Have a ‘Pet Pot’
During the times when you are spending less money such as during the summer months, it is a good idea to put aside money into a ‘pet pot’ that you can use when times are harder such as during the winter months. Little things can add up – for example, having one less pint in the pub, one less soft play trip, or one less meal out a month. You’ll be surprised how quickly that pot grows!
Buy Heavy!
If you normally buy smaller bags of food such as 2 or 6kg, you might want to try buying the bigger sacks to help save you money. By buying the heaviest option such as 15 or 20kg, you will get a better value for money as the food is cheaper by the KG. This small difference will add up over the months.
Making Your Dog’s Food Last Longer
One way you can reduce the cost of your pet is to try to make your dog’s food last longer. You can reduce the amount of dry dog food you give to your dog and add extra fruit and vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and apples. You can also use leftovers to substitute for extra dry dog food. You should do this at your own discretion and keep and eye on your dog’s weight and wellbeing. By reducing the amount of dog food you use, it may last for 7 weeks instead of 5 for example. Be aware that these tricks can encourage your dog to prefer leftovers to their dog food so don’t get sucked into that hole!
Changing to a Cheaper Food
As we approach winter, there is more and more talk of a predicted recession. The winter will be hard on most households around the country and bills increase and the cost-of-living rises. When trying to save money, there are things you can consider in the pet department such as changing to a cheaper food.
Be careful when considering this as it’s not always the best method to save money as you could end up costing more. Changing your cat or dog’s food can lead to upset stomachs and other problems which can lead to expensive vet bills. Don’t worry if you are considering changing your pet’s food to a cheaper version – you should come into our store and speak to our staff for advice. We can work out the best option for you taking into account your pet’s breed, age weight, health, and your budget. The most important thing is that you make the change gradually to reduce the risk of your pet’s upset stomach.
Hot Days
If the sun is out and it’s a beautiful day, what you see as a great day will most likely be very different for your dog.
Animals in general sleep and stay cool on hot days. Think twice about taking your dog out for your day in the sun. Most dogs would prefer a nice fun walk in the morning before it gets too hot and then will just chill out and sleep for most of the day, becoming more active as it cools down in the evening.
Pop Radio 4 on quietly, leave them a nice big bowl of water, and leave them to snooze during the hot part of the day while you go off and enjoy the heat!
Heat Regulation
If you noticed your dog is really struggling on a hot day get them to stand in water for a few minutes. Dogs regulate most of their heat through their pads so this is a great way to get them some instant relief.
Removing Ticks
Always make sure you have a trusty tick twister in your draw or pocket if you are out and about. These can be used for both pets and humans!
Simply hook the tick with the twister then begin to gently twist and you then feel it pop off – do not pull it!
Check that the head is still on the tick and that it is alive straight away. This is to ensure that the tick has been fully removed and nothing has been left in. Tick twisters can be bought on our website or in-store.
Cars in the Summer
The more modern our cars become, the more tools we have available to help out our pooches.
Check to see if your car has an app you can download. For example, Land Rover has an “incontrol app” to turn on your air con remotely and set the target temperature. This is perfect if you have your dog with you and you need to pop into the shops and the car remains safe and locked.
If you don’t have this, you may consider leaving your windows open. Firstly, if this is no wind there will be very little air movement so the dog will not really benefit at all from an open window. Also, dog theft can be an issue as an open window will make it easier for someone to break in and steal your dog.
If you are keeping windows up and using an app make sure you clearly leave a sign in the window telling others that the car is on and the air con is on!
Country Shows & Events
It’s great to be outside and to take your dog along to dog-friendly events – but what’s fun for you might not be fun for them.
Loud noises, busy crowed areas, other dogs or live stock can all be things that your dog could find stressful.
Just because it’s a country show doesn’t mean you have to take your dog.
If you do, and you’re sitting down enjoying a drink make sure the dog has space and water. One thing that can really stress a dog out is the constant worry someone will step on their tail.
Summer Ticks
It’s that time of year again. As the weather heats up, the fleas and ticks start to boom with activity!
Start regularly treating your pets for this to ensure that they stay flea and tick-free during the summer months.
If your pets have fleas and ticks, it is very easy for them to transfer to the home and can become a real problem for everyone!
Be aware of lyme disease. It’s very unlikely that you’ll get it however this is something that ticks can carry and can pass on to you.
Please head over to the NHS website to read up on signs and symptoms so you know what to look out for.
Walking Your Dog on Hot Summer Days
With summer fast approaching and the weather warming up here are some things to consider for your pooch while we all enjoy the sun!
If it’s hot and you’re off out with your dog always think twice about where you’re going and what the surface will be.
If you’re going to be walking on pavement and it’s hot, it can cause damage and irritations to your dog’s paws.
Even if you’re walking to the park for them to play, if that walk is a medium to long walk to get there and you’ll be on a concrete surface most of the way there, then you should take the car.
Spring to Summer
As the weather begins to warm and we start to transition from winter into spring summer, you’ll notice your dogs coat will begin to change along with the season. At this time, the winter coat will begin to shed allowing the summer coat to come through. As you begin to notice this change it’s a good idea to try to remember to groom your dog helping the winter coat to shed. We have a range of different combs to do this, although we would highly recommend the FURminator which is specifically designed to take out the under coat of the dog.
Don’t forget to know your breed when considering this. For example some terriers such as a border terrier require hand stripping.
Birds – Cold Weather & Hard Ground
As we move into the new year, in this country our “cold snap” tends to arrive in the coming months. When feeding the birds bear this in mind:
With the harsh freezing conditions, birds will burn a lot more energy keeping warm. A great way to help them is to put out fat blocks which are a fantastic source of energy for them. Also during this time, the ground can freeze making it harder for birds to feed, so filling up your bird feeders or scattering some feed on the ground is a great way to help them. Dried meal worms, high energy feed, sunflower hearts etc. are all great feeds to be getting out for them.
Dogs at Christmas
Christmas is fast approaching and as exciting as this time of year is for us, it’s just another day for your dogs. However, keep in mind that the sudden change in routine, different people in the house, and the extra noise can upset and confuse your dog.
Make sure they still have their space and that it’s respected. If you have family and other children staying, try to make sure the dog isn’t bothered and overwhelmed when they take themselves off to their bed.
It might make a good picture to dress a dog up, but do try to spare a thought for them and make sure it isn’t upsetting them as the dog’s welfare comes first.
Unwanted Cats In Your House
A cheap tip to help avoid this is to buy a magnetic cat flap and collar tag. These are much cheaper than micro chipped cat flaps and will help stop cats getting in!
