Pet Health Information

Welcome to the first edition of our newsletter. We have planned four a year – one for each season – so please check in regularly for an update. Our focus for the summer newsletter is holidays. Enjoy your summer whatever you have planned and we would welcome any feedback on the site and the newsletter.

Make your holiday time stress-free for you and your pet by following some of our tips:

Ask a friend or neighbour to look after your pet – make sure it’s someone you really trust, who knows your pet and who knows how to look after him or her properly. This may be a less stressful option for your pet, especially a small animal. There are also professional pet sitters who can come into your home - or even look after your dog if you’re out for the day.

Book your cat or dog into a cattery or kennel – try to visit the venue first to ensure that you are happy with the standard of care your pet will be receiving. There are even some luxury cat and dog hotels available, so have a look round for what you think would best suit your pet. Any responsible kennel or cattery will require that your pet is up-to-date with its vaccinations and will ask to see your vaccination certificate. Talk to your vet who will tell you if your pet needs any boosters. Better to be safe then sorry - make sure your flea and worm prevention is up-to-date too!

Take your pet with you – Check with your travel company or hotel whether they are happy to accommodate animals. If you haven’t booked yet, an internet search will bring up names of pet friendly hotels and venues, and there are many holiday cottages happy to take you and your pets.

If you are taking a dog with you, remember to plan your journey time to allow a leg stretch and toilet break, and remember to bring plenty of water for the journey. No pet should be left in a parked car - even on what seems quite a cool day.

If you are leaving the UK and your pet is a dog, a cat or a ferret they can be issued with a pet passport, which will enable them to travel within the EU - check out the PHI website for more details. No passport is needed for travel to Ireland.

Please note that there are certain restrictions and this scheme, called PETS, is only available for travel within the EU. If you take a pet to a non-EU country they will be subject to the usual quarantine regulations upon return to the UK.

The scheme is designed to prevent and control the spread of rabies and other diseases while still allowing pets to travel.

When travelling abroad with your dog, cat or ferret, you just need to follow the necessary regulations and take precautionary measures to safeguard your pet whilst on holiday. All it takes is a few simple steps to prevent your pet from coming to any harm and to avoid any unnecessary hassle.

All dogs and cats and ferrets must have a valid EU pet passport as part of the PETS scheme, which have now replaced PETS entry or re-entry certificates. Please note that pet owners can still use PETS certificates to enter or re-enter the UK, and other EU countries, until the “Valid until” date shown on the certificate.

Countries participating in PETS include most parts of Europe and many non-European destinations. If you are unsure, check the current position with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (www.defra.gov.uk).

• Book your trip in advance with one of the many PETS-approved carriers, on a PETS-approved route as there is only a limited amount of space and it is allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
• You may want to do some research into where you can find an authorised vet who is able to administer the necessary tick and tapeworm treatment.
  

To make your pet's journey as comfortable as possible:

• Ensure your pet is fit and healthy enough to withstand the journey
• Feed them a light meal about two hours before they travel
• Give your pet the opportunity to go to the toilet before it is put in its carrying container
• Put a familiar-smelling cushion or rug in the container to help your pet settle
• Allow your pet to 'try out' the carrying container before the trip

N.B. Please make sure the carrying container is safe, well-ventilated and roomy enough for the animal to move around, and have adequate food and water for the trip, with easily refillable containers for a long journey.

• On arrival in the UK, transport staff will check your pet’s passport to ensure the requirements of the scheme have been met. 
• If there is missing paperwork or if your pet has not been prepared correctly it may be taken into UK quarantine or returned to the country from which it has just come.
• If your pet is ill after it has been abroad, remember to remind your vet that you have travelled recently as there are some diseases that do not normally occur in the UK, which your vet will need to eliminate from their diagnosis.
  

Places to walk your dog

Taking your dog for a walk is a great way to experience all the different types of landscape the UK has to offer, as well as helping you both keep fit. During the summer months, why not take advantage of the warmer weather and longer days to go on a long walk or try somewhere new? Below are just some of the places you could try walking your dog.

