Petsの April 2016 の目次

YOUR US SEND SNAPS! Do you want your photo to appear here on our “My Pet” pages? Email a clear , sharp photo (1MB or larger) of your pet along with your name, mailing address, contact number and a few words about why you love your pet to pets@ universalmagazines.com .au or send hard-copy photos to My Pet/PETS magazine, Locked Bag 154, Nor th Ryde NSW 1670. Remember to make copies as the photos cannot be returned. Happy snapping!…

Since this is our nutrition and wellness special, we’re all about our pets’ diets. Did you know your treats can play a part in your pet’s nutritional wellbeing in addition to its main meals? Here are a few PETS tips to keep your treats in check: • If you have several training sessions throughout the day, make sure you reduce your pet’s meal intake at night based upon how many treats you gave during the session. You don’t want to risk adding too much to your pet’s waistline. • Choose a treat that doesn’t have artificial flavours or colours. Treats high in preservatives are not good for your pet. We like products such as love’em’s beef liver treats. These delicious snacks contain just what the name…

Proudly brought to you by Max’s Litter 1. Not all cats are affected by catnip. Sure, it might send some into a frenzy, but for others you may as well be waving a piece of parsley under their face — it just doesn’t do it for them. 2. The first cat in space was a French cat named Felicette. 3. Cats need to get their shut-eye, with many requiring 13–14 hours sleep per day. 4. A purr doesn’t just mean your cat is content. Sure, it can often imply that, but it can also be a sign your cat is stressed or even sick. 5. A cat can jump up to five times its own height in a single bound.…

THE LITTLE JOEY WHO LOST HER BOUNCE  Author & Illustrator: Jedda Robaard Publisher: The Five Mile Press RRP: $12.95 Available: Now, from all good bookstores Jedda Robaard is a very talented illustrator. Her watercolour drawings walk the line between sweet and comical, and we’re pleased to announce that The Little Joey Who Lost Her Bounce is no exception. Full of cute-as-a-button pictures, this book tells the tale of a joey who one day woke up and forgot where she had placed her elusive bounce. This book is a board book, making it perfect for younger readers, and contains lots of fun flaps for the children to lift, helping Joey on her search. PETS also loved the fact that the book features a baby kangaroo — any book that helps promote…

In addition to meeting your pet’s standard nutrition requirements, many brands claim to offer added extras. This can range from things such as weight management to improving your pet’s coat or skin condition. These foods often contain specific ingredients such as: • B vitamins and amino acids to improve skin barrier function • Vitamin A, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and chelated zinc to promote healthy skin and luxurious coat • Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) to reduce inflammation • Antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E to reduce oxidative stress damage to the skin • Hydrolysed proteins to prevent adverse reactions to food When it comes to joint pain or arthritis, Dr James recommends looking for prescription diet foods containing any or all of the…

COAT CONCERN Q: Dear Dr Jo, I have a three-year-old Mini Schnauzer, Pickles. Pickles has some hair loss and very fine hair on her hind legs. She’s been like that for a few years and it doesn’t seem to bother her. I was wondering if there’s a dietary supplement you’d recommend, or a brand to help keep her hair in better condition? Sally via email A: Hi Sally, many different dog breeds have different coat types and thicknesses. Schnauzers are often quite thick coated but several things can cause a thin coat. First, a good-quality balanced diet will reduce the need to supplement. Brands such as Hills Science Diet, Royal Canin, Advance, Eukanuba and Iams are excellent choices. They all ensure the correct Omega oil balance to care for skin…

LOOKING FOR A NEW PET BUT NOT SURE WHAT TO GET? Whether you’re after something furry, fuzzy, slippery, scaly or slimy, PETS takes the hard work out of choosing your new family member. KIDS AND PETS Most of the critters we feature are family-friendly, though it’s important to remember children should be supervised when playing with any animal whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, bunny or reptile. Keep an eye out for our “At a glance” boxes, where we rate the care and maintenance, grooming and exercise requirements of different breeds and creatures on a scale from one to five: Low maintenance Moderate maintenance Requires regular attention Lots of work High maintenance…

