Pets Magazine December - January 2018

December/January 2018

HAPPINESS is...

A Rescue Dog ‘Fixing Felix’

by Malcolm D. Welshman

Secrets of a Cat Sitter...

TOP PRODUCTS/FISH CARE

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TIPS & MUCH MORE INSIDE Pets Magazine

WWW.ARTYLOBSTER.COM Vet

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Premium pet products, destinations & activities for you & your pet chosen by Sophie & Nell, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, assisted by Marie.

Cosy up for a Winter Walk!

We swear by the fantastic range of insulating dog walking thermal leggings (to wear underneath trousers) base layers, fleeces and cosy socks, hats and gloves) by the folks over at Heat Holders.

Their innovative Thermal Leggings have a tog rating of 0.52 and the unique design keeps warm air close to the skin making them the best choice for wearing out and about in cold conditions.

The Microfleece Baselayer Long Sleeved Top is made with a specially developed lightweight microfleece. Available in both men’s and women’s sizes.

Coconut Therapy for Dogs Our canine reviewers yomped down this coconut food supplement that is great for everything from joint problems to heart problems. The unique formulation consists of premium raw cold pressed virgin coconut oil with plant Omega-3, and it’s also great for keeping your pet’s fur sleek and shiny. www.tiana-coconut.com

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Gorgeous Keyrings We LOVE these beautiful bespoke handmade keyrings. Lovingly crafted in felt, you can get one of your pooch or feline (pictured is Rufus, Pets Magazine’s latest recruit) or else there are several ready-made designs.

They’re priced from £8.50 each.

Available to buy at www.misheleneous.co.uk & Etsy alongside a selection of other fantastic handmade gifts.

Seasonal Tea Towel We love these colourful and stylish tea towels from Ulster Weavers. This one is seasonal and fabulous. Priced from £7.50 and available from:

www.ulsterweavers.com

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We Love: 3D Pet Sculptures!

Arty Lobster (www.artylobster.com) creates these amazingly life-like hi-tech sculptures from photos of a pet.

Most of Arty Lobster pet sculptures are made from full colour sandstone material. After creating a computer model, they will 3D print the pet in full colour. The perfect memento or gift for any pet lover!

www.artylobster.com

Premium Pets!

Dobbies Garden Centres has a fantastic range of premium products for pets, including dog bowls, toys, leads and dog beds. For a full selection visit: www.dobbies.com

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Omlet Dog Crate Famous for its fabulous Eglu Chicken Coops, Omlet's award-winning design team have created a dog crate that both owners and dogs will love. The Fido Studio is an indoor dog crate designed to look like a contemporary piece of furniture complete with fitted wardrobe (optional extra.)

This crate is much better looking than anything we’ve seen so far, and it’s also very functional too. It can be used as an extra shelf for books, or an ornament or two. We thoroughly recommend this stylish crate! The crate comes in two sizes and there are optional extras. Priced from £89.99.

A Heritage Brand Webbox has been producing highquality pet food for over 100 years and its tasty products include food and treat products for dogs, cats, fish and birds. www.webbox.co.uk

PS/ We’re always looking for premium products & services to review for both pets and people!

Please get in touch with the boss at editor@petsmag.co.uk.

Love,

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Sophie & Nell

xxx

Secrets of a Cat Sitter...

Home sitter Ann King shares her experiences and tips for dealing with dierent types of cats.

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Hampton Court, who has become a regular client. When shares her experiences I first started these and tips for dealing with assignments I looked after different types of cats. three cats – a brother and two sisters who were real characters.

I love cats and have three of my own, Georgie, Benny and I ended up spending a great Sammy and for the past 20 deal of time on those early years I have also been looking assignments literally ‘herding after other people’s cats when cats’ – as the owner had they go away in my role as a requested that the three cats home sitter. slept in the kitchen at night,

Home sitter ANN KING

Learning how to gain the trust of cats with very different personalities and character traits has been hugely rewarding and I’ve had some lovely experiences. One of my earliest home and pet sits was for a client who lived near

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treats along the floor to the kitchen, but she was too canny for that. In the end I used to creep down the stairs later and find her asleep on a beanbag, and I’d carry the whole beanbag – with her on it – into the kitchen. It was a real battle of wills!

