Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Sep 7

If you are considering a few leaf insects as your next exotic pets - then this introduction is for you.

Many pet books overlook the humble leaf insect (or leaf bug), and many many others just shove them in the same ‘group’ as stick insects for ease.

But there is a lot more to leaf insects on their own - and here are a few of the basics about their character and their basic care.

Leaf Insects:
There are many different species of leaf insect ranging in nature from south and south-east Asia through to Australia - and they all look about the same - green and a bit leafy!

They are Phasmids (the same grouping as stick insects) but belong to the Phylliidae family and are very easy to keep as pets with very few specific requirements.

Depending on what age you get them at they could live for around 12 months (for females) or as little as 6 months (for males).  The nymphs are usually black on hatching and go through a series of moults as they increase in size and become more leaf coloured - ranging from pale yellows, through various greens to blotchy browns.

Female leaf insects are generally slow-moving individuals which tend to hang up-side-down from their food plants and stay there until they have eaten everything they can reach - then move on to another leaf!

The males can be a lot more speedy - as they are generally thinking about things other than food!  They are much thinner than the females and look a lot less ‘leafy’.  Adult males have long antennae and partially functioning wings to help them get about - more of a flutter than actual flight!  The adult females also have wings but cannot even flutter!

Leaf Insect Care:
Depending on the number of leaf insects you are getting and their lifestage; your tub, mesh cage or tank could be as simple as a tall cereal tub, or as elaborate as a huge wood-framed mesh display cage.

The only main care factors are for the very young leaf insects - where the humidity should be constant and the temperature not dropping below ‘jumper’ weather!  Don’t forget they come from the tropics!

These can both easily be achieved by using an airtight plastic container (like a large plastic cereal dispenser) and a flat heat pad during the colder weather.  The container needs to be airtight for 2 reasons: 1) to keep up the humidity by retaining all the moisture and 2) to make sure that the smaller nymphs don’t escape!  And needs to be humid to allow them to moult easily.

The reason for the height when housing younger leaf insects is also due to their moulting habits - where they hang off the bottom of a leaf and basically ‘drop out’ of their old skin.  If there isn’t enough height for them to completely come loose of their old skin, they will become trapped in it as they harden in their new skin - either losing limbs, becoming deformed or even result in their death.

Adult leaf insects don’t need too much humidity - but would still appreciate the warmth of a heat pad through the colder weather.  They also do better in taller housing as this allows you to put a ‘vase’ of their food-plant in the cage - keeping it fresher for longer!

Summary:
Here are the general requirements for leaf insects:

How Many: From 1 to 1000 (depending on cage size).
Housing: Small plastic tubs through mesh cages and even up to converted cupboards!
Cleaning: 1 or 2 times a week depending on numbers and plant material given. 
Life Span: Up to 1 year from hatching; maximum 6 months from Adult.
Food: Bramble leaves - but don’t collect from roadside locations!
Special Requirements: Heat pad for colder weather and high humidity for youngsters.
Other: Adult females can lay eggs without any males present - so watch out for any eggs on the bottom of the cage - as they will be fertile and can hatch in a few months (in specific conditions). 

posted by admin on Aug 15

RSPB - The Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds

Although the full name seems very old-fashioned and a little specific in nature - the new RSPB is about so much more these days!

Yes, it is still the UK’s biggest bird charity - but they have expanded their horizons.  They have found that just protecting the birds themselves doesn’t solve the problems facing them and neither does keeping them isolated.

Birds have to feed, breed and rear young - they aren’t just isolated beings - therefore their whole habitat and feeding areas need to be preserved.  As do all the other animals that make up that environment - including humans.

The Wider Landscape:
For example an estuarine landscape needs to be fed by a clean meandering river, enriched by an unpolluted sea, grazed by certain livestock and managed by sympathetic landowners.  There needs to be a whole host of insects and larva in the mud-flats to feed other insects and waders in the shallow waters, which in turn feed other birds and animals in the wider landscape.

And although certain habitats are threatened by encroachment of human habitation and quad bike users for example - keeping humans out of the picture doesn’t create ongoing support for their work.

By keeping these areas a ‘people-free’ zone, they are keeping away the very people who will be able to look after them in the future - the kids.  So the RSPB are encouraging schools and youth groups to become more involved in the work that they do and in getting hands-on with the wildlife on their reserves.