• Going for a walk in the woods with your four-legged friend will give you both the opportunity to experience new sights, sounds and smells and the shade of the trees will help you keep cool. Alternatively, a walk along the canal or river will let you see some of the UK’s more rare wildlife, such as dragonflies and kingfishers, as well as some more familiar faces like swans and other dog walkers!
• Meadows and country parks are another good place to take your dog, and some councils have made them extra dog friendly with regular bins and even free bags provided to clean up after him. Many National Trust and Forestry Commission properties have specially designated walks. Don’t let your dog run free on footpaths running through farmland though - even the best behaved pet can take sudden fancy - or dislike - to farm livestock and can spot them quicker then you can.
• Of course, there’s nowhere that says ‘summer’ more than the beach, so why not take your dog for some traditional British seaside fun! But be responsible, keep your dog under control, check local regulations (there are a number of beaches where dogs are not allowed in the summer) - and bear in mind that other sunbathers may not want to share their picnic with your pooch!

And remember, wherever you choose to walk, be a responsible owner and ‘scoop the poop’!


Games to play with your cat

If you own a cat you will know that it’s often the simplest things that provide hours of entertainment. Here are some ideas for easy games to play with your cat during the summer that will keep both of you entertained. 

• Cat fishing – attach a lure, such as a feather or a piece of shiny paper, to a string, which in turn can be attached to a stick. Twitching the stick will make the lure move about like a particularly unusual prey, triggering your cat’s hunting instinct. This is a game that can be played over and over again, and you only need to make the fishing rod once.
• Chasing his/her reflection – using a small, handheld mirror catch the sun and make reflections dart about on the grass or patio. This keeps cats entertained for hours, and is a great way for both of you to enjoy the summer sun. 
• Wimbledon – if you need to leave a young cat to entertain themselves for a while, a ping pong ball in a bath tub or cardboard box will give them something to play with long enough for them to tire themselves out
  
  

Items children can make for a rabbit hutch

We all know that the British summer can be a bit unpredictable, so if rain stops outside play, here are some ideas for things children can make to go in their rabbit’s hutch. 

• Get your children to fill a shallow tray, such as a seed tray, with compost. Once full, allow them to sprinkle the compost with grass and dandelion seeds. Daily watering should ensure that bunny has a constant, fresh supply of food to supplement his regular diet. 
• Find a cardboard box for your children to fill with shredded newspaper for your rabbit to dig around in – bunny titbits, such as pieces of apple or carrot can be hidden for your rabbit to find. 
• A small cardboard box or food tub can be used as a treat dispenser for the rabbit. Using blunt nosed scissors, get the children to cut small holes in the box and fill it with rabbit treats, when the rabbit pushes the box around or pushes it over, the treats will come out a little at a time.
  

• There are lots of reasons to adopt a more environmentally friendly attitude to pet care – from global warming to improving general health - right down to good old common sense. Whether you are a total beginner when it comes to environmentalism, or have been a practicing eco warrior for years, we have put together some tips for introducing your pet to an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
  
• Pet food: waste not, want not. Don’t feed your pet more than it needs - this will avoid uneaten food being added to the piles of discarded food highlighted by the Government recently, and will have spin-off benefits too. Feeding the correct amount, coupled with exercise, will help keep your pet trim and will be kinder to your pocket! Check out the PHI website for more nutrition advice! www.pethealthinfo.org.uk
  
• Cleaning up after your dog: cleaning up dog mess is a very important part of dog care generally, as well as being integral to looking after our planet. Traditionally, refuse sacks used to pick up dog mess were made from plastic, which takes around 500 years to decompose, but now biodegradable bags have been developed to speed up that process, taking less of a toll on the environment. For disposal at home, you can invest in a septic tank for dog mess, where enzymes within the tank degrade it.
  
• Disposing of pet waste: pet waste at home can be given a green sheen too. If you have a cat, invest in some ecologically sound cat litter. Shavings from your hamster cage can even be put in the compost bin!
  
• Eco chic accessories: online and on the high street there is a wealth of ways for your pet to stay fashionable and environmentally friendly. Almost anything your furry friend could possibly want can now be produced from recycled materials or sustainable sources, such as hemp. Toys, collars and beds are just some of the eco friendly products available for your pet.
  
• Keep kitty in: between April and July each year, be careful to keep your cat indoors or fit a safety collar with a bell to protect chicks and fledgling birds – although cats are by no means the only threat facing the UK’s wild bird population, keeping young birds safe from domestic cats will help ensure their future survival
  
• Adopt from a shelter: every year kittens and puppies are dumped at animal shelters across the country, as well as adults and other types of animal. Try visiting your local rescue centre and see if your dream pet isn’t waiting for you there.