I learned that with strong-willed cats sometimes you just have to sit it out and be patient!

The male cat, Theo, wasn’t shy at all and was very affectionate – when I was watching One of the female cats, Mitzi, television he would sit on the was rather nervous; she used back of the sofa behind me and to climb up the curtains and sit massage my head, and he’d on the curtain rail to avoid me. I put his arms around my neck tried everything, even lining up and give me a hug; it was which often meant a bit of fun and games in the evening.

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lovely! If I stayed in bed any later than 7 a.m. he’d remind me it was breakfast time by patting me on the face.

clients’ house she dashes up the stairs and hides under their bed, staying there long after they’ve left,

Cats like Theo need lots of love and attention, and they like to be talked to, stroked and tickled.

He could be quite naughty at times. He was only allowed in the garden in the mornings and used to hide when I called him back in, only to magically appear just when I’d given up all hope of persuading him back inside.

I’ll never forget the morning that I came into the kitchen to find the extraordinary sight of the three cats sitting around in a semi-circle watching a mouse who was quite happily drinking out of their water bowl!

I knew these three cats – and cared for them – throughout their whole lives; the last one of the siblings lived to about 13 years old.

The client then had two new cats, Thelma and Louise – and I still care for Thelma today.

Thelma is a very timid cat.

When I first arrive at the

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to me being there and will happily play with me in the room.

This approach works with most timid cats; giving them time and letting them come to you when they are ready is the best way to act.

Home and pet sitting with Homesitters Ltd has taught me a lot about cat behaviour and it’s allowed me to spend time caring and interacting with all sorts of cats over the years, all of whom have been delightful.

until she’s too hungry to put up much resistance. She has a bag of toys that she loves to empty out on the floor and play with, including a little cart which she pulls around – but only when she thinks I’m not looking.

When I’m caring for very shy cats like Thelma, I like them to be reassured by my presence without feeling under the pressure of someone paying them close attention, so I will sit quietly in the room with Thelma but I won’t look directly at her. In time she will become used Pets Magazine

While I’m off on assignment I know my own cats are in safe hands at home with my partner, but when we went on holiday a few years ago we didn’t have anyone to look after the cats so we decided to use Homesitters ourselves.

As an employee of the company, I know they have an extremely thorough vetting service, so was reassured that my cats would be left with someone really trustworthy – it was very nice knowing that while we were away, fellow homesitters were there looking after everything.

Ann home and pet sits through Homesitters Ltd www.homesitters.co.uk.

Happiness is...

A Rescue Dog

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Scraggle the rescue dog

ALISON COLEMAN has experienced the boundless love, gratitude almost, of her rescue dog Dash, a whippet. At the start of a new year, there is tragically a surge in the number of abandoned dogs.

Alison met two families who have welcomed rescue dogs into their homes and hearts.

It is at this time of year that stories about abandoned pets make the headlines, with the novelty of the ‘Christmas gift’ puppy worn off, they get handed into animal shelters, or worse, in depressing numbers.

Sadly, this isn’t just a seasonal problem; it happens all year round. Between April 2016 and March this year more than 66,000 stray dogs were handled by local councils according to the Dogs Trust, with many facing many long lonely months in a shelter hoping for a fresh start and a forever home.

Adopting a dog that has suffered the trauma of being abandoned can have its challenges, as many develop behavioural issues, but as two Bolton families have

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Author Alison Coleman with her rescue dog Dash

discovered, it is also rewarding and fulfilling, so much so that they did it twice by adopting now best friends, Darcy and Scraggle.

was so stressed by the experience she had chewed her own tail off. But in 2010 she was finally adopted by John and Shelly Ormerod.

After being abandoned by her previous owner Darcy, a black lab cross, had spent 15 of her 18 months of life at Bolton Destitute Animal Shelter. She

“We couldn’t understand why she’d been in there for so long, she was a beautiful dog, very gentle and affectionate,” said John.

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Scraggle and Darcy

“The shelter staff told us that a lot of people just don’t want a black dog, but Darcy was a lovely girl, just desperate for some love.”