Even Further Afield:
And, the RSPB know that looking even further from their habitat is essential for supporting our visiting birdlife as many species migrate here from across the globe.

There is no point making everything perfect for species A here in Norfolk and species B in Lindesfarne if they live somewhere else for 9 months of the year!  What if species A has to contend with Maltese hunters to get to Africa and species B has to fly to the dirty tar sands of Canada to breed?

How do we know they will come back next year if we don’t start to protect them around the world?  What if there is nowhere for their young to fly to in the spring?

And it’s not just UK birds that they help around the globe: they have brought tropical rainforests in Indonesia and changed fishing practices around the Antarctic!

What Can You Do?
Well, you don’t even need to spend a penny to help the RSPB with their aims!  There is plenty for you to do that is totally free or of very little cost to you.

For example, you can sign up to their newsletter online so that they can keep you informed of any activities they are organising - like their current campaign of a ‘Letter to the Future’ aiming to save our landscape for future generations to enjoy.  All you need to do is sign it and send it off!

Visiting their reserves is also a great way to show support as their visitor numbers can reflect growing interest in the ‘great outdoors’ and can help them to decide which species interest the most people and start a campaign to help it.

Also, encouraging your children and their schools to become more involved with nature will start them off in the right direction for the future.  I mean there is no point in saving habitats today if nobody wants to care for them in the future!

If you want to become a member you can do so for just £3 a month, or only pay a few pounds for entry at the few sites you visit each year.  Most of their sites are free anyway, so at least donate a few pounds each time anyway. 

I mean - if people don’t support the places they love; then they can’t expect them to be there in the future can they?

posted by admin on Jul 20

We all get a bit hot in the warm weather - and we shed our layers and drink cold drinks.

So imagine your dog on the same hot day.  It can’t shed it’s coat or roll up it’s sleeves - and it can’t drink cool drinks or decide to stop in the shade or stay home.

So think about your dog before you take it out and watch it for signs that it is too hot.

However, there are 2 things you can do to make sure your dog never gets too hot unnecessarily and they are both very simple.

1) The Car:
Never leave your dog in a car in hot weather - even with the windows open!  You would think this piece of advice was the most obvious thing in the world - but people still do it! 

Dogs usually don’t settle when alone in the car either - making them even more stressed and so liable to heat up faster anyway.

Add this to a full furry coat and soaring temperatures inside a vehicle and you could very well have yourself a collapsed dog - or even a dead one.  Dogs really do die in hot cars - so don’t make yours suffer.

If you HAVE to drive your dog somewhere in the sunshine, have a strong breeze flowing through the car or the air con on - and plenty of water available in a non-spill bowl of course.

Equally, don’t leave your car parked in full sunshine wherever possible.  Find a tree or building to hide your car behind and/or invest in 1 or 2 of those thick window shades to keep the sun out - they work a treat!

2) Mad Dogs:
What ever possesses people to take their dogs out for a walk in the hottest part of the day (11am -2pm) is beyond me!

I can’t see any sense in taking your hairy friend out when the sun is at it’s hottest - just because we want to sit in the sun for hours - your dog certainly will have other ideas!  It would rather be at home asleep on a cold floor out of the sun!

Yes, some dogs do love to sit in the sun occasionally - but not after a long walk there and another long walk back in the sun - without a drink either!

Why not walk it earlier in te morning or later in the evening - and make it a walk for your dog, stopping and sniffing etc.  Don’t just take your dog where you want to go whenever that is.

And if you have short-nosed breeds, long-haired breeds, overweight dogs (be honest), or dogs with heart murmurs - you could be doing them more harm walking in the heat than you would if you didn’t walk them at all for the day.

If your dog is continually panting on a calm walk - it is too hot.  As dogs only ’sweat’ by panting - they will be losing water from their bodies fast!  So if your dog is drooling and panting in the sun after just walking - it could be in serious trouble. 

Stop walking, get in the shade and give your dog a big drink of water.  Don’t move on until it has fully recovered - or get a taxi home.  Why take the risk with your pets health?

Many dogs are diagnosed with heart problems in the hot weather.  It’s not that hot weather triggers heart problems - its just that people put extra stress on their dogs hearts by getting them too hot!

