Pets Magazine February 2018

FEBRUARY 2018, FREE

COMPETITION:

Pets in Wills

Win a year's supply of petfriendly products!

BARKING Mad? How to help your dog be calm TOP PRODUCTS/PET CARE TIPS & MUCH MORE INSIDE Vet Pets Magazine

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WIN: a year's supply of pet-friendly products!

One lucky Pets magazine reader is in with a chance of winning a year's supply of pet friendly disinfectant worth around £60.00 in total, from the UK's most popular liquid disinfectant brand, Zoflora, helping you to keep your home fragrantly fresh and clean.

Like all Zoflora products, Fresh Home also kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses including Bordetella Bronchiseptica (a cause of kennel cough in dogs), Campylobacter Jejuni (diarrhoea in dogs and humans) and MRSA (antibiotic-resistant infections in dogs, and other pets).

For more information on Zoflora visit www.Zoflora.co.uk TO ENTER: To enter our competition, please visit the following web page and answer the simple question: http:// www.competitionshub.co.uk/competition/win-a-years-supply-of-zofloras-petfriendly-disinfectant-fresh-

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Cavaliers’ Choices...

Premium pet products, destinations & activities for you & your pet chosen by Sophie Nell and Rufus, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, assisted by Marie.

Loving Paws Furbaby Casting creates beautiful castings of your pet’s paws (or child’s foot or hand) mounted in a high quality oak frame. The process is simple - you buy a casting kit consisting of ready made clay, full instructions, and a return box. You roll the clay out and press your pet’s paw into the clay, package it up and send it back to Furbaby Casting. The swift result is a high quality casting in either silver or bronze colour of your special fourlegged friend’s paw print with name tags beneath. It’s ideal as a gift or as a lasting memento of your pet. Pictured is a beautiful casting of Pets Magazine’s three amigos, Cavaliers Rufus, Nell and Sophie. The results are very impressive, as you can see! We highly recommend Furbaby Casting.

Various options available.

All details and to order at: www.furbabycasting.com

Tasty treats Our canine reviewers enjoyed these Vet’s Kitchen Little Stars Sensitive+ treats. These natural, hypoallergenic pork dog treats are free from any artificial nasties, and filled with active ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM for healthy joints, and Omega 3 and 6 to maintain a healthy heart, skin and coat. Yum, yum! www.vetknowhow.co.uk/vets-kitchen/the-range/ dog/dog-treats/pork-grain-free-dog-treats

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Cavaliers’ Choices...

TweedyDogs We adore this handmade range of Harris tweed designer dog wear from Scottish company Bowzos.

Whether you want a smart waistcoat, collar, lead or bowtie, they are the ones to go to to kit out your pooch!

As well as for everyday wear, their smart togs are perfect for special occasions such as weddings.

www.bowzos.co.uk

Join the Tribe!

Tribal TLC (Truly Lower Celsius) is a coldpressed grain free food, that is made using human grade ingredients and cooked at the lowest temperature possible. This means that the process protects each ingredient in the best possible way. The fur kids thought the treats (they also do food) were lip-smackingly good and yomped them down! www.tribalpetfoods.co.uk

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Cavaliers’ Choices...

Two's Company!

The Double Dog Extension Lead by Mountain Paws is constructed from durable nylon and designed to stand up to the daily exertion of walking even the most energetic of dogs. Easy to clip on to your normal lead, the double dog extension lead features two separate elasticated sections that offer increased freedom for your dogs and a reduced risk of shock from dogs pulling. Robust clips at each end of the lead can be securely attached to your pet’s collar.

The lead also features a camlock that allows you to adjust the length between the two dogs, ideal when walking two breeds of different sizes.

Each of the individual lead sections has an integrated grab handle, ideal for keeping dogs close when required. www.mountainpaws.co.uk

PS/ We’re always looking for premium products & services to review for both pets and people! Please get in touch with the boss at editor@petsmag.co.uk.

Love,

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Sophie, Nell & Rufus

xxx

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Why a Pet Trust Could be Worth It In the US, 'Pet Trusts' are now mainstream, but the concept of having a legally binding document to care for our pets after our deaths is worryingly not one that's commonplace in the UK...

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Remembering to include a precious pet in your will could be the best decision

By MARIE CARTER

In the US, so-called 'Pet

taking on a pet is too much for them?

The average lifetime cost of owning a dog is estimated mainstream, but the at ÂŁ17,000 according to a concept of having a recent survey, and almost a legally binding document quarter of people who to care for our pets after inherit a dog would rehome it or have it put down. our deaths is not one No exact stats are available that's commonplace in for the percentage who the UK. would consider euthanasia, but the very fact that some Worryingly, people over 60 people do means the stakes are the least likely to make are so high that it's vital pet specific provisions for their owners make proper pets, according to research provision for their pets. As by over-50s specialist firm well as wills, there is Saga. But what happens if something called a family or friends decide that 'discretionary trust' which

Trusts' are now

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gifts a set amount of money to the trustee, the new owner, which expires upon the death of the pet. Any money left over would then be given to a named beneficiary, who could be the original trustee.

It's certainly worth thinking about and planning for the kinds of bills that the average pet will accrue during its lifetime and making set provision for these. Think about vets bills, pet insurance (if applicable), food, medical history, and dietary requirements. Cats Protection has very helpfully produced a list of useful

contacts to help pet owners.

Even if you're fit and healthy, it doesn't hurt to take a look, and, if you have a will already, to consider setting aside provision for a pet.

The RSPCA also offers a free service to pet owners which finds a new home for a pet after the owner dies:Â http:// www.homeforlife.org.uk We're a nation of animal lovers but many people die and leave no provision for their pets. How many times have you seen rescue centres seeking new homes for pets whose owners have died?

