Tag Archives: pet travel

swimming-dogs-7217562

Summer News 2020

Leave a reply

Summer News 2020

 

Summer News 2020

Dentistry: getting to the root of the problem! 

Over time – dental disease can be a painful issue for some pets. A healthy mouth typically has bright white teeth and pink gums. However, over time, an accumulation of plaque can build up and cause painful dental issues. Our Summer News explains the signs of dental disease to watch out for in your pet.

 

pets teeth

 

Don’t get the summertime blues!

Play it cool! The Summer heat is also a huge problem for many pets and it is essential to ensure free access to water at all times. Dogs – can easily overheat – leading to heat stroke, with signs of panting, disorientation, collapse and sometimes even death. To keep dogs safe, we suggest shorter walks in the coolest parts of the day – either early morning or very late evening.

 

swimming-dogs-7217562

 

Pet Travel Update!

There has been a lot of uncertainty regarding pet travel and the UK’s place in the pet travel scheme post Brexit. Now a Brexit deal has been reached there will be a “transitional period” until December 31st 2020. To understand more about the pet travel scheme and how it may effect your travel plans, read our Summer News here. 

 

IMG_1655

If you have any concerns about any of the articles mentioned in our Summer News, please contact our friendly team for help and advice.

 

Traveling With Dogs – 5 Things Your Dog Needs To Be A Good Traveller

Leave a reply

Traveling With Dogs – 5 Things Your Dog Needs To Be A Good Traveller

 

Traveling With Dogs – 5 Things Your Dog Needs To Be A Good Traveller

With the obvious exception of biscuits and falling asleep by the fire, there aren’t many things that dogs love more than exploring somewhere new. And with the continuing surge of hotels that welcome four-legged travellers, there’s a whole world of discovery out there for both of you. But first, you need to transform your dog into the perfect traveller so traveling with dogs becomes easy to handle.

 

Here’s a quick guide to some of the areas you will need to cover

 

1. Crate comfortable

If your pup is hitching a ride in your car, the safest way of traveling with dogs is with a crate. And if you harbour any ambitions about traveling with dogs abroad, a crate is essential if you are flying. Some think crating is cruel – but dogs don’t mind. As long as they are used to it. You can’t just spring a crate on a dog and expect them to be okay with it straight away.

 

 

Prep should start a few weeks before you intend on traveling with dogs. Get your dog used to the crate and let them walk in and out as they please. Make sure there’s a nice cosy blanket in there and some toys. Start things off by leaving the crate in the area they would usually choose to snooze. Toss in a toy or treat to entice them to go in on their own. Then progress to shutting them in the crate for just a few minutes at a time – and gradually increase the amount of time they are inside, always praising them with treats for good behaviour.

 

2. Doing the do on demand

Yes, it’s possible. It just takes a bit of training. And when your dog is able to answer any calls of nature on demand, your travel is less disrupted and it cuts the risk of any embarrassing hotel incidents. Find out how here.

 

3. Greet and treat strangers well

What’s your dog like with strangers? What about when you aren’t there? If you are traveling with dogs by air or sea, there’s a good chance you’ll have to part company for the journey. You need to know that your pooch will behave with airline or ferry staff. Any incidents and you’ll be back home before your adventure has even begun. Now where’s the fun in that?

 

Traveling With Dogs – 5 Things Your Dog Needs To Be A Good Traveller

 

4. A dog that never loses its call

Ah, the freedom of the great outdoors. Beautiful, isn’t it? The trouble is, an unfamiliar environment can wreak havoc on your pup’s obedience. Okay, they might come when you call them in your garden or at your local park. But what about when you are in a forest and your pooch sees a hedgehog for the first time? Or goes haring off after a squirrel? The aim is for your dog to come when called – first time, every time. Otherwise it’s safer to keep them on the lead or longline.

 

5. No funny tummies

Just like humans, doggies can get travel sick. In fact around 27% of dogs are affected. Symptoms include restlessness, anxiety, and excess salivation, and the ultimate unfortunate car incident, vomiting. Thankfully there’s no need to change your travel plans. If you suspect your pup suffers with travel sickness, it can be remedied with simple medication. Book an appointment with your vet.

 

Motion sickness in dogs

 

With a bit of preparation and good training, you can turn any dog into the perfect travel companion. A furry sidekick for your worldly wanders. Whether you are staying in the UK or venturing further, there’s never been a better time for traveling with dogs. Which leaves only one question: what are you waiting for?

 

Blog supplied by Zoetis.

 

Motion sickness in dogs

7 Tips For Motorway Travel With Your Dog.

Leave a reply

7 Tips For Motorway Travel With Your Dog.

 

  1. The ins (and outs) of preparation…

 

It’s best to avoid disrupting your pup’s normal feeding schedule, so try to set off two or three hours after Fido has feasted. The aim of the game is to allow time for your pooch’s stomach to settle. A car sick passenger is no fun, two legs or four.

