Vets Kitchen gives you the chance to win a dog friendly break

Well known television vet Joe Inglis has his own natural vegetarian brand of pet food known as Vet’s Kitchen (www.vetskitchen.co.uk) , and has now joined forces with the UK website Dog Friendly (www.dogfriendly.co.uk)  to create the first exclusive on pack consumer promotion for his brand. Dog Friendly is the largest database in the UK of places to visit and stay where your dog is as welcome as you are.

The promotion begins at the start of February 2012, and offers customers the opportunity to win hundreds of great prizes including a dog friendly holiday in a luxury cottage, Vouchers worth £200 to put towards short breaks in dog friendly cottages, guide books to dog friendly holidays, dog toys, a consultant with Jez Rose, the leading canine behaviourist and free membership to Dog Friendly, worth £5.99

Vet’s Kitchen’s MD, Joe Inglis, said: “As well as being passionate about feeding natural, high quality foods to our pets, I also believe that they should be treated as a member of the family – and being able to take them with you on holiday can only add to the enjoyment of dog ownership. By running this promotion with Dog Friendly, I hope we will encourage more dog owners to take their dogs on holiday with the family.”

Customers should look out for promotional bags of Vet’s Kitchen natural dog food bearing eye-catching on pack stickers which will be available in over 1700 UK retail outlets including Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and independents. Each promotional bag will contain a special card with a unique code which customers enter online at www.dogfriendly.co.uk/vetskitchen. The campaign is forecast to run for up to six months.

We’re often referred to as a nation of animal lovers and now a new study shows that our love of all things furry is firmly being passed on to our kids with a poll of children revealing they care more about their pets than they do about their brothers and sisters and their friends.

Over 70% of the children surveyed have a pet, with cats and dogs and goldfish the most likely animals to be found in British homes, but snakes, lizards, frogs and sheep are also getting pampered by their youthful in homes around the UK.

When asked what animal they would most like to have, dog’s were a clear winner, followed by followed by rabbits, hamsters and cats. But it’s not just their own animals that British children care about with. Our fauna also looks to be in good hands for the future with over 90% of kids saying they are concerned about wildlife.

And their knowledge of what can be found in our backyards is also excellent with the majority saying they would recognise a robin, pigeon, blackbird, magpie, blue tit and a sparrow if they saw one frolicking outside.

Over 90% say they have visited a farm and more than 70% a wildlife sanctuary.

Nearly half of the 7-15 year olds surveyed by Wilkinson Petcare have helped an injured animal, while a quarter have fed a wild hedgehog.

Here are some Top Tips for Pet Care provided by Wilkinsons:

1. Pay your pet attention. Pets need love and affection as much as people.
2. Exercise – The more exercise the better prevention of your pet becoming overweight.
3. Visit a vet regularly to maintain your pets health.
4. Get your pet Vaccinations. This will prevent them from catching any diseases that could affect their health.
5. Give your pet a comfortable and spacious home/bed – This is where they will sleep and get the rest they need so it needs to be somewhere they want to go.
6. Go to a Vet to check you are feeding your pet the right food for them. I.e. the food you give your dog depends on the breed of the dog you have, so it is vital you check.
7. Allow your pet to adapt to its new environment and dogs/cats/horses allow to interact with other animals at an early stage in order for them to know how to react in social situations properly.
8. Watch your pets teeth, bad breath could mean digestive problems.
9. Give your pet toys, your pets need to have something to interest them as you cannot be their 24/7.
10. Clean and groom your pet regularly, this will maintain their health and help prevent catching disease.

For more information visit : Website: http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/pets/icat/catdog/

While most responsible pet owners will make sure their pets are warm and well exercised this winter, despite the cold weather, what most of us don’t realise is that fleas are one of the biggest health issues for dogs during the colder months.

Fleas can lie dormant in household items such as carpets, dog bedding and soft furnishings and when central heating systems are turned back on, they come out searching for a new home usually in the warm fur of our precious pups.