Cool Tricks:
Obviously, if you think that there is absolutely no way around taking them out in the hottest hours, then try some preventative steps on your journey - and take water with you at all times!

For example, make sure that you walk on the side of the road that is in shadow at the time, so your dog isn’t actually walking in the sun itself. 

Leave yourself longer to get to your destination, so that you can walk slowly and stop frequently in a shaded area to cool off part way.

Don’t be tempted to make your dog run around in any way.  Even if it usually loves chasing balls in the park - don’t ask it to do it in the boiling sun!  It will still want to chase things to please you - so don’t ask it to when it’s hot as it could easily overheat your pet!

Book an appointment to be clipped or bathed and groomed to thin out the coat.  Even short-haired dogs can benefit from a good grooming and a trim in the summer - and it could keep them that bit cooler when out on walks.

Now - go and fill up the paddling pool!

posted by admin on Jul 15

How many times have you watched a delightful and brightly coloured butterfly waft past you on a breeze?

Or sat in your garden watching a dainty little butterfly flutter between plants in your borders?

But what was it so you can tell people you saw it!

Well, there are several very common butterflies in the UK that you can learn without too much trouble to make your gardens a more interesting place!

And once you have learnt the few regular visitors to your garden - you will spot a new one when it arrives more easily - and know which key features to look out for.

Butterfly Identification:
Being aware of the general colouring and wing patterns of butterflies can help you to make a correct id.

For example, butterflies have 4 wings; 2 on each side with the uppermost segment on each side usually being the same size or larger than the rear.

They also have very different colourings on the undersides of their wings that can be quite unique - although not quite so obvious as the topside.

Most common species have a combination of spots, white or black patches or even stripes (of a kind) and it is these that can make all the difference.

For example, the small tortoiseshell and the painted lady can appear almost identical at first glance to a ‘learner’, but when you look at their fore-wings the difference is obvious:

Small Tortoiseshell:
Yellow and Black ’squares’ along the top edge with 1 terminal white square.

Painted Lady:
Only small patches of white amongst larger black patches - no neat squares at all!

Of course there are numerous other visual differences including blue edging all over the Tortoiseshells wings and dark spots on the Painted Lady’s rear wings - but the above is the most obvious feature to observe.

Why Learn Them?
Well, not only will knowing by name all the butterflies that visit your garden or live in your local woods be interesting in itself - but it can help the wider world too.

By knowing and reporting your species to specific charities and biological groups, you could help them to create butterfly distribution maps for your region and the country as a whole.

This will allow for a wider impact assessment of the areas and habitats involved.  As butterflies only frequent certain plants throughout their lives - they can be a great indicator of the state of the plants, their habitat and therefore the other animals that live in the same area.

This can be a really useful tool in trying to help local biodiversity in these changing times.

Also at the moment, Butterfly Conservation and Marks & Spencer are funding a ‘Big Butterfly Count’ at the end of July 2010 to take a quick stock of whats out there this year - and as a result have produced a fantastic colour butterfly identification guide for you to refer to.

Even if you end up not doing the count, you can still learn from the id guide about which species you should be expecting to see visiting your garden plants!

And if you want to do more to help these vital species - then visit the Butterfly Conservation Trust online and think about donating or becoming a member.

posted by admin on Jul 5

People always love a Top 10 these days, so I put together this list of the dog breeds we love the most.

Obviously, everyone has their own favourite - and this list shows those most favoured by the nation.  And if you look closely - these are the one’s you are most likely to see walking in the park!

However, many people opt for a rescue dog, so don’t actually get the breed they like most - just the one that needed a loving home!  So, there are plenty of dog lovers out there with just any old crossbreed or mongrel that they love to pieces!

1) The Faithful Labrador Retriever - Golden, Black, then Chocolate!

2) The Energetic Border Collie - Loved for the agility and enthusiasm.

3) The Boisterous Jack Russell Terrier - In either long-legged or short-legged varieties.

4) The Elegant Yorkshire Terrier - A very handsome small dog, with a long history. 

5) The Reliable German Shepherd - Either Black & Tan, Sable, Black or White - Standard or Long-Haired too.

6) The Fluffy Bichon Frise - A perfectly shaped little dog - that the kids love to pamper!

7) The Chunky Rottweiler - A well-natured large dog breed that can be really affectionate.