If that doesn’t fit your schedule, it’s okay to feed your dog on your journey. But find somewhere to stop and let your pup eat from their normal bowl. Dish out a smaller portion than normal and allow thirty minutes or so before resuming your journey.

Oh and you don’t need reminding to make sure any calls of nature are answered before you get moving, do you?

 

  1. A blanket. In fact, make that two.

 

You want your pooch to be comfy, hey? Besides, a little familiarity goes a long way.

 

 

  1. One or two familiar toys

 

On short journeys dogs get excited. On long journeys dogs get bored. And boredom is one of the biggest causes of misbehaviour. Pack some distraction. One or two of your pup’s favourite chew toys – or a long-lasting, treat-dispensing toy – should keep mind and mouth occupied during the long miles. Word of warning? It’s probably best to leave the squeaky toys at home. After 100 miles it might just begin to grate.

 

  1. A doggy seatbelt or crate

 

Crating your dog can be a divisive issue among owners. But it’s worth remembering that your pup is unlikely to mind. And when it comes to motorway travel with dog in the back, it’s an important safety measure – for both of you. Alternatively you could consider a doggy safety belt. Either way it’s safer than having your pup roaming the backseats while you’re driving at 70mph and trying to concentrate.

 

Symptoms of sickness

 

  1. Time for walkies…

 

You need a break from the road, so does your dog. You need to stretch your legs, so does your dog. You need to answer the call of nature, so does…you get the picture. Do each other a favour and make time for a walk or two during your journey.

But hang on. The hard shoulder is a no-go. And the service station car park isn’t exactly exhilarating. How do you find a walk you will both enjoy, beside the motorway, in a county you’ve never visited? Ah, the wonders of the www.

 

  1. A cup of tea and a bite to eat…

 

When you are driving long distances, you need to keep your batteries charged. Driving on an empty stomach is no fun and not very smart. No matter where you are in the UK, you can find a tasty bite to eat in a pub that will welcome both you and your four-legged companion using either of these websites. The friendliest of pooch-friendly pubs will even offer a bowl of water and some biscuits for weary pups. Perfect.

 

  1. Long journey? Bed down for the night.

 

For really long motorway trips, you might want to schedule a stopover to break up the journey. But before you resign yourself to an uncomfortable night in the car, you should know that there are hundreds of dog-friendly campsites, hotels and really fancy hotels where you can enjoy a far more peaceful night’s rest. Zzz.

 

 

This blog and images have been supplied by petdialog.co.uk If you are planning a long journey with your dog and need any further advice, our experienced team are on the phone to answer any queries that you may have. Contact Us.

 

Cats and ticks

What Are Ticks And Do They Infest Cats?

Leave a reply

 

What are ticks and do they infest cats?

 

A recent study found that 6.6% of cats in the UK are infested with ticks. So what are they, how can you protect your cat, and what is the best tick treatment for cats?

Where are ticks found?

Ticks are closely related to spiders, with adults having eight legs. They feed on blood and attach to their hosts by anchoring into the skin using their mouths. They are most commonly found in areas of grassland and woodland shared by deer and livestock but can also be brought into urban environments by small mammals like hedgehogs. This means that cats can be exposed in a wide variety of environments.

 

Cats and ticks

What are ticks and do they infest cats?

 

Will ticks make my cat ill?

When ticks bite, redness, swelling and irritation can occur – and sometimes these areas can become infected with bacteria. Cats appear to be relatively resistant to the effects of Lyme disease, but can suffer from other tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, which may require treatment. Infected cats may develop a high fever and raised lymph nodes, so if your cat appears unwell, or if there is a visible reaction at the site of a tick bite, it is best to take your pet to the vet for further advice. The good news is that potentially fatal tick-borne infections such as Babesia felis and Cytauxzoon are not present in the UK.

Are ticks on cats a health risk to people?

Ticks found in the UK can transmit infections such as Lyme disease to humans. People are usually exposed to ticks by walking through pastures, fields and woodland. It is advisable to check yourself every 24 hours if spending time in these areas, and to also use tick repellent spray on skin or clothing. Because cats do visit areas inhabited by wildlife infected with Lyme disease, it is also the case that they may bring infected ticks into homes and gardens. Although owning a pet does not directly increase the risk of Lyme disease in humans, preventing the spread of infected ticks is another good reason to use preventative products on your pets.

 

How can I keep my cat safe from ticks and tick-borne diseases?

Ticks can be managed by physical removal or the use of preventative products.

