What's New 2011

Each month we will display articles of interest to our owners. Some of which will be seasonal and topical.

REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER!

Start action mid October at the latest if you have a pet that ‘reacts’ badly to fireworks!
Encourage the use of a den or hidey-hole where your pet will feel secure e.g. a crate, under or behind furniture. Make sure the den / hidey-hole is accessible to the pet AT ALL TIMES.
Build positive associations with the den, using toys and treats at times when your pet is not afraid, and send him/her there when he or she begins to look anxious.
It is extremely important to not reinforce fearful behaviour by stroking, cuddling or talking to your pet. You must ignore the behaviour completely and reward the confident behaviour by giving a treat and a cuddle.
Ensure dogs have been fed and exercised / toileted before dark.
Put on some music with a STRONG BASE BEAT and close the curtains.
Homeopathic medicine is available for cats & dogs to help ease stress. Please speak to your Vet/ Vet Nurse for more information.
Dog’s known to have extreme reactions may need stronger medication to help them. Please phone to book a consultation with your vet to discuss this AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

WELCOME TO JENNY OUR NEW VET!

Jenny joined us in October this year. Jenny has recently returned from travelling & working in New Zealand. Before travelling she has worked in small animal practice on the Wirral & now she is working for Fernlea! Jenny is great at baking cakes too! yum yum!

“DOGGIE KONGS”

We especially recommend “DOGGIE KONGS” – different sizes are available for all breeds of dogs – If you’re not already a convert to these wonderful toys (it’s been described as the doggie equivalent of a playstation!) you’ll wonder why a rubber pyramid (that doesn’t squeak!) can be at all interesting to any dog…..the secret lies in the stuffing!! The “Kong” is a virtually indestructible & hollow - &, if you stuff it well, it will be the most rewarding thing you can give your dog.

Dog trainers recommend it to help prevent unsociable behaviour – while your dog is chewing the “kong” he’s not interested in chewing the sofa or barking at the birds in the garden, or anything else he might get up to when he’s bored!

We have a full range of different sized “Kongs” – ask our nurses for advice as to which size would be suitable for your dog & for a free leaflet on the different stuffing recipes – it’s a great way to alleviate boredom & a present every dog would like to find in his stocking Christmas morning!

Choosing the right KONG:

“Kongs” come in several different sizes & it’s important to buy one that’s not too small that your dog could swallow it (or too big that he could get his nose stuck!!)

If your dog has particularly strong jaws then extra tough “black Kongs” are also available.

Remember to keep your “Kong” clean – it should be washed out regularly – you can even put them through the dishwasher!

It’s important to keep your dog interested in the kong for as long as possible & so we recommend stuffing with ingredients that a) are not too easily accessible but b) are not too sticky or soft. It’s also a good idea to invest in several kongs so that you can have them ready prepared in the fridge.

Some stuffing Ideas:

Chopped cheese, cubed chicken & bacon, cooked liver (use sparingly) small dog biscuits, chopped carrot, chunks of garlic bread, doggie choc drops (use sparingly) chopped sausage…..use your imagination & get stuffing!!!!