Tabla de contenidos para Issue#59 2016 en Pets

SEND US YOUR 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, North Ryde NSW 1670. Remember to make copies as the photos cannot be returned. Happy snapping!…

There’s not a whole lot we like better than a hilarious animated movie, and The Secret Life of Pets sure fits this bill! We have been desperate for this comedy flick that centres around the lives of our four-legged friends and their fabulous adventures while us humans aren’t at home. Max is a spoilt Terrier, much loved by owner Katie. However, Max isn’t the only pooch Katie has room in her heart for, and one day she brings home Duke, a sloppy and careless canine Max doesn’t appreciate. When Duke’s antics see the two pooches captured by Animal Control and brought to the pound, Max and Duke must work together to try and get free — but will they make it in time? Make sure you…

A fantastic way to get involved and help the beloved cats and kittens at the Cat Protection Society of NSW is by donating any old newspapers or towels that your family no longer needs. They use the newspaper to line the kitty litter trays, and the towels make excellent bedding to keep the cats and kittens warm during the winter months. You can help make their cats and kittens more comfortable while they are waiting for their loving forever homes. So start collecting today, get your friends and school involved (email at carol@catprotection.org.au for more information) or drop your donations off directly at their adoption centre at 103 Enmore Road, Newtown, NSW. For more information, visit catprotection.org.au…

I remember when picking up my gorgeous eight-week-old Golden Retriever puppy, Sophie, the breeder had a poster on her wall which read, “The only sad thing about owning a Golden Retriever is one day you’ll have to say goodbye”. The same is true for all pets. As much as we’d love them to be with us forever, one day your pet will leave you. Coping with the death of a pet isn’t easy; after all they’re a member of the family, and your pet may even be your best buddy. So if your pet dies, don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family for support and understanding. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can help you through the grieving process, as can paying tribute to your pet, with…

WRITE TO DR KATE Does your puppy pee in all the wrong places? Does your kitty scratch the new couches? If you have a question about your pet’s behaviour, write to our resident animal behaviourist, Dr Kate Mornement, from Pets Behaving Badly (petsbehavingbadly.com.au). Send your question to Naughty or nice/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your question to pets@universalmagazines.com.au with the subject heading “Naughty or nice”. Stay tuned, as your question may be answered by Dr Kate and published in the magazine. PURR-FECTLY NORMAL Q: Dear Kate, I have three cats, all Russian Blues. They are beautiful, but I was wondering if you could please tell me why it is that they purr? Is it just because they’re happy? Andrew, via email A: Hi Andrew, Great…

When it comes to keeping reptiles as pets, we tend to fall into one of two categories — those who desperately want to (some of whom are then lucky enough to make it happen), and those who can’t imagine many things spookier! While I fall into the second group, my husband is firmly part of the first, so it was with some interest I looked a little closer into these non-venomous snakes that are native to Australia. Much to my surprise, the consensus is they make wonderful pets, and have a gentle, docile personality — though as with any living creature, temperaments can vary from snake to snake. They are popular with reptile enthusiasts as they are stunning to look at, and very rarely bite, making them a safer choice,…

SEPTEMBER 17–27 ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW, VIC The Royal Melbourne Show is on again this month at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Come on out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather as you take in all the rides, showbags and attractions at the show. For the animal lovers like us, there are award-winning cows, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, goats, alpacas, pigs, chickens and more at the show for you to get your fill of gorgeous animals. There is also a packed schedule of live music, dancing, fireworks, spectacular stunts, wood-chopping, arts, crafts and cooking, as well as a bevy of Australia’s finest food and drink for you to sample. This is one of Victoria’s premier events so make sure you don’t miss out and book your tickets now. For more information, visit royalshow.com.au…

Here is the story of my Welsh pony, Bel. When I was 10 years old, my mum and dad bought me my very own pony! I was so excited. Four days after, I took her to my riding school for agistment. She got a skin condition called rain scald, which made all the hair on her back fall out and her skin went all red with puss. Because the rain scald was where the saddle goes, I couldn’t ride Bel for two long months. All I could really do was watch her graze in the paddock and give her regular feeds. Even though I couldn’t ride Bel just yet, it was fun getting to know her from the ground. But one day at my riding school, my dog got off…

