MARCH, 2016
ACTRESS ARUNA SHIELDS & PHILIP
TV VET PETE WEDDERBURN ON HOUSE CATS VINCE THE HOLISTIC VET ON ARTHRITIS IN DOGS
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Pets Magazine
AND MUCH MORE INSIDE...
‘PETE THE VET’ This Month: ‘How To Raise A Healthy Indoor Cat’ Dr Pete Wedderburn qualified as a vet from Edinburgh thirty years ago in 1985. He has worked in his own four-veterinarian companion animal practice in County Wicklow, Ireland, since 1991, and he has his own menagerie of dogs, cats, ducks, hens and others including a pet rabbit in his kitchen. Pete is well known as a media veterinarian in Ireland and the UK, with a weekly breakfast television slot on national television for the past fourteen years. He is a prolific writer on animal topics, with weekly columns in the Ireland's Herald newspaper and the UK's Daily Telegraph. Pete is known as "Pete the Vet" on his busy Facebook and Twitter pages, regularly posting information on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic. He also writes a regular blog at www.petethevet.com. Traditionally, cats in the UK have been kept as free-ranging pets, coming and going
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outdoors and indoors as they please via windows, doors or cat flaps.
fellow cat owners are understandably annoyed when their own pets are pounced on by “cat bullies”. At the same time, it's been shown that indoor cats live longer, healthier lives than free ranging animals.
In recent years, there has been a growing swell of discontent directed at outdoor cats. Bird lovers get upset when they see cats hunting garden birds. Gardeners complain about cats The argument in favour of an pooping in their seed beds. And indoor life for pet cats has one Pets Magazine
flaw: if cats are kept indoors all the time, they suffer from a higher level of stress-related disease, such as urinary tract disease and behavioural disorders. So, are there steps that cat owners can take to ensure that their indoor pets have contented, stress-free lives?
Choose a kitten from a friendly genetic background There are two major factors that play a role in a cat's sociability: genetics and early
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upbringing. Many people end up with cats that are frightened of strangers, anxious if humans get too close and fearful of other animals. Around 15% of cats have a genetic make up that is resistant to socialisation: such animals will not make good indoor pets, and so should be avoided. Choose a kitten from a source where both the father and mother are known to be good-natured, friendly animals, and the chances are that the kitten will inherit the same disposition.
looking for. A pedigree cat breeder allowed a cross-breed to take place, between a Devon Rex male and a Maine Coon female cat. Sharon was able to meet both father and mother of her two chosen kittens (and both parents were gentle and friendly).
Choose a kitten that has been well socialised from an early age
It took a while, but Sharon (a Studies have shown that the client at my practice) eventually second and third months of a found the kittens she was Pets Magazine
neutering/ spaying removes the tensions and conflict associated with sexual behaviour.
kitten's life are life-changing: this is when the kitten learns to interact socially with humans, other cats and other animals. If kittens only have limited exposure to such experiences at this age, they often end up for life as fearful, timid adults, avoiding close contact with their human companions, and hiding whenever there are visitors. Sharon's chosen kittens had been handled by humans since birth, and had encountered other cats and the family dog from a young age. As a result, she knew that the kittens would grow up to be relaxed with people, cats and even dogs.
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Choose an appropriate companion (or not) Cats can live happily as solitary animals in a human household, and forced relationships, where new cat is brought into a home that is already inhabited by an established cat often end up with constant stress and fighting. That said, there are benefits from the ongoing company and socialisation if cats are able to share a home as friends. The best way to guarantee such compatibility is to introduce two cats to each other while they are still young (or to take two litter mates). And it goes without saying that Pets Magazine
Sharon took one male and one female kitten from her chosen litter: they had already been seen to spend time together so she knew that they'd get on well. She had them both neutered/spayed at the age of five months.
