Anything For Animals

posted by admin on Jan 1

Unfortunately, Pet Insurance is individual, so you need to find the best one for you and your pet.

Whether you have a dog, cat, parrot, snake, gerbil or horse - you need to know that your pet’s health is covered - whatever happens.

However, there are different types of pet insurance available and so you need to search around for the best one to cover you and your pets - and this isn’t necessarily the most expensive or the cheapest options.

If we use dog insurance as an example; you need to check your insurance covers all the things relevant to your lifestyle and everything relevant to your dogs ongoing needs.

For example, some insurance policies won’t cover your dog if you take it to work with you.  Some insurance policies won’t cover certain dog breeds or certain dog ages. 

And some will only pay out a certain amount of money for each individual illness.  So, if your dog has an eye problem when they are 2 years old and you use up the alloted amount of cover treating it; if the same eye then gets sore again at any time - the insurance company won’t be obliged to pay any more for it.  You will have to pay it all yourself. 

Things like this could be a problem with certain dog breeds which may have hereditary eye problems like entropian, retinal dysplasia or other more general problems like elbow or hip dysplasia.

And obviously it’s not just dogs with these insurance issues - as there are certain things that will be specific to other species - like eventing horses, working ferrets, hunting owls, female anythings used for breeding, show animals, and so much more.

That is why the best thing you can do when insuring your pets is to ask an expert.  Insurance companies offer a variety of levels of cover depending on what you need and what you are willing to pay for it.

However, as they offer different things - it is up to you to make sure you are happy with what you are paying for - and you have checked that it covers ALL that you need AND want.  For example if you want all conditions to be covered for everything, then you need to make sure that you find the exact policy which does that.  You can’t just sign up to what looks ok and than get angry when you aren’t covered.

It’s that same as buying a house - you can’t pay for a one-bedroom flat and then start complaining that they won’t add a second bedroom onto it 2 years later.

There are even different policy clauses for different countries (as they all have slightly different animal control laws), so if you live in Australia; then get pet insurance Australia specific.

The ‘best’ insurance is the one that suits your needs and your budget - there is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach to pet insurance.

So speak to an expert about your policy requirements and they will get you covered for everything you need - or want.  

posted by admin on Apr 27

Would you know what to do if an animal in your care collapsed?  Or a member of staff was seriously injured?

We all hope that these things will never happen to us - but they may well do and it is best to be prepared.  If you run a business that leaves animals in your care and you employ staff, work with volunteers or come into contact with the public - you should really get yourself trained up in case of emergencies.

And it isn’t just for work that you should get qualified either - it is for your own friends, family and pets.  Imagine being able to save a life in exchange for 1 day a year taking a First Aid course.

Animals First:
If you are a dog walker, groomer, sitter, owner or work in an animal shelter - you should really know the basics for animal health and safety.  Yes - the trained or experienced staff aren’t that far away and can come to the rescue - but sometimes it is the first few minutes that are the most important - so need you to act fast.

Sometimes - seeing that something is going to happen in advance is even better!  But you can only do this if you know what you are looking out for.

So, find a local course with a veterinary or animal care college and sign up!  You won’t ever regret going on a course - only not going!  And imagine the way you will feel if an animal dies in your care - then the course fee won’t seem that much in exchange for an animals life.

People Too:
It isn’t just your animal customers that might benefit from your help - while out walking or driving or when visiting a clients home - you could find a human in need of emergency assistance.

If you have taken an Emergency First Aid course you will know how to assess the situation in an instant and make sure that that person gets the best first aid that you can offer - and the basic checks only take about 15 seconds.

Such a short amount of your time could actually have saved their life.

Don’t Be A Stranger:
Why do you have to take this for work anyway - you might not even meet any humans in your day to day working hours?  Well, think of your family and friends.  People you know can have accidents too you know - so take the course for them if anything.

You can never know too much about emergency first aid!

posted by admin on Apr 9

Do you have a rabbit? And want to know more about their needs and requirements?

Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is just what you are after.  No longer are we happy to leave bunnies in tiny hutches out in the garden with nothing but the odd carrot top to entertain them.

