December 2014
VINCE THE VET on festive treats to avoid
MALCOLM D WELSHMAN shares a Christmas tale
COMPETITION: Does your pet have the Xmas Factor? Vet
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VINCE THE VET
Festive treats to keep away from your pet!
It’s that time of year again when our pets as members of our families will no doubt be getting their own Christmas stockings. But, there are many supplements and other edible nasties that go into our pets’ treats. Expert holistic vet Vince MacNally BVSc. VetMFHom MRCVS - Vince the Vet - shares his thoughts on the good, bad and ugly of festive pet treats.
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nutritious, hristmas Day is fast healthapproaching, the shops are full promoting supplements of glittering gifts and there’s a therefore, twinkle in many a pet’s eye as contain these they imagine the surprises Santa might spring come multi-nutrient Christmas morning! Topping complexes in the list will be a tasty treat. The abundance. more health conscious will probably be angling for Nitty gritty something a little more To learn how nutritious. A few might even be good a toying with the idea of a nutritional aid to weight loss or supplement is, you have to sachets of detox powder, as they dust off bikinis and trunks ignore the wrapping and in anticipation of the holiday adverts! product description and Pets have a great knack of get straight to letting us know what they want, the nitty gritty of so no problem there. They do the ingredients label. struggle to read labels however, so let’s help them discover Here the components that what’s inside the supplements make up the product can be and other edible gifts that found. Beware being led astray might be jockeying for a place by heart-tugging pictures of on their festive wish lists! happy pets and wonderful
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testimonials! Evolution Our pets’ digestive systems are miracles of evolution. Over millions of years they’ve perfected the ability to extract from food, the nutrients essential for good health.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Next, the fun bit; a game you might both like to play in the what-do-we-do-now postprandial lull after the turkey, pud and sprouts! With These nutrients occur in nature smartphones at the ready, as rich complexes of proteins, grade the supplement as good, sugars, vitamins, minerals and bad or ugly, based on the many other elements. Good, guidelines that follow.
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Vince with Dog
Try not to fall out if you can’t agree, no matter how much sherry you’ve had! Extra marks can be awarded for the most credible evidence produced for a particular point of view, following a Google search. That should settle it! Remember, it’s what’s on the ingredient label that counts. Quoting descriptions loses marks! The Good Top of the tree are supplements rich in health-promoting nutrients, as they occur in nature.
Look for: ● premium quality ● pure or organic
they’ve been included! Synthetic additives are used because they are cheap compared to naturally ● whole foods occurring nutrients. A number ● natural plant and animal are manufactured from extracts industrial raw materials, such as petrol, coal tar and Tip: these supplements hydrogenated sugar treated generally contain a relatively small number of named plants, with acetone (ascorbic acid or vitamin C). or natural plant and animal extracts. They cost more to ● synthetic vitamins produce and so command a ● synthetic amino acids higher price. ● genetically modified organisms Bonus points: organic ingredients are a definite plus, Tip: synthetic additives appear so the more the merrier! as E numbers or individually named ingredients, such as: The Bad ascorbic acid; vitamin C; Not so good, are supplements vitamin A; vitamin D; vitamin containing indigestible E; niacin; folic acid; biotin; ingredients or synthetic lysine; vitamin B12; methionine ‘nutrients’. etc. Double points for whoever Look for: ‘Fillers’ or ‘bulking’ agents, which are used to dilute finds the supplement with the longest list of additives! active ingredients. They can’t be digested by dogs and cats The Ugly and so go in one end and out Bottom of the ladder are the other: products containing potentially harmful chemical additives, ● cellulose - plant cell walls ● microcrystalline cellulose - a used as lubricants, glues, preservatives, artificial colours smaller version of the above ● silica - mainly found in rocks and flavours: and sand ● silicon dioxide - as above Claim bonus points for unearthing and naming other fillers, and giving reasons why
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Examples are: Titanium oxide - a pigment. Sodium benzoate - a preservative which can convert Pets Magazine