Miniature pigs sound too cute to be true — but just what is the truth behind this pint-sized piggy? The RSPCA says there are no true Miniature pigs available in Australia, but some breeders like Deb Hancock, from Murphy’s Creek Minis, have been breeding Mini pigs for nine years and say at adult size, most of her Minature pigs are about the size of a medium dog — 60cm by the age of three. “When thinking fully grown Miniature pig, think Labrador,” says Deb. Murphy’s Creek Minis are now in their fifth generation, with pigs originally sourced from The Little Pig Pen, Piggy Wiggy’s and Oz Mini. Deb says while the pig’s number-one focus is definitely eating, there is a lot to love about these small-fry suids (the scientific name…

VICTORIA APRIL 29-MAY 1 MELBOURNE DOG LOVERS SHOW One of the PETS team’s favourite events is on this month in Melbourne — the fourth annual Dog Lovers Show held at the heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building. This is a relatively new event, having started in 2013, but it has proven to be incredibly popular, with thousands of people attending the show every year. Australians must really love their dogs and why wouldn’t you? The show brings together people who share a love of dogs and this creates a relaxed and friendly environment for the whole family. Although you aren’t allowed to bring your dog, there will be hundreds of different breeds on display. Plus the Pat A Pooch area returns where you can pet a wide range of dogs to your…

I have three adorable guinea pigs named Quasar, Middy and Moo. They are the three best friends I could ever ask for in life and I could never let them go. We weren’t allowed dogs or cats in our house so I looked everywhere to try and find the perfect pet. Eventually, after two months of searching, we found two small, fluffy guinea pigs. I instantly fell in love! My parents agreed we could buy them and so we did. I named my one Midnight (we call her Middy) and my little sister called hers Miley (we call her Moo because she’s black and white, like a cow). The two guinea pigs had to settle in before we got to pat them gently. Having a double-storey cage, our guineas soon…

Hamish had been waiting at the RSPCA to meet his paw-fect match for a while, eagerly hoping the right family would walk in and give him a new loving home. Finally, at long last, Hamish spotted the perfect fit and turned on the charm — you just couldn’t deny his smile! As soon as his new family met the charming lad they knew they wanted to adopt him, and that’s exactly what they did. The family soon learned Hamish likes to spend a lot of his time fetching his tennis ball and diving into the river to “rescue” rocks. Hamish is very proud of his collection of rocks. Looking to bring a new pet into your life? Choose the adoption option and make the RSPCA your first stop. They have…

Of course, it’s not just dogs that can suffer from an increased waistline. Cats can become obese too, and in some cases it can be harder to check for this — especially with some of those gorgeous long-haired breeds. As well as feeling for your cat’s ribs, which should be felt under a thin layer of fat but not visible, you can keep an eye on your pet’s weight just as you would yourself — by weighing it. If your cat isn’t the type to stand still on the scales, simply weigh your cat’s carrier on a set of digital baggage scales, then place your cat in the carrier and weigh the two on the scales together. Subtract the carrier’s weight from the equation and the resulting figure is your…

FRESH PATCH Looking for a product to suit the dog that has everything except its own backyard? Introducing Fresh Patch, a dog potty delivery service for dogs. All you need to do is indicate the size of your dog and the subscription service you’d prefer and the team at Fresh Patch does the rest, delivering real grass to your door. The best part is, the unit is fully disposable, meaning once you’re done with it, you simply replace your old discarded unit with a new one when it arrives at your door. This eco-friendly product now comes with free delivery. For more information, visit freshpatch.com.au. PETS has one subscription of six regular Fresh Patches (to be delivered weekly or fortnightly) to give away. PETS MAGAZINE Want to get the latest…

