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Welcome Petpals (Hartlepool & East Durham)

Monday, October 31st, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 1:02 pm

Please join us in welcoming Karen and Billy Gregory to the Petpals network and wish them every success with their new business.

Karen and Billy completed their training in Andover in October and launched Petpals (Hartlepool & East Durham) on 17th October 2011.

P1000181

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Summer Safety for Pets

Thursday, June 16th, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 2:17 pm

Below is an aide memoir by vet, Dr Vicki Adams, with some useful points to help you advise and support your    clients and their pets in the coming months.

Sunburn

Pet suffer from sunburn too, especially pets that have hair loss due to allergies, hot spots, surgical preparation, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.  In pets, sunburn can appear as red skin or hair loss.  Sunburn can irritate or exacerbate existing conditions, such as allergies or hot spots.  Many people have their pet’s fur trimmed to help them manage in hot weather but this can make them more susceptible to sunburn, groomers should warn pet owners of this possibility.

Provide protection from the sun – sunscreen can and should be used on our pets.  Sunscreen can be applied to the bridge of the nose, ear tips, skin surrounding the lips, and any area where pigmentation is low.  Animals that have white fur, pink skin, light coloured noses or thin, very short or missing fur are most in need of protective sunscreen or sun block.  The groin, inside legs and abdomen may also need sunscreen because hair tends to be very thin in these areas and ultraviolet light can reflect off of certain surfaces to affect that skin.  There are sunscreens  created specifically for pets. 

 Heatstroke

Cats, dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs do not sweat through their skin like humans, so they are not as efficient at cooling down.  They pant to release heat and they sweat through the foot pads and nose.  Limiting the amount of time a pet spends outdoors during the hottest hours of the day is important.  Certain types of pets are more sensitive to hear and therefore, more susceptible to heatstroke including overweight and obese pets, very young and very old animals and brachycephalis (short-nosed) breeds of cats and dogs such as Persians, Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston Terriers.  Signs of heatstroke include excessive panting, dry or tacky and dark red tongue and gums, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or collapse of body temperature of greater than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Farenheit).  In rabbit, laboured breathing , flaring of the nostrils and distress are all signs of heat stress.  Some animals can recover fully from heat stoke if it is caught early enough and treated appropriately.  Others may suffer from seizures and permanent organ damage and require lifelong treatment.  Sadly, many pets do not survive heat stroke.  Prevention is the key.

How to prevent heatstroke – take early morning and evening outdoor play and walks and avoid vigorous exercise on warm days.  Ensure there is plenty of fresh drinking water, even ice cubes.  Reduce a pets body temperature using chilled wet towels.  Never leave an animal alone in the car even if the weather is not hot, the inside of the car acts like an oven and the temperature can rise to dangerously high levels in a matter of minutes.  Ensure there is access to cool shady areas to escape from the heat, even indoors.  Do not confine a pet to any room where the temperature may be especially high, such as a sunroom.  Groom more frequently in summer months to help remove excess hair.

Avoid Water Hazards

Even dogs that are good swimmers need to be protected around water. Animal life jackets can aid flotation and retrieval.  A ramp is an excellent accessory on a boat or a pool and could save the life of a pet that has fallen into the water unattended.  Toxic waters – blue-green algae can be found on the surface of warm, slow or still lakes, ponds and wetlands.  If faced with an accidental ingestion of toxic algae water, immediately wash off the pet’s coat (to prevent self cleaning contamination) and take to the vet if there are any troublesome signs.

Parasite Infestations

Fleas, ticks, lice and mites are just some of the parasites that are abundant in the summer.  Adult fleas spend most of their time on an animal, but flea eggs, larvae and pupae are most often found in the pet’s environment. 

Prevention is better than cure but the steps are the same for a successful flea control programme.  You must treat the environment as well as the pet.  Ticks – as the weather gets warmer, people spend more time outdoors and ticks become more active.  Ticks can carry a number of infective organisms that can sometimes make people and pets ill and potentially cause serious medical problems.  How a tick is removed is extremely important.  There are a number of tick removal tools on the market.  All claim to be safe and efficient but proper use is vital. 

 

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Dog Owners warned over killer worm.

