DOES YOUR PET HAVE A FIREWORK PHOBIA?

sammy | PET...., TRAINING | September 21, 2009

The fireworks season is almost upon us and every year it seems to start earlier and last longer. For anyone who has dogs that are afraid of fireworks and loud noises, this can be a stressful season for all concerned. So here are some tips for the prevention and management of firework fears.

For those of you with puppies who have not yet experienced this joyous time of year, it is extremely important that you react in the right way so that a fear of loud noise does not develop. Not all dogs react to bangs, but when they first hear a loud bang, most will react in some way. The most important thing for you to do is not to do anything!

For us humans, our natural response, if our puppy jumps, shakes or hides from a loud noise, is to offer comfort. However, fight your instincts, as to a dog this behaviour is reinforcing their fear and suggesting to them that they are right to be afraid. If you don’t react, they learn that it is a fact of life that you’re not concerned about and they too will learn to not be concerned.

It’s a good idea to distract them with a game too – play and stress cannot be displayed together, so replacing their worry with a game, lowers stress levels and also teaches them that the bangs produce fun, rather than fear.

For those who have a dog who already has a fear of fireworks, there are several things you can do to try and manage the problem and reduce their stress levels. First, provide them with a den where they feel secure and can hide. A dog crate is excellent for this, put their bed inside, leave the door open and put a blanket over the top. DAP collars can also be a great help (available online or from some vets), DAP is a pheromone that calms the dog and is completely safe and natural. For severe fears, it may be a good idea to get some further help from a good behaviourist who will be able to offer you a management plan and gradual desensitisation programme.

Good luck and have a safe and enjoyable season.

For information and help you can contact Jenny www.fluentwoof.co.uk

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Thinking of a Tortoise as a pet? Read here first

sammy | Tortoise | May 26, 2009

Is A Tortoise The Right Pet For You?

Many people assume that keeping a tortoise as a pet is an easy thing to do. After all, they move very slowly and don’t seem to get stressed or frightened ever, how difficult could it be? Unfortunately, people who believe this usually end up with tortoises with a very short and unhappy lifetime. Tortoises actually require quite a bit of work to ensure that they remain healthy and happy.

Space Requirements

Even though tortoises do indeed move slowly and deliberately, that does not mean that they do not require much room. On the contrary, many tortoises actually require so much cage space that they are better off if they have free reign of your garden, at least whenever the weather allows. If you can not make your garden safe to leave him in unattended, then at least have him outdoors daily for an extended period of time. During this time they will wander around, munch on some greenery, perhaps dig up some grubs or earthworms, and most importantly soak up some sunshine. Without exposure to enough sunlight, most tortoises will stop eating. This of course may lead to an untimely demise.

Size

When choosing a tortoise as a pet, please take the time to find out what size it will be as an adult. Some tortoises grow to very large sizes. The adult Leopard tortoise, for instance, can reach lengths of over 60cm and weigh more than 35kg. You may not be physically capable of working with such a heavy animal.

Lifespan

With proper care, some tortoises can live as long as 100 years. That is a very long time to be responsible for a pet. Please keep in mind when thinking about tortoises as pets that you may well end up leaving your pet to your children. It is often difficult to think that far in advance, but be aware that it is a possibility.

If you have considered all of the above mentioned factors and you still think that a tortoise is the pet for you, now you must decide where to get your pet. Many pet shops have them, but you may have better luck if you check with your local animal rescues first or a society like the Chelonian Trust. Also, if at all possible, try to get one that has been captive bred. Not only does this protect the tortoises left in the wild from capture, but it also usually results in a better pet.

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Sky's the limit: World's first pet-only airline launches in US

sammy | PET NEWS | May 11, 2009

By Jo Tweedy – The Daily Mail

The phrase ‘chicken or fish?’ is set to take on a whole new meaning after a Florida-based airline announced plans to become the world’s first pet-only carrier.

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Pet Dumping – the Newest Trend?

sammy | PET NEWS | May 4, 2009

Pet Dumping – How do people sleep at night?

The RSPCA has reported that as many as thirty pets a day are being dumped by their owners to save money. The credit crunch has created a trickle down effect to our beloved pets and they state that the numbers of abandoned pets have recently increased by 60%!

Food and vet bills can be expensive as we know, and most people have cut back, but this is indefensible behaviour. When you take on an animal, you take it on for life. In extreme cases, owners are killing their pets rather than face the prospect of paying food and vets’ bills. What a sad thing for a family to feel they must do.