Shelly said: “He was like a wild thing, very lively and very destructive – he chewed “Scrag picked us,” said John. everything, including a carpet.

But he got on really well with “While the other dogs were Darcy, who he tormented at Once she was officially adopted either barking furiously or first, chasing and grabbing her, Darcy quickly settled in to the ignoring us, he walked calmly but who eventually put him in Ormerod family home. “She to the front of his pen to see us; his place and taught him who was such a good dog, well he just stood out from the rest. was the boss. behaved, house-trained, but We had to wait a few days to very food focused, which we see if anyone claimed him, but “He had no idea how to play put down to living in the shelter we visited him and brought when we first adopted him. He for so long,” said Shelly.

Darcy to meet him, and didn’t know how to chase a eventually we adopted him.” ball, until he watched Darcy do The following year the couple it. And when we took them to decided that Darcy might like a Once home, however, the cool the beach, there was no way companion. They returned to calm pup they’d seen in the he was going near the water, the same shelter and met shelter disappeared. until he saw Darcy go in. Now Scraggle, a six-month-old stray he loves swimming in the sea.

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found wandering the streets days earlier.

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Sprocket the rescue dog

Through watching Darcy, Scrag worthwhile. The love and learned to be a good boy.” affection you get back from these dogs is amazing.”

Sadly, two years ago, Darcy died from cancer, but it was When nine-week old Sprocket, after a long and happy life with thought to be a Saluki/ her best pal Scraggle and a Deerhound cross, was found family who adored her. wandering the streets and handed in to Bolton Destitute John said: “Adopting a rescue Animal Shelter it was his lucky is so rewarding. People do get day, because on the same day, put off doing it because with a Mark and Holly Fitton had rescue dog you are taking on called at the shelter looking to the unknown. And as we adopt a rescue dog. discovered, it can be challenging, but with patience, Mark said: “We knew he was determination, and help from the one straight away, however, the right experts, you get there someone else was also asking in the end and it is absolutely to adopt him. One thing that the

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shelter is very good at is making sure that the dogs go to the most suitable homes, and in the end they let us adopt Sprocket.”

Two years later, with Sprocket happy and settled into family life, they decided to adopt another rescue, a four-year-old Bull cross lurcher named Bart, who’d had a bad start in life.

Bart had been dumped in Halifax and was covered in scars, hinting that he had been a working dog, possibly used for badger baiting.

“We heard about him via a rescue organisation called Lurcher Link,” said Mark.

behavioural training paid off.

Although still loud and lively, he is also a secure and confident dog, and he and Sprocket are inseparable.

When a new addition to the family arrived, Mark and Holly’s first baby, they were amazed by Bart’s behaviour.

“He had been adopted, very briefly, for just 24 hours, by a family from the south of England, who brought him back because they couldn’t cope with him. We wanted another rescue dog as a companion for Sprocket, and decided to have a look at Bart.”

Their first meeting was during a group walk with Lurcher Link, where the two dogs hit it off straight away, and the couple agreed to take Bart home for a month’s trial.

“He had some issues, mainly his very excitable behaviour and excessive barking, which meant we couldn’t let him off his leash,” said Holly.

“Rescue dogs are very

special, and they always seem grateful for giving them that chance to be part of your life.”

“He was hard work, but he deserved a chance, so we got in touch with a dog trainer, a lurcher specialist, and started

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working on his behaviour. We also decided he was staying put: we adopted him.”

The time and effort that Mark and Holly put into Bart’s Pets Magazine

Mark said: “You are naturally a bit wary when your dog meets a new baby for the first time, but Bart and Bart Sprocket been absolutely brilliant, so calm and gentle.

“Rescue dogs are very special, and they always seem grateful for giving them that chance to be part of your life.”

Alison Coleman tweets @alisonbcoleman.

How to Keep Tropical Fish As Pets

Fish expert ALEXANDER S. HOWSON shares his tips for anyone looking to start a tropical aquarium.

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By ALEXANDER S. HOWSON Why keep tropical fish? This is a question which may be proposed by many not yet acquainted with the rewards and benefits of maintaining a thriving aquarium.

group of people are choosing to follow a very different path, they are attempting to create their own permanent slice of nature, delving into a very wet world filled with captivating behaviours and breathtaking colours.