8.) The Spotty Dalmation - An eager breed that loves training sessions and exciting walks!

9) The Dainty Cocker Spaniel - The perfect pooch for both families and couples, and comes in many colours.

10) And finally, the Shih Tzu - A short-legged breed that is very popular with the ladies!

Others breeds just outside of the Top 10 include the Golden Retriever, Labradoodle, Greyhound and of course, the Chihuahua!

There are also a lot of ‘new breeds’ cropping up all the time - but they are basically puffed up Cross-breeds and they may only be first or second generation anyway.  These were all sparked off by the original - the Labradoodle - whereby people were choosing the best quality from each breed and hoping the puppies took both: Like easy to train (Labrador) and not moulting (Poodle). 

We now have Cockerpoo’s (Cocker Spaniels and Poodles), Gointers (Golden Retrievers and Pointers) and even Puggles (Pugs and Beagles).  And it doesn’t end there!

posted by admin on Jun 30

Find an event being promoted locally by your ever present, ever active veterinary nurse!

People don’t always understand the important roles played by a veterinary nurse as part of a surgery and the community.  Many think that they are only there to ‘hold an animal still’ for the vet, or to clean up any surgery ‘mess’ after an operation or toilet ‘accident’.

However, you would be quite surprised as to how much of everything that vet nurses actually do!

The Reception:
Many surgeries have their nurses on the reception desk to answer all queries as customers call in or visit on foot.  They are fully aware of how all the computer systems work and so can access all animal records to give the best information at any time.

The Practice Building:
Unless they employ an external company, the vet nurses will be responsible for all the cleaning of the waiting room, offices and kitchen areas to make sure that no unnecessary bacteria or germs are lurking around the corridors - bearing in mind most of the patients are coming in sick already!

The Surgery Itself:
All vet nurses play a huge part in all surgery activities.  Not only are they in charge of all the supplies and the equipment - they are the anaesthetists too!  They must help to assess the patient before, during and after surgery - as well as make sure that they vets themselves can operate smoothly.

The Patients:
All surgeries have kennels for the sick, injured or operated on animals of all shapes and sizes.  The nurse will need to be aware of the needs and requirements of all the species present, including rodents, birds, reptiles and larger pets too - and how to care for them when they are ill.

Many surgeries offer overnight and emergency care, so the nurses may well have to work through the night in special instances focussing all their time on particular cases and making sure that they are aware of all emergency procedures in case of any problems while the vets are not onsite. 

The Medication:
They will no doubt have to be aware of all the medications in the surgery, what they are used for, when and how long they are used for and their use by dates.  And most importantly - when to not use them!  They will need to fulfil prescriptions from the vet and regular patients as well as make sure that enough supplies are kept on site.

Ongoing Training:
Most vet nurses will also be studying for further qualifications - and many vet nurses are in training on site (stripy green and white top means they are in training - solid green means qualified).  But also all qualified nurses still wish to improve their skills and take on a specialism or 2 depending on the surgery they work in.

Additional Activities:
Many surgeries will also offer non-illness related events on site, like puppy parties, weight loss clinics and other specifics.  They need to organise and advertise all these events themselves and learn all the new skills required to offer such advice.

They will no doubt also be responsible to the information and decoration of the waiting room notice boards - targeting the most relevant events to their clients or due to the time of year - like bonfire night problems and obesity or rabbit vaccinations etc.

Many vet nurses offer their skills to charity abroad, like neutering programs in South America or vaccination schemes in Africa - it’s not all puppies and bunnies! And, no doubt many are now using their skills to improve their company website too.

So, never under-estimate your local vet nurse when you see her cleaning the floor or bringing you a worming tablet - without them, your surgery would not function for more than 5 minutes!

posted by admin on Jun 25

Have you been up to anything this week - or is this the first you have heard of it?

As part of the National Year of Biodiversity - there is hope that the creepy crawlies will get a look in too!  Not just the little furry ones and the pretty birds!

Spurred on by the ever charismatic and slightly nerdy Chris Packham, why don’t you give insects a chance?  I have started to learn a bit more about the insects around us as I know that they are an essential and amazing part of the ecosystem.

I can now identify around 10 different butterfly species, about 5 moths - as well as the plants that they feed on and those that their young eat.  And I am getting some really great photos along the way!