If you’re looking to offer your pet a nutritious treat, Dr James recommends the following: • When using commercial treats, choose an it em with a low-fat percentage, marketed for dogs • Offer cooked meat such as boiled chicken/ lamb, but ensure there are no bones and sauces that may contain onions • Tinned sardines in spring water; tinned tuna and tinned salmon may also be offered as a treat occasionally (take care with any fish bones) • A small amount of vegetable matter may be offered, such as cooked pumpkin, carrots…

1. Entry into the competition implies full acceptance of all conditions of entry, including the instructions on how to enter. 2. Entry is open to all residents of Australia and New Zealand. Employees and immediate families of the promoter, associated companies and agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter. 3. Entries close with last mail and email on May 5, 2016, unless stated otherwise. The entries will be judged by the PETS editorial team and the winner(s) will be selected on May 12, 2016. The winners will be notified by mail, email or telephone. 4. Write the competition name on the front of the envelope and send to PETS magazine, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entry to pets@universalmagazines.com.au 5. Prize(s) will be delivered to…

TO ENTER: All you have to do is tell us in 400 words or less why your pet is so special and include a few clear, sharp photographs (1MB or larger) of your friend. Please also include your contact number and mailing address. Send your entries to Pet Tales/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entries to pets@universalmagazines.com.au Please read the terms and conditions on page 97 before entering. Good luck!…

Is your dog’s barking driving you barking mad? Repetitive barking can be a real problem for many dog owners. If your dog is spending the days barking away, check that you’re ticking off all points on the below list: Exercise. Dogs need exercise daily to ensure they don’t become bored. Have you taken your dog for a walk before you leave the house for work? Doing so can reduce problem barking. Mental stimulation. As well as physical exercise, we need to make sure our dogs’ brains are exercised too to keep them from becoming bored and engaging in behaviour such as repetitive barking. Hold regular training sessions with your dog; teach it new skills; or even consider joining a dog sport club, such as agility or Treibball. This will help…

A message from the team at Huskimo Dr Alex Hynes, emergency veterinarian, joins Huskimo as its new brand ambassador. Alex has a passion for animals and her work involves the treatment of the sickest of sick dogs and cats in Brisbane, where she lives. Her interest in emergency and critical care as a field of veterinary medicine was sparked after she took a position with an emergency centre in the UK. After returning to Australia, she was inspired by the vision of the founders of the Animal Emergency Service and joined them in 2007. Going for an early-morning run with her Samoyed, Yoshi, is her favourite way to keep fit. Alex discovered the new Huskimo range when looking for a quality collar and lead to suit her and Yoshi’s active…

PART 2 Setting up your rescue dog for success can mean dealing with some negative behaviour. Here’s my advice on how to tackle these in a strong and effective manner. Destructive behaviour: To help combat this, always try to give your dog lots of exercise right before you leave the house. Then provide something for your dog to chew on when you leave and use dog toys that dispense food to keep him entertained when you’re not around. A Classic KONG is the perfect toy for this. Again, with freezing and a further Classic KONG or two you can extend this into “Hide ’n Seek” feeding, with the second and third KONG hidden around the house or garden. Separation: Anxious behaviour due to separation needs to be distinguished from boredom,…

TETRA BLOODWORMS If you’re looking for food that will pack a nutritional punch for your Betta or fancy guppy, check out Tetra BloodWorms. These easy-to-store freeze-dried morsels lock in the healthy protein and natural taste of the bloodworm, making the treat last longer. High in protein, essential for muscle growth and energy, Tetra BloodWorms can be part of a complete diet or offered up as a tasty treat. For more information, visit tetra-fish.com tetra-fish.com OUTWARD HOUNDS FUN FEEDER Why do dogs think that eating has to be a race? We have no idea, but we solved the problem anyway. Featuring meal-lengthening ridges and mazes, Fun Feeders keep pups engaged for up to 10 times longer at chow time, which improves digestion while helping furry friends eat at a fun, healthy pace.…