This is a huge problem for charity rescue organisations. Not only are they getting less money in donations, they are caring for more and more animals with less and less money, employee’s or volunteers. It’s a challenge for the centers, but it’s a crisis for the pets. An abandoned pet is left completely on its own to fend for itself and it has probably never needed to that before in its life. What a sad prospect for the pet. A death sentence!

The RSPCA dealt with 11,586 dumped animals in 2008 – an average of more than thirty every day. In 2007, 7,347 were abandoned. It represents a rise of fifty-seven per cent. The RSPCA predicts that this trend seems set to continue. Figures from the first two months of 2009 show a further 1,432 animals abandoned and the number of calls the charity has taken from those wanting to give up an animal has risen by fifty-two percent. Cats and dogs are the biggest victims.

Those found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal face a maximum six-month prison sentence and/or a £20,000 fine. The RSPCA says, “It is an offence to abandon any animal and there is never any excuse for doing so. If people have pets they cannot care for, for any reason, then help and advice is always available from the RSPCA.” As well as many other organistions all over the UK

Please do not abandon your pet. If you are feeling the money squeeze, call a rescue centre and ask for help. You’ll be glad you did! You will find many rescue centre in our online directory here www.getsetpet-directory.co.uk

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Pigs in the house – are you crazy?

sammy | Other Pets | March 25, 2009

Many people are getting potbellied pigs as pets. They originated in China and Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Their history is quite amazing. In 1985, four boars and twelve sows were imported into Canada from Vietnam where they were raised as both food and pets. The first “pet pig” industry was born. Now, there are approximately 40,000 of these pets in Canada.

Pig Smarts/Pig Personality

Overall, pigs rank third in the animal kingdom in intelligence. The first are porpoises, then the chimpanzee, followed by the pig. In the domestic animal world, the pig reigns supreme. What is it about a pig that is so charming? The highly intelligent potbellied pig is clean, odorless, and quick on their feet. Considerably smaller than a standard American or European farm pig, most adult pot bellied pigs are about the size of a medium or large dog, although their weight is much denser. The average mature potbellied pig is about 95 to 150 pounds or more at maturity. Through selective breeding, smaller pigs can be 70 -110 pounds. Pot bellied pigs are considered fully-grown by six years of age and may live 15 to 20 years assuming they start out with the correct vaccinations, and are cared for properly.

Just as humans do, each of these gentle animals has their own unique personality. They are able to communicate using grunts, squeals but are not generally noisy. The quality they have is their ability to reason and problem solve. They will tell you when they need to go ‘potty’ or are happy, distressed, confused, or disoriented. They can play tag with your children, or swim in a pool. They can learn many of the tricks that a dog can learn. The only limitation they have is that their stature may prevent them from doing certain physical feats. Because they are so smart, it is easy to train them perform tricks for a food reward.

Preparing for “Pig Arrival”

Your house must be “pig proofed” as one would do for a toddler. When you arrive home with your piglet, remember that it is an adventure and it takes a little time for him to adapt. After you get him home, let him outside to do his business. After that, it is best to confine him in a small, enclosed area such as a bathroom or kitchen for a little while until he is comfortable. Speak gently and use quiet talk. Offer him food out of your hand. Once he does come to you, reach out, touch him gently, and speak to him in a calm manner. Spend some time with him in the beginning so he will learn to trust you. Generally, speaking, most potbellied pigs will co-habitate quite well with dogs, cats, snakes, rabbits, horses, or whatever.

A potbellied pig feels very vulnerable when his feet are not firmly planted on the ground. In the wild, predators swoop down and snatch them from above, so when a piglet is picked up that way, he is frightened. Instead, scoop him up from behind with one hand, and cradle his head with the other. This will make him feel more comfortable. Most pigs will adjust fine once they gain trust in you. Use food to coax him to where you want him to go. Don’t approach him too quickly. If you are training your pig, be very patient, use a food reward, repeat the training daily, keep the lessons short, but don’t overfeed during the training. Once one trick is learned, move to the next one.

It is instinctual for all pigs to root. Pot bellied pig roots less than other pigs. They will root for food or fun. If you have fresh sod or flowers, you might want to keep your pig away from them. If you provide an area of soft dirt for them, they will be happy.