Those who aren’t familiar with the current state of fishkeeping In the modern world, social are liable to fall into the trap of media, long working hours and assuming that past memories endless commutes are forcing of dull looking goldfish, people to seek small points of endlessly circling around a relaxation were they can retreat small bowl are still the norm. to the beauties of nature. Some However new arrivals to the people are hiking into the many hobby will realise that nature parks dotted across the fishkeeping has evolved; country, others are choosing to perhaps faster than all other spend their time tending pet industries, into a high-tech gardens. Yet another growing

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science, reliant on proven technology and acknowledged scientific processes. With this the beauty of the home aquarium has flourished, allowing even beginners to keep beautiful, well-furnished aquariums that would been far out of reach for even the most experienced not two decades ago.

Along with being fascinating subjects, they also act as stunning additions to home dĂŠcor. Due to the improvement of mass production, aquariums are now available in a variety of styles to suit any particular home. Oak, pine and almost any colour is available along

with a surplus of filtration, lighting and decorative equipment to suit almost any budget. For those who are eager to learn or for any fans of nature documentaries, aquariums can serve as an incredible educational tool for yourself and your children, who will be able to learn about the scientific processes which are taking place within the aquarium, along with understanding how fish interact with other members of their own social group, other species and their environment.

require almost no daily attention other than a small feeding once or twice a day.

This keeps the cost of keeping them fairly low with the initial cost being around the same as the average dog, for a well finished tank, which suits your own personal preferences.

Fishkeeping offers many benefits for those who work full time or have hectic social lives, as they can be an interesting Red Breast Ancara alternative to a pet that requires more maintenance. Other than the These many advantages all fact that they need regular compound to create a hugely monthly maintenance, where convincing argument but the the algae is wiped away from clincher for many health the glass, around 25% of the conscious people may be a water is changed using an joint study from Plymouth and aquarium dechlorintor and the Exeter universities that gravel or sand is cleaned; they concluded that watching an

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aquarium can lower your blood pressure, decrease your heart rate and heighten your mood.

For many seasoned fishkeepers, this was perhaps old news, but it could be a another reason for you to consider taking up A Dwarf Gourami the hobby.

Are they going to replace dogs as man’s best friend? Not in a million years, but they can be an exciting alternative for those who don’t have the time or energy for a dog. They create a focal point for any room and are available in a variety of styles to match your home, maintenance is low and they never get separation anxiety if you leave them for several hours during the day, with the additional benefit that keeping an aquarium can lower your heart rate, your blood pressure and de-stress you from a bad day, fishkeeping might just be the ideal hobby for you.

fixing Felix

Retired vet and author of ‘Pets Aplenty’ MALCOLM D. WELSHMAN delivers a festive tale with some light relief...

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By MALCOLM D. WELSHMAN The chatter of voices emanating from the waiting room stopped abruptly as I entered and ground to a halt selfconsciously. Eight little faces peered up at me from the circle that surrounded Mrs Jennings, a teacher from the nearby primary school. It was a very seasonal looking circle. Five lads were in dressing gowns, with redchecked tea towels wrapped round their heads. A couple of girls had white cardboard wings attached to their backs. And the remaining lad was virtually invisible, swamped by an oversized sheepskin coat, turned inside out, with its sleeves hanging down to his knees and the collar over his head - shepherd or one of his flock I couldn’t quite decide.

‘Five?’ I queried, looking at Mrs Jennings.

She shrugged.

Malcolm and Dora

‘We had difficulty in finding parts

‘Er ... let’s go through to the consulting room, shall we?’ I said.

‘Can we all come?’ said a muffled voice from the depths of the sheepskin.

‘Only if everyone’s on their best behaviour. Understand?’ said Mrs Jennings.

for everyone.’

Tea towels nodded, angel wings flapped and the The boy with the glasses sheepskin coat wagged its turned to one of the angels who sleeves, as their teacher was holding a wicker cat ushered them through, Emma basket, both hands firmly elbowing her way to the front clenched over the handle. with the cat basket.