Design your home to be “cat friendly� Many stress-related problems in cats happen because they are expected to live in a home designed for human living. It's worth taking time to see your cats' habitat through feline eyes: make sure there are highup perches to clamber up onto, to survey the world, and lowdown hidey holes for cats to sneak into when they want time out. If you have more than one cat, offer them privacy, giving each their own eating/drinking
area and plenty of litter trays (one per cat plus one extra).
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Sharon read up about “cat friendly homes” on the internet, then she invested several hundred pounds at her local pet shop, buying two cat gyms (with solid, tall scratching posts), and some “cat runs” (narrow planking for the cats to run up onto high-up furniture).
56th Annual GUVMA Rodeo 2016
Spend time interacting with your cat Cats are not ornaments: to establish a successful relationship with your pets, you need to spend time with them. You can do this as part of your normal lifestyle – pet a cat on your lap when reading a book, watching TV or working at your computer, give them attention from time to time when cooking a meal, and in general, just remember to include them in what you are doing. Be sure to spend dedicated play time with them too, using cat toys such as feathers-onwands, laser lights and dash-around mouse-like toys. Time invested like this will pay dividends – reducing any stress that your cats may be feeling, and strengthening the relationship between you. Sharon talks to her cats when on her own, pets them whenever passing, and if she sits down for any reason, she sits one of them in her lap. The cats love this attention, and Sharon loves sharing her life with her cats like this. Sharon's home has turned well: she has two adult cats who are friends, playing together and sleeping curled up around one another. As far as she can tell, they have stress-free, contented lives, and partly due to her chilledout feline companions, so does Sharon.
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Every year, the Glasgow University Veterinary Medical Association (GUVMA) organises the Annual GUVMA Rodeo, an animal charity fundraising event. This year, Students for Animals In Need, Trusty Paws, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Horse Rescue Scotland, will be the main beneficiaries of the event. The proceeds from the raffle will also go to the Riding for the Disabled – Glasgow. There are plenty of activities to keep you entertained for the whole day: bouncy castles, laser quest, animal interactions and many more! There are also animalrelated showcases ranging from guide dog demonstrations to falconry lined up for you. This event is also your chance to cuddle up with dogs, have a go at handling reptiles and small furries and meet alpacas, horses, birds of prey and other animals up close! If you need a break from all the animals, the main marquee will have plenty of stalls selling hand-made crafts and maybe even home-made fudge. You can also head on down to the tea tent for some snacks and admire the colourful artworks created by the creative students from Hillhead Primary School for our colouring contest. If you are still hungry, there are street food trucks around so don’t worry. So bring your family, your friends and even your furkids down for a day of fun! The rodeo is on the 16th of April 2016, Saturday from 11am to 5pm at the Garscube Estate. Find out more about the rodeo by following us on Facebook 56th Annual Rodeo 2016.
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Date for Your Diary: National Pet Remembrance Day The second national Pet Remembrance Day, which is organised by 3D printing specialists Arty Lobster and Pets Magazine, has been confirmed for the summer. On Tuesday July 5th, people across the UK will remember beloved companion animals that have died. This year, Pet Remembrance Day is proud to support The Oldies Club, a national charity, which rehomes dogs aged seven and over that are in need of homes. Pet lovers will also be able to nominate pets on social media using the hashtag #PetRemembranceDay to be immortalised in 3D by Arty Lobster. One will be chosen to have their likeness fashioned into
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a three-dimensional sculpture.
companion.
A Twitter chat will take place on Tuesday July 5 using the hashtag #PetRemembranceDay for people to show their support and share thoughts and photos of deceased companion animals.
“They also want ways of remembering their pet and its quirks and character traits and the importance it played in their lives and the life of the family.”
