Lets Talk About Pets

Karen's Best Friend, Maisy

2007-06-27T16:34:00.000+00:00

Maisy, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is eighteen months old.
She is absolutely my best friend in the entire world. I couldn't be without her. She has been my support system during a long period of ill health, and my doctors agree that without her I would have ended up back in hospital, so she is, quite literally, a life-saver!

Thanks for sharing Maisy with us, Karen - Trish

Caring For Elderly Cats

2007-06-03T20:44:00.000+00:00

Cats can easily reach 16 or 17 years of age and with good feeding and medical care, old-age can be a very pleasant and contented time for them.

Feeding - Dry foods (biscuit or kibble) can still be fed, although wet foods (canned or sachets) are particularly useful for elderly cats who have lost some or all of their teeth.There are many proprietory brands that provide 'senior diet' foods specially formulated to cater for the nutritional requirements of elderly cats. Remember though, to keep a close watch on how much is being eaten as one of the first signs of illness will be a diminished appetite.

In cases where specific illness has been diagnosed (such as kidney disease, diabetes etc), your veterinary surgeon will be able to advise you and offer specialist 'prescription' diets that are suitable for your pet.

Warmth - It is very important to older cats to have somewhere to rest that is warm and comfortable - in the winter months, many will sleep for almost 24 hours! My own cats' favourite is a radiator bed. In summer, cats will often find the sunniest spot in the garden to bask, so they should be checked regularly as they can overheat. Always make sure they have plenty of fresh water available.

Medical Care - It is a good idea for elderly cats to visit the veterinary surgeon regularly; many vets offer 6 monthly 'senior pet' clinics where routine check ups are performed and potential problems discussed. Early diagnosis is best as even minor illness can quickly become complicated.

Troubles of Old Age

Teeth - Teeth can be a common cause of discomfort and loss of appetite and
elderly cats often require dental extractions or descaling. Although it is worrying to submit your senior cat to a general anaesthetic, you will usually find that your cat's well-being will improve dramatically once the cause of the discomfort has been removed. Your pet will find it much easier to eat with hard healthy gums than with bad teeth.

Nails - As cats get older, their joints often become stiffer. This means that claws no longer wear properly and the cat can have difficulty in retracting them. Regularly trimming off or filing the overgrown tip of the nails will help. Some examples of suitable clippers and files can be found here.

Constipation - Sometimes elderly cats can suffer severly from constipation, usually caused by deterioration of their muscle-tone, although it can also be due to lack of exercise or swallowing large quantities of hair when they are moulting or shedding (hairballs).

There are several proprietory remedies available, milk is also a natural laxative, or your vet may provide some stronger medicine to alieviate the problem. Never ignore constipation in your pet, as it can lead to more serioius complications if left untreated.

Incontinence - Unfortunately, elderly pets can lose control of their bladder and/or bowels and this can make both yours and their lives very difficult. Please never blame the animals as this is something that they cannot help. Discuss it with your vet at check-up time - there may be some medical help available. Your vet will also be able to tell you if you can expect any improvement in your cat's condition.

All-in-all, cats are much like humans as they get older. They slow down a bit, like some extra comfort and attention, are often a little fussy with food and possibly start to show some signs of elderly illnesses. However, in spite of this they will suddenly surprise you by leaping up and chasing a ball of paper or trying to catch a flying insect. Enjoy them!

Choosing Your Dog's Collar and Lead

2007-05-16T23:02:00.000+00:00

Pet shops can stock many types of collars and leads. Generally,your choice will depend on what you prefer, but there are a few points to take into consideration.

Leads (leashes),collars and harnesses are usually made from rope, leather, chain or nylon webbing.

Choosing Your Lead
Leather and Chain Leads: If you dog is one of the large breeds, you'd be advised to select a strong lead made of leather or chain with a leather handle. Dogs that chew their leads will also benefit a chain lead.

Nylon leads: These are lightweight leads and usually washable, so they're useful to put in your pocket on a long walk or in case of an emergency.

Rope Leads: Slip leads (with a loop that goes around the dog's neck) and showing leads are often made from soft rope.

Retractable leads: Some dogs need to be kept on their lead at all times e.g young or untrained dogs, deaf, blind or elderly dogs. Retractable leads are usually made from thin nylon rope or webbing on a spool that can extend 4 to 6 metres. This allows the dog to explore when out walking and allows you to keep control.