So now - just like you - I can learn more about other groups of insects from this fact-filled site and all the related links and events.    

Insect Fun & Facts:
This section allows you to read about the tallest, shortest, heaviest, tiniest ad all those record breakers in the insect world - as well as allowing you to make a giant dragonfly yourself!

Insect Garden:
This section is all about making your average garden more attractive the the right kind of insects - both for natural organic pest control, pollination and pure beauty!

Insect Index:
Here you can follow the descriptions and links to find out exactly what type of bug it was that you found near the pond or under a stone - with some great pictures too!

Insect Resources:
Here is the best part of the site.  It is a page totally filled with links and resources to get you started in the insect world - or to carry on from where you are.  It’s a long page!

Insect Events:
There is an extensive listing of minibeast events across the country divided into counties.  I found 2 literally just up the road from me and the WWT centre - so I’m sure you will find one near you too!

Insect Surveys:
Whether it’s the Painted Lady Butterfly Watch or the Great Stag Beetle Hunt, you can take part in these surveys to make sure that our tiny wildlife is kept on top form.  Just follow the links to get started making a difference!

Anything from this website you take on board will make a huge difference to our native wildlife - and could be the difference between extinction and population explosion!

posted by admin on Jun 4

It’s not a case of whether you lose your pet - it’s more about getting it back!

Many pet owners don’t seem to realise how terrible it is to lose a pet, and just because their little pet seems to always be at home or is rarely off the lead - they assume it can never get lost.

It can - and many many many pets every year get lost - and only a few ever make it back home.

The Problem:
Well, I have worked for animal rescue centres and veterinary surgeries and the number of times we get a phone call to say that someone has lost their black cat, or their pedigree dog.

Now, I don’t know if you know this but there are about a million black cats that all look - well, black.  And let’s be honest, there really isn’t much difference to the layman’s eye between 1 Yorkshire Terrier and the next - I mean they are bred to all look roughly the same, aren’t they?

And, obviously unless you call every vet, rescue centre, pet store or well being neighbour, you might not ever be matched up to your pet again.  Say for example your cat had been asleep in a car that drove off 20 miles before the cat jumped out - would you have called the vets that far from home?

What if your dog got lost while you were out in the local woods and ended up following another owner to the car.  They might not find you or want to leave your dog alone - so thinking they are helping might take your dog with them and report it to their own vet - which is completely on the other side of the woods to you! Or you are on holiday, miles from home?

And don’t think your pets collar will help either - many owners don’t put their full details on them anyway - and many tags - and collars - can (and do) fall off!

We know that animals get lost all the time whether you want to believe it or not - but what if there was a way to give you pet an unmistakable, unremovable id tag that will bring them home everytime?

That’s A MicroChip!
A tiny chip can easily and cheaply be implanted into your pet - from cat to rabbit, ferret to horse and dog to tortoise - and you need never worry about getting your pet returned to you when it is found.

They just need the one chip implanted and that is it for the animal!  There are no ongoing costs for the owner - but obviously you need to keep your contact details updated everytime they change so if they need to contact you, they have the best number!

Every veterinary surgery or rescue centre will ALWAYS scan a found animal looking for a microchip as this is the fastest and easiest way to find the owner.  So as long as your lost pet turns up in one of these places - you will be reunited.

They will also scan these animals if their owners are asking for it to be microchipped for them or when an abandoned animal arrives in a shelter.  This has lead to some amazing reunions!

A lost or seemingly abandoned animal may sometimes be adopted in by a new home, and when that new owner wants them ‘chipped or finally takes them to a rescue centre - your details will pop up as the rightful owner!

Also, if a pet is injured or killed on the road and taken to a veterinary surgery, it will also be scanned for a chip.

June 2010:
This month is national MicroChipping Week in the UK - so make sure you take advantage of surgeries and rescue centres offering reduced implantation - and plenty of them are!

I mean, it is to their advantage too. The sooner they can find out about any existing medical conditions an injured ‘lost’ pet has - the sooner they can offer the best treatment. And rescue centres don’t want to raise valuable donations looking after your dog for a week while you try to find it! They would rather it was home the same day, back with it’s owner rather than scared stiff in a noisy kennel!

