February 24th, 2010 by Peter
Dogs can be a great but expensive addition to the family, and a large majority of the costs are those which are unforeseen. However there are ways to cut down and budget for these costs. The first of these is to ensure that you have pet insurance which will help to cover medical fees. Dogs require a lot of food and a good diet is important for keeping them healthy. The best way to cut down on costs is to make sure that you buy a complete food. Expensive treats need not be expensive either as dogs often prefer a simple carrot rather than sweet food.
February 23rd, 2010 by Peter
It is easy to spot when a member of your family is unwell and whether they need a trip t o the doctors, but knowing when your pet needs to visit the vets can be much more difficult. In order to help ensure that your pet stays healthy and active make sure that they get their booster jabs on time. Although some of the jabs can be expensive, it is better than paying out large costs at a later date should your pet become ill.
To monitor the health of your pets make sure to pay attention to their water consumption, or any changes in appetite which could signify illnesses such as diabetes. One of the most common health issues with pets today is weight so make sure that they have a healthy diet with plenty of exercise.
Lastly, if you are ever worries about your pet the best option is always to take it to the vet.
February 22nd, 2010 by Sally
Pets can be expensive at the best of times and the cost gets even higher if you need to take your pet for a trip to the vets, so insurance is a must to ensure that you can afford the right treatment, but what will insurance cover you for? It can cover you for Kennel fees should you have to spend any time in hospital, and it can also help with searching for your pet should it be lost or stolen.
Before signing up for insurance, make sure to shop around as premiums will be dependent upon breed, size and age of your dog. Also, don’t expect everything to be covered by insurance. For example things such as worming and vaccinations will need to be budgeted for separately.
February 21st, 2010 by Lianne
It is a legal requirement for all dog owners to ensure that there is some way to identify your dog along with its address. The cheapest and most widely used option is to give your dog a collar with an identity tag on it. However a more secure option is to have your dog chipped. This often sounds much worse than it is. In fact it is a simple procedure where a microchip, the size of a grain of rice is placed just under the dog’s skin. The dog can then be scanned and identified by a unique number. This is essential if you ever want to take your dog abroad on holiday with you.
February 20th, 2010 by Peter
The recession may be over on paper but in reality many people are still struggling and a lot of dogs have found themselves kicked out of their homes as their owners can no longer afford to keep them. This is becoming an ever bigger problem for rescue centres, so if you are looking to buy a dog, first and foremost, please make sure that you can afford to look after it, and secondly please consider giving a rescue dog a home. It’s true that many of these dogs can have their issues due to their abandonment, but given the right home, as well as loving care these dogs can be a loving edition to your family.
October 28th, 2009 by Peter
Everyone i seem to speak to who owns pet fish seems to have the same problem…’my fish swims upside down!’. This has also happened to my fish when i was younger and left me in tears for days but now i realise it is a pretty common cause.
If this happens to your fish or anyone else you know who’s fish is doing this means that the fish has lost their equilibrium meaning that they are unable to maintain their position. Majority of the times this means that your fish has a swim bladder problem.
It is pretty difficult to treat your fish if it is suffering from a swim-bladder disease but you can try antibiotics that you can buy from an aquarium or frozen peas.
If you know any other tips please share…
October 27th, 2009 by Peter
Winter is very nearly here and the warm evenings are officially over so when you are out walking your dog wrap them up and keep them snug!
Over the past week i have been looking after my friends Yorkshire terrier whilst she is on holiday and every night i wrap him in a little coat. I feel no guilt putting the coat on the dog as he waits at the door until i put it on him and comfortable leg straps meaning that they are not to tight.
A good place to look for dog coats is Pets at Home as they currently have a great selection of coats for dogs of all sizes.
October 25th, 2009 by Peter
If you have a Labrador dog you will know that they need one good bed to cosy up in at night. With Labradors they tend to chew anything plastic so the bend you want to stay clear from is the large plastic baskets and go for a oval wicker dog basket with a braided trim.
Not only will these keep your dog happy at night it will also save you money as you will not need to replace it after your dog gets mischievous and chews the plastic bed to bits and i think that wicker baskets also look more attractive in your house.
You can pick them up online or at most pet shops they are usually well priced and great quality!
September 30th, 2009 by Peter
Just like humans there is an increasing number of dogs becoming overweight, but unlike humans, this is not the dogs fault it is the owners. It is in a dog’s nature to eat whatever food is put in front of it, and as it us that provides this food then many of us are at fault. It is estimated that many owners overfeed their dogs by up to 25%, this includes left overs from our own meals as well as treats and snacks.
The best way to check if your dog is overweight is to check for any excess fat at the tail, ribs, spine and shoulders.
It is important that we as owners help our dogs live happy, healthy lives. Overweight dogs can experience many health issues such as joint ache and diabetes, so do some research, ensure that your dog is eating the right amount of calories and make sure to take them out for regular exercise.
September 29th, 2009 by Lianne
Barking is only natural for dogs but at times it can be excessive and cause annoyance not only in your own home but your neighbours too. There are many reasons why dogs bark such as to convey fear and anxiety. Training your dog to bark only when its appropriate will make both you and your dog happier.
The beauty is that training only need take a couple of minutes every day and involves the repetition of simple verbal commands so that your dog will, in time, learn to follow your instructions.
The first task is to train your dog to bark on command. When your dog follows the command successfully give him a treat. If he then barks without command make your dog lie down and do not reward him with a treat.
This is very simple but effective and the younger your dog is when you start the training the better.