Choosing Your Collar
Leather collars: These are strong and durable and most dogs find them comfortable as they do not chafe the neck when fitted correctly. They're available in several styles - rolled, flat, studded etc. A leather collar 12mm wide is adequate for most dogs (larger breeds, bull terriers, greyhounds etc may need a wider collar - 2.5 to 4cm is usually suitable)

Nylon Collars: Smaller breeds are more suited to nylon collars as they are less durable than leather. They can also cause rubbing on the neck, especially if the dog pulls on the lead.

Chain Collars: These are made from several rows of chain with a buckle and leather strap. Care should be taken to use the correct size as they may pinch the skin of the dog's neck if too narrow.

Check Chains (Choke Chain): I advise against using a check chain unless absolutely necessary as very few people know how to fit and use them correctly. Half-check collars (a nylon band with a chain attached) are minimally better. They are a training aid only and should only be used when walking or training.

Puppy's First Collar and Lead - Arrived at that momentous time when you buy your puppy's first collar and lead? Here's some safety points to remember

Don't fasten the collar too tightly - make sure you can fit three fingers under it.
Never use a check chain on a young puppy - they can damage the pup's neck.
Keep an eye on your puppy especially at first as sometimes they try and rub the collar off and can get it caught on anything projecting.
Even when the puppy is very young, its a good idea to attach the lead to the collar and make it into a game - the puppy will get used to the feel of the lead and it will be easier for you when the time comes to start training.

Finally, remember to check your dog's collar and lead regularly for damaged stitching or wear and replace it before it breaks.

For Skyla, My Best Friend

2007-05-13T20:47:00.000+00:00

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals that had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

A Sad Dog Tale With A Happier Ending

2007-03-14T00:00:00.000+00:00

Thanks to Pet Talk member Linda for sharing your story. I lost my old dog last month and your experience really hit home. Trish

I as many other millions of people I LOVE my dogs.

I have always had English Bull Terriers and love all animals. Last year I lost two of my dogs, Bruce and Megan, Bruce died first in his sleep, at the age of of nearly thirteen, at this time Megan had breast cancer, I was devastated she was twelve at the time.

After a brave long fight by my dog and my family, three cancer op's later we had to let her go. In my life I have never felt so helpless and such pain, that was it never again would I have a dog, the heart break was more than I could take. My son told my husband that he used to hear me sobbing in bed as my dogs were everything to me.

After a lot of thought by my family, a puppy was brought home. I thought I would never be able to bond with this animal, I felt somehow I was letting the memory of my other dogs down, crazy I know.

Now I have a strong love and bond with my dog, he is eight months old now and his name is Bubba, and I now see things in him that remind me of my other dogs and he is a joy to have.

Seven Reasons To Buy A Dog!

2007-03-11T12:03:00.000+00:00

One of my friends sent this to me, so I thought I'd share it with you. My apologies upfront to all our cat owners (just a tongue-in-cheek look at animal behaviour - I have cats and a dog at home!) Trish

*******************

If you want someone who will bring you the paper without first tearing it apart to remove the sports section .....

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone willing to make a fool of himself simply over the joy of seeing you ..

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone who will eat whatever you put in front of him and never says its not quite as good as his mother made it ....

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone always willing to go out, at any hour, for as long and wherever you want ...

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone who will never touch the remote, doesn't care about football, and can sit next to you as you watch romantic movies

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone who is content to get up on your bed just to warm your feet and whom you can push off if he snores ....

Then buy a dog.

If you want someone who never criticizes what you do, doesn't care if you are pretty or ugly, fat or thin, young or old, who acts as if every word you say is especially worthy of listening to, and loves you unconditionally, perpetually ...

Then buy a dog.

But, on the other hand, if you want someone who will never come when you call, ignores you totally when you come home, leaves hair all over the place, walks all over you, runs around all night and only comes home to eat and sleep, and acts as if your entire existence is solely to ensure his happiness .....

Then buy a cat !

Your Dogs

2007-03-10T17:20:00.000+00:00

Thanks Fiona & Andrew, for your cute photo - keep 'em coming!

