Food intolerance in cats and dogs

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on May 17, 2012

cat products Food intolerance in cats and dogs

Food intolerances are not just confined to humans, as pets can also be sensitive to different food types. With this in mind, Vetpharmacy.co.uk now stocks the James Wellbeloved range of hypoallergenic cat food and dog food.

Food intolerances are believed to affect around 5-10% of all pets. However, pet food intolerances can be extremely difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms can often also be minor illnesses in themselves. Common symptoms of food intolerance include vomiting, eczema, diarrhoea and lethargy, all of which, in addition to being minor health complaints in their own right, can be attributed to a whole host of different illnesses.

The large majority of pets that suffer from food intolerances are only hypersensitive to a couple of food types. Some of the most common food intolerances in cats and dogs are caused by just a handful of ingredients, these include: wheat (or wheat gluten); eggs; dairy; soya; beef and pork. Some rarer pet food intolerances can also be caused by the additives that can be found in some pet food brands.

James Wellbeloved cat food and dog food is hypoallergenic, as it avoids many of the ingredients that cause food intolerances: beef; pork; wheat; wheat gluten; soya; eggs; and dairy. Every James Wellbeloved product contains a full list of all the ingredients on the packet, so that it is easy to keep track of exactly what your pet is eating. These hypoallergenic pet foods also contain no added flavours, preservatives or colours, which could also help to keep your pet calmer.

If your cat or dog has, or you believe it to have a food intolerance, then James Wellbeloved pet food is the perfect solution, as it avoids many of the foods that pets are sensitive to, as well as avoiding added preservatives, colours and flavourings.

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Pet Supplies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
       

Shopping for pet supplies need not be tiresome!

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on April 3, 2012

1376241 zzzz 2 Shopping for pet supplies need not be tiresome!Had a long hard day at work and just can’t face the thought of trekking to your local pet store? There is another option. Today the internet shopping revolution enables shoppers to get virtually anything they need at the click of a mouse, without even having to leave the comfort of their own home. With the ever growing number of pet supply stores springing up across the World Wide Web, pet supplies are now no exception.

Convenience is one of the main benefits of buying pet supplies online. Not only does online shopping negate the need for consumers to leave the comfort of their own homes, in order to buy supplies for their cat, dog or other pet, but it also means that they can order form pretty much anywhere. This makes it the ideal solution for those who are on a tight time schedule. With the majority of consumers now possessing a smart phone, or other internet enabled device, online shopping can be done pretty much everywhere – whether it is on a break at work or on the journey to and from work.

Online pet supply stores and pet pharmacies, such as Vetpharmacy.co.uk,  also offer a wide range of choice. Online stores tend to stock a whole variety of products – including pet medicines, cat and dog treats, pet shampoos, flea treatments, pet food and wormers – from a whole host of different brands.

The prices available for products online at a pet pharmacy or pet supply store are often cheaper than those in a high street store and websites also occasionally give out voucher codes, which customers can use to gain free delivery or an even further discount on their pet products. Veterinary medicines can be especially cheap, compared to those that have been bought straight from the veterinary surgery.

Another advantage of ordering pet products online is that the goods are mailed to the customer at the address of their choice. This means that customers do not have to go out of their way to go and fetch their pet supplies and it eliminates the need to lug around heavy items, such as large bags of pet food.  Most websites also offer next day or express delivery, which means that shoppers will not be waiting for days wondering where their items are and when they are likely to arrive.

Posted in Cats, Dogs, Pet Supplies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
       

Get the jump on fleas, treat your cat before it becomes a problem!

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on March 27, 2012

Catflea2 Get the jump on fleas, treat your cat before it becomes a problem!With 1-5 cats suffering from a flea infestation, fleas are one of the most common parasites caught by cats and the most common flea is the cat flea. Flea infestations are irritating on their own, but can also cause further associated problems, such as Flea Allergic Dermatitis and tapeworm infestation. As a result, it is important to make sure that your pet is treated to prevent them from catching fleas in the first place.