Olive Armstrong, at The Oldies Lars Andersen, Managing Club, said: "We're delighted that Director of Arty Lobster, said: “As we've been chosen to be the a country, we still do not really nominated charity for Pet know how to remember our pets Remembrance Day this year. and to deal with their loss. Pet Remembrance Day provides a “Our pets are members of our space for people to remember families too, and to dedicate a departed pets and to celebrate special day to remember them is their lives. a great idea.” “A growing part of our customer base is served by people looking for that lasting memento mori of their pet. People want to have a good send off for their pet, which is most usually their dog or cat Pets Magazine
3D Pet Sculptures
WWW.ARTYLOBSTER.COM Vet
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MY Pet ARUNA SHIELDS is a critically acclaimed actress, hypnotherapist and meditation teacher with a love of nature. A ‘Google Zeitgeist’ she is one of the most searched names online with a growing social media following. Enjoying helping others and dedicated to conscious expansion she recently set up the wellbeing channel Aruna Shields TV. Half Indian, half English she now lives in London and LA. We speak to Aruna about her love of dogs, particularly her Pomerian/Sheltie cross Philip.
WHAT BREED IS PHILIP & WHY DID YOU CHOOSE HIM? I think he’s a ‘Poshie’: half Pomeranian & half Sheltie. That’s what the vet told me after I rescued him from a pet shop anyway. He was the last puppy in the shop and hadn’t been
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sold. I think it was because his fur was patchy, short and a bit mangy. He looked more like an unkempt fox than a dog! My friend came in when I first got him and said ‘is that a dog, or a fox?’. It’s funny because I had no idea how he would turn out, but he almost magically transformed into the most beautiful, silky specimen. Everybody wishes they had hair like Philip, even Nicky Clarke! I used to go there to get my hair cut and he commented on Philip’s wonderful coat.
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HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD PHILIP?
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES PHILIP MAKE TO YOUR LIFE?
Eight years, and each of them has been life changing.
Philip never judges anyone as He has transformed my life; good or bad, he just loves he’s my furry guru. He them. Sometimes people cry inspired me to help people when he looks at them and through meditation and warms up next to their leg, I hypnotherapy. He often makes can tell they haven’t felt a special appearance on my unconditional love for a long time. Humans judge each other by what they wear, the car they drive, where they are from and what they do. This often leads to humans creating identities to fit in or to be channel and public Facebook seen a specific way. It’s a page, and gets lots of likes and lonely place. When a dog comments. I watch him and comes along it doesn’t care learn how to be happy and free about anything other than in the world. He wakes up loving you. every morning with such enthusiasm, it’s like he’s on drugs! Sometimes when it’s DO YOU TAKE PHILIP ON cold and miserable outside or HOLIDAY WITH YOU? I’m having a bad day, I wonder why he’s so happy. Yes he has a dog passport and Then I realize it is because he has come to the French holds onto nothing and lives countryside with me to visit perpetually in the present my parents. He is a city dog moment. and is used to London, going
DOES PHILIP COME TO WORK WITH YOU? Yes, he often comes with me to castings when I’m in London. Some of the directors call me in and it’s quite obvious they are more interested in him than me.
“When a dog comes along it doesn’t care about anything other than loving you.” Aruna Shields
One time I didn’t take him, and they said ‘where’s Philip??’ He should be my agent. Everybody loves Philip! He also works part time at The Bio Agency in London meeting and greeting clients. He stands by the lift and escorts visitors around the meeting rooms. I heard that Cartoon Network will not hold meetings with Bio Agency unless he is present. He is well known in SoHo, London. When I take him in my arms and we go up the escalator to exit the tube, people on the other side say hi to him by name. They don’t bother saying hi to me, I’m just his assistant…haha.
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park it’s as if he is seeing it for the first time.
Everything is interesting. He loves rolling around in the snow even though it’s cold. He sees a puddle and doesn’t worry about getting mud on his paws, but happily bathes in it. Every time we go to the Pets Magazine
on tubes and lots of people around. He seemed a bit freaked out in the wilderness with new smells, which I thought was odd. I think he thought he was going to get eaten!