Nine New Kittens For Maz

2007-03-04T15:01:00.000+00:00

My beautiful clever oriental girl gave birth to nine gorgeous little kittens 2 weeks ago, and so far hasn't needed any help supplementing the kittens feeds.I'm so proud of her!

Zoltan The Doberman Saves The Day

2007-03-01T23:02:00.000+00:00

My children and husband had gone to bed, I was sat in front of the fire with my Doberman Zoltan.

I decided to go to bed as I was shattered, so I turned the fire off and left the living room where Zoltan sleeps on the couch and went to bed.

Ten minutes later, Zoltan still hadn't calmed down - he was scratching, barking, howling and finally he was trying to break the door down.

So I finally went into the living room to see what was wrong. As I entered the living room, there was a smell of gas...It turned out I hadn't turned the fire off properly. The flames had gone but the gas was still coming out.

God knows what would have happened that night if I didnt have my dog.

Thanks for this story to Debbie and Zoltan. It proves that dogs can sense when something is not right. Trish

Tips For Travelling In Comfort With Your Pets

2007-02-27T14:09:00.000+00:00

There's nothing like a good holiday and if you are taking your pets on vacation with you, its
important that the whole family (pets included) are happy and relaxed on the journey and arrive safely.

Here's a short guide to travelling happily with your pets:

Before your trip
Your pets should wear id tags with your home address and holiday destination address included

If you are travelling overseas, be sure that you understand the requirements of Pet Travel Scheme

Before you travel abroad, speak to your vet about the country you will be visiting and ask for advice on suitable anti-parasite treatment.

Plan Your Journey
Remember animals can fall victim to motion sickness. It is important that your pet does not travel on an empty stomach, so feed a small amount of food before you travel, but allow at least two hours before you set off.

Remember to include frequent stops for exercise and toilet breaks (for humans as well as pets!)

Keep pets on lead / leash when exercising...they may be nervous of strange places, sights and sounds

Check on your pets regularly and take enough food & water, litter supplies and bedding for the journey

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated to keep it cool (especially when stationary)

When you arrive at your holiday destination, look for a vet, as you may need his services. This is especially important when travelling overseas as your pet will need a certificate for treatment of parasites within 48 hrs of your return to the UK

Packing For Your Pet
I've put together a short list of stuff you will find useful on your journey. You can find many of these items at Alphapetshop

- Bed/blanket
- Collar with tags containing holiday & home details
- Bowls for food & water
- Lead/leash
- Food & water for journey
- Poop scoop (dog)
- Carrier/transporter (cat/small pet)
- Brush/comb
- Toys
- Litter (cat/small pet)
- Disinfectant/wipes
- Pet documentation (for international travel)

Enjoy your vacation and remember - its all in the planning!

Does Trimming Your Dog's Nails Scare You

2007-02-17T15:03:00.000+00:00

This post is an article from information website EzineArticles.com . I've added a couple of pics to help. You can get excellent Nail clippers and nail files at Alpha Pets website Alphapetshop.co.uk

Does Trimming Your Dog's Nails Scare You
By Fonda Fletcher

As any human parent knows, it's kind of scary the first time you cut your baby's nails especially if you have never done this before. Just remember that you can cut a quick. This will not require a trip to the vet to fix. If you were to happen to cut a quick, which is the blood flow part of the nail this can be painful for your pet.

If you are not comfortable clipping your dog's nails I would not suggest you try this yourself. You can always take your dog to a vet or a grooming shop and they will clip the nails for a minimal charge.

Your dog can pick up on your fears of clipping his or her nails which can be almost next to impossible if you don't know how to safely position your pet without either getting bit or twisting your back or your dog's back out of place depending on the size of your dog. Many a groomer has been bitten by not following the proper techniques when trimming the nails. Some dogs will fore warn you by growling others will not.

If you are brave enough to trim your dog's nails the easiest one's to trim are the white nails. Since the cuticle shows up a lot better. The quick is the pink part, like was mentioned before is the blood supply to the nail. The black nails are the hardest since they are dark in color.
Just remember if your pet's nails grow out too long it can have negative medical effects which can lead to surgical procedures. Meaning if the nail grows into the skin, the only solution is to have the vet perform surgery to get the nail out of the skin. Watch how quick your dogs nails grow if they grow out longer than normal length you cannot cut them shorter than normal because the quick also grows out.

