its teeth in good health. There should always be a fresh supply of water available for your pet, this is a necessity. Pet shops also sell vitamins which you can add to their water; this can be especially beneficial to your guinea pig if it is ill.

The grooming of your guinea pig is different dependant on the type of guinea pig you have. If you have a long haired variety it will require grooming often in order to prevent the matting of their coat, where as a short coated guinea pig shouldn’t require any grooming. When it comes to looking after you’re guinea pig it will require regular cleaning which should be done weekly. The cage or hutch should be cleaned by emptying it of all the contents, the wood shavings, food and hay should all be removed and replaced with fresh ones.

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.

This Sunday 5th October at 6.00pm, the Holy Trinity Church in Southport will hold its 3rd annual pet service
Local Reverend, Rod Warner will thanks for the animals which enhance our lives and offer us unconditional companionship and love. Each pet will be individually blessed by the reverend at the altar.
The pet service remembers the patron saint of animals - St Francis of Assisi. In 2007, the Holy Trinity Church made acquaintance with many of its parishioner’s domestic pets from cats and dogs to ferrets and hamsters and even the odd turtle!
One church goer transported her dog which was suffering from severe arthritis, to the altar to be blessed in a shopping trolley.

The Rev Garner commented recently:-

“We have an open door so you never know what will be coming down the central aisle. Thankfully, in the previous two years the animals have been on the smaller side. I always take care when blessing the ferrets, though, and the parrots always seem to be well behaved. A warm welcome will be given to everyone, whether they have been before or not. It is not just for pet owners but pet lovers too, animals mean the world to many people and this is a great opportunity to give thanks to God”

After the sermon and blessing have taken place a community vet will provide a short address on his efforts inside the local area.

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

Household cleaning materials are the most common known causes of pet poisoning. Cats appear to be more susceptible to poisoning in this manner, perhaps because of their agility and ability to reach items that might usually be considered out of harms way.

Cats are celebrated for their spirited and curious dispositions, but unfortunately this can on occasion lead them to eat or drink hazardous substances. Regrettably a typical family home can encompass a substantial amount of potentially harmful or poisonous matter that your pet can all too easily gain access to.

Every year massive numbers of pets require medical intervention by their veterinary surgery after being exposed to toxins. The prevention of these incidents can be greatly reduced by increasing pet owners’ awareness off possible toxins.

As a pet owner it is your responsibility to ensure that as far as possible your animal companion remains out of harms way, but many owners are simply unaware of the dangers to pets that lurk within their households.

There are a wide range of substances that have the potential to poison your pet. Onions, caffeine, chocolate, and even bread can cause toxic reactions in animals.

There are also a number of household and garden plants that can be enormously toxic to pets and a vast array of household substances can be deadly to your pet from dishwasher powder and washing up liquid to scented oils and ordinary detergents.

If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned retain any substance that you consider might be responsible its original packaging if possible and seek advice from your local veterinary surgery immediately.

You could reduce the risk of pet poisoning in your home by getting rid of any pot plants, and instead using artificial plants. Cats and dogs are not likely to pay plastic plants any attention, and they still look as good as real plants.

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.