Are you thinking of welcoming a kitten or cat into your family? Offering a fur-ever home to a feline is an exciting decision and it’s important to make sure you choose the pet that’s right for you. As a cat owner, you’ll be responsible for your furry friend’s food, exercise, housing, grooming and veterinary care. By choosing to adopt from the RSPCA, not only will you be giving a new home to a cat in need, but your support will also help the RSPCA care for many more animals. Ready to find your new family member? Visit adoptapet.com.au…

As cats are obligate carnivores, they need a lot of meat in their diet, and a moist diet is ideal for optimal health. ZiwiPeak Daily Cat cans are top-rated in all independent reviews, with top-class ingredients, BPA-free lining, and no carrageenan or other nasties. Our friends at PETstock will give you a free 85-gram can to try on your cat if you simply mention that you saw them mentioned by PETS magazine. Offer valid till September 30, 2016.* *Giveaway organised and managed exclusively by PETstock and ZiwiPeak.…

COMPLETE C3 CAT AND DOG The outstanding Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog bagged vacuum cleaner is especially designed for families with pets. With impressive Miele exclusive features, the Complete C3 range embraces innovative technology to deliver an extremely high level of cleaning performance, air hygiene and convenience. This is supported by the use of Miele’s ground-breaking multilayered HyClean 3D Efficiency dustbags and high-performance filtration. Miele dustbags deliver excellent fine dust filtration and retention and even close automatically once the dust compartment lid is opened so that dust and pet hair are not re-released into living areas, protecting family members from general dust, dust mites and allergens. Whatever your pet may be, this Miele vacuum cleaner neutralises pet smells with an anti-odour filter. Furthermore, Miele’s HEPA Airclean filter ensures that…

Catnip is a plant of the mint family, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, central Asia and parts of China. It is recognised by its heart-shaped green leaves and purple-spotted white flowers. More importantly, catnip has a strong smell that can be attractive to cats and gives many a buzz. The herb is generally used for environmental enrichment, such as for indoor cats that need more stimulation. Dr Elaine Cebuliak, an integrative veterinarian from Animal Wellness in Brisbane, Queensland, has had much experience using catnip during her veterinary work in the United States. Interestingly, she has seen more cats in Australia immune to the catnip experience. “I don’t think I have the numbers [in Australia] to judge, but it’s peculiar that not all cats like catnip” she…

There are very few experiences that can give some dogs such unparalleled joy as the dog park. Not only can dogs burn off a little excess energy but it’s a great place to meet and hang out with new furry friends. For other dogs, though, the park can be a place of fear and uncertainty that could put dog and handler in potentially dangerous situations. So that everyone’s trip to the park is fun and positive, it’s important to know a little dog park etiquette. Visiting the dog park for the first time Socialisation is a significant stage in your dog’s life. Usually socialisation shifts into high gear after your puppy’s final vaccinations and often culminates in their first visit to the local dog park. “Social exposure should commence from…

If there were a feline that should be sashaying up the catwalk it would be the glamorous Persian. With luxurious long silky fur and big expressive eyes, the breed is one of the most beautiful felines of the cat world, and one of the most popular breeds. Marion Cooper from Glevum Persian and Exotic Cats says the Persian is a sweet and gentle-natured cat. “They are so affectionate, and they also make great pets for kids, because they are happy to be lugged around ” says Marion with a smile. Marion fell in love with Persians after she was given one as a pet; she’s now been breeding them for more than 40 years. FASHIONABLE FELINES They originated in Persia (now Iran) in the 17th century, and were aptly named…

