Thursday, November 27, 2008

New Dog Cushions for the Festive Season!

Are you sprucing up your home for summer and looking forward to having family and friends around during the holidays? Well there are even a few simple pet tricks you can look into to help you in making your home absolutely gorgeous for the festive season. Dog cushions are not generally perceived to be things of great beauty or style but they most certainly can be! Your dog is your best friend and your ultimate confidant and not only does your home deserve to look good but your pooch deserves to lie in style and amazing comfort too!

Dog cushions come in a wide range of sizes and you will need to match the size of your dog to the dog cushion. You can either buy a ready made dog cushion and do the matching up through colours and size or you could be more adventurous and make the dog cushion yourself! (or get somebody to make your dog cushion to your specifications!) Another idea is to get a dog cushion and make a unique cushion cover for it. This way you can use the material of the cushion cover to match up to and compliment your own furniture or you can have fun by choosing a colourful or themed material for your pooches brand new dog cushion! What ever you do make sure you have fun and your pet will be sure to appreciate their new style and comfort!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Animal assistance where and when it counts

You love and cherish your pet right? Well what would you do if your adorable cat or dog were ever to go missing? Just the thought of your pet lost and on their own out in the big wide world is enough to send shivers down your back but there is one element of good news in that you can have instant animal assistance to help you fid your lost pet!

Missing pets are a heart breaking thought but you can prepare yourself for the likelihood with Medipet’s insurance cover that will offer you fast animal assistance to help you to find your beloved pet. Medipet’s lost animal assistance means that Medipet will jump in to help advertise and offer a reward to help ensure that your pet is found and returned as quickly as is possible.

Medipet’s animal assistance offers you R250 cover per annum for the advertising and reward payment for both cats and dogs, with an added R1000 animal assistance cover per annum in the case of theft of you’re your dog. Helping you where and when you most need it with your pet is the greatest form of animal assistance that Medipet’s insurance cover can offer you!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Choosing between puppies and kittens

When it comes to choosing your pet and you are scouring through perpetual thoughts of kittens and puppies you may need to step back and really think about what you are looking for in a pet. Puppies, obviously grow up to be dogs and kittens eventually become fully grown cats so you need to have a clear view in mind o what you are looking for in a pet.
If you are wanting a large dog to run down the beach with the at this stage puppies are your best option. In choosing puppies also consider what size dog you want and make this decision with an eye on the space you have for the dog to live in, as puppies and larger dogs need space to run around in.
If you are looking for kittens that will grow up to be a lap cat or for a dog that will follow you around your home as your own tail then a smaller breed puppy or a gorgeous kitten is going to be your ideal pet. But do consider breed types and their respective personalities as well to be sure that you are well matched up to your new puppy or kitten!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Cat collar

Cat collars come in a very wide range of styles, sizes and colours and are made with a variety of functions in mind. Not only does a cat collar add finesse and pizzazz to your cat’s look but it has a multitude of functional purposes that will serve both you and your cute little cat!

The first and main objective behind a cat collar is to attach to it an animal tag. This tag should be engraved with your pet’s name and your contact details – whether it be a phone number, address or both. By having your contact details on your cat’s collar you are infinitely increasing the chance of having your pet safely returned to you if they were ever to run off or go missing. Another use behind the cat collar is to help prevent your cat from hunting too many birds, mice and other creatures you would rather your cat left alone. Such cat collars come with a bell which jingles with every step and pounce that your cat takes.

It is very important to fit your cat correctly with the right size cat collar to prevent discomfort, choking and to prevent the cat collar from just falling off.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Getting the right vet advice

When it comes to your pet’s health and their medical needs you do not want to be taking chances on any levels! That is why you as a responsible pet owner know to take your pet to a vet and to get reliable veterinary advice on their health needs. A vet is a trained and caring individual who has the know how and wear with all to give your pet exactly what they need. By getting vet advice on ailments, conditions, pet food and other pet related concerns you are assured the best pet advice possible.

When it comes to insuring your pet’s health, the same principle applies. Being covered by a Medipet insurance means that you are covered by people who care and have the best know how on taking care of your pet’s health and health requirements. Much vet advice also relates to the importance of being prepared to take care of your pet’s medical needs. Vet advice thus works hand in hand with a good medical insurer to work together to make absolutely sure that your pet and their health is put at the forefront and is handled with devotion, great insurance cover and highly effective vet advice.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Litter Box: Keeping it Clean

If you have a pet that spends the majority of its time indoors then chances are that you also have a litter box! And while the litter box adds a necessary convenience and cleanliness to your home it can also be the bane of existence for many pet owners. Cleaning out the litter box and coming home to an unpleasant odour is not in the least bit fun, but there are a few ways and means of ensuring that the value that the litter box affords is not forgotten.

