Month: September 2018

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Top tips for pet owners during autumn

Top tips for pet owners during autumn

With the change in seasons and start of colder weather, we share some top tips for pet owners during the autumn months.

In our top tips for pet owners during autumn, we share some hazards that you need to be aware of at this time of year. Maintaining your pet’s health during this time can ensure that they lead a happy life. As a pet owner you don’t like to see your cat or dog stressed or unwell, keeping a check on their health and being aware of any dangers during the autumn season can be important.

To maintain your pet’s health at this time of year, you can follow our top tips for pet owners during autumn:

Keep up with exercise

Although the weather may be colder, it’s important to keep walking your dog. This will help to prevent any weight gain, as well as stop your dog from getting bored. As the weather changes, you could reduce the length of their walks. Your cat may also go out less so be sure to play with them to keep them active in the house. You can support your pet’s joints and mobility through the colder months with Nutraquin+, a fast acting extra strength joint supplement for pets with signs of joint stiffness.

Diet

If your pet is spending less time outside or on walks, be sure to adjust their diet to match this. Speak to your vet if you are unsure about how much your pet should be eating at this time.

Halloween treats

Keep any Halloween chocolate and sweets away from your dog or cat, as they are poisonous and could result in a trip to the vet. Some sweets contain an artificial sweetener called Xylitol, which is poisonous to your pet.

Top tips for pet owners during autumn

Pumpkins

Although they are not poisonous, if consumed in large quantities, they could lead to your pet having a sensitive tummy. Also, if using candles in your pumpkins, make sure these are out of reach from your pet and can’t be knocked over.

Reduce stress

During Halloween your pet may become stressed with people knocking on the door for trick or treat or if you have guests round. Consider using Nutracalm, which is specifically formulated to naturally reduce stress and anxiety in cats and dogs.

Fireworks

Autumn can be the start of fireworks season, which can cause stress for some pets. Make your pet a den to retreat to during the fireworks and closing curtains and playing music can help to block out the noise. For more advice, read our top tips to reduce anxiety during fireworks for pets.

Fleas and ticks

Parasites such as fleas and ticks are still prominent over the autumn. Speak to your vet about an appropriate solution for your pet. Be sure to check your dog and cat for ticks regularly. Be sure to check your dog after walks.

Safety on walks

As the darker nights approach, if you are walking your dog early in the morning or late at night make sure you wear reflective clothing. You could also use a reflective collar and coat for your dog, incase they get lost.

Antifreeze

As the weather gets colder, be sure to keep antifreeze locked away, as it can be attractive to your cat. It is poisonous to pets if swallowed.

Provide shelter

If your pet spends a lot of time outside, be sure to provide a shelter for them for when the weather gets colder or if it rains. As the weather gets colder bring smaller pets indoors.

Acorns and conkers

These can be poisonous to your dog. Be sure to keep an eye out on walks to make sure that your dog doesn’t pick anything they shouldn’t up. If ingested conkers can also cause intestinal blockages. Speak to your vet if you think your dog may have eaten something like this.

If you are concerned about the health of your cat or dog, speak to your vet who is best placed to monitor their health and ensure that they are receiving the best possible care. Ask your vet about how Nutravet can support your pet during this time. Nutraquin+, Nutracalm, Nutrabio and Nutramega can all aid your pet during the autumn season.

 

 

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Top tips to keep pets calm during fireworks

keep pets calm during fireworks

Many pet owners aim to keep pets calm during fireworks, as it can be a stressful time for my pets and owners alike.

When fireworks are let off sporadically, stress and anxiety becomes common amongst dogs and cats. This can continue from October to the New Year and can be an agonising time with many owners trying to find ways to keep pets calm during fireworks.

For a pet affected by loud noises, the fireworks season can be a terrifying time. If your pet becomes stressed they could display this in a number of ways, such as, vocalisation, shaking, aggression, reduced appetite and ears pinned back.

There are, however many things that can be done to help keep pets calm during fireworks, which include:

Provide a den

This can be an enclosed ‘safe place’ for your pet to hide. Cover the top and all sides of a crate, table or cupboard near the centre of the home, or where they have previously hidden. Make it comfortable. You can even add a jumper or t-shirt of yours that will smell familiar to them. Let them come and go as they please.

Stay calm

During the fireworks stay calm yourself and don’t react to any fireworks that go off, as your pet will react to you. Try not to worry and don’t get angry with your pet or over fuss them, just reassure them gently and be as normal and routine as possible.

Keep pets indoors

To prevent extra stress and keep pets calm during fireworks, keep them indoors. For cats who like to go outdoors, make sure you place plenty of litter trays around the house, especially by usual exit points. In multiple cat homes, make sure you have one for each cat. Make sure your dog has had an opportunity to go to the toilet outside well before it gets dark and then keep them inside.