to benzene, a known carcinogen. Magnesium stearate or stearic acid - a lubricant which a published study showed may suppress the immune system. Unethical animal products may not be harmful, but who wants to encourage the use of Ingredients like chondroitin which may come from inhumanely harvested shark cartilage or battery hens? Triple points for an online search and adding a few more to this list. That’s it! Your pet will have a much better idea now of what to ask Santa to bring. So good luck with the glass of milk and hanging up the stocking! Vince MacNally BVSc. VetMFHom (1998) MRCVS is an expert holistic vet. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Liverpool University in 1983. He went on to gain the VetMFHom qualification in 1998. Vince has 30 years experience of using a wide range of natural remedies, therapies and supplements in pets, including acupuncture, homoeopathy, herbs and nutritional supplements. He is currently a Partner in Vince The Vet® https:// www.vincethevet.co.uk
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A Christmas Crisis for Gerry the Gerbil
MALCOM D WELSHMAN is a retired vet and author of three pet novels. The first, Pets in a Pickle, with a foreword by James Herriot's son, reached number two on Kindle's bestseller list. The third, Pets Aplenty, has just been published. The Sun says: 'It’s perfect for animal lovers the world over.' Malcolm shares with Pets Magazine readers this festive short story, one of many stories based on his years as a vet. towels wrapped round their heads. A couple of he chatter of voices girls had white cardboard wings attached to their backs. And the remaining lad was virtually emanating from my waiting invisible, swamped by an oversized sheepskin room one early December coat, inside out, with its sleeves hanging down to afternoon stopped abruptly as his knees and the collar over his head - shepherd I entered and ground to a halt or one of his flock, I couldn’t quite decide. self-consciously. Eight little faces peered up at me from ‘We’ve just been doing a dress rehearsal for our the circle that surrounded Mrs nativity play,’ said Mrs Jennings, by way of Jennings, a teacher from the nearby primary explanation. school. It was a very seasonal looking circle. Five lads were in dressing gowns, with red-checked tea
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‘I’m one of the five wise men,’ said a tea-towelled boy proudly, peering up at me through heavy black-rimmed pebble glasses.
Tea towels nodded, angel wings flapped and the sheepskin coat wagged its sleeves, as their teacher ushered them through, Emma elbowing her way to the ‘Five?’ I queried, looking at Mrs front with the cardboard box. Jennings. She lifted it on to the consulting She shrugged. ‘We had table and seven anxious faces difficulty in finding parts for and a headless coat clustered everyone.’ round as I cautiously took the lid off. The boy with the glasses turned to one of the angels who was clutching a small cardboard box, her thumbs keeping the lid firmly in place.
‘Not if he’s snuffed it, I won’t,’ retorted Ben, pushing his spectacles back up his nose. I didn’t like to say it but I happened to think Ben was right. But the sudden jolt made the rodent’s whiskers twitch. So it hadn’t passed on. Not yet. ‘He’s a very poorly gerbil,’ I said quietly.
The creature lay on its side, motionless, with no visible signs of life.
‘Well go on, Emma,’ he said, pushing her forward, crushing her wings, ‘show him Gerry.’ ‘Leave off Ben,’ said the girl, pushing him back with her elbow in a very un-angelic fashion.
Carefully I lifted out the prostrate creature. I could see a smear of blood on the white fur of its belly. Parting the fur, a tear in the skin was clearly visible.
‘Can anyone tell me what happened?’ I asked. Inside, curled up on a cushion of cottonwool was a brown and white rodent, not much bigger than a mouse, but with much longer legs and a long, hairy tail. The creature lay on its side, motionless, with no visible signs of life.
There was silence for a moment. Then, a rush of words from Emma.
Tears welled up in her eyes. Furiously wiping them away, Mrs Jennings hastily she sobbed, ‘I went to look at intervened. ‘Now ... Now ... the gerbils and saw Gerry was Ben stood on tip toe and peered sick. He was lying in a corner of Behave yourselves, you two.’ onto the box, his pebble ‘Er ... let’s go through to the the cage, not moving. spectacles, sliding down his consulting room, shall we?’ I nose. ‘I reckon he’s a goner,’ he ‘I called Mrs Jennings and she said. declared, giving the box a said Gerry was injured and that vigorous poke. ‘Can we all come?’ said a we ought to take him to the muffled voice from the depths vet’s.’ ‘Don’t do that,’ said Emma of the sheepskin. crossly, smacking his hand. ‘The other gerbil attacked him,’ ‘Only if everyone’s on their best said the sheepskin coat. ‘You’ll frighten Gerry.’ behaviour. Understand?’ said Mrs Jennings.
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‘Males fight. Says so in my pet book.’ ‘They shouldn’t have been together,’ said Ben, knowingly. ‘Can you do anything for him Mr Vet?’ sobbed Emma, sniffing back a tear. ‘Naw ... he’s had his chips,’ said Ben gruffly, giving the box another poke.