Monday, April 11th, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 1:49 pm

Dog owners warned over killer worm

Thursday, April 7 05:08 pm Yahoo NewsITN 

Animal experts are warning dog owners to learn how to spot the tell-tale signs of a killer parasite which is spreading at an “alarming rate” around the UK.

Lungworm, a potentially fatal infection for dogs, has become increasingly diagnosed by vets, the Be Lungworm Aware campaign has warned.

A spokesman said 37 per cent of vets in the UK have diagnosed at least one case of the parasite in 2010 compared to only 16 per cent in 2008.

Vet Luke Gamble said: “Once a problem seen only in isolated areas, lungworm is spreading at an alarming rate in the UK.

“While dog owners are becoming more aware of lungworm, there is still a real lack of understanding as to the warning signs associated with the condition and how to prevent or treat it.”

Dogs become infected with lungworm after eating common garden slugs and snails carrying the larvae. A spokesman for the campaign said an infected dog may have breathing difficulties, be lethargic and cough. Other signs include weight loss, fits, reduced appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, paralysis and persistent bleeding from minor cuts.

Sarah Wright, editor of Your Dog magazine, said: “While lungworm poses a real risk to all dogs, it can be easily treated if caught early enough and with new advances in veterinary medicine, even prevented.

“With the increasing number of reported incidents, it is more important than ever before that owners are aware of the signs to look out for.”

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20110407/tuk-dog-owners-warned-over-killer-worm-dba1618.html

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Welcome Petpals (Thanet)

Friday, April 1st, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 10:08 am

Please join us in welcoming Natalie Barrett to the Petpals network and wish her every success with her new business.

Natalie completed her training in Andover in Febraury and launched Petpals (Thanet) on 8th March 2011.

thanet

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Blue Cross Tea Party – Tuesday 19th April 11am – 2pm

Sunday, March 27th, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 8:11 pm

Please join Petpals for a cup of tea and a cake at Basepoint Business Centre Reception, Caxton Close, East Portway, Andover, Hants, SP10 3FG in support of The Blue Cross Animal Charity and National Pet Month.

The event runs from 11am to 2pm on Tuesday 19th April.

£1 for a cuppa and a cake.  All donations will go to the Blue Cross Animal Charity to support its vital work in saving the lives of unwanted and vulnerable dogs.

See the poster below for more information.

blue-cross-tea-party

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Charity Walk – Tuesday the 5th April 2011 – Rescue Animals

Friday, February 11th, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 8:48 pm

Barking Mad – But all for a Good Paws!

Walking over 150 miles in 6 days in aid of Rescue Animals

On Tuesday the 5th April, Julie Beale, Hannah Dunn, Niki Ging and Catherine Jones will be embarking on a sponsored walk of epic proportion in order to raise money for Margaret Green Animal Rescue.  They will of course be accompanied by some of their four legged friends as they journey by foot from the Tavistock branch down in Devon to the Head Office/Animal Sanctuary in Church Knowle, Dorset.

Their first leg is approximately 27 miles taking them to Bow in Crediton in an impressive 8 and a half hours followed by another 5 long hard days of trekking up hill and down dale. The final leg of the walk will complete at Church Knowle where they can collapse and tend to their blisters with a nice cup of tea and some cake!

They will be followed along the way by a support van which will be able to take any contributions on route. All encouragement offered along the way will be gratefully received and do feel free to join in for a few miles if you wish. MGAR are very grateful to Arden Grange for donating food for the dogs during this walk.

With more and more animals in need of care, MGAR rely on your support to provide much needed funds so that their work can continue.

Please help by sponsoring the team of very keen walkers, either online on http://www.justgiving.com/walkingforanimals or contact the MGAR Tavistock branch on 01822 810215.

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Responsible Pet Ownership – National Pet Month

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 7:15 pm

The National Pet Month are promoting the top ten tips to pet ownership from their website, www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk as well as their National Pet Month event, running April 2 to May 2 2011.

Their tips are well placed to help pets enjoy healthier and longer lives, along with the support of pet care specialists.