Mask the sound of fireworks

keep pets calm during fireworks

Try and mask the sound of fireworks by putting the TV on or playing some music, especially if animals are left home alone. You could also muffle the sound of the fireworks by closing the curtains and windows.

Take your dog for walks in the day

Burn extra energy by taking your pets on longer walks during the day. Avoid walking dogs at night when fireworks are being set off, try morning or afternoon walks.

Distractions

Keep pets calm during fireworks by providing them with plenty of toys to distract them from the loud noises. Ignore the fireworks yourself and play with them, but don’t force them.

Stick to your routine

Maintain your routine and try to keep all other routines as normal as possible, such as feeding times. This will help to reduce any stress for your pet.

Prepare in advance to keep pets calm during fireworks

Consider preparing for next year with advice from your vet or a behaviourist. Consider using Nutracalm, which is specifically formulated by vets to naturally calm anxious pets and to help reduce unwanted or unruly behaviour.

 

If you are worried about your pet during this time, speak to your vet who is best placed to offer advice with regards to you pet’s health needs. Ask your vet for more information on how Nutracalm can help your pet during this time.

 

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Top tips to keep horses calm during fireworks

keep horses calm during fireworks

The fireworks season can be stressful for horses and their owners. It’s important to keep horses calm during fireworks, as they can be startled by the loud noises.

Bear in mind that fireworks can continue until the New Year, which can also make this period stressful for horses and their owners. Help to keep horses calm during fireworks by recognising some common signs that they might be stressed or anxious:

  • Tail swishing
  • Vocalisation
  • Pawing
  • Sweating
  • Repetitive head movements
  • Kicking
  • Flared nostrils
  • Decreased appetite

To help keep horses calm during fireworks, here are some positive things you could do to help minimise stress:

Prepare

Prepare in advance and be aware of when fireworks will be going off and check for local displays in your area.

Speak to neighbours

Don’t set off any fireworks near your horse’s field and speak to neighbours to let them know that there are horses nearby.

Stick to their routine

Sticking to routines can help keep horses calm during fireworks. If your horse is usually stabled, keep them stabled. Be sure to exercise them earlier in the day before the fireworks start. Don’t change their routine or familiar environment as this could upset them.

Check their field is secure

If your horse is usually kept in a field, it’s fine to keep them there as long as they are safe and away from any displays. Be sure to check the field is secure so that your horse cannot escape if they get scared.

Stay calm

Try to keep calm yourself, as horses can pick up on our stress and this might lead to unwanted behaviour.

Stay safe

Stay safe yourself when around your horse and be aware of changes in their behaviour to prevent getting hurt if your horse gets startled.

Don’t ride during fireworks

Don’t ride your horse during the fireworks. Yourself or your horse could get injured if your horse gets scared.

Play music into stable

If your horse is stabled, keep a radio on or music playing just outside the stable to mask loud bangs and to help to soothe your horse.

Stay with your horse

If you know that fireworks are being set off close to where your horse is kept, make sure that you or someone experienced stays with them to help keep them calm.

Check their field the next day

During fireworks season, before letting your horse out into the field in the day, always check for used fireworks and anything that could be dangerous to your horse.

 

If you are concerned about your horse and their behaviour during this time speak your vet. Ask your vet about Nutracalm, which has a unique formula specifically developed to naturally help to reduce stress and anxiety in horses.

 

 

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Biotin for dogs and cats

biotin for dogs and cats

Biotin for dogs and cats is important for maintaining healthy skin, coat and nails.

Biotin supplements can aid a dog with dry skin, which is a common reason for pet owners to take their dog or cat to visit the vets. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin also called vitamin B and formally known, as vitamin H, which your dog cannot manufacture themselves. Biotin is one of the most important nutrients in the body, it maintains healthy connective tissue, which holds the body together. It is essential for the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, as well as for cell formation and assists with the metabolism of proteins.

Biotin plays a large role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, as well as playing an important role in growth, digestion, muscle formation and in enabling the body to use glucose as an energy source. D-biotin synthesises fatty acids and is important for maintaining healthy skin, coat and nails.

Key benefits of biotin for dogs and cats

  • Healthy skin
  • Liver and nervous system health
  • Strengthens nails
  • Brain health
  • Boosts energy & mood.

The best biotin for dogs

Pet supplements containing biotin are regularly used to support and maintain skin and coat health in dogs and cats. They are commonly combined with key ingredients such as Omega-3 for dogs and cats, which work in the skin to aid the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory processes. d-biotin is a key ingredient for Nutramega.

