General Care Archives - Page 5 of 7

Allowing Pets to eat as Nature Intended

Written on January 29, 2020. Posted in General Care, Pet Nutrition. 2 Comments

To achieve a long life and the health they deserve, pets should eat food that nature intended them to eat, just as their wild ancestors did. Evolutionary biologists have found that ancient canines adopted pack-living about 8 million years ago and they determined the best way to take down larger prey was to work together in a group – the spoils were shared and nothing was to go to waste. Eating was a survival action, in that the individual dog had a certain time to eat as much of the good part of the animal before the rest of the pack, so the canine digestive system...

Dangerous Christmas Food for Dogs

Written on December 16, 2019. Posted in General Care, Pet Nutrition.

For many of us, Christmas is usually the time to indulge, celebrate and have fun – and as part of the family, our dogs will normally be enjoying some of the Christmas spirit as well! However, it’s important to be aware of the dangers our furkids can be susceptible to from food and drink consumed over the festive season…. Ham Bones While the festive season includes lots of leg ham for humans, this should not be the case for your dog as well! Although it may be tempting to give your pooch leftover leg ham, roast turkey or chicken, it is detrimental to their health! Ham and other salty meats...

Tips on Looking After Your Pets During Summer

Written on December 16, 2019. Posted in General Care.

With the Summer’s getting hotter every year, it’s so important to make sure you’re prepared during rising temperatures to care for your animals, livestock and even wildlife around you. In this blog we’ve listed tips on keeping animals cool during this time of year… Keep them in cool areas All pets must be kept in cool, shady areas during Summer and bring them indoors on really hot days even if they are an outside animal. It’s important to remember that short nosed or flat faced dog breeds (e.g. Pugs, English bulldogs, French bulldogs) are also more susceptible to heat stroke...

Skin Microbiome in Healthy and Allergic Dogs

Written on August 21, 2019. Posted in General Care.

Changes in the microbial populations on the skin of animals have traditionally been evaluated using conventional microbiology techniques. The sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes has revealed that the human skin is inhabited by a highly diverse and variable microbiome that had previously not been demonstrated by culture-based methods. A recent study’s goal was to describe the microbiome inhabiting different areas of the canine skin, and to compare the skin microbiome of healthy and allergic dogs. Here are the principal findings from the study… DNA extracted from superficial skin swabs...

How to Keep Cats Active During Cooler Weather

Written on August 21, 2019. Posted in General Care, Pet Exercise.

Here are a few simple ways to keep any cat active during the cooler weather if they tend to slow down during these months… 1. Use Puzzle Feeders Make meal time a game and mentally stimulating for the cat. Eating from an ordinary cat bowl does not require much thinking. It is more mentally stimulating for a cat, when the cat hunts for food, receiving it as a reward at the end. 2. Provide Visual Stimulation Winter days are darker, shorter, and colder. Cats prefer rolling into a fluffy ball and not moving much. What can make cats be more active in winter? Let...

Our Recommended Dog Walks Around Brisbane

Written on June 11, 2019. Posted in General Care, Pet Exercise. 1 Comment

If you’re based in Brisbane or the surrounding area, we have some great dog walks that will keep you and your pet fit and healthy as you can do these walks together in the beautiful outdoors and fresh air! Walk 1: Brisbane CBD, South Bank Loop Where to start – Park somewhere below the William Jolly Bridge and take your dog on the Brisbane City SouthBank loop. This lovely riverside stroll has plenty of shade trees and runs along the southside of the Brisbane River below the Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, under Victoria Bridge and on through South...

How to Keep Your Pet in Good Health This Winter

Written on June 11, 2019. Posted in General Care, Pet Exercise, Pet Nutrition.

If you are starting to feel cold and uncomfortable, then your pet is likely feeling the same way. If you haven’t already, pet owners should start thinking about the comfort levels of their furry companions. Luckily, there are a number of simple ways you can keep your pet safe and warm this winter. Winter Coats Although many cat and dog breeds have thick fur to keep them warm, when they are outside or on walks in the cold, they will still likely benefit from an additional winter coat. This is especially important if you have a thin, older or short haired breed.A good pet-coat or jumper...

How to Puppy Proof Your House

Written on May 27, 2019. Posted in General Care. 2 Comments

Most people will say having a new puppy in the house is a bigger shock than a new baby. With a baby you have plenty of time to get the house safe as they grow and develop. A puppy is in full-on grab-and-destroy mode from the day they arrive. Follow our checklist to make sure you have properly puppy-proofed your house for your new arrival… Poisonous Plants – Every garden has them. You can try to remove them but why not construct a secure pen in a sheltered part of the yard where you can leave your puppy safely during the day? Chewable items – Anything that...

Difference in Dogs with Left Paw Preference

Written on May 27, 2019. Posted in General Care.

Some neuroscientists believe that someone’s hand preference tells us something about the way that a person’s brain is organised. It is common knowledge that the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and vice versa. There is also research that showcases that the emotional responses on the two sides of the brain are different. Some of the data suggests that in humans the left brain is associated with positive feelings, like love, a sense of attachment, a feeling of safety and calm. Whereas the right side of the brain in humans can portray negative behaviors, like...

What are Hot Spots and How You Can Avoid

Written on April 9, 2019. Posted in General Care, Pet Nutrition.

Hot spots are one of those less than desirable skin irritations seen in dogs and other pets and can be visually recognised as red, hot, moist, irritated lesions. Often, you’ll hear your vet refer to them as moist dermatitis. This moist, raw skin disorder has a variety of causes but the most consistent factor is bacteria.Hot spots (also known as Summer Sores or Moist Dermatitis) can seemingly appear spontaneously anywhere on a dog’s body but are generally found on a dog’s head, hip, or chest area. They can grow rapidly because often dogs will lick, chew, and scratch the hot spot,...