I would like to take him to LA, however he is too big to come in the plane with me and would have to go in the hold, which I think would scare him. WHAT ARE THE BEST HOLIDAYS YOU’VE TAKEN WITH PHILIP? He comes up North to Durham for Christmas and has a blast, especially if it’s snowing. Sometimes if there is a blizzard he won’t come back in the house. I’ve even seen him dig a snow hole and stick his head in it! He eats the snow, rolls in it and runs around like a lunatic. I also run around like a lunatic trying to catch him; normally he comes back, but not if there is a storm, then it becomes a game and Mummy gets very annoyed/ amused.
DO YOU TAKE HIM TO PUBS / RESTAURANTS? Yes, he loves a good Gastropub! The staff often get him a bone and water. He is also allowed into Home House in London but his favourite dining experience is picnics in the park…that is, everyone else’s. He has many tactics to get food. Sometimes a basic hit and run! Other times pretending he wants to be stroked, then a hit and run! Other times
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pretending he is stationary on his stomach when he is actually moving slowly towards the food, then a hit and run! He is sneaky.
thinks he is a human and that other dogs are beneath him. He also loves a good party and seems to get excited when lots of people dance around!
WHAT ARE PHILIP’S FAVOURITE THINGS? All the parks in London, which he knows so well. Going crazy on sandy beaches. Stealing food from people who pet him. Bones. Barking when he first goes outside.
ANY TIPS FOR DOG OWNERS?
DOES PHILIP HAVE ANY SPECIAL TRICKS?
Make sure you give dogs the correct bones to chew on so their teeth and gums stay healthy. It’s great for removing plaque. Philip’s teeth are so white because of his bonechewing, it’s also is great for his breath.
Make sure you keep dogs cool and hydrated especially if they Yes, he smiles at people when have thick fur and/or in the he greets them. Sometimes summer. I give Philip a hair people get scared because he cut in the summer and he is so shows his teeth but it is a much happier and doesn’t overfriendly smile. He often mirrors heat. He also looks ridiculously what people do when they are cute, like an orange bear. happy. If I do yoga he sometimes stretches too! He Pets Magazine
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VINCE THE VET
The Holistic Treatment Of Arthritis Expert holistic vet Vince MacNally BVSc. VetMFHom MRCVS - Vince the Vet - on how the holistic approach can help ease one of the most common health problems affecting older pets, particularly dogs.
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Older dogs are commonly affected by arthritis
BY VINCE THE VET Arthritis literally means ‘inflammation of joints’ and is one of the commonest diseases affecting dogs and cats, particularly as they get older. Often thought of as one disease, it has many different causes.
stresses and strains or degenerative changes which cause affected joints to become thickened, stiff and creaky. It’s important therefore, whenever arthritis is present, that a thorough clinical examination is performed by a vet and any appropriate investigations carried out (blood tests, X-rays, tapping of joint fluid etc) to determine the underlying cause before treatment is undertaken.
Sudden onset arthritis for example, can be caused by an injury, infection or autoimmune disease. In these cases joints are usually hot, swollen and painful. Chronic arthritis on the other Osteoarthritis hand, develops over months or years and is often the result of Of the different forms of poor conformation; arthritis, osteoarthritis (also developmental abnormalities in known as arthrosis) is by far growing bones; unusual
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the most common, and so this is what we will focus on. Caused by normal wear and tear on joints, osteoarthritis typically results in: • Thinning of the articular cartilage which covers the ends of bones and provides a smooth, slippery surface for them to glide over each other • A deterioration in joint fluid which reduces its ability to lubricate joints and results in cartilage, bone and other important tissues being deprived of essential nutrients
• Inflammation and thickening of the joint capsule which encircles joints • The development of bony lumps or ‘spurs’ in and around joints weakening of tendons and ligaments
• Difficulty climbing stairs or steps • Matted or dirty fur at the back end, due to an inability to groom this area because of pain or lack of flexibility in the spine
A Holistic approach on the other hand, which focuses on promoting and maintaining joint health as gently and as naturally as possible, can be extremely effective in • Toileting in the house (unable improving the quality of life of to make it outside quickly dogs and cats with enough because it is difficult osteoarthritis, without the risk or painful to move) of causing harm.
