Pleasing 4 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.

The 3rd annual Pet Fashion Week took place in New York recently, and in spite of the much publicised threat of a global economic recession, style obsessed dog lovers from around the world turned out in force to display their fashion savvy pooches on the catwalk and promote their products in addition to raising cash for many worthwhile animal charities.

Elsewhere, the fashion industry has reported a marked decline in sales of fashion items including shoes, clothing and accessories, but thanks to the growing trend amongst affluent dog owner’s to treat their pets to the very latest must haves from the canine catwalk, the pet fashion industry is thriving.

As one pet fashion designer showed off her cherished five year old Yorkshire Terrier Louis, transported in the latest in lavish canine carry bags from a range designed by world renowned fashion mogul Louis Vuitton she said:-

“I’ve always loved dressing up dolls and Barbie’s, and I wanted to take it into something else that I loved, and I love pets.”

The venue for the event - a five storey exhibition centre in Manhattan was overflowing with booths promoting various ranges of pet clothing, accessories and canine beauty products.

A UK animal welfare body is predicting an epidemic of FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) which is the feline equivalent of the incurable human virus HIV amongst the nation’s cats.

The FIV infection is potentially fatal in cats and is believed to be rife in many areas of the UK where the population of stray cats is high.

A leading cat welfare charity, Cats Protection recently issued a nationwide appeal for more cats to be spayed to prevent the spread of the disease across the UK.

A spokesperson from Cats Protection’s said:-

“We test the blood of all strays we rescue and it is really sad to see so many of them have cat Aids. It’s a horrible disease, which can lead to a very unpleasant death.”

The FIV infection can be transmitted between cats via bite abrasions from an infected cat or during sexual activity, and is thought to be more widespread in male strays than in females. The deadly virus cannot be transmitted to humans and it is uncommon for it to be passed on from a pregnant feline to her kittens.

Cats infected with FIV can seem normal and appear to be in good health for years but ultimately they are struck down with immune deficiency which in turn thwarts their capability to defend themselves against other viruses and infections. It is these secondary illnesses that are liable to lead to the many fatal diseases connected with FIV.

Across the UK, the awful summer weather appears to have had an ill effect on the nations pets, experts revealed recently.

Common slug and snails found in gardens across the country have seen their populations’ boom in widespread and extensive damp weather conditions during the summer months of 2008.

But these seemingly harmless creatures can carry a dangerous and harmful parasite known as Lungworm, which can leave domestic pets at risk.

Fortunately the parasite is unable to infect the human population, but if a snail or slug carrying Lungworm is ingested by a cat or a dog, the parasite can contaminate the bloodstream, causing respiratory problems and severe coughing, and in a number of cases the condition can be deadly.

The PDSA, a national veterinary charity trust has revealed a dramatic increase in the number of cases of Lungworm in the UK over recent months. One senior veterinary surgeon commented:-

“PDSA vets have seen an increase in pets affected by lungworm, which was previously confined only to Wales and the South-West, but is now seen in many areas of the UK. This rise in the number of cases of lungworm should remind pet owners of the importance of getting their pet regularly wormed by their vet. Lungworm is just one of many types of worm that are prevented by regular worming with an effective worming product.”

A recent survey by the Post Office has revealed that the majority of women - almost two thirds in fact would opt to take out an insurance policy for their beloved cats and dogs ahead of their partners.

The study confirmed that most women are more concerned about the health and wellbeing of their domestic pets than that of their spouse. It also revealed the drastic measures that pet owners in the UK would be prepared to take in order to keep their much loved pets in perfect health.

32% admitted that they would be prepared to put costly personal belongings up for sale to cover the cost of pricey charges from their veterinary surgery.

In addition to this 11% of 1,994 pet owners surveyed claimed that they would consider re-mortgaging their homes even in the face of increasing economic decline, whilst 33% said that they declared that they would take out a bank loan to cover their pets medical expenses more willingly than they would to fund their children’s leisure activities.

The gravest fears that pet owners stated that they had for their pets were that they would be involved in a road traffic accident or that they would be stolen.

Surprisingly only 2% admitted to having concerns over their pets’ weight, in spite of the latest figures released by the RSPCA estimating that almost 50% of UK domestic pets were obese.