Pets Magazine June 2017

JUNE, 2017

Top Products for You & Your Pet!

ALISON COLEMAN on Canine Grief

WIN a drinking fountain for your dog!

Dealing with problem barking Vet

Pets Magazine

WWW.ARTYLOBSTER.COM Vet

Pets Magazine

SOPHIE & NELL’S CHOICES Premium products for both you & your pet as chosen by Sophie & Nell, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, assisted by Marie.

Keep an eye on your pet!

Ever wondered what your pets are up to when you’re not around?

If the answer is yes, then why not invest in a simple-to-use home camera to satisfy your curiosity, as well as make your home that little more secure.

The RemoteLync camera from Kidde is a wire-free device that alerts you via your smart phone when movement is detected in your home.

It also lets you check in at any time to see what’s going on. The camera installs anywhere indoors, in minutes, with no tools or additional kit needed and it works on a rechargeable battery that lasts for around three months.

It retails at £125 (RRP) and is available at Amazon.co.uk

Sedona Drinking Fountain The latest addition to its popular Pet Fountain range, the Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain by PetSafe® Brand is designed to encourage your pet to drink more by providing a continuous circulation of fresh, filtered water.

Holding up to 3 litres of water, more than the daily requirement for a large adult dog, it typically only needs to be filled up once a day and far less with smaller dogs, and boasts special features including carbon and foam filters to remove any bad tastes or odours as well as capturing hair and debris.

The Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain is suitable for cats and dogs of all sizes and is available now at www.petsafe.net/UK and selected retailers for an RRP of £85.99.

Also, see page 5 for your chance to win a Sedona drinking fountain!

Vet

Pets Magazine

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.

Best Pet Album!

This new Pet Photo Album available from online gift hub, Pen Heaven is just perfect for collecting memories of your precious pet.

The perfect way to store all those precious snaps, the Pet Photo Album comes with a paw print embossed, along with extra space to emboss the name of your pet. Made from fine grain Italian leather, nothing but the best for your perfect pedigree, the Pet Photo Album is available in a rich chocolate brown and embossed with a territorial paw print to ensure there is no confusion as to who the album belongs to. Additional embossing is also available. The album is priced at £59.99.

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

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

Vet

Love,

Sophie & Nell

xxx

Competition Time WIN a Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain!

WIN a Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain from PetSafe® Brand – worth £85.99.

One lucky Pets Magazine reader is in with the chance of keeping their pet hydrated, healthy and happy by winning a Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain from PetSafe® Brand. The stylish fountain is designed to encourage pets to drink more by providing a continuous circulation of three litres of fresh, filtered water, more than the daily requirement for an average large adult dog.

The Drinkwell® Sedona Pet Fountain provides dual filtration; an activated charcoal filter that removes bad tastes and odours, while a foam filter captures hair and debris. With a submersible pump, the running water is whisper-quiet, making it perfect for pets who are apprehensive about approaching noisy products.

It also has a large drinking area for pets with large or flat faces, plus the central ceramic tower and impact resistant plastic bowl minimises spills and splashes to keep water in the bowl and off your floor.

TO ENTER THIS COMPETITION, PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO ANSWER A SIMPLE QUESTION: www.competitionshub.co.uk/competition/win-a-drinkwell-sedona-pet-fountain-22/

THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES IS FRIDAY 30TH JUNE AT 12 MIDNIGHT. TS&CS APPLY.

Vet

Pets Magazine

LARS ANDERSEN, MD 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!

Vet

Pets Magazine

How Dogs Deal With The Loss Of A Canine Companion...

Vet

Pets Magazine

As Pet Remembrance Day approaches on 5th July, we are even more acutely aware that dogs form strong emotional bonds with members of their human family, and can suffer from anxiety when one of them dies or moves away. But do they suffer the same sense of loss when a canine companion who they’ve lived with in the same home for years, dies?, asks ALISON COLEMAN Although there is no conclusive research to show that dogs grieve in a similar way to humans, many dog owners who have been in this situation insist that the loss of a family pet can leave the remaining dog feeling disorientated and showing clear signs of distress.

That was certainly the case for Jenni Morley and her husband Damien. When they lost Moby, one of their two beloved Great Danes, their surviving dog Marla struggled to cope.