So how can you protect your dog from fleas this winter? And what other measures should dog owners be taking now to make sure their pooch is winter ready?

Log into our live webTV show where David Grant, hospital director of the RSPCA Harmsworth Animal Hospital, will be there to give you his top tips on getting your dogs winter ready and will give you the most up to date, information on treating your dog from fleas this winter.

•Be aware of their changing needs: As dogs get older, their nutritional needs change. Older dogs require lower caloric diets that are higher in fiber. Switching to a senior specific dog food can help your aging pup avoid obesity and digestive upset. Some dogs may also benefit from senior specific dog treats, raised dog bowls, orthopedic beds or other items designed specifically with senior canines in mind.

•Keep those pearly whites healthy! Periodontal disease is especially prevalent in older dogs, so dental care is a must. Veterinary dental check-ups and cleanings are good idea throughout a dog’s life, but even more crucial in the later years. Regular at home teeth brushing is also important. Dental disease can affect other organs including the kidneys and heart, so don’t overlook good oral hygiene for your senior companion.

•Be mindful of joint pain: Joint pain and arthritis are just as common for aging canines as they are for aging humans. To protect doggy joints, maintain an age-appropriate exercise routine, keep off excess puppy pounds and consider a joint supplement like Glyco-Flex for dogs or Cosequin Double Strength. Pet medications like these that support joint health contain glucosamine and chondroitin, which protect against cartilage breakdown.

•Rely on your vet’s expertise: Regular vet visits are extremely important as your dog enters his later years. The recommended once a year trip to the veterinarian turns into a recommended twice a year. Always discuss any questions or concerns about your dog’s health or changing needs with your pet’s veterinarian.

In addition, the company is able to offer a large range of products for pets including the kennels and dog cages which can now be purchased from the UK.   In fact, the website allows consumers to check out the offerings online in their store and have them shipped directly to their doorstep.

The Rattan Dog Cage Company is able to offer a full supply of synthetic dog cages and kennels that are classy, beautiful, and stylish, while also completely functional.  In addition, the website store offers pet carriers, leather dog collars, dog crates, leather dog harnesses, leather dog leads, bird cages, cat cages, parrot cages, and pet carriers.

This is not a full stock of products however, as Dierenvilla Petcare also offers dog cage training guides, dog cage information, and plenty of additional information related to dog care.

Each of the kennels and cages offer your dog a comfortable place where they can relax, that are high quality and a great place for any animal to chill out.  Each of the cages and kennels are able to withstand a great deal of wear and tear from any rambunctious pet, and are able to beautifully complement the already existing interior design

The study from Confused.com also reveals that by having the radio on helps owners to keep their pets amused on long journeys and Madonna, Lady Gaga and Adele are the most popular artists for pets on the move. Radio 1 is the top choice for entertaining pets, followed by Radio 2 and % Live, and some owners admitted to singing along to keep their pets happy.

Confused.com had now joined forced with the Dogs Trust charity to help dogs to enjoy car journeys more by keeping them safe and avoiding travel sickness. 12% of motorists who are pet owners admit to letting their dogs stick their heads out of the window while driving, but the experts at Dogs Trusts disagree that this is a good way to keep your dog happy.

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust said: “Dogs might really enjoy the sensation of having their heads out of the window but it is dangerous for them so we would always advise keeping ears, paws and noses inside the vehicle while the car is moving.”

25% of pet owners who take their dog or cat in the car say that their animal enjoys the journey, as long as they keep them amused. Talking to them and taking plenty of their toys are the top ways that dog and cat lovers use to keep them happy.

Almost 10% of pet owners say they have almost had a near miss when driving because of their pet’s behaviour in the car.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Road trips should be as fun for our pets as they can be for us, and keeping our pets happy in the back is also going to reduce distraction for us as drivers, making our journeys safer for us and our animals.”