Contrary to popular belief fleas do not jump from one pet to another. Instead, they are transferred to animals from their surrounding environment. Cats can pick up fleas from any area where other animals with fleas (e.g. foxes, hedgehogs, rabbits, other cats etc) have already been e.g. your garden, as this a likely breeding ground for fleas.

This makes it extremely important that cats are treated in order to prevent them from becoming infected with fleas and there are a range of products available on the market for this purpose. Products designed to prevent flea infestations include: flea collars, flea spray, spot on flea treatments, flea tablets and flea powder. All of these products work effectively to remove the risk of cats becoming infested with fleas in the first place.

It is also important to remember that if a cat does become infested with fleas it is not just the cat that will need treating. Other pets within the household and the cats surrounding environment (e.g. bedding, carpets etc) will need to be treated to remove the fleas, as this is where they will be breeding. In the case of severe flea infestation an environmental spray containing an Insect Growth Regulator will need to be used, in order to kill the developing eggs and larvae exist within the pet’s environment. You should still allow treated pets to have continued access to infested areas, as existing fleas will then be able to jump onto your treated pet, where they will be killed as a result of contact with the flea treatment that you have given them.

Posted in Dogs | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment
       

Important pet supplies for a new cat’s health and happiness

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on March 1, 2012

1319511 cute kitty Important pet supplies for a new cat’s health and happinessGetting and bringing home a new kitten is an exciting experience, but before you bring your new cat home, it is important to make sure that you have purchased all of the essential cat supplies that it may need. Kittens may look cute and cuddly, but they also need a lot of love, care and attention to make sure that they grow up to be happy and healthy cats. Vetpharmacy has put together a quick checklist of essential items that your new cat may require.

Essential kitten supplies checklist

  • Cat sanitary products – Litter boxes and tray come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes, but make sure to choose a litter box that will be easy for your new cat to use and become accustomed to.  As a result of this purchase, you will also need to buy cat litter, a litter scoop and some pet friendly disinfectant e.g. Johnsons Clean n Safe Disinfectant. There are a wide range of different cat litters available on the market; however it is best to choose a non clumping cat litter for use by a kitten.
  • Cat bed – You will also need to create somewhere warm and safe for your kitten to sleep. This could simply be a sturdy box with a nice warm, cosy blanket inside or a bed that was made specifically with cats in mind. This needs to be positioned somewhere within your home that the kitten will be both warm and safe from hazards.
  • Food and water bowls - Food and water bowls will also be needed, so that you kitten has somewhere to eat and drink.
  • Kitten food – It is important to buy a cat food that will be suitable for a kitten’s nutritional needs, as growing cats have different needs to fully grown cats. A specially tailored food, such as Burns Kitten Food, should provide your kitten with all nutrients that it needs to grow into a healthy cat.
  • Cat Toys – It is also useful to purchase a scratching post for your new pet, so that it will hopefully use this instead of scratching at your furniture. A range of suitable cat toys would also be a good idea to purchase, in order to keep your cat active and so that it has something to interact with.
  • Cat carrier – A cat carrier is also useful, for those dreaded trips to the vet.
  • Cat wormer – Spot on cat wormers, such as Bob Martin Spot On Dewormer for Cats and Kittens, are suitable for weaned kittens and remove the hassles of trying to get your new cat to swallow tablets or paste, as the product is simply applied to the back of the neck.
  • Flea treatment – It is important to make sure that you choose a flea treatment which is suitable for use on kittens, such as Johnsons 4fleas Spot on Protector Cat & Kitten (3 Month). It is always advisable to check the manufacturer’s instructions on cat wormers and flea treatments to make sure the product is suitable for your cat before using.

It is important to make sure that your home is safe and secure and that you have all the kitten supplies that you need before you bring your kitten home for the first time. It is also important to make sure that you use the appropriate worming and flea prevention treatments as soon as possible, to make sure that your kitten remains healthy.