Author Alison Coleman with her rescue dog Dash

but that was how they played all the time they were growing Jenni said: “We’d had Moby up together.” from a pup, but got Marla a bit Disaster struck last year when later when they were both 10 Moby, then aged four-and-amonths old. There were only half suddenly started vomiting two weeks difference in their and was clearly very unwell. age and they hit it off straight away.

“We took him to the vet and they found a tennis ball in his “When we first got Marla they stomach,” said Jenni. played really roughly and wrestled each other. It could be “They managed to remove it, quite nerve wracking to watch, but he went into renal failure.

Vet

Pets Magazine

In fact there were all sorts of strange things going on that they couldn’t quite understand, so we were transferred to a specialist vet practice in Liverpool.”

Eventually Moby’s lung collapsed and the tissue died.

The veterinary surgeons tried to remove it, but he didn’t survive. The whole ordeal lasted two weeks and racked up £9,000 in vet bills.

Moby (far left) and Marla in happier times with doggy day carers Dave and Anna France.

“He would seem to pick up and turned around and curled up then relapse; it was an in a ball, as if she understood extremely emotional time,” she what had happened.” says.

Initially, Marla seemed to be “Marla’s behaviour had started coping with the loss of her best to change before he died. We pal, but slowly, over the next weren’t sure if that was few weeks, she became very because I was so upset, or just withdrawn. because Moby wasn’t there.

Every time we got back from “Marla always used to follow visiting him she would sniff us, Moby, and where they would she obviously knew he was still both run up and greet you around. when you came in from work, now she just lay on her bed,” “On the day he died I spent a says Jenni. lot of time cuddling him. When I got home Marla came and “We tried getting her to run smelled me as she normally and play and chase, but on her did, then her behaviour own she just wasn’t interested. changed instantly; she just When she was with Moby and

Vet

Pets Magazine

another dog came along, they would all play together, but Marla doesn’t do that now.

“If a dog approaches her she is unwilling to interact and play and seems to want to spend more time on her own.”

Jenni still felt that deep down it was canine company that she was missing, and human company was no substitute.

“We called on our doggy day care providers, Anna and Dave France of Best Paw Forward, to see if Marla could spend some time with them and the dogs they were looking after.

“They’d cared for Marla and Moby when we were away, or at work, and we felt the familiar sight of other dogs that she knew and had played with would help her to rediscover her enthusiasm and her sense of fun, and thankfully, it did.

“She still isn’t the same since losing Moby, but without the extra walks and the opportunity to socialise I think she would be a lot more down.

“We have thought long and hard about whether to get another dog, possibly a Great Dane rescue that is a similar age to Marla, who’s now five, but we’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do. Losing Moby has been such a difficult grieving process, and the thought of bringing another dog in so soon doesn’t seem right.”

Another solution when a pet is clearly missing a close pal is to get another dog.

basically pack animals. In the wild, if a dog dies, other members of the pack will often lay down with it.

“In the home, they can react to the death of a dog they have been close to in a number of ways. Some become quieter and less active, others can become dog aggressive, and they can sense beforehand, when the other dog is seriously ill, that it is time.”

And on the subject of knowing when the time is right to bring a new dog into the family, he says: “It can be a mistake to rush out and get another dog straight away, and if you do it too soon, it can affect the other dog’s behaviour. If you really know your dog, you’ll know Archer says that dogs should be when the time is right.” allowed to grieve for a short, before their owners try to get Alison Coleman tweets things back to normal. @alisonbcoleman.

“Making too much fuss and trying to mollycoddle them can make it hard for the dog to move on,” he says.

Dog behaviourist and trainer Peter Archer, owner of Pawsitive Training, says: “All “Letting them spend time in dogs are different, but they are places where they can see

Vet

other dogs and socialise with them is one of the best things you can do for a dog that has lost his or her best pal.”

Pets Magazine

Barking up the wrong tree!

Leading canine behaviourist ADEM FEHMI on problem

barking.

The domestication of wild canids was originally encouraged in part because of their ability to bark and therefore to alert humans against threats. In the right circumstances, barking is a useful behaviour which dogs have been selectively bred for. Dogs, like crying babies, bark for a reason. Persistent barking, however, can be a nuisance and needs to be The following are the predominant controlled. But, in order to stop the behaviour we reasons for relentless barking: must first understand why the dog is barking.