The collective effect of these changes, is to reduce joint flexibility and cause movement to become difficult or painful. How this manifests, varies from • Crying out or whimpering pet to pet. when moving around
Signs to look out for: Osteoarthritis can result in a wide variety of signs, depending on the severity of joint changes present and a pet’s temperament.
• Gnawing at joints • Wasting of muscles and weakness in the legs
Conventional Treatment:
Most commonly seen are one or The standard treatment for more of the following: osteoarthritis is to give medication to reduce inflammation and minimise • Stiffness in one or more legs creaking or clicking in one or pain in affected joints. more joints While this approach often provides relief, many of the • Difficulty standing up after lying down for a while drugs used carry the risk of limping significant and sometimes serious side effects, such as • Disinclination to move, go for gastrointestinal irritation, walks, run around or play ulceration and bleeding, an inability or reluctance to suppression of the immune jump up system and inhibition of the body’s natural, healing mechanisms; none of which are
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desirable, especially in older pets.
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A Holistic Health Plan for Osteoarthritis: The following regime has proven highly effective for improving joint health and mobility in many pets: Feed a good, balanced, healthy RAW food diet, tailored to suit a particular pet, which focuses on maximising musculoskeletal health and strength. (Vince The Vet can draw this up and supply what is needed.) Give a pure, natural, additive free, joint supplement, containing whole food and whole food extracts (Vince The Vet’s Supple and Sprightly, for example) which effectively: • Promotes the development of strong, healthy, joints, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
montana, rhus tox and ruta) which is available from Ainsworths (www.ainsworths.com). One dose of this given twice daily often produces a noticeable improvement in mobility in significant number of pets within a week or two. If this is the case it can be continued for as long as relief is seen. • Soothes sore and stiff joints (bromelain from pineapples)
This can be achieved through a combination of walking, play, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and massage (by suitably • Helps to lubricate joints (hyaluronic acid - the 'elixir of qualified professionals) youth') • Supports optimum cellular health in joint tissues (organic kelp)
Encourage healthy exercise to: • Stimulate blood flow to the joints • Tone up muscles, tendons and ligaments • Subject joint structures to normal, healthy stresses • Promote suppleness and strength
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Consider Homeopathy:
For more information on helping your pet with this and any other condition, contact Vince on 01952 459896 / 0740 3663263 or visit www.vincethevet.co.uk.
Vince MacNally BVSc. VetMFHom (1998) MRCVS is an expert holistic vet. He Homeopathic remedies qualified as a veterinary stimulate healing best when surgeon from Liverpool they are individualised for a University in 1983. He particular pet (take went on to gain the into account each pet’s own, VetMFHom qualification unique make up) and this in 1998. Vince has 30 years requires a full Holistic experience of using a wide consultation. range of natural remedies, therapies and supplements A useful general remedy in pets, including combination for osteoarthritis acupuncture, however, where stiffness is homoeopathy, herbs and worse after lying nutritional supplements. down or is aggravated by cold He is currently a Partner in and damp weather and is better Vince The Vet®. for continued movement is ARR (homeopathic arnica Pets Magazine
Sophie’s Choice Top product pick by our resident reviewer Sophie, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Pet Angel Brush in variety of sizes This brush designed by celebrity hair stylist Richard Wards comes in a variety of sizes and zingy colours and is soft and light and does an excellent job. The comb is gentle but helps to tease out the most stubborn of tangles. We love the fact that the Pet Angel brush comes in a paw print shape and is lovely to look at. It’s far better than the standard brushes stocked on the high street. We thoroughly recommend! Stocked at Amazon and other stores. Or for more info: http://www.tangleangel.com/products/ about-pet-angel/
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