Studies have shown that rabbits are very intelligent animals that thrive on stimulation and enjoy playing games.  We also know a lot more about their dietary requirements and what other rabbits and pets they are most likely to get on with.

However, their behaviour is an area that is only just beginning to be explored by owners.  Apart from the odd foot thumps, digging in the garden and their habit of eating every cable in the house, many rabbit owners know little more.

So, RAW are hoping to shed some light on their peculiar habits and help you see your pets in a new and interesting light!

Housing Requirements:
Rabbits are very social animals - as you can tell from the number of rabbit holes over nearby fields and farmland - so why keep just 1 on it’s own? 

I know that certain breeds of rabbit require very large hutches and runs, so having 2 in there might make a ’small animal’ into a very large pet responsibility - but think of the scale.

If you look at how long an average pet-shop hutch is in ‘rabbits’ (in length) they are around 4 rabbits long and just over 1 rabbit wide - now lay that out for a cat, dog or horse!  It would just be unacceptable.

So why do we think that it is OK for a rabbit to live alone in such a small space?  And to only be handled a few times a week in summer and hardly at all in winter?

Also, rabbits talk ‘rabbit’ not ‘guinea pig’ - so why we ever thought that these 2 animals should live together in a confined space is quite strange?  And with rabbits being so much bigger and having giant thumpy feet - that poor guinea pig could get quite squashed! 

Free Health Checks:
Also as part of the RAW drive - vets across the country are opening their appointment schedule up for free bunny check-ups where you can discuss all sorts of lagomorphic queries (thats things relating to bunnies to you and me!).

Whether you are concerned over their fussy eating, worried about vaccinations or just think your bunny could lose a few pounds - take a few minutes to talk to your local vets and vet nurses about it for not a single penny!

You can also talk about housing requirements, handling, teeth checking, nail clipping and neutering at the same time.

Hop on over to their website for more great tips, a chance to enter your bunny pictures and to find the dates of rabbit-related events in your area.

Happy Bunny Week!

posted by admin on Feb 8

We all know that rabbits love dandilion leaves - but what about other plants?

There are many plants that your pet rabbit or guinea pig would just love you to bring home from a walk in the countryside - or for you to grow in the garden where their run is - but do you know which plants are actually toxic to your pet?

Yes, they grow in the wild and wild rabbits don’t get sick all the time - but they have had certain knowledge or experiences passed down to them through their parents. 

Your pet has no idea what is safe to eat - and they will give anything a try.

How you know this is true is the fact that a rabbit or guinea pig left to run free in your home would no doubt chew through your electricity cables - a very dangerous thing to do!  But they just don’t know the danger.

You have to do the thinking for them to make sure that they are safe - I mean even the common buttercup can upset their tiny tummies!

So before you let them loose on your lawn or givet hem a handful of plants as a treat - take a look at the following list of toxic plants:

Wild Plants:
Here are some wild growing plants that you may find in woodlands, footpaths and open coutryside.

Ivy: Very common throughout the year - but very toxic to nearly every living creature.
Holly: This winter fruiting evergreen will upset anyone’s tummy - unless you are a bird!
Ragwort: This plant is even an irritant if you hand pick it - so no eating…..
Yew: And most evergreen trees - highly toxic and can cause death in large doses!

Wild Flowers:
They might look pretty in the woods - but can cause you to itch or your pets to get sick.  Leave these plants where you find them!

Bluebells: Cover the woodland floor in Spring - but look and don’t touch!
Foxglove: Grow tall in the grasses - but can damage your pet’s heart muscles.
Poppies: Can cause many problems in a small pet - so leave in the fields please.
Daffodils: The flowers, leaves, or bulbs can kill a human in just hours……..

Garden Flowers:
You may be growing these in your own garden - so make sure you use a run for your pets or fence off the flower beds instead…..

Tulips:  A definate no-no for tiny tummies - and they look better in a vase anyway!
Rhodedendron:  Always a problem for pets - and will cause stomach problems too.
Lobelia: Highly toxic to small mammals and can cause your pet to salivate.
Dahlias: These pretty flowers could give you a trip to the vets if you aren’t careful!