There is one suggestion this is not suggested for anything but short close to the skin hair. Can you picture your dog's hair being caught up in a hand held tool. Don't try this technique with anything but shorter hair that can't be pulled by your hand. You can purchase a small battery powered rotary sander, called a dremmel. This method makes noise so if your dog is nervous to begin with then this probably would not work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fonda Fletcher is a professional dog groomer who owns her own mobile dog grooming salon in Henderson,Nv. She has a lifetime of experience working with dogs, she likes to share her knowledge to help other dog owners who can benefit from her experience.

white nail showing pink quick

always avoid the quick

selection of available clippers and files

Going Back To Overweight Pets

2007-02-06T14:20:00.000+00:00

It wasn't very long ago that we were discussing how to keep our pets from putting on too much weight and the benefits of preventing them becoming obese. This week 'The Sun' newspaper reported a story about a grossly obese cat weighing two and a half stone and measuring 34 inches around the waist - the poor cat lives in China and its owners excuse for feeding the cat on dough rolls and chicken hearts, is that diets make the cat 'bad-tempered' (see pic).

This is an extreme case (I hope), but it shows how this cat's misguided owners feel that they are doing their best for their pet, when in fact the cat's extreme weight will almost certainly lead to many serious health problems as well as a greatly reduced quality of life. It makes me very sad that lots of pets are suffering because their owners may just need a little education on 'what's right and what's not'.

I've found some good home-made recipes for keeping dogs healthy here . It is more difficult with cats as they need quite high levels of meat protein and taurine in their diet, but there are lots of 'light' diets on the market and many prescription diets available - there is no excuse!

Story and picture originated from 'The Sun' newspaper 1st February, 2007

Help Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture

2007-01-29T18:15:00.000+00:00

Help Stop Your Cat Scratching Your Furniture (and Save Your Sanity!)
This one's for all us cat owners living in fear for our sofas and carpets!

Does your cat like to scratch your furniture? Its a common problem with lots of cats, especially 'flat cats' (not literally!) I mean of course cats who live in apartments with very little outdoor exercise.

Why do they do it?
Not, as people commonly think to sharpen their claws, but to clean them and keep them healthy.

Cats that have lots of outdoor exercise will often use your fruit trees - which can cause major damage to the tree trunk, indoor cats will use any suitable surface - your sofa, carpet, wallpaper etc. etc.
The thing with cats is that they're creatures of habit and they 'bond' with certain surfaces or items for their 'personal hygiene', so to save your trees, soft furnishings and sanity, the trick is to get them to bond with something more suitable and take action to protect your home.

Okay so a two-pronged solution:
Save your furniture - apart from shutting your cat out of
the house (no chance), declawing (illegal, in the UK, unnatural and very painful
for the poor cat), what else can you do?
There's a couple of things that spring to mind :

Furniture protectors - clear plastic strips that attach to the furniture. They provide a smooth surface so the cat's claws slide off, helping to break the clawing habit.

Claw Scissors - these are a small pair of clippers suitable for indoor cats, rabbits and so on. Clipping the ends of your cat's claws regularly won't worry the cat and will help save the carpets from those claws hooking in.

Provide 'bonding' material for your cat - Sisal scratching posts, pads and climbers. Sisal is a
tough material that can withstand constant clawing and provides the type of surface that cats like to use for their grooming. They're often impregnated with catnip and come with toys attached to encourage your cat to use them.

Just a small plug - You can , of course find all these things at Alphapetshop

Seriously though, I know from experience that ruined wallpaper and soft furnishings is no joke and can be very expensive. I have always clipped my own cats' claws to keep them in check and they're now 17 yrs old and are showing no ill-effects!

Problem Reported With Blog Access

2007-01-26T12:57:00.000+00:00

Thanks Zena for letting me know that you were having trouble accessing the blog.
My apologies - It seems to be due to the blog address on some newsletters being incorrect.
Just to clarify - the blog web address is http://alphapetblog.blogspot.com

To submit your stuff to the blog - http://www.yourspecialinterest.com/alphapets/optin.htm - the same place you joined Pet Talk

Hope to hear from you soon.