• Territorial guarding • Alert barking • Barking in order to instigate a human reaction • Anxious barking/howling • Boredom • Excitement

In order to prevent territorial barking an owner must manage the territory! Don’t allow your dog to sit in windows, charge at the front door or give him or her constant access to the garden. Guarding breeds are more likely to cause a problem with this type of barking but it can happen with any type of dog.

Try to control territory using stair gates or a dog crate to restrict the dog’s access and reclaim areas where the dog believes he has control and so barks.

Other tools such as a lead and a radio may be useful for territorial barkers; a lead can be used to block the dog from running at the window, fence or down the garden whilst a radio is the perfect distraction to prevent the dog from noticing sounds which may start a territorial barking episode.

Alert barking is completely natural and personally I consider it acceptable as long as the dog realises that once I arrive his job is done - ‘I’ll deal with it now, thank you Fido’.

Demanding or instigating barking often suggests the dog has learnt how to move his owner. The dog may become very demanding and can bark in order to make the owner deliver food, attention, play or open a door for example. To prevent this type of barking an owner must demonstrate to the dog that he or she is not going to move at the demanding behaviour even if the barking is extremely high pitched and persistent. This type of barking often happens with the more observant individuals such as working breeds but can happen with all dogs.

Vet

Pets Magazine

Anxious barking is most commonly associated with separation anxiety, fears and phobias.

Remember dogs like us are social mammals and need company not just a box of toys and lots of treats. I have a In order to stop this type of rule: I never leave my barking the owner has to help two Labradors Yogi the dog understand about the and Penny for more process of being alone and for than four hours - they fearful responses the owner are adult dogs and they must locate the source of fear would be fine for a and set up an action plan longer period of time. often a behaviourist is required.

If I am unable to get This will help the dog back to them I will ask understand how to cope with a family member or the fear, which could, for dog walker to pop in. example be a noise, another dog or even an object.

Excitement barking is often seen before a walk or on Boredom barking is very an owner’s return. It is often common in kennels and with unintentionally rewarded by dogs that have been left alone owners “get down, I am back” for long periods of time. or “do you want to go for a walk?” To stop this type of Separation anxiety barking an owner must teach happens for a number of the dog that high levels of reasons but in general it’s excitement or energy will not because the owner has not be rewarded. set the dog up to deal with being left alone.

Exercise your dog before going out (drain energy and make your walks count) Give him something to do (he must value this something) Set up lots of practice sessions whilst you are in (use stair gates and maybe a dog crate to help you!)

Control/manage your personal space (you instigate affection/play)

Vet

visitors and even passers by but it does not have to be accepted.

By understanding just why your dog is barking and putting in time and effort, perhaps with the help of a behaviourist the situation can be addressed, not only will you be happier but your canine friend will be too.

Working across London and the South East, canine behaviour specialist Adem Fehmi BSc (Hons)FMCFBFBA/FMGODT from Dog-Ease (www.dogease.co.uk) also runs classes in obedience and agility as well as working with gun dogs from his Hertfordshire base. Describing his training methods as practical, plausible and positive, Adem gives over much of his free time to working with rescue Nuisance barking is just that, a dogs as well as visiting hospitals with his own black nuisance, not just to the dog’s Labrador Yogi.

Use taught commands such as down to help you calm the dog and a lead can come in handy in order to stop the dog from winding itself up (dogs find it harder to bark in the down position). Only give the dog attention or a walk once the dog is quiet and relaxed although this requires patience and consistency from the owner.

owners but to neighbours, Pets Magazine

‘Singeing in the Rain...’

Retired vet and author of Pets Aplenty MALCOLM D. WELSHMAN on a lucky cat saved by a downpour of rain...