Other Considerations:
It is also worth thinking about where you pick your plants from in the first place - as you have to think ahead.

For example, dandilion leaves picked from along the pavement would almost certainly be covered in layers of dog urine from all the dog walkers using the same route - and all the dogs scent-marking the same spot.

Leaves picked from the side of a busy road or car park could well have been exposed to all the exhaust fumes from passing traffic as well as the potential for having been sprayed with weedkiller by the council or car park owners.

Neither of which would do your bunny any good!

So, either stick to plants, treats and nibbles from a reputble pet store - or do a bit of forward thinking before you start feeding your pet unknown plants as treats.

It won’t be very much of a treat if it makes your pet poorly! 

posted by admin on Jan 5

Could you be risking an animals life with your careless parking?

When you pull up to your local vets for an appointment - do you think of just your pet - or the effects of your parking on others?  I’m sure not many people think about the health of the other animals at the vets - but maybe it could help you out one day if everyone made this a priority.

For example - what if your pet was really ill and unable to walk far - but all the spaces close to the vets front door were filled by other patients?  What can you do to get your pet inside for urgent treatment?

And how annoyed would you be if you found out that the owners of those cars were just here for routine vaccinations, could have parked further away from the entrance and walked in, or caught the bus even! 

And how much more annoyed would you be if the owners of those cars had already had their vaccines and were leaving their car there while they went for walk to the local park!

Plan Ahead:
Of course, there are many people who do only think of themselves - but if patients all start to adopt a sort of ‘unwritten rule’ about parking, then patients would get a much better deal when they arrived.

I always wanted to park out of the sun as my dog had a bad heart and she would overheat easily - but other people would park there as they didn’t want to get a hot steering wheel and dashboard instead!  Leaving my dog to suffer on the way home…..

Elderly animals and pets should be able to park closer to the entrance than others just out of basic courtesy - and able-bodied owners and pets should feel happy to park further away and walk in - just because they can!

I would have walk her in if I could!  Instead I had to always book the first appointment of the morning so that the sun wasn’t at it’s hottest if I had to park out of the shade.

Other Considerations:
Added to the normal parking available - make sure that you don’t park in a restrictive location either!

For example, no matter how late you are for an appointment - you should never block an entrance or park on clearly marked ‘No Parking’ areas - even if they are big enough for a car!

Sometimes these spaces are essential for staff, pet ambulances or turning vehicles - and you could be stopping all those activities, sometimes to the detriment of someones pet.

You may think that it is quite simple for someone to come and get you from the waiting room if necessary and you can move your car then - but imagine if your pet had been involved in an accident, was bleeding and was going into shock - but you couldn’t get into the carpark as someone had parked there ‘just for a few minutes’.

Those vital minutes could help save your pet - but you have to leave your pet unattended in the car to run to the reception to find out who owns the car, there will be some more wasted  time discussing why they have to move it, then another few minutes for them to get someone else to hold their pet while they run to the car, then they have to find another place to move their car to before you can get yours up to the entrance - all the while your pet is bleeding out.

Would you think that leaving your car there for a few minutes was such a harmless action now?

posted by admin on Dec 31

Have you ever needed a vets appointment at a certain time - and there isn’t one!

It’s probably because there are some people in the world who think that if they don’t turn up to an appointment - it doesn’t matter; they won’t get charged for it.

Well, of course it matters!

Even though your kind vets have not set a charge for missed appointments - it doesn’t mean that they are free by any means.

Your Vet:
Not surprisingly - your vet still gets paid whether you attend your appointment or not - as do the receptionists and the many other nurses and staff at the practice.

You just don’t directly get to pay for that time you just wasted.  It comes off in little pieces all around the surgery - including the service you can be offered, the equipment you can use and of course the cost of medication and treatments in general.

The money you would pay for your appointment is only a small part of the surgery as a whole and if you don’t turn up without having called in advance - you set off a chain of events.

However, don’t just think that your actions have caused this alone - but you can guarantee that around 30 people a month don’t cancel their booked appointments - and this all adds up.