WRITE TO PETS! Do you have an amazing pet story or a hilarious animal joke to share? How about some feedback on one of our articles? Or did you recently get a new pet? PETS would love to hear from each and every one of you (and your furry buddies). Drop us a line at Paws for thought/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email pets@universalmagazines.com.au with “Paws for thought” as the subject heading. Letters, poems, photos, collages and drawings are also welcome. Be as creative as you like! PET LOVE Dear PETS, I have two amazing, incredible, fantastic (all of the above) pets! Lucy the lovely Labrador and Sally the sleek tabby cutie! They are the most amazing and precious things to me. I have had Sally…

We all know how important it is to desex our pets, right? After all, doing so has been shown to lower the risk of a host of potential diseases and illnesses in our dogs and cats, including some cancers. Now the decision is made even easier thanks to a new surgery technique practised by Glen Iris Veterinary Clinic in Victoria. Following in the footsteps of veterinarians in the UK and USA, Glen Iris Veterinary Clinic is now offering keyhole spay surgery. This means that using keyhole technology, only the ovaries of your pet dog are removed, instead of the uterus as well (the more traditional surgical method). This results in a shorter recovery period for your dog and less scarring, two great benefits. To find out more about this new…

Dog beds. As every canine owner knows, these are an essential part of owning a dog. It’s important to choose the right one for you and your family to ensure you end up with a product that suits your lifestyle, and, of course, to choose the right one for your dog, to prevent stuffing ending up all over the floor and an uncomfortable pooch ending up in your bed! Despite their rough-and-tumble looks, my two Staffies, Berry and Danger, are very much creatures of comfort when it comes to their naptime, and so I presented them with the Buddy & Belle Dog Bolster Bed with a little trepidation. While this bed looks to be quite well padded, with a thick exterior, it isn’t the usual soft material outer that these…

When you think about training a pet to perform tricks, dogs are the animals that immediately spring to mind. When you combine a dog’s desire to please his owner with his love of food or play, our canine companions are famous for their ability to learn a huge range of tricks and jobs. But while the dogs of the world bask in the spotlight, cats are often dismissed as being hard to train. Cats are known for their independence and stubbornness and their desire to do whatever they want, not what you want, so there’s a widespread belief that our feline friends are untrainable. But as Dr Kim Kendall from the Chatswood Cat Palace Cat Clinic points out, this is certainly not the case. “Lions and tigers are just big…

1 She's affectionate Of the many and varied ways your dog shows she loves you, the one you may notice the most is how she displays her affection for you. “Recent studies have shown that dogs actually do love their humans ” says Katie Catherwood from Heads & Tails Pet Care Services. “Researchers have found that dogs release the same ‘love hormone’ that humans do when they are bonding with one another — oxytocin. One of the strongest ways to elicit oxytocin is in the act of eye-gazing, so if you find your dog is frequently making eye contact with you, this is a good indication that he or she loves you.” But your dog may also show her affections for you in a few other ways: • Tail-wagging in…

The Pekingese’s leonine looks, dignified manner and loyalty have made it a favourite companion of emperors and kings. For centuries, Pekingese were worshipped in the temples of China. It was a custom for the emperor to select four Pekingese as “bodyguards”. These four dogs would precede the emperor on occasions of state, announcing his arrival with sharp piercing barks, while the other dogs daintily held the hem of his royal robe in their mouths. Theft of or injury to a Pekingese was a crime punishable by death. The origins of the Pekingese are steeped in Chinese legend. One story tells of a lion that fell in love with a marmoset. In order for him to be wedded to his lady love, the lion begged Ah Chu, the patron saint of…

Forget the wisp-like creature resembling a bunch of soft white cotton balls bunched together with a twitchy pink nose — the Flemish Giant rabbit is a totally different beast from the stereotypical Easter Bunny-style rabbit. These thumpers can clock in at 9kg at maturity, often weighing around 6kg by the time they are the tender age of nine months old. “My breeding doe rabbits weigh a minimum of 5.5kg when bred for the first time, and are 6kg by full maturity — in a healthy condition, not overweight. My bucks are only just over 12 months old, and clock in at 5 to 5.5kg and over. I have had reports from happy customers that my rabbits have matured well over 6kg, and we can aim for a minimum of 6kg…