Gerry was saved
Just before Christmas, I ‘I’ll try stitching him up,’ I said, received a large brown envelope from the school. pulling the box out of Ben’s Inside were 18 hand-made reach. Christmas cards from all the Once the children had trooped pupils in Mrs Jennings’ class. One card in particular made me out, I took the gerbil down to smile. the prep room. Once anaesthetised, it didn’t take long to clip the hair away from It was a crayon drawing of a the rodent’s wound, clean it up brown rat-like creature, which I guessed was meant to be Gerry, and insert two dissolvable the gerbil. It was asleep in a sutures. crib with a large silver star above it. Below was written: Gerry was collected by a delighted delegation, devoid of ‘Dear Mr Vet, their nativity wear, the Thank you for saving Gerry. I following day. was very worried he might have died or something worse might ‘Didn’t snuff it then,’ grunted Ben, pushing his spectacles up have happened. his nose. Happy Christmas from Emma.’
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********************* Malcolm D. Welshman is author of Pets Aplenty published by Austin Macauley Publishers 0207 038 8312 at £7.99; Kindle version £0.97 www.malcolmwelshman.c o.uk.
Pets Product Picks Beautiful tents for children & dogs! We absolutely love the new range of tents from The Raj Tent Club. They are perfect for both children and fur kids! Visit: http://www.rajtentclub.com.
Ruffwear Sun Shower Rain Jacket RRp £50.00 Stockist: Cotswold Outdoor We’re loving this waterproof jacket for dogs. It’s perfect both in cooler months and during spring showers. The Ruffwear Sun Shower is weatherproof rain jacket built for the trail. Waterproof fabric helps extend adventures into wet weather by keeping dogs comfortable. Non-insulated design allows for use in warm climates and can be worn over insulating layers for cold climates. Full coverage minimizes wet, muddy dog cleanup.
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Bespoke Cushions www.digilabeluk.com offers cutting edge, top quality digital photo printing onto various home furnishings, clothing and other personal items including quilt covers, pillows, cushions, dog beds, tablecloths, table runners, napkins, aprons, sport towels, sports bags, beach bags and sarongs, with new products being added monthly. Users can upload their own images and designs using the inbuilt configurator and have the option on some products of customising the size, allowing the user to create a unique, one-off product. Promo code: PETSMAG1 (Valid until 31/12/14)
Dog About Town How to raise a happy dog in the city By Louise Glazebrook Illustrated by Ping Zhu. £12.99 HB
Dog about Town, is a fun yet informative manual to your mongrel. Pooling together her years of experience, Louise will educate you on everything from puppy training to feeding schedules, understanding your dog’s tail talk to the importance of urban etiquette. You’ll learn your dog’s anatomy, the importance of micro-chipping and mental stimulation and what yummy treats to make your four-legged friend. There’s even advice for more fashion-forward dog owners - what to wear on a dog walk! Because your doggy Instagram account needs a #OOTD (outfit of the day) pic! Available from Amazon.
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Festive treats for dogs & cats From Lilys Kitchen We’re loving the festive range of treats and dog and cat food for the Christmas season. The Advent Calendar contains healthy snacks for a change and the treats are very festive with turkey and cranberry. Lily’s Kitchen also does a lovely range of wet and dry food for the season, which are canine taste tester gave a definite paws up to. Pictured: Advent Calendar, Lulu Fox Christmas Tree Decoration, £6.95, Christmas Biscuits, £2.99.
Growling Tums dog food All Growling Tums products are hypoallergenic; natural and without artificial ingredients or additives, and are composed using quality British farm produce. Growling Tums sell directly through their own website keeping prices to a minimum (RRP is £39.99.)
Visit: http://growlingtums.co.uk/
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Does your pet have the Xmas Factor? We're searching for the most festive of pets for our #PetXmasFactor competition. Up for grabs are three cushions from DigilabelUK that will feature your pet. To enter, simply take a photograph of your pet looking Christmassy. Then, visit the Pets Magazine Facebook Page or Twitter page (@Pets_Mag) and post your pet photo with the hashtag #PetXmasFactor. IMPORTANT - it must include the hashtag #PetXmasFactor for the entry to count. The deadline for entries is Wednesday December 24 at 12 noon. Three lucky readers will win one of three microfibre 20 x 20 cushions of their pet from DigiLabelUK.com. Winners will need to email the photo they would like to use on their cushion to editor@petsmag.co.uk. Terms & Conditions There will be three winners for this competition - all entries sent in after the above date will not be counted. The competition is open to all pets. All entrants must be either uploaded to our Facebook page or Twitter page and must include the hashtag - #PetXmasFactor. The deadline for photos to be sent in is Wednesday December 24 at 12 noon. Three winners will be announced and contacted on Wednesday December 24 2014. This competition is only open to UK residents. By submitting this image you are allowing us to use it for marketing purposes. Winners are required to send an additional photo of their pet that they would like to feature on their cushion via email by January 31st 2015.
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