Start The Ball Rolling:
I am going to use arbitrary figures here that add up simply and they do not in anyway represent true costs and figures.

So your appointment may have cost £20, and with your vaccination or treatment for £20 on top of that.  However, if you don’t turn up - they can’t fill that appointment at the last minute - so they lose that £40.  And let’s say that those 30 people all do the same as you leaving the vets £1200 a month - that’s £14,400 a year - basically a whole member of staff.

So now imagine your vets needs to either get rid of a receptionist or trainee nurse to cover that loss.  This means that they may well take longer to answer your original phone call as there are less people on the desk, or they may have to reduce the number of operations they can do a week as they have less nurses to care for the animals afterwards.

Alternatively, they could try to get that money back by charging more for their appointments and treatments so that they can keep a full team. 

Neither of which would make them the vet of choice - yet you may have left them no choice.

The Results:
It might cost you 10 pence and 2 minutes of your time to ring ahead and warn them that you can’t attend - and so they could fill that ‘empty’ appointment and keep their money coming in, but without that call - you could be costing them a lot more.

I know it all sounds a bit of a huge fuss to just you as an individual - but it is never just you - it is always multiplied up to a grander scale.

And, think of those sick pets and owners who have difficulty getting their animals to the vets - the appointment you are not going to turn up to could have been perfect for them - but now they are going to have to wait until next week to see a vet when they needn’t have to.

Even calling to tell your vets on the morning of your appointment that you can’t make it could create an opportunity for another person to fill that gap and keep everything running smoothly.

If too many people just don’t bother - then maybe your vets won’t be so cheap, friendly, or as customer-focused when you next call for an appointment!

posted by admin on Oct 26

Should You Buy Products Online - Or Through Your Vets?

You mights be saving some money by buying your wormers and flea products online - but could a visit to your vet spot a health problem in your pet that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise?

Sometimes doing something from home saves you a lot of time - as long as you don’t have to be in for the postman - but does it really save you anything in the long run?

Your Vet:
We all know that a trip to the vets can cost a fair bit of money - but they do more for you than you might think.

When you pet has it’s annual check up or a booster, the vet will also be looking for signs of other illness or aging that you might think is just ‘normal’ as you only have that 1 dog and you see it every day, so can’t always spot changes.

It is possible that you vet could spot something that needs a closer look, or can identify some problems that can be easily rectified to make you pet healthy again.

If you have pet insurance anyway - then a trip to the vets shouldn’t be a worry!  Yes, you have to pay the first so much for the consult - but any problems they find will no could be claimed on your policy - so shouldn’t be a worry - and means that you can make sure your pet gets the best treatment without worrying about the cost!

And this means that you can spot things early and get them treated, rather than catching them when it’s too late and having to try much more aggressive or expensive treatments at the last minute!

Why They Cost More:
And don’t forget that the vets have overheads!  I mean - how will they see you for a vaccination appointment if they don’t have a surgery building? 

How will they treat your pet in an emergency if they haven’t got staff on site overnight or the latest equipment?

Just in the same way you need to pay a bit more in a local store than supermarket prices to keep your local store open - you really need to buy your pet products from your vets if you want to keep that open too?

It’s almost like a membership fee.  You pay that little bit more for basics to make sure that your vets has enough money in the kitty to keep trading.

And just in the same way that only the strong survive on the high street - only the vets that make enough money will be able to stay open and treating your pets.

So, if you value your vet surgery and want it to stay just around the corner and taking care of your pets every needs - then isn’t it worth that little bit extra on a packet of Drontal or Frontline?  They need you and you need them!

I mean what good is a local pharmacy or a giant Tesco going to do for you when your dog becomes ill or needs an x-ray?

posted by admin on Oct 13

Its getting cold out there now - so make sure you are well prepared for these cold, dark months!

Here are a selection of great tips for your horse’s health - just incase he gets poorly over the winter!  There is nothing worse than getting to the yard to see your horse in the dark after a long day at work to find something wrong.  And worse still - having to deal with it when you aren’t prepared.