Their top ten tips are:

1. Think carefully before getting a pet and learn about it’s special requirements.
2. Ensure your pet is sociable and well trained.
3. Provide a nutritious and well balanced diet.
4. Provide suitable housing and bedding.
5. Clean up after your pet and worm it regularly.
6. Protect against disease.  Your vet can provide advice.
7. Prevent unwanted litters and where appropriate neuter your pet.
8. Groom your pet regularly.
9. Control your pet and ensure it is properly identified.
10. Take out pet insurance cover for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses to cover against unexpected veterinary fees and third party liability.

Petpals are advocates of responsible pet ownership.  Our services compliment these ownership tips in providing care for your pet while you are away from home.

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What are you doing for national pet month? April 2011

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 7:06 pm

National Pet Month 2011 will run from 2nd April – 2nd May, it’s aims are to:

- Promote responsible pet ownership
- Make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and people for pets
increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals
- Raise awareness of the role, value and contribution to society of working companion animals

Last year, thousands of people joined in at events across the country to raise funds for charities.  The events also helped to raise awareness of the positive benefits of having pets and how this is rewarded back to the pet through responsible pet ownership.

According to National Pet Month, the 1200 plus events raised over £80000.

National Pet Month have identified ten tips for responsible pet ownership, available here.

National Pet Month is a registered charity, unique in bringing together animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups and pet lovers, with the common goal of improving the welfare of pets.

Visit their website at www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk where you can also make a donation.

The trustees are National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) and Pet Care Trust (PCT).

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Missing from East of Little Walden, Saffron Walden, Essex

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 | Posted by Tracey at 10:27 pm

MISSING DOG

Brown With White Bib Female Cocker Spaniel (Age: Young Adult)

Missing from Fields east of Little Walden, near Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 area, (East Anglia) on Sunday, 26th December 2010


There is a REWARD for this dog’s safe return.

CONTACT: 01799 525 699

Help DogLost.co.uk find – print this poster from http://www.doglost.co.uk/poster.php?dogId=27069

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Caring for pets during Bonfire Night & fireworks

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 | Posted by Andrew Read at 5:54 pm

Bonfire Night may be great fun for the family, but it can be a frightening time for our pets.  The sudden explosive sounds can cause real anxiety and fear in our animals.

There are however things that we can do that can minimise their anxiety. Neston’s local pet care specialist, Jim Furlong of Petpals (Wirral West), offers some advice on how to help get our pets through this stressful time.

“There is no doubt that Bonfire Night can be an ordeal for our animals. They are often very stressed by the sound of the fireworks. To minimise their upset, I would suggest a few things we can do:

  • Bring your pets indoors and draw the curtains to keep them as safe as possible during Bonfire Night.
  • Create a favourite den for your pets. Encourage them to go there by placing healthy food treats there, by putting their favourite toy or favourite blanket there. This will help them feel more comfortable and secure.
  • If your dog or cat hides during the fireworks you should try to ignore them, by fussing over them you can cause more stress.
  • During Bonfire night play music or switch on the television to drown out noise from fireworks.
  • At some vets you can purchase a simple plug-in diffuser that disperses a dog/cat appeasing pheromone into the room. The pheromone reassures the animal and naturally calms them down. You should aim to plug in the diffuser a week before Bonfire Night, so the pheromone has time to build up to significant levels and ensures the pets are as relaxed as possible.
  • If your pet is not microchipped, make sure they have a collar or tag, in case they run away.
  • Give your dog plenty of exercise during the day to ensure it is tired and ready to sleep in the evening.
  • We must not forget our small pets, such as rabbits or guinea pigs. They can become very stressed by loud noises. If they live outside, bring them indoors or into the garden shed.

If we can follow some of these steps, hopefully our pets can get through Bonfire Night with the minimum of stress.”

Petpals (Wirral West) delivers high quality and professional pet services for all your pet care needs. These services include pet home visits, dog walking, cat sitting, dog sitting, dog visits, dog and small animal boarding – all with the aim of providing your pets with the same love and affection they receive from you. It is a particularly popular alternative to catteries and kennels.

Original article posted at http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Cheshire/Neston/CH64/News/Local-News/177824-Caring-for-pets-during-Bonfire-Night

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