Also, if your pets are already ‘chipped - take this as a gentle reminder to update your Chip Company with the correct contact details!

It will be the best thing you ever did for your pet!

posted by admin on May 27

If you took part in the 2010 Birdwatch earlier this year, then you may be interested in the results.

Those who registered their results should get a letter from the RSPB any-day now with the results inside, but if you didn’t, then here they are:

1) The House Sparrow - Down in overall numbers, but still number 1!

2) The Blackbird - This bird has increased in numbers, and so moved up the chart….

3) The Starling - These sociable birds seem to be dropping in numbers as this moves down from number 2 last year.

4) The Blue Tit - Taking full advantage of all the extra feeders out this winter - they increased in numbers slightly.

5) The Chaffinch - Not seen on any of my 3 counts - but must be popular in other areas.

6) The Woodpidgeon - RSPB stats show that the numbers of this bird are up by 855%!

7) The Robin - Always a popular bird, but as seen alone most of the time, this stays low in the list.

8.) The Great Tit - Numbers of this little chap are increasing - and there were loads on my counts too!

9) The Collared Dove - A quiet little bird that only arrived in the UK from Asia in 1953 - and has spread all over!

10) The Goldfinch - Attracted by the feeders we put out - and knocking the Long-Tailed Tit out of the Top 10!

Wales had similar results with virtually the same birds in the Top 10 - although in a different order: with the Dunnock and Jackdaw replacing the Greenfinch and Woodpigeon. 

In Northern Ireland, virtually the same 10 were again found with the Woodpidgeon losing out again - this time to the Coal Tit. The Starling was in 1st place here with the House Sparrow relegated to 2nd place. 

Scotland came in with the Chaffinch first, with the House Sparrow again second, but with the Dunnock and Greenfinch in 9th and 10th place.

If you want to know more about the survey, taking part in other surveys or joining the RSPB as a supporting member, then visit their website for more information and advice.

Source: The RSPB Big Garden BirdWatch Leaflet & Website.

posted by admin on May 25

This article details all you need to know as a beginner about a year in the life of a bat in the UK: 

Animal Type: Mammalia - Chiroptera

Species Info: There are 2 main Orders of bats in the world: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera - but only the latter are found in the UK. 

UK Distribution:There are 17 species of Bat in the UK, with all these found in the South including the tiny Pipistrelle (only 5 grams) and the larger Daubenton’s and Noctule Bats, with only a few species found in the North.

Preferred Habitat: Around water (as this attracts their insect prey) and in quiet locations - although are quite happy to live in towns on canals or by lakes.  They need roosting sites nearby to where they feed - one for hibernating and another for summer roosting, so a variety of buildings, caves and holes in trees (or bat boxes) are essential.

In Spring:  Waking Up After Hibernation.
In early March, bats may still be hibernating but some will start to feed if necessary - however April is the month that you are most likely to start seeing many bats feeding at night in the UK.  By May there will be plenty of activity in the Bat world as the females are actively looking for communal nursery sites in which to have their young.

In Summer:  Giving Birth & Young Taking To The Skies.
The young are usually born in June (usually only 1 young per female per year).  These young stay in the nursery though most of July, building up strength until they start to leave the nest in August.  After the young have left, the females go off in search of males to mate with.

In Autumn:  Mating & Searching For A Hibernation Site.
The adult males and females spend most of September mating, as well as starting to build up fat reserves for the winter ahead by feasting on insects.  If the weather stays warm there could still be feeding into November, but when temperatures start to drop, the bats start to hibernate.

In Winter:  All UK Bats Are Hibernating.
You will rarely see a Bat through the cold winter as they will be be hibernating somewhere quiet and secure.  As the winter moves on they will stay in that place, gradually using up their fat reserves to stay alive.  Only when temperatures warm up nearing Spring will they naturally begin to stir and set out hunting again.

UK/World Events: 
May: UK National Moth & Bat Night
August: European Bat Weekend

Bat Groups:
UK - Bat Conservation Trust
US - Bat Conservation International
Other - South-East Asia Bat Conservation

Other Information:
Bats in the UK are protected by strict laws and you can be liable for a fine of up to £5000 and possible imprisonment per incident or ‘per bat’ if you deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat, destroy a roost - even if not in use, or intentionally block access to a bat roost.  So call an expert if in doubt!