So, by following a few of these tips BEFORE anything goes wrong might well save you a lot of time and money over the next 6 months or more.  Be like a Scout and ‘Be Prepared’!

1) As you might be working in the dark for a while - make sure that you have torches on the yard - and spare batteries!

2) Also, make sure that you check everything when you get a ‘light’ moment.  So fix that loose fence post or door lock while you have the chance in the daylight.

3) Plan ahead and order any medicines, supplements or specialist items well in advance of the winter - and definitely make sure you order supplies before the seasonal rush - and before the postal service stops at the end of the year!

4) Check your vets opening hours over the winter before anything happens as well as checking how vets can get to your yard in bad weather - do you need extra lighting, fix those pot holes or lay down grit, etc.  Also check that your insurance is paid up to date incase of getting hit by an extra ’seasonal’ call out fee!

5) To prevent sores and galls from tack, make sure that it is all kept as clean as possible, protected by sheepskin or replaced.  Also make sure your horse is clean too and you should reduce problems.

6) Use a bed of peat if your horse suffer from brittle feet as this can help the condition improve and not makes things worse.

7) Keep a record of your horse pulse, temperature before and after work, and in summer and winter, etc, so you know what his normal boundaries are.  That way, if you are ever concerned about anything, you can check against the normal chart and know whether to call a vet of not!

If your horse is off his food, try adding some molasses to it for extra ‘yum’ factor.  And as it has a strong smell, you can even smuggle in some wormers or medicines without him noticing when you need to!

9) If your horse gets really cold in the winter - why not stitch in an extra blanket to the inside of your New Zealand rug until it warms up again - then just unstitch.

10) If your naughty pony kicks at the stable door, attach a piece or thick carpet or sacking to the inside to stop him hurting himself and to muffle the sound! And also stop your horse chewing on the stable door by fixing a piece of drainpipe over the top as the curved surface will prevent them from being able to grab it - and they can’t hurt themselves on it!

Hope all goes well this winter for you and your pony!

posted by admin on Jul 10

Welcome back for some more horse friendly tips for everyone - this time those that could keep money in your pocket!

Imagine what you could spend that saved cash on for your pony - especially if you manage to convince your stable friends who aren’t so waste-conscious to help you out - you could save even more!

So, lets get started - every penny counts these days!

1) Well, lets being with a simple one like regularly swapping over your stirrup leathers so that one doesn’t become over stretched with all that mounting and dismounting - more of a long-term saving but there are many others like it!

2) An old tea towel or a bunch of baler twine can be used as a sweat scraper instead of buying yourself the real thing - and another thing to remember where it is!

3) When washing your horses, it is cheaper to buy some bland human shampoo than a specific preparation.  And as human products may well come in larger sizes - and buying in bulk is always a money saver!

4) And from here, always consider buying bulk products with other people in the yard as larger containers and larger amounts seem to get lower prices.  If you all order your food or bedding in one go, you will save money everytime!

5) And talking of bedding - if you use a small cage to sieve your horses droppings - then most of the unsoiled bedding will fall right through - keeping your bedding thicker for longer!

6) Repaired rugs are cheaper than new rugs - so make sure that you keep your rugs clean so they last longer - but if you have to let one go, then keep all the bits that are worth saving, like the buckles and straps, and any large areas of material that could be used for patch repairs or cushions in the yard!

7) Surcingles are much cheaper than rollers - so improvise.  Find yourself a nice thick piece of sponge to stop the surcingle from rubbing on the spine and voila!

8.) Use 2 small boards for cleaning up piles of hay or straw instead of investing in extra brooms and shovels.  They work for picking up leaves in the garden - so why not use them in the yard.

9) Check what added ingredients and supplements are in your standard feed - as you could be adding supplements that your horses don’t actually need.  And, it may well be cheaper to find a food that does already contain them to save on buying them separately.

10) Get people from your yard to book routine vet treatments or farrier visits together to save on the call out charges made.  Instead of all paying the one-off call out fee - split it between you as often as possible.

I hope some of these have been useful, and make sure you pass some on to your friends to make the savings greater!

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!