Puppy With Hiccups - Molly

2007-01-26T12:48:00.000+00:00

Thanks Zena for your question and support for the blog. I hope Molly is well other than her hiccups problem!
It is true that puppies can be prone to hiccups when there is a heavy worm burden, but if you are worming regularly as advised by your vet and using a veterinary prescribed wormer (sometimes the ones sold in supermarkets etc are not as effective), then I would be surprised if
this is what's causing Molly's problem. If you are still concerned, your vet can carry out tests to check for signs of worms in her poo.

There can be other reasons for hiccups in young puppies, much the same as in humans. They are usually associated with gulping air - puppies tend to take in a lot of air when they eat and drink and also when they get excited.

Don't worry too much, Zena, hiccups is very common in dogs and especially puppies under 8 months old.

Animals Need Healthy Mouths to Remain Healthy and Happy Pets!

2007-01-21T19:59:00.000+00:00

Animals' tooth and gum tissue reacts in exactly the same way as ours when threatened by infection and plaque so its important that we keep up a regular dental hygiene programme for their health and well-being.

Examine their teeth and mouth

If you can, gently pull back your pet's lip and look at his or her teeth (wrigglers may need some assistance!).

Can you see yellow or brown plaque deposits on the teeth?

Are there any other problems like chipped or broken teeth?

Does your pet have really smelly breath?

Check the gums - are they red or sore-looking?

Does your pet often dribble saliva and drop food when he/she is trying to eat?

If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, your pet needs some attention to his/her mouth. If not, well done - you get a gold star for dental hygiene!

It is easy to overlook your pet's teeth, but dental problems can result in major health issues. Gingivitis and the build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth may mean your pet is reluctant to eat or drops food. Infection formed in the mouth can travel through the blood stream and affect your pet's vital organs, especially the heart and kidneys causing serious illness. Eventually you'll be visiting the vet, maybe for dental work under anaesthetic, maybe for something more serious - expensive and stressful.

Fortunately, good dental hygiene is not too difficult to achieve by following a similar plan of action to mine:

Provide hard (dry) food. there are many balanced diets on the market, many designed to help with dental hygiene and exercise the gums.

Brushing your pet's teeth regularly will definately make a difference and believe it or not, lots of pets don't mind it at all! Use a toothbrush and toothpaste designed for animal use as it froths less, is flavoured and does not require rinsing. Start gently for a few moments and work up to a full set of teeth!

Hard and crunchy treats to help with removal of plaque and tartar are very popular with pets. My dog loves to chew carrots (good healthy veggies!) and there are many treats available for helping with good dental care.

Toys designed to exercise the mouth are great - happy playtime and detal hygiene rolled into one! You can find a selection here for dogs and cats

Check regularly for constant extremely bad breath - not just 'I've been eating something nasty' breath. This could be a warning sign that your pet may have something serious going on. Never ignore bad breath and just mask it with breath fresheners.

When you go to your vet for vaccination boosters your pet should have a professional dental check-up. Many vets now also have clinics run by trained nursing staff to assist you with your pet's dental hygiene.

Small Pets

Rabbit and rodent owners, please check your pet's teeth regularly especially if they are showing any of the signs above as their teeth grow continuosly and your vet may need to be shorten them.

If you are still not convinced, think of it this way. A cat or dog year is equivalent to approximately five to seven human years. If your pet is two years old, this is equivalent to a ten to fourteen year old human who has never brushed their teeth or gone to a dentist - Now work it out for an adult dog or cat!!

Joanne's Story - Poppy and Daisy

2007-01-18T21:36:00.000+00:00

Hiys I was just reading about spaying and neutering cats.

I just wanted to share my story. Two and a half years ago I had a female cat called Poppy who got pregnant and nursed her three kittens very well. I had to keep hold of one of her kittens because it wasn`t feeding too well so wanted to keep an eye on it a bit longer before rehoming.

Poppy went in to be spayed when her babies reached twelve weeks. Only a few hours later I received a phone call from the vet saying Poppy`s heart had stopped while on the table and they had done all they could for her. I was so upset, in fact I was heart-broken as Poppy was my li'l baby.

I kept that kitten that wasn`t feeding to remind me of her mum although they look sooooooooo different. Poppy was a long haired tortoishell and Dasiy is a short haired mainly white beauty. Daisy will be three in March and I am finally going to have the courage to have her spayed. I have a litter of seven kittens at the moment that belong to Daisy purely because I was too scared to risk anything happening to my baby again.