Mrs Hassett had been insistent Cradle Cottage’s on the left in a on the phone. No way could she dip in the road.’ bring the cat in. It would That dip have to be a visit. And seemed to be as soon as possible the reservoir please. Her tone of for the whole voice suggested of the South someone you’d not wish Downs. It was to argue with; and if you awash with did try it would cut no water from the ice with her. So I didn’t. early summer Her directions had been deluge we’d Malcolm and Dora clear enough. been having since ‘Drive straight down daybreak. Arrows of rain lanced Chawcombe’s high street,’ she’d a murky, foamy whirlpool in said. ‘Turn left by the Queen’s which twigs and leaves swirled: Head into Mouse Lane. Cat’s and in which, moments later,

Vet

Pets Magazine

my boots churned and slipped as I waded across from my car and climbed the steps to Mrs Hassett’s front door.

She opened it to give me a tight-lipped look as she took in my rain-drenched figure. She was in her sixties, unattractively thin, all bumps and points like she’d swallowed a shelf’s worth of hardware.

Her hair snow-white, her eyes cold as blue-green water flowing under ice. ‘You made it then,’ she said, her voice frosty.

‘Just about,’ I muttered, through clenched teeth, fighting to remain civil.

I curbed my rising irritation. It seemed Wellington had given himself the boot.

Ah, how prophetic on today of all days. Friday 13th. A black cat. In folk lore traditions, contrary to the widely held ‘So where’s the patient?’ I said Mrs Hassett snapped her bony belief that a black cat crossing as calmly as I could. knuckles together and eased your path bestows you with her angular frame round the good fortune, the sighting of ‘Wellington’s through here,’ she side of the settee. ‘He may have such a creature can mean replied as we entered a lowslipped under the sideboard.’ impending death. A bad omen. beamed living-room with an inglenook fireplace, its dark Especially if the cat’s seen aperture filled by a large pot from behind. Which is what of white peace lilies.

I saw of Wellington as Mrs Hassett dragged him out.

There was nothing in Mrs Great. Just what I needed to Hassett’s demeanour to lift my spirits. Had I a dying suggest similar moggy on my hands? peacefulness.

She was like a stalactite about to crack. I was aware of her glacial look as I gazed round at the shabby furniture. A twoseater settee with an antimacassar.

But no cat on it.

A small fireside In folk lore traditions, seeing a black cat can mean impending death... chair, a stool.

Both cat-less.

With great difficulty, she sank ‘He came in wet through and down like a melting iceberg and collapsed on the hearth,’ she ‘Well he was here a moment peered under. ‘Ah, there you explained and sat down on the ago,’ said Mrs Hassett, her are, you naughty puss. Let’s be settee to cradle the soggy cat in white cheeks quivering. having you.’ Her spindly arm her arms. swung under the sideboard and ‘He was lying in front of the emerged with a large, limp cat ‘Thought maybe he’d been hit fireplace, unable to move.’ attached to it, his black fur in by a car.’ black strands, slicked against black flanks.

‘Had I a dying moggy on my hands?’

Vet

Pets Magazine

The same thought had struck me. Wellington was clearly shocked, his breathing rapid, his pupils dilated. But when I unsheathed his claws there was no evidence of shredding of the

At which point, her icy manner began to thaw. Clearly she’d ***************************** been worried about Wellington. Malcolm D. Welshman is

author of Pets Aplenty ‘I do appreciate you coming out published by Austin in such foul weather,’ she said, Macauley Publishers showing me to 0207 038 8312 at £7.99 the door, Kindle version 99p ‘But just think, if www.malcolmwelshman it hadn’t been for .co.uk.

I noticed my fingertips were slightly blackened... nails as so often happens when cats scrabble on the road after being hit by a car.

As I straightened up I noticed my fingertips were slightly blackened. There was similar smearing on Mrs Hassett’s skirt where it was in contact with Wellington’s fur. I ran my hand down the cat’s back. More blackness. Soot.

When we began to gently dry Wellington with a towel it soon became obvious that his coat was singed. Somehow he’d been too near a fire for his own good. Someone’s bonfire perhaps?

all this torrential rain, Wellington might have fared far worse.’

‘Indeed yes,’ I said to myself as I negotiated the puddled pavement back to my car. Some good had come of this downpour after all.

The thought lifted my spirits somewhat. But not to the extent that I wanted to start dancing in the gutter like Gene Kelly.

Besides which, what would I sing? Singeing in the rain?

Having checked to make sure there were no actual burns, I gave Wellington an injection to counteract any shock and assured Mrs Hassett that he would make an uneventful recovery.

Vet

Pets Magazine

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