Shout About Pets

The decision to adopt a rescue animal is a hugely rewarding one.  Its not jut cats and dogs that become in need of new homes.  There are many rabbits across the UK looking for loving owners.  Before you take the plunge however here are some tips for helping your pet rabbit to settle in.

Any rescue pet should be viewed in a similar light to that of foster children.  They will have formed attachments and associations with a previous owner.  Their response to a breakdown in a relationship is the same as in humans – they are left with a deep sense of insecurity.  So you need to be patient and remember just how nervous and unsure your new arrival is.

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The Dog Trust charity cares for around 15,000 homeless dogs across it 17 re-homing centres across the UK.  The aim is to find the loving new owners however there are some dogs that are difficult t re-home due to things like behavioural issues for example and they may ‘stick’ at a re-homing centre for some time.  These dogs have been nicknamed ‘sticky’ dogs. 

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The most important thing you’ll buy for your pet bird will be a cage.  So your bird feels at home you need to create a secure and safe living environment.  There are many cages on offer in different styles and sizes so narrowing down the selection can be difficult.

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It’s a common occurrence with dogs to be afflicted with tummy bugs from time to time.  It’s an occupational hazard of being a dog – they love to lick, chew, eat and nibble on all kinds of things that look of interest to them and the consequences of some of more stomach curdling exploits can result in diarrhea.  There are many different causes of diarrhea some of which very serious, others no so. 

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Bonfire Night is finally here and there’s no denying it most dogs hate the fire work season.  Some dogs like my mum’s basset hound will visibly quake in their doggy boots, whereas others will bark at them in an attempt to protect their owners from the noisy intrusion like my own shih tzu and then you’ll get the odd dog who’ll remain blissfully unaffected like my sister’s basset hound Harvey, who will happily sniff around the garden whilst the night sky is exploding with fireworks!

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Reports were released this year from the veterinary charity, PDSA, this year regarding the sharp increase in reported cases of myxomatosis, an illness that can cause fatalities in pet rabbits. 

The PDSA vets working within the Hull and Romford area reported increases of over 300 per cent in a twelve month period.  There were also large increases reported in Birmingham of rabbits being treated with the disease.

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Cystitis and other bladder infections are very common in cats.  Usually however it is not down to a simple infection but the effects of stress.  It is unclear why cats are susceptible to stress in this area of their bodies.

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Many people think that dog muzzles are cruel or only to be used if your dog is prone to aggressive behaviour.  However can you really guarantee that your dog would let you pick him or her up if they were severely injured or in pain and you needed to get them to a vets quickly?  Most animals when in pain will respond aggressively as they cannot understand that your intentions are to help them rather than to create more discomfort.  For this reason it is a good idea to get your dog used to a muzzle and to not view it as a threat.

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If left to their own devices your dog would probably choose to sleep curled up on your bed or as second best stretched out across the couch. Obviously for most of us this is not an option and rightly so. Sharing a bed with a dog can cause problems. They can become very territorial about it and start to get jealous about sharing their luxury dog bed with anyone else. Plus disturbing a dog in a deep slumber by moving in the bed or trying to simply get out of it can be a dangerous thing to do. I’ve known people to get a nasty nip or worse from a dog that has been woken in this way.

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I was just today chatting to a friend about dog walking and the powerful effects it can have not only on your physical health but your mental health also.  My friend’s mother has been very ill and her father has been caring for her throughout.  To give her dad some respite my friend will go over and stay with her mum while her dad takes their dog for a walk.  She says he go rambling with the dog for about an hour and comes back refreshed and rejuvenated.

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