Pleasing 4 Pets

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.

A leading UK veterinary charity, the PDSA which has been running for some 91 years, has revealed huge increased in the number of rabbits diagnosed with myxomatosis over the past 12 month period.

Myxomatosis is a disease which can often be fatal to pet rabbits, and PetAid animal hospitals in the South East and the west Midlands have reported dramatic rises in the numbers of cases being presented at facilities there, whilst similar facilities in both Hull and Romford have reported a massive 300% surge in the numbers of cases of the disease.

Myxomatosis can be spread amongst a rabbit population by flies or fleas that bite as well as by contact with other infected rabbits.

Symptoms of the disease include lethargy, lack of appetite and inflammation of the rabbit’s eyelids, head and genitals.

Sean Wensley, a PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon offered advice to worried rabbit owners, saying:-

“The effects of the myxomatosis virus are very distressing to witness and are usually fatal. By the time clinical signs have developed, such as facial and genital swelling, it is often too late to be able to help affected rabbits.

Myxomatosis is preventable through vaccination and protecting pet rabbits from disease and suffering should be a priority. I strongly advise owners to ask their vet about vaccinations, as well as how to minimise numbers of biting insects.

PDSA is drawing attention to these outbreaks because rabbit owners should be aware that myxomatosis is present and can cause terrible suffering if rabbits are not protected from the disease.”

He concluded there was presently no proof of a countrywide pandemic or of the disease being transmitted to any other species of animal.

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.

As loving pet owners most of us recognise that the care and maintenance of our adored animals costs money.

And as articles revealing a growing number of pets being abandoned by their cash-strapped owners seem to be on the increase in the media, the news that a global leader in pet insurance has confirmed a significant increase in the numbers of responsible pet owners taking out insurance policies on their domestic animals has been met by animal lovers across the world with much relief.

Allianz UK confirmed that its Petplan venture had taken £200million in the last year alone in pet insurance premiums, whilst awarding claims of more than £1million per week. Petplan is a specialist in insurance for domestic pets, and was one of the earliest pet insurers to enter the UK market more than 30 years ago.

The company revealed that their move to make pet insurance available online has encouraged major growth in the pet insurance industry overall.

So it s seems that in increasingly a difficult economic situation, we are still prepared to spend our hard earned cash on our pets.

A leading retailer of pet products and accessories, Pets At Home also confirmed that its revenue has risen twofold over the last 12 months, with much of its income gained from the growing success of its organic pet food produce.

Their commercial director commented recently:-

“People spend more money than ever on their pets, whether that is on better quality food, healthcare, insurance, accessories and even fashion.”

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.

An oversized rabbit was given the hop by her new owners after her huge appetite proved way too much for them to deal with.

The giant European rabbit, named Roo was purchase for £129 by a family who took her home to live with them on their substantially sized farm. But the hungry herbivores uncontrollable appetite meant that she literally ate them out of house and home, when she began nibbling at their furniture.

Her frustrated new owners were forced to return her to the pet shop in Elgin, Moray where they had purchased her just a few days earlier.

Tracey Simpson from Pets At Home commented:-

“Her new owners thought they were buying an animal similar to a cat that would come and sit on their lap and quietly move around the house. But Roo isn’t like that. She’s full of life and because her teeth never stop growing, she likes to munch on things. That didn’t go down well.”

Super sized Roo manages to munch a whole kilo of kale and massive amounts of hay and other rabbit food each week. She also devours huge amounts of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

The good news is that the cute bunny has since been re-housed with a caring member of staff from Pets At Home who had looked after her since she arrived there.

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.

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.