There is an organisation for older pets called The Oldies Club. There are lots of dear older dogs whose beloved owners have died and left their pets with no provision.

Pets, particularly dogs, are sentient creatures and will struggle with the loss of their owner. The difference

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between Pet Trusts and discretionary trusts is that the former has no human beneficiary. In theory,

left all of her $5 million estate to her pets.

Dusty Springfield's 1999 will specified that a bequest for her cat Nicholas be spent on a lifetime supply of his favourite meal of imported unscrupulous trustees could baby food. spend money left to them in a discretionary trust on These are, of course, other items. extreme examples, but the Pet trusts are much tighter and trustees are held much more to account for how they spend the money left to the pet. In the US, lawyers with a specialism in 'pet law' are increasingly mainstream. The typical amount set aside in a pet trust is around $25,000.

There are some interesting cases at the top end. In 1993, tobacco heiress Doris Duke left $100,000 to her dog Rodeo, a Shar-Pei. A will written by actress Betty White is reported to have Pets Magazine

point should not be lost that it's so very important to make specific provision for pets. This should particularly be the case if the pet is older or has a medical condition(s) that will make it more difficult for them to be rehomed if the pet owner dies first.

Is Your Dog BARKING MAD?

Hannah Inskip BVetMed MRCVS GPCertSAM is a vet working in a companion animal practice in the West Midlands. She explains how to tackle problem barking.

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Wolves howl, domesticated dogs bark.

Hannah Inskip BVetMed

bark to tell you he wants to be

a worldwide increase in a

MRCVS GPCertSAM is a vet

let out.

procedure called

working in a companion

When dogs were first

animal practice in the West

domesticated barking was

This is a procedure that involves removing tissue from

seen as a positive feature of

the vocal cords of dogs, so that

canine behaviour. Being working companions, whether

their bark is greatly reduced in

Midlands. She explains how to tackle problem barking.

used for guarding, hunting or The ability to bark is vital for dogs to be able to

devocalisation or debarking.

volume. It is illegal in the UK

but still happens elsewhere in herding, the ability to bark was the world. Dogs that have had very useful. In recent times our the surgery wake up from the anaesthetic with a very sore

other, and with us as their

reasons for keeping dogs have changed from keeping them

owners. Anyone who owns a dog will recognise that each

primarily as working dogs to being kept mainly as

communicate properly, leading to frustration. By

dog has several different

companion animals. With

stripping the dogs of their

sounding barks , all meaning

many of us living in close proximity to our neighbours,

ability to warn us if we're doing

barking can be a nuisance.

vocalising, they are likely to turn to biting much sooner

communicate, both with each

different things. There's the warning bark, to tell you there are "intruders" on the property, the play bark, and the "I want"

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Excessive barking from our canine companions has led to Pets Magazine

throat and unable to

something they don't like by

than they usually would.

ears prick, ideally before he even starts barking. The interruption should be a short, sharp stimulus that gets his attention - a loud, high pitched whistle for example. If your dog doesn't respond to sound a spray of water can be used as long as the dog doesn't show any fear of the water.

Remember this is just to interrupt the behaviour, not to scare the dog.

Collars that emit a spray under the chin of the dog can also be used in this circumstance.

Careful use is required to make sure the dog doesn't

Distraction techniques can work effectively

So it's clear that debarking isn't knows that barking isn't the the answer. But this doesn't

way to get what he wants.

mean that we have to accept

If an owner is vigilant when

nuisance barking as part of life. they first take ownership of a Dogs can be taught that it is dog then as soon as that dog not acceptable to bark to

starts to bark inappropriately

excess, or in certain situations,

the behaviour can be

in order to enjoy a harmonious

interrupted and the dog asked

become scared of having the collar put on. As soon as you have the dogs attention, ask him to perform a different behaviour.

This could be picking up a toy to play with, or going to his bed for a particularly tasty treat, reserved for use in this

circumstance only. If repeated partnership with their owners. to perform a more appropriate with consistency then your As with all behavioural issues, behaviour. For example a dog will soon be running to his prevention is better than cure. puppy that barks at people bed or to get his toy as soon as The aim is to ensure the dog approaching the house should he hears someone be interrupted as soon as his approaching the door.

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Barking can be symptomatic of conditions such as separation anxiety

Which behaviour you ask him

behaviour. Consistency is the

management is required in

to perform will depend on

key.

some dogs to ensure that

your dog and what motivates

barking doesn’t become

him. The immediate nature of the reward is very important

Barking can be symptomatic of a more complex behaviour

and it needs to be more

problem such as separation-

rewarding to the dog than

related anxiety, noise phobias

excessive, but surgery is not the answer.

Hannah Inskip BVetMed

barking itself. Barking is fun in or generalised anxiety.

MRCVS GPCertSAM is a vet

it's own right to dogs, so if left unchecked reinforces the

Guidance from a vet or an accredited behaviourist may

working in a companion

behaviour just because of the

be required.

Midlands. She has a strong

fact the dog is having fun whilst doing it. Additionally,

Whilst barking is irritating to us

often what the dog wants will happen if he barks long

humans who have to listen to it, it is important to remember

enough just by circumstance -

that our dogs are trying to

the postman will walk past the communicate with us, and house for example. This

anything that opens up the

happening just a few times will lines of communication undo all the progress you've between canines and humans made by interrupting the

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has to be a good thing. Careful Pets Magazine

animal practice in the West interest in canine behaviour and enjoys walking her shih tzu, Noodle.

LARS B. ANDERSEN, CEO of Arty Lobster On 3D Pet Sculptures Click this link to watch the video.

And here’s two examples of Arty Lobster’s fantastic 3D sculptures. Visit their website at www.artylobster.com to order a 3D sculpture of YOUR pet!

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