The kittens are all going to their new homes at the end of january and then I will be booking Daisy in at the vet. I just wanted people to be aware that things can go wrong but not very often thankfully. I had no idea and was in shock for a long time. When Daisy goes in I will be informing the vet of Poppy`s history etc so wish me luck.

I am including a pic of Daisy with this post. Thankyou for taking the time to read this Joanne x

From Trish - Thanks Joanne. Poppy's story is very sad, but as you point out it's a very rare occurance. Daisy should be fine, although as she's related to Poppy it would be a very good idea to mention there has been a problem in the past. If you have a picture of Poppy that you'd like posted, let me know.

Your Pet Talk 14 Jan 2006

2007-01-15T11:51:00.000+00:00

A big Hi to all my Pet Talk subscribers from Alpha Pets 'Let's Talk About Pets' community blog.

Did you see the bit in the newspapers this week about the shetland pony that thinks it's a labrador? Evidently a pony rescue in Essex have hand-reared the foal after its mother rejected it and keep it in their office with two labs. The pony plays and behaves just like a puppy!

It shows how early training benefits our pets later on, doesn't it?

It's been a little quiet this week, so get those pet pics and stories to me for publishing - its good to share!

Send an email to blog@alphapetshop.co.uk or submit your stuff online

And tell your friends!

This week I've had a few enquiries on the subject of vaccination, so I have posted a brief summary of what's involved. If you need any further information, get in touch.

Next week I thought I'd write about dental health, but if you have a subject that you'd like to know more about, let me know.

Visit Alpha Pets blog

Till next week
Trish

Vaccination & Your Pets

2007-01-13T15:16:00.000+00:00

Should we vaccinate our pets at all?
It's worth remembering that many of the pet diseases we vaccinate against are killers.

Infectious diseases used to kill thousands of pets every year, but these days infectious disease is much less obvious - this is largely due to our safe veterinary licensed vaccination programmes.

Dogs & Cats

Provided their mother is immune, very young puppies and kittens are usually protected against disease as their mother's first milk carries immunity for them. However as they are weaned, this immunity fades.

Vets usually advise puppy and kitten vaccination courses beginning at approximately eight weeks for full immunity and then booster vaccinations every year or so throughout their lives.

There has been discussion recently about pet booster vaccinations. Are they really essential to your pets health? Or are they just a way for your vet to make money? The fact is that for some diseases, vaccine protection is much shorter. For example leptospirosis vaccine in dogs will only give full protection for about 12 months

Rabbits
Vaccinations can be started at 6 weeks of age and booster injections are recommended annually

Ferrets
there is currently no vaccine licensed for use in ferrets, although its worth discussing this with your vet as ferrets can be susceptible to distemper and canine distemper vaccine can provide protection.

Newsletter 6 January 2007

2007-01-09T21:10:00.000+00:00

Have you made any New Year resolutions this year? I have - lose some weight, exercise more...the usual stuff (yeah ok, we'll see!) but the one resolution I've made that I'm really determined to keep is for Sassie (Saskia, my little odd-shaped dog). She's a really 'good doer'and her weight crept up again over Christmas, so we're dieting and exercising together this year - slim & fit for the spring (with a bit of luck)

My thanks to Zena this week for her questions (hope I was able to help) and also to Lucky Dog for your photo!

Remember to keep those stories, questions and pics coming. Send me an email to blog@alphapetshop.co.uk or you can go to the web page to submit your stuff online

Submit your stuff here

Ok, so on the blog this week as promised, I'll be focusing on the pros and cons of neutering your pets:

I'll be talking about cat and dogs of course, but also providing a little information about small pets - rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. I'll be giving you the facts about neutering, but it would be great to gather some opinions from you, so please get in touch.

Neutering...Or Not?

2007-01-06T18:10:00.000+00:00

I've been receiving lots of questions about neutering and whether its a good idea, so I'm just going to give you the facts here, and it would be great to gather some opinions from you, so please get in touch.

Neutering - The Definitions

Spaying (Female) - (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of her reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes)

Castration (Male) - (orchectomy) is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testicles) of the male animal. The outer sac remains, and the animal's appearance afterwards will depend on his age at the time of the surgery.