For more information on the keeping canines comfortable in cars, read more at http://www.confused.com/press/releases/Keep-canines-comforta…

There are four popular types of dog collars, with many variations even within these groups.  Not all will be appropriate for your dog.  You might even use different collars through the years as your dog matures and goes through various stages.

The first collar is the traditional one.  It comes in many materials and sizes and with a clasping mechanism.  There’s a buckle clasp, a quick-release collar, and a breakaway collar with a safety clip which allows the dog’s collar to come off if and when it gets caught onto something; this could keep your dog or pup from choking.

A slip collar is normally made of leather, nylon or metal chain.  It has rings at both ends. When it’s put on correctly, a tug at the leash will cause the collar to tighten like a noose, releasing when the dog performs the correct action.  These usually are only for training.

The third and fourth category of dog collars are harnesses and head halters. A harness wraps around the dog’s body instead of the neck.  Although some consider this an especially humane collar, it’s sometimes not that effective for training purposes.  A halter goes around the dog’s mouth right in front of the eyes, something like a muzzle.  But unlike a muzzle, the dog will still be able to bark and drink water.

So what size should you consider in dog collars.  For a non-slip one, leave room enough for two fingers to slip between the dog’s neck and the collar.  For a choke chain or slip collar, measure the inches around the dog’s neck and then add about 3 inches.

It’s often advisable to have two dog collars for your pet:  one will be used for training purposes and the other will be used for casual walking times.

A great video has been made by famous animal lovers James Thornton and Joanna Page to boost the campaign. This features Jimmy, a lovely Border Collie as a taxi driver who takes a lost sheep called Paige home. As they drive he explains the importance of microchipping and how invaluable they are, straight from the dog’s mouth as it were. He stresses how easy it is to get it done and also how important it is to keep your details up to date.

To encourage responsible ownership by using microchipping as the foremost method of per identification, Petlog are offering the owners of the all the dogs who are registered on the Petlog database to update their details free of charge online.

Losing a pet can be extremely stressful and worrying, but with a microchip firmly in place and all your details relevant, you can rest assured that you will be reunited with your pet very quickly. Take Jimmy’s advice and arrange for your pet to be microchipped, it could be the best decision you ever make.

PEOPLE AND DOGS FEEL BETTER WITH DOG SHAMPOO

A unique charity that offers employment to disabled, blind and partially sighted people to produce a range of cleaning and products is re-launching on the 1^st of June their famous Dog Shampoo.  The marketing manager of Clarity, David Sore, says that dogs are part of their everyday lives as Clarity, and at any one time there can be 6 or 7 guide dogs there with their owners.

He added that he knew how many people loved to by their products as not only were they getting a great product, but they also knew that they were helping some of societies most vulnerable people. This effectively turns buying into given. Anyone who buys a Clarity product is getting something of extremely high quality, and is also helping others.

5 Steps to Great Grooming Video With Mikki

Mikki, the experts in grooming, training and healthcare are launching a grooming video on YouTube to promote the many benefits of your pet having a proper grooming routine. Aimed at pet owners on the UK, this is the first in a set of videos about pet grooming that Mikki are launching.

It can be viewed below:

Alison Rogers, a professional groomer who has won many awards and endorses the Mikki range of products, is the star of the video. She introduces pet owners to the ‘5 steps to great grooming’ programme and guides pet owner through the 5 stages.  The 5 steps are health check, grooming, bathing then drying, cut and finish and finally the nails. The aim is to educate owners to the importance of keeping their pet well groomed.

Anh Nguyen, Mikki Brand Manager, says: “There are numerous benefits to following a grooming regime such as Mikki’s ‘5 Steps’ programme. Not only does it improve cleanliness, regular grooming can also provide a general health check up for your pet, help you bond, relieve stress and keep your pet looking good and feeling great.”

Mikki has the widest range of pet grooming products on the market, selling over 1 million grooming tools every year and catering for almost every breed and grooming need. Made by groomers, for groomers, Mikki makes professional quality available for everyone. Well groomed, well loved!

For more information about Mikki, please visit www.mikkipet.com