Physical removal of ticks

As the bulk of tick-borne infections in the UK are thought to take at least 24 hours to be transmitted after tick attachment, pets should be checked every 24 hours and any ticks should be carefully removed. However, this may be easier said than done, as some cats spend long periods of time away from home, and others may not be entirely cooperative!

 

Tick remover

A green tick twister.

 

Rather than sticking to a rigid daily regime of tick checking, do so while grooming or stroking your cat. Run your hands over their body, especially around their face, neck, legs and feet. A tick will feel like a small lump on the skin, and may vary in size from 1mm-1cm. They can be removed with a tick hook, using a simple ‘twist and pull’ action. A fine pointed pair of tweezers can work too, with a ‘straight pull’ technique being used. Crushing the tick with your fingers or a pair of blunt tweezers will increase the risk of disease transmission. Traditional methods to loosen the tick such as the application of petroleum jelly or burning are also best avoided, as these are likely to stress the cat and tick alike.

If in doubt, visit your local Young Vet’s branch, and a vet or nurse will be happy to remove the tick for you and demonstrate the best techniques for you to use at home for tick removal.

 

What are ticks and do they infest cats.

What are ticks and do they infest cats.

 

Use of tick prevention products

The use of products that rapidly kill or repel ticks is useful in reducing tick-borne disease transmission, and also the number of ticks that have to be physically removed. These days, a number of different highly effective preparations should be available from your local vets. If applied correctly, the best tick treatment for cats offer up to a 100% success rate in killing ticks. However, it is still important to check your cats for ticks regularly.

 

What if my cat is travelling abroad?

There are different ticks and tick-borne diseases abroad that are not present in the UK. It is very important, therefore, to treat cats travelling abroad with an effective tick prevention product before, during and after travel. In addition, you should check your cat at least every 24 hours while abroad, and remove any found with a tick removal device. Finally, it can be beneficial to get a vet to check your cat for ticks on return to the UK.

 

If you are concerned about ticks on your cat, do not hesitate to contact our friendly team for more help and advice.

This blog and images have been written and produced by Catdialog team.

default-image

Pet passports- and important travel tips

Leave a reply

 Pet Passports and important travel tips

 

    • A Pet Passport can be used to travel with your pet to countries within the European Union, and to some countries outside the European union. The requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling within EU and listed non-EU countries are:

 

 

    • 1- Microchip
      2- Vaccination against rabies at least 21 days before travel.
      3- Pet passport issued by official veterinarian  (Mr A Young or Mr M Wilson are both able to do this at Young Veterinary Partnership)
      4- Before RETURN ONLY  to the UK dogs must be treated for tapeworm by a vet, 1-5 days before getting on the ferry or plane. ( there is no requirement for cats).

 

 

      • However you may not be aware that there are a number of diseases that can be caught when your pet travels abroad that we do not have in the United Kingdom. The commonest ones are spread by ticks, mosquitoes or sand flies. It is important to use preventative measures to avoid your pet picking up one of these serious diseases whilst travelling.

 

Tick borne diseases:

 

 

      • Babesiosis is transmitted by ticks to dogs and is present in central and southern europe.  It causes fever , anaemia, red or brown urine and can cause jaundice amongst other signs.

 

 

      • Ehrlichiosis– a tick borne disease encountered in Southern Europe and many other countries worldwide. It causes swollen glands, fever and bleeding amongst other signs.

 

 

      • Hepatozoonosis is another tick borne disease affecting dogs mainly but occasionally cats in countries bordering the Mediterranean. Diagnosis and treatment is difficult.

 

 

 

      • Tick control– avoid wooded areas , and areas with livestock, use tick spot on treatments such as Advantix, or a collar such as Scallibor. Also take a tick removal instrument (o’Tom tick twister) and remove any ticks as soon as possible. Remember to start tick preventative treatment BEFORE you travel.

 

Sandfly and mosquito borne diseases:

 

      • Leishmania– transmitted by sandflies in Spain, France, Italy and other Mediterranean countries, affecting dogs and cats. It causes skin inflammation and ulceration. Prevention is by using sandfly repellants ( started 3 weeks BEFORE travelling), keeping pets indoors from 1 hour before dusk to 1 hour after dawn, and using fly repellants in the house. There is also a vaccine available for dogs, but it needs to be given before travelling.

 

 

      • Heartworm– affects mostly dogs, but occasionally cats, and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Most southern European countries ( and any with mosquitoes) are affected. It can take many months before symptoms appear and causes weakness, coughing  and heart failure.  Monthly Advocate spot on treatment is recommended.

 

 

 

 

      • The British Veterinary Asociation has produced a very useful leaflet outlining the common diseases.The link to the leaflet is

http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/resources/leaflets/