Cats could not be more different to dogs. Good luck to any of you who try to put an outfit on your moggy! – That said, one of our nurses Carys regularly dresses Tristan – see him on our blog in his Halloween dress up. Cats are however an important member of the family, and should have something under the tree! Don’t buy them one big expensive toy though, get them several cheaper ones instead. Cats will play with anything new that appears but once they have done this for a couple of days, they are likely to ignore it. Keep a box of toys and change them round regularly. This will ensure they always have something to keep them interested.

Great buys for cats include activity toys like fishing rods or anything on a string, igloo beds (cats love to hide but make sure you put them somewhere high up) and water fountains.And don’t forget them during advent we have some great feline advent calendars available at all 3 of our surgeries.

Dogs and Christmas gift ideas

In the second part of our Christmas gifts for your pet series we are thinking about our canine friends. Dogs are such intelligent, social and active creatures who are in possession of their own extremely efficient furry coats. This means that they do not need an extensive wardrobe of clothes!

The range of outfits you can buy for them is incredible, and yes they might look cute dressed up as a Christmas tree, or in a t-shirt that says ‘Terrier(ist)’ but who is it really for ? Not your dog. Of course, some dogs do feel the cold but a simple padded jacket is fine, or perhaps once they are out, they could run around... they’ll soon be warm then! Doggy accessories that are worth purchasing are decent collars and leads, halti harnesses (for those who pull) and a few sturdy toys (we love the kong range). These will keep them occupied on walks,  or to play with in the home.

Ideal Christmas gifts for your bunny

As the dark evenings drawn in, and the carols have already been playing for weeks – Christmas we know is around the corner! With work, carol singing and family commitments we often end up leaving everything to the last minute, allowing little time to plan the ideal gifts. This then leads to us buying things that aren’t always that suitable. Now, we can’t tell you what not to buy for your Dad (although I’m guessing he doesn’t really want socks again) but we can advise you what not to buy for your pets! Over the next week watch out for our blogs. Today we start with your pet bunny.

                                                          

There are loads of great activity toys out there for rabbits so please don’t fall back on the usual Christmas treat option! Obesity is one of the biggest health problems in pet bunnies and causes all sorts of issues from dirty bottoms to arthritis. Too many treats can also mean they don’t eat enough hay which can cause problems with their teeth. Rabbits need hay, along with a non-selective food, to help wear down their teeth. Ideal gifts for rabbits include willow chew toys, and the biggest cage and run you can afford! Alternatively if you have a house rabbit you could treat yourself and ‘rabbit-proof’ all the wires, which should ensure there are no unexpected interruptions during the Christmas TV scheduling! Our nurses are happy to offer free weight, nutrition and dental advice consultations for your pet bunnies. Just give them a call at the surgery on 02476 464789, or visit the Rabbit page on our website: www.broadlanevets.co.uk/RabbitsandSmallPets1504.html

It's the most wonderful time of the year

We see it almost every day, and constantly warn clients about it, yet somehow even we don’t expect it – yes, last week one of our own cats came home with fleas. ‘How could this happen to me?’ was the cry - Well, the answer was very simple. Like many people, they forgot to apply their cat’s flea preventative for the past few months.

The weather is getting colder and our pets are not going out as much. With everything else going on this time of year the monthly treatments for fleas just slips our minds. It sure is a wakeup call, however, to find the tell-tale rusty brown dirt on your pet’s favourite bed.

And let’s face it, fleas are downright creepy. They eat blood and leave their faeces all over your pet, not to mention the fact that they can live in your carpets and even jump up and bite you. But at the same time, they’re pretty amazing little creatures.

                                                 

Here’s a few facts you may not know:

… there are more than 2000 species of fleas around the world? 63 of these are found in the UK, and 10 of these can be found in our own homes. The most common species seen however, is called Ctenocephalides felis, which although it is commonly called the cat flea can also be found on dogs.

… fleas are responsible for spreading the Bubonic Plague in people, and myxomatosis in rabbits.

… fleas can jump up to 150 times their own length, and consume 15 times their own body weight in blood daily.

… a female flea can lay about 50 eggs a day, and once these new fleas mature, they can each bite up to 400 times a day. Add all that up and you’ve got one miserable cat.

If you need advice on fleas make a free appointment with one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses who will give you all the help you need.

CUTE ANIMALS MAY IMPROVE CONCENTRATION

A study has found that looking at pictures of cute animals can improve concentration.
It is believed that positive emotion is triggered by cute images, and anything that gives a person happiness, pleasure or joy results in motivation.
Researchers from Hiroshima University in Japan used three groups of students for the study; one group looked at pictures of puppies and kittens, the second looked at adult animals and the third looked at tasty food.
The study found that those students with pictures of puppies and kittens had an increase in performance by an average of 10 per cent.
However, adult animal pictures only improved performance by an average of five per cent, and food pictures had no effect on performance.
The research suggests that the cute pictures can motivate people to perform tasks with greater time and care.