There are a few basic items needed: a soft plastic or rubberized food bowl and a water dish. Your pig will probably play with his utensils and treat them as toys. If your piggy is an indoor pet, he will also need a special blanket or cushion for nighttime. You will want to have a harness if you want to take him for walks. There are special “potbellied harnesses” or a figure eight dog harness will work for some pigs. Your pig can be kept outside of the home, but many pet owners prefer to keep this pet inside the house much as you would a dog or cat.

Pig Eats

Pot bellied pigs love to eat. They need a good quality diet that is high in fiber and low in calories. This is usually available at feed or pet stores. You should feed half of the daily ration in the morning and the other half in the evening. They love fruit and vegetables and they love the same junk food you do, popcorn, marshmallows, ice cream, chocolate. Chocolate is very bad for them if eaten in large quantities, and salt in excess can cause salinic shock. Don’t feed your pig until its fat. A fat pig is an unhealthy pig.

Pig Clean and Hygiene

Pigs in general are extremely clean animals. They have no objectionable odor and they are very particular about where they ‘go potty’. They don’t like to go anywhere close to their sleeping or eating area, so it is fairly easy to train them to “potty” in a litter box, or outside. However, if he is restricted to certain areas of your house, then he will think that it is fine to go potty in the areas outside of his living area. When he does go where you want him to, reward with a food treat and a pat on the head. Due to their rooting behavior during their young and adolescent years, books, newspapers and loose materials will often find their way in front of the pigs’ nose to create a bedding area. Pigs don’t have pores, therefore they have no means of releasing heat from their bodies as we do. Mud is cool, and they find it comfortable in the aspect of reducing their body temperature. Potbellied pigs don’t have to have mud to cool down, most pigs love water and a children’s wading pool is perfect! They don’t shed, so you don’t have to worry about hair in the house and they don’t get fleas. Their skin is so thick, a tiny little, blood-sucking flea cannot get the blood supply it needs to survive. Goodbye fleas! Goodbye flea powders, dips, lotions, and sprays!

Pig Care

Most veterinarians will care for a potbellied pig. Potbellied pigs are commonly vaccinated for Leptospirosis. Other common vaccinations are for Erysipelas, Parvovirus, and Atrophic Rhinitis. Contact your local vet for more details.

There are hundreds of different plants which are quite toxic for these pets. These are just a few, Bleeding Heart, Carnation, Castor Beans, Delphinium, Geranium, Holly Berries, Ivy, Lily of the Valley, Milkweed, Morning Glory, the Potato plant and the Tulip.

Finally!

People that own these pets love them. However, they can be demanding pets and some owners are overwhelmed by their needs – as shown by an abundance of shelters overflowing with pigs. Pot bellied pigs are smart, fun and can a wonderful companion. If you think that you would like one, check out your nearest Rescue Center to see if there are any available to adopt. Be prepared to have the enjoyable experience of owning and loving a truly unique, special, fun, unpredictable, intelligent member of the family for a very long time.

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Real Pet Food – Do you really know what you are feeding your pets?

sammy | NUTRITION, PET NEWS | March 25, 2009

These days we pet owners have real concerns about exactly what is in our cats and dogs’ food. Our pets are very important to us, and we want the best healthy life for them.

What is ‘Real Pet Food’? The aim of the campaign is to promote foods which: • are made from good quality, natural ingredients • are free from artificial additives such as colors, preservatives and flavors • have open and honest ingredient declarations

The Campaign for Real Pet Food, C.R.P.F. [www.crpf.org.uk] appears to be gaining momentum. The campaign reports many new members and increasing support from within the pet industry. There are many different pet food manufacturers which support the campaign, and they all have one thing in common. They are united by the common belief that pets deserve real food made with real ingredients, and that pet owners deserve openness and honesty from the companies that make their pets’ food. With this information, the consumer, you, can make an informed choice about the food product you wish to purchase.

The C.R.P.F encourages pet food companies to be open about their ingredients and promotes foods that use high quality ingredients. It now has the support of the Guild of Dog Trainers, [www.godt.org.uk], and that of the UK’s most dog friendly shop – The Haslemere Pet Company, [www.haslemerepets.com] (winner of the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs competition, 2008).

Pet food company Europa Pet Foods [www.europapetfoods.com], has long been an advocate of ethically defensible supply, it was one of the first to carry the BUAV ‘not tested on animals’ logo. The company recently became part of the C.R.P.F.’s fight for industry-wide change.

If you wish to support this campaign, go to www.crpf.org.uk and sign up. It doesn’t cost anything and they will send you a newsletter to let you know how the campaign is progressing. What better way to show your love and support for a healthy pet!

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