Let's Start with Cats and Dogs:

Male & female dogs and cats mature quickly. They are often
able to reproduce when they are as young as 6 months of
age, with bitches coming into season every six months for
the rest of their lives.

Neutering - The Benefits

Neutered animals tend not to roam to look for a mate.

In males, castration reduces the chances of developing diseases of the prostate and prevents testicular cancer.

It also reduces behavioural problems like aggression, urine spraying (and bonking the cushions!).

In females, spaying decreases the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer, especially if the animal is spayed before her first season (my preference).

It also prevents a very serious and often fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra).

Spaying also helps with behavioural problems caused by hormonal changes when females come into season.

Some owners prefer to wait until after the first heat as the animal's organs have a chance to mature. However, each time she comes into season she's at greater risk from cancer, so unless she's to have puppies/kittens, my advice
is to spay early!

Female cats will continuously come into season from spring to autumn until mated and then will mate again as soon as their kittens are born.

Now For Small Pets:
Neutering is usually carried out under general anaesthesia and this can pose a risk to small pets.

The best sources of information for owners of small pets are species specific websites. These website discuss the benefits and disadvantages of neutering your small pet in much more detail than I can provide here. Follow the links
for advice:

Ferrets

Rabbits

Guinea Pigs

The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

Note: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the statements made are accurate no responsibility can be taken by the author for the interpretation of the points made or for the success or failure of any of these procedures. If you are considering neutering please discuss it with a qualified veterinary surgeon who will undertake the operation on your instructions.

Molly Hates Fireworks

2007-01-04T21:20:00.000+00:00

Zena asks: We got Molly 22nd December. From day one she has been happy sleeping in her bed in a childs travel cot with wee pads one end, going all night. On new years eve neighbours let off some very loud fireworks that really scared her and since then she has got very distressed when we leave her in the cot. Tried to be cruel and leave her, but then she's waking every couple of hours really howling. As soon as we go to her and take her out (we tried not taking her out but standing there) she goes straight to sleep. Any ideas? She is just over 8 weeks old.

Fireworks have a lot to answer for!

Hi again, Zena - its a shame Molly has had this upset so soon after moving in with you. It sounds like her firework scare's left her feeling very insecure. She's still only a baby and her life's had a lot of change recently - she's left her mum & litter mates, found you and settled in very well, but sometimes it doesn't take much to upset the balance. She needs plenty of reassurance that her pen is still a safe place to be.

You could try a couple of tricks that have helped in the past:

Something with your scent in her bed when you leave her - for example an old t-shirt sometimes helps.
Leaving a radio on very low may keep her company
Many breeders swear by a ticking clock near the pup's bed - reminds them of mum
A soft toy to snuggle up to may make Molly feel more secure
Try leaving her for a short while, coming back before she's distressed and extend the time gradually

The thing to remember is to reward her for good behaviour only (not necessarily with food - a kind word or cuddle is just as good), and try to ignore unwanted behaviour. I know its difficult when she howls (especially at night), but your attention is her reward - even if its to scold her!

Good luck, Zena. I'm sure Molly will improve as she settles again and forgets about New Years Eve

Lucky Dog's Christmas Photo

2007-01-04T21:13:00.000+00:00

Thanks for your photo, Lucky Dog - it looks like you had a great Christmas!

Zena Asks A Question

2006-12-31T12:35:00.000+00:00

When do bitches come in season?
I have looked at all the books but no information I know its early as my little darling is only 8 weeks but dont want any nasty doggies sniffng around!

Many thanks, Zena for your question - Molly looks really cute!

Bitches generally come into season for the first time at around 6 months old and then every 6 months or so. Remember this is a general rule and not set in stone. If you have another dog in the house, you may find she comes in slightly earlier.

Look out for the first Pet Talk of 2007, where I'll be chatting about the pros and cons of neutering.

Wishing You All A Happy & Prosperous New Year

2006-12-30T21:22:00.000+00:00

Hi All

Welcome to the last issue of Pet Talk for 2006.

We're planning to stay at home tomorrow night - boring?
Well possibly, but celebrations where we live can be very loud with loads of fireworks
and my dogs are none too keen, so it will be time to turn up the music and keep them
occupied while we see in the New Year.

Still, we'll raise a glass to all our subscribers and wish you all happiness and everything you wish for yourselves in 2007.

Here's to another successful Alphapets year.