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Pet Health Library

If you have any special request on a specific subject, feel free to write to us and we will provide answers and articles without delays.

You and your questions are helping our team to build up a library to share with other pet lovers.

Halloween's tips for safe pets

As Halloween becomes more and more popular in the UK please spare a thought for your pets. Some decorations and sweet treats that we love can be potentially very harmful to animals. Here are some Halloween hazards to watch out for

DO NOT feed your animals chocolate, particularly unsweetened chocolate. Theobromine present in chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures and increased thirst, increased urination and heart rate.

DO NOT feed your animals sweets containing large amounts of xylitol. This can be very toxic to pets, causing depression and incoordination.

DO NOT allow your pets to access alcoholic drinks. Place unattended drinks where they cannot be reached. Failing to do so, you will put your pet at risk, and your pet can become ill and weak and go into a coma.

DO NOT leave aluminium foil or plastic sweet wrappers where they can be picked up by your pet. They could cause vomiting and could produce intestinal blockage

KEEP Halloween decorations out of reach of animals, particularly wires and cords from electric lights, glass or sharp plastic. If chewed, these hazards may cause injury to the mouth and gum, and digestive system. In the worst of cases, your pet could receive an electrical-shock endangering his life. Don't leave candles nor potpourri where your pet could start chewing them.

KEEP your pet on its normal diet. Any change of diet may give your pet indigestion and diarrhea, even feeding him with food that you may think is not harmful. Pets are more likely to have delicate digestive systems, especially when they get older, whilst the nutritional requirements are more targeted. Even though pumpkins are not harmful to pets, the ingestion of large pieces could result in giving your pet an upset tummy.

If you suspect that your pet has eaten something harmful contact your vet immediately.

HELP FOR YOUR PETS ON BONFIRE NIGHT

Do your cats and dogs have firework phobias?

Don’t forget to microchip your pets before they can get lost.

Steps to help your dog cope with fireworks:-

AT LEASE ONE WEEK BEFORE

ON FIREWORK NIGHT

Make a snug place of sanctuary for your dog where he feels safe and

Secure

Make sure the curtains or blinds are drawn and that your dog is kept in a safe and secure environment

Take time to encourage your dog to use his sanctuary – put his favourite toys and treats there for him

Stay with your dog and put the TV or a some music on or play a game with your dog

Play your dog a CD especially designed to help him become accustomed to loud noises such as fireworks, or play drums before the event and during the event.

Ignore the noise of the fireworks. If your dog appears frightened do not reassure him or make a fuss. This will only reaffirm that there is really something to be frightened of.

Steps to help your cat cope with fireworks:-

ONE WEEK BEFORE

ON FIREWORK NIGHT

Make sure your cat has access to all her favourite hiding places.

Confine your cat to the house and close off all escape routes! Draw the curtains, play some music or put the TV on.

If possible keep your cat confined to house for a week before firework night. Remember to provide a little tray.

Ignore the noise of the fireworks. If your cat appears frightened do not reassure him or make a fuss. This will only reaffirm that there is really something to be frightened of.

Do make sure that your cat has some form of identification (microchipping) in case you cannot keep her in and she takes fright.

Your cat may hide away in a small space or get under the bed. Just leave her – cats feel safe in small spaces.

Is your pet ready for fireworks?

Bonfire's night is approaching along with firework displays. Your pets could be sensitive to fireworks and be scared of them. They could run away to shelter and get lost. We know how much joy and fun a pet can bring to your life, because we’re pet owners, too.
We also know how devastating it can be to lose a pet.

That’s why we want to help you find your pet when it goes missing.

If your pet goes missing, you can report it to the following telephone number:

PETLOG: 0870606751

If you find a pet, you can take it to the police, the municipal dog warden, a rescue league, the RSPCA, or any vet, and the pet will be scanned to look for a microchip identification number.

The number would then be reported to the Anibase/Petlog or Kennel club, who would immediately find his owners.

If your pet is not micro-chipped, it is the time to do it now. Contact your local veterinary practice to microchip your pet. It is the most reliable way to ensure that a found pet can be identified and rescued to his way home.

Micro-chipping is now acknowledged to be the most acceptable form of permanent identification available for companion animals and horses. It is permanent, tamperproof, reliable and painless.

The UK Government chose microchipping as the means of permanent identification under the PET PASSPORT SCHEME.

Several companies offer micro-chipping. Microchips are registered at a central national data base PETLOG that can be consulted by veterinary surgeons, police, dog wardens and charities or organisations, like the RSPCA and the Kennel club.

What are the microchips available?

Here are the most popular:

·Backhome (Virbac)

·Identichip (Animal care)

·Tracer (Bayer)

Did you know?

·There are over 3 million animals in the UK with a microchip.

·Over 1400 Veterinary Practices in the UK currently use the microchip system.

·Over 350 Charity and Local Authority establistments are microchipping and re-homing animals.

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