Cats-dogs.co.uk | Pet Advice

We all want to keep our dog safe. As extended members of the family we can become very attached to them. We want what’s best for our pet and may think we do everything we can to keep them from harm, but many dog owners are unaware of a potentially fatal threat which could be lurking in our gardens, or out on a favourite walk.

A deadly infection caused by a parasite is making its way through the British Isles. A significant number of dog-owners admit they that don’t know anything about lungworm (A. vasorum) and half have never heard of it. The life-threatening infection is carried by slugs and snails which can then be eaten by dogs, either on purpose or by accident. Symptoms of the disease can be many and varied and can be confused with other illnesses, so it’s important to be clued up on this spreading threat.

So what can you do to protect your pooch? Well, take a look at this web TV with pet veterinarian Joe Inglis.

http://iframeplayernoauto.webchats.tv/chat/be_lungworm_aware_with_vet_joe_inglis
For more information visit www.lungworm.co.uk

As one of five brothers and sisters in the 80’s pop band Five Star, Stedman enjoyed a string of UK Top 10 hits including ‘System Addict’, ‘Let Me Be The One’ and ‘Love Take Over’. Twenty-five years later, he is excited to be returning to his performing roots for one of the most hotly anticipated events of 2010, the ‘Thriller Live’ world tour. With his softly spoken voice and striking resemblance to the King of Pop, it’s easy to see why Stedman has been chosen to play Michael in front of audiences across the globe.

In the following video he chats about his life post Five Star including his new album ‘Eliminate’ and the real star in his life, his faithful companion; dog Joe to Catrina, former model and ambassador for Pet Protect.

M&S Pet Insurance has warned dog owners to be careful of the dangers of chocolate poisoning for pets this Easter

Chocolate eggs and other treats left around the house at Easter can be a big temptation to four legged friends, however unlike most people they can become extremely unwell if they eat large amounts of chocolate which is intended for humans.

The toxic chemical within chocolate is called Theobromine and the amount contained within chocolate varies according to the type and quality of chocolate. Dark chocolate usually contains high levels of the toxic chemical, compared with white chocolate which contains comparatively little. Even a small amount of high quality dark chocolate eaten by a dog can cause clinical signs such as hyperexcitability and restlessness, vomiting, tremors and convulsions.

While M&S Pet Insurance policyholders have access to a 24-hour advice line, 365 days a year, meaning that if the worst happens this Easter they know they have support at the end of the phone, as it is much better to avoid the problem in the first place.

Vetfone nurses provide concerned pet owners with immediate advice on an animal’s condition and can decide whether emergency medical treatment is required.

Vetfone Deputy Operations Manager, Clare Scantlebury, said: “Easter is a great excuse to indulge in all things chocolaty, but dog owners should think carefully about storing chocolate eggs in a safe place out of the reach of hungry dogs.  The potential danger depends on the amount of chocolate eaten, the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate and is showing signs of illness, seek medical advice immediately.”

David Wells, M&S Head of Insurance, said: “It’s not just the chocolate at Easter which can cause illness and injury in pets. We have seen claims when dogs have eaten small novelty toys from Easter eggs and shredded plastic used as packing material in Easter baskets.  Small toys may cause internal damage or an intestinal blockage which can be life threatening. Ideally keep these objects well out of reach of your pets and supervise your dogs closely if children are playing with the toys.”

There is a great new website dedicated to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

www.cavaliermatters.org is a beautifully illustrated website, providing easy to read and understand information for Cavalier Pet Folk. The site helps to decode the technical and scientific jargon surrounding the health problems associated with the Cavalier Kind Charles Spaniel breed through plain English, amusing sketches and charming anecdotes. The content is written and illustrated in a thoughtful and simple layout with tips and advice plainly identified, using cartoons of owls and birds.

Tania Ledger conceived the idea for this site when she first heard about Syringomyelia (sm) on the BBC documentary “Pedigree Dogs Exposed”. She was shocked and appalled that dogs are bred into a terrible life of pain. Her Cavaliers, Molly and Dougall, were both diagnosed later with this and other serious health issues.

As well as the basic content, it has the website has two further objectives. Firstly, To help to raise funds for research and rescue through the sale of items helpful to cavaliers in their daily lives. Secondly, to raise awareness of the issues surrounding this breed and to campaign against puppy farming and poor breed and breeding standards set by the Kennel Club. There are currently two active  petitions running on the site.

A report on the  impact of pet illness and death on their owners’ work attendance has estimated that British businesses are losing £18 million a year in lost workforce hours due to staff taking ‘pet sick leave’ either to look after their sick animal or to grieve because their pet has died.

The research, by insurance comapny LV reveals that one in ten dog or cat owners interviewed (11%) said they had stayed at home to nurse a sick pet, while 11% had stayed off work because they were so upset after their pet had died. This translates into 1.1 million pet owners who called in sick last year because their dog or cat was ill or had died, each taking an average of 2.4 days off.

Rather than admit the truth to their employer, nearly a quarter of those who took time off for their pet (24%), told their boss they were staying off work due to their own ill health.

LV= have a pet insurance policy, which includes free bereavement counselling for the pet owner as standard. LV= is also one of the few insurers that will insure older cats and dogs, with no maximum age limit.

Belinda Hall, counselling services manager at Medicals Direct Group, which runs the helpline on behalf of LV=, said: “The pet bereavement counselling service is designed to assist pet owners come to terms with the loss of their animal. Callers can access the service at any time of the day or night and their call is completely confidential.”

UrbanPup.com, the Northern Ireland online retailer who specialise in high fashion dog clothes and accessories, are an official partner to “Legally Blonde the Musical”.

Denis Kelly, Managing Director of UrbanPup.com says, “We provided our favourite and most fashionable pink dog clothes to dress the Chihuahua star of the show, Bruiser for the Legally Blonde pre-launch publicity photos. The pink sweater and diamante collar & lead proved to be a great hit and UrbanPup.com now exclusively supply the Legally Blonde Bruiser outfit.”

He continued: “UrbanPup.com is one of the official partners to the show and all dog outfits and accessories will be supplied by us for the entire run in the West End.”

The show tells the tale of college girl Elle Woods and her Chihuahua Bruiser as they head to Harvard Law School to win back Elle’s man, Warner. Elle and Warner are played by popular stars Sheridan Smith and Duncan James. A great cast and a great production have tantalised and captivated the West End audiences. At the gala night opening, Legally Blonde has received rave reviews from the critics.

“We are thrilled to be associated with such a successful West End Musical and have enjoyed Legally Blonde the Musical and seeing how well Bruiser performs in his UrbanPup.com dog clothes.” Says Denis.

Check out the range here.