Nutramega contains Omega 3s EPA and DHA fatty acids from fish oil and combined with d-biotin and vitamin E works synergistically to sooth dry, flaky skin and reduce itching and scratching. Nutramega provides high strength nutritional support for maintaining healthy skin and a glossy coat by supporting the animal’s natural systems that control inflammation.

If you are looking for a biotin for dogs and cats supplement or a supplement for itchy dogs, then Nutramega is recommended by vets throughout the UK.

 

 

 

 

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Good bacteria for dogs and cats

good bacteria for dogs and cats

Good bacteria for dogs and cats is important as it can help to support healthy digestion and support a pet’s gut health. A strong and healthy digestive tract will ensure that your pet benefits from all round health.

Like humans, the majority of a dog’s immune system resides in their gut. The gut is the largest immune organ in the body, which also digests and absorbs food. It is populated by trillions of bacteria collectively called Microbiota, which support a dog or cat’s digestive function. The bacterial population can be affected by a number of aspects and bad bacteria can flourish and multiply, leading to an upset tummy, which could result in a trip to the vets for your dog.

The collection of beneficial good bacteria found in the gut are considered the engine of digestion. Good bacteria in the gut comprise the beneficial types of bacteria found in the normal microflora of the gut. Good bacteria break down food into their basic components for easier absorption and utilisation by the body.

How good bacteria is beneficial

Microbiota in the gut has a multitude of benefits, which include:

  • The bacteria help with digesting food, especially certain types of fibre, which provides more energy
  • They help to build natural defences and to maintain the immune system
  • The gut microbiota helps with the production of some vitamins, specifically vitamin B12, Biotin and vitamin K.

Good bacteria for dogs and cats help to maintain a balanced internal environment – while some produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, most good bacteria help to aid a healthy gut through population control.

Probiotics are actual cultures of good bacteria used to fortify existing populations. There are many types of good bacteria that are usually found in probiotics for dogs and cats, which include:

  • Enterococcus faecium
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Bifidobacterium lactis
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Bifidobacterium breve

If you’re looking for good bacteria for dogs and cats, then Nutrabio is highly recommended by vets throughout the UK as a high-strength natural digestive support.  Nutrabio is a naturally formulated, veterinary strength paste for dogs and cats, developed with a high strength composition of beneficial Probiotics for dogs, Prebiotics, Sweet Basil and Kaolin, which combine to help normalise digestive function and support digestive balance.

The high-strength formula of Nutrabio administers 4 billion Enterococcus faecium cells per 2ml dose to support the gut’s own healthy bacteria and boost the immune system.

 

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Why brain training for dogs?

Brain training for dogs

Brain training for dogs is important to maintain healthy cognitive function, as well as keeping your pet physically fit. It is especially important if you have a confused dog who is in need of extra help

It’s not only young dogs that may need brain training, senior pets can also be taught new tricks to support cognitive function. Like us, as pet’s age they can have senior moments and if you have a confused dog, it may mean they need extra training and cognitive support.

Dogs are also intelligent animals and if they get bored this could lead to a destructive dog. To keep your dog occupied whilst you’re out of the house, or to help keep an older dog’s brain active, there are some games that can help to maintain cognitive function in dogs, which include:

The Muffin Tin Game

This is a beginner brain game, which can be set up using things that you have lying around the house. Use an old muffin or cupcake tin and place some treats in a few of the holes, then cover all of the hols with balls or some kind of toy and let your dog figure out how to remove the toys to get to the treats

Hide and Seek

Let your dog use their ears and nose to seek you out. Reward them with a treat when they find you. You could also hide treats around the house and get your dog to sniff them out.

Treasure Hunt

Dogs are powerful sniffers and rely on their noses more than any other sense. To make the game extra fun for your dog, use something extra smelly that they love, like a treat toy full of peanut butter or their favourite old toy. Show them the toy then ask them to sit whilst you hide it.

The Cup Game

Line up three old cups in front of your dog. Take a favourite treat and put it under one cup. Let your dog watch as you move the cups around and give them the treat when they pick the right cup.

Toy Pick Up

Get your pooch to help you tidy up but training them to pick up things, like their toys. Once they pick up the object teach them to deposit it in a designated location.

Omega 3s to aid brain training for dogs

Omega 3s have been shown to aid the learning abilities of young puppies. Other studies linked to low blood Omega 3 with dog aggression, indicating beneficial applications of Omega 3s throughout the entire life of your pet to maintain brain health.

If you are looking for a natural supplement to aid brain training for dogs or have a confused dog, then Nutramind is recommended by vets throughout the UK for nutritional support for brain health in pets. Nutramind has been developed by vets to provide high strength nutritional support for cognitive function in dogs and cats. It includes the key nutrients for supporting ageing pets, whilst also benefiting younger pets in training and learning.