Posted in Cats, Kittens | Tagged , , | Leave a comment
       

A bad case of dog breath? Try Petosan Dog Toothpaste & Toothbrushes!

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on January 18, 2012

100201f A bad case of dog breath? Try Petosan Dog Toothpaste & Toothbrushes!With National Pet Dental Health Month happening over in America in February, we thought that it was about time that the people of the UK, and especially Vetpharmacy customers, were made aware of how important the issue of dental hygiene is for pets.

Many of the dog owners out there will be aware of dog breath and feel that it is just a natural part of owning a dog that they need to put up with. However, bad breath could be a sign that your dog has poor dental health. Other signs to look for that could indicate poor dental health are: bleeding/swollen gums; loose/missing teeth; and yellow/brown tartar build up. Once your dog has reached this stage they are likely to need to visit the vet to have their teeth properly cleaned under anaesthetic, which is likely to be extremely costly. A good home dental care plan could solve this.

You should ideally brush your dog’s teeth every day, but it should at least be done every 2-3 days to stop plaque from building up and creating tartar, which can cause gum disease. Vetpharmacy has a range of products available to aid you with the task of brushing your dog’s teeth. First of all, you need to make sure that you use a toothpaste that is designed specifically for dogs, such as Petosan Toothpaste for Dogs, as human toothpaste has ingredients in it that are harmful to dogs. Dog toothpaste also tends to come in a variety of flavours, such as poultry or beef, that your dog is likely to find a lot more palatable. This is especially useful as your dog won’t be spitting out the toothpaste you use, so they will have to swallow it.

Once you have selected suitable toothpaste for your dog, you will need to get a good dog toothbrush. The Petosan range includes both a regular dog toothbrush and a battery powered option, both of which are double headed. The double toothbrush heads provide simultaneous cleaning of both the inside and outside of the dog’s teeth, as well as allowing for easy cleaning of different lengths of teeth. The two toothbrush heads are also angled at the optimum 45 degrees, to effectively clean between the gum line and teeth. The Petosan Silent Power Toothbrush for Dogs offers extra cleaning power, as its bristles move 20,000 times per minute.

Although regular dental checkups with a vet are still important for your dog, making sure that you keep their teeth as clean and healthy as possible at home, should help to eliminate your dog’s bad breath and reduce the risk of your dog getting periodontal disease.

Posted in Dogs | Leave a comment
       

How to treat a worm infestation in cats

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on December 14, 2011

VETBOB030 pr46 1 How to treat a worm infestation in catsWorms are common in household pets and can cause pets to feel ill and become distressed. Some worms (roundworms) can also be passed onto humans when they are accidently eaten, usually through people licking their fingers after playing with their cat or using plates that cats have just licked.

There is a wide range of cat wormers available to help eliminate worm infestations. Worm treatments are available as tablets, liquids and spot on treatments to ensure you can easily treat your cat, no matter how fussy she is. Spot on wormers are especially useful for cats who don’t like taking tablets,  as they just need to be applied to the back of the cat’s neck and the active ingredient is into the bloodstream through the skin.

Here at www.vetpharmacy.co.uk, we stock a wide range of treatments from well-known and trusted brands such as Bob Martin, Droncit, Panacur and Johnsons.

Cat wormers are really important to make sure that your cat does not contract a serious worm infestation and become ill and distressed. It is important to make sure that they are suitably treated, in order to prevent reinfection.

Posted in Cats | Leave a comment
       

Christmas Delivery Information

Posted by Vet Pharmacy on December 14, 2011

Christmas Tree 216x300 Christmas Delivery InformationIt’s that time of year again! If you need your order before Christmas, please ensure that you place your order by Monday 19th December. Please note that we will be closed from 24th December and will reopen on Tuesday 3rd January 2012, so any order placed between these dates will be delivered 4th to 5th January.

Vet Pharmacy would like to wish all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Posted in Information | Leave a comment