‘Well go on, Emma,’ he said, pushing her forward, crushing

She swung it on to the consulting table and seven anxious faces and a headless coat clustered round as I cautiously slid the cane fastener out and lifted the lid.

The boy with the glasses turned to one of the

angels who was holding a

‘We’ve just been doing a dress rehearsal for our nativity play,’ said Mrs Jennings, by way of explanation.

wicker cat basket... her wings, ‘Let the vet have a look at Felix.’

‘Shove off Gavin,’ said the girl, pushing him back with her elbow in a very un-angelic fashion.

‘I’m one of the five wise men,’ said a tea-towelled boy proudly, Mrs Jennings hastily peering up at me through intervened. ‘Now ... Now ... heavy black-rimmed pebble Behave yourselves, you two.’ glasses.

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Inside, hunched up on a towel was a black and white cat.

Gavin stood on tip-toe and peered into the box, his pebble spectacles, sliding down his nose as he exclaimed, ‘His name’s Felix.’

‘He’s very poorly,’ said Emma.

‘That’s why we’ve brought him in,’ said Gavin. ‘See if you can make him better.’

He gave me a hard stare. ‘You can make him better, can’t you?’ he added. ‘Otherwise he’ll snuff it.’

‘Don’t say that, Gavin,’ said Emma, tears glistening in her eyes while Gavin pushed his spectacles back up his nose.

‘Now, now, children,’ said Mrs Jennings. ‘Let Mr Welshman take a look and see what’s wrong.’

‘I know what’s wrong,’ said Gavin. ‘Felix can’t pee.’

Mrs Jennings explained that the children had noticed Felix crouched in his litter tray, straining.

‘He had his willie sticking out,’ said Gavin, matter-of-factly.

The lamb-skin coat tittered.

bladder. ‘I think Felix has got a blockage, stopping him from peeing,’ I said.

‘Is something stuck in his willie then?’ asked Gavin, his eyes widening behind his gogglespectacles.

‘Well, actually, yes, that’s the most likely explanation,’ I said, somewhat taken back by Gavin’s perceptiveness.

I turned to Mrs Jennings. ‘I’ll have to admit Felix as a matter of urgency and get his bladder unblocked.’

Once the children had trooped out, I took Felix down to the prep room. Mandy was the duty nurse that afternoon and she bustled in, her starched green uniform crackling.

‘Can you do anything for him?’ sobbed Emma, sniffing back a tear.

‘Urinary obstruction,’ I explained. With her customary efficiency, she drew up a shot of Ketamine for me to sedate ‘Should do, he’s a vet,’ said Felix; and as he slipped into Gavin gruffly, giving the cat unconsciousness, she sorted basket a poke as I gently lifted out a cat catheter ready for me Felix out and lowered him on to to flush Felix’s urethra. That I the consulting table. was able to do without too much difficulty, his bladder The cat sat there, hunched up, rapidly contracting down once looking thoroughly miserable. I the blockage was cleared. eased my hands over his flanks, noticing the distension ‘Phew, what a relief,’ I said. of his abdomen. No surprise ‘Especially for Felix,’ said when I cautiously palpated it to Mandy, a grin on her face. discover an over-extended

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Felix was collected by a delighted delegation, devoid of their nativity wear, three days later. Instructions were given to Mrs Jennings on dietary changes for Felix and the use of vitamin C to keep his urine acidic and so help prevent any possible stone formation.

‘You unblocked his willie okay, then?’ observed Gavin, pushing his spectacles up his nose, as he peered into the cat’s basket.

‘My dad once got kidney stones. He had a tube up his willie for weeks,’ he added.

I’ don’t think we need to know that,’ said Mrs Jennings, quickly bundling him out.

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Malcolm D. Welshman is author of Pets Aplenty published by Austin Macauley Publishers 0207 038 8312 at £7.99 Kindle version 99p www.malcolmwelshman .co.uk. *****************************

LARS B. ANDERSEN, CEO of Arty Lobster On 3D Pet Sculptures Click this link to watch the video.

And here’s two examples of Arty Lobster’s fantastic 3D sculptures. Visit their website at www.artylobster.com to order a 3D sculpture of YOUR pet!

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