Finding the right litter for your pet’s litter box is a key factor! Try out sand, gravel litter and silicone to find which works out best for both you and your pet. It has been said before – ‘Location, location, location!’ and the placement of the litter box in your home will prove this statement to be very true! If you have a balcony or well ventilated area then it is probably the best place for the litter box to be kept. But keep in mind that your pet needs easy access to the litter box and while ventilated areas help to reduce the smell the litter box still needs to be kept in a warmer area. And remember that scooping out dirty litter and using a great smelling air freshener are your best ways of keeping your home smelling good.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Taking care of senior pets

It is a fact of life that we all age as time goes by, and our pets too age with time and your once boisterous and inquisitive puppy will turn into a matured and loving adult dog who in turn will become a senior pet and staple member of the family. A marked change in cats and dogs as they join the ranks of senior pets is that they start sleeping more – if you thought that your kitten who sleeps most of his or her day away could not sleep more if they tried, well, your senior cat will have a run for your money. But as they get older your cat is also likely to start enjoying just being in your company and will sneak a lot of this sleeping on your lap and in their favourite sunny spots in the house.

A senior pet however can be as full of life and vigour as they were when they were puppies and kittens. Senior pets if in good health and offered lots of love and attention will only need the very necessary changes in lifestyle. Senior pets are generally well settled into their homes and families but can still adapt well to change. One change that is a good idea to talk to your vet about is a change in diet. Many pet food companies make ranges that are specifically designed for senior pets and these foods can add zest to and the right balance of nutrition to your pets well being.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Pet assistance when and where you need it

Medipet is a pet health insurance company that understands your needs as a pet owner. Medipet is determined not only to offer you great insurance cover for veterinary bills but they also offer you caring and supportive pet assistance. As pet owners pet assistance is something that we can appreciate and benefit from in many different forms! Medipet provides relief and peace of mind in a number of useful ways that ensure that you, as a pet owner, have reliable access to assistance in the forms of medical help, payment for prescription foods and much more.

If you were to fall ill and were unable to take care of your pets Medipet will give you assistance in having your pet housed in a kennel or cattery. This means that you can focus on getting back into the swing of things and take time to recover without having to worry about the well being of your pets. Medipet will also offer you pet assistance in helping to find your cat or dog if, God forbid, they were ever to go missing. Looking after you cat or dog is a great responsibility that can be made lighter and easier to bear with the wonderful pet assistance offered by Medipet.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Where fleas come from...

Fleas are pesky and horrible little parasites — we are all agreed on that! — but where exactly do they come from and how does your pet pick them up? Well, one thing for sure is that fleas definitely seem to appear faster than they disappear and it can take some effort and time to get rid of fleas once they have a foot into your home or a hold onto your pet. Your pet most likely picks up fleas from other pets or from romping around in the sand. Fleas can also be brought into your home by people who have been in contact with animals or have themselves romped in sand. Once fleas are in your home they tend to make themselves at home in your carpets, your pet’s cushions and beds and are best dealt with as soon as you spot them or even suspect their presence.

Fleas breed quite rapidly and not controlling them and getting rid of them altogether can lead to escalating problems and flea infestations! The first step is to bath your pets – all of them, wash out pet cushions and blankets and vacuum your entire home! You may even need to spray your home with anti-flea sprays as this will kill the fleas and help to control the larvae and eggs.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Inoculations: the how, when and why.

Inoculations are vitally important to both your cat and dog’s health. They are designed to boost your pet’s immune system to be able to fight off diseases and viruses that may otherwise cause long term or potentially serious health risks. By having your cat or dog inoculated you are not only following pet owner procedures but you are also investing in their long term cat or dog health. But just when should your pet’s have them and what inoculations are needed?

From the age of 8 or 9 weeks your cat or dog needs to have their first sets of injections, thereafter follow up shots will be needed four weeks later. Required inoculations will differ form place to place but in general your cat or dog will be likely to have inoculations guarding them against the following:

• Rabies/ Hyrdophobia - which is a disease that can be fatal to cats, dogs and humans
• Viral Hepatitis - which can result in long term damage to the liver, kidneys and possibly even lead to lung trouble
• Canine Distemper and Cat Flu - which is are viruses that attack the immune system of your dog or cat
• Leptospirosis - which is damaging to the liver and kidneys
• Kennel cough - which is passed on from animal to animal and is another disease that can be prevented with vaccinations if it is common in your area

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Finding the right insurance package

Taking out insurance of any kind is a decision that needs to be made only once a number of factors are considered, and only once important insurance needs options have been considered and explored. An insurance package is meant to provide you with good cover that is both sufficient and reliable and affordable! So when shopping around for a pet health insurance package be sure to look into the details of what the package will offer you and your pet.

Before you choose an insurance package there are a few things that need to be asked: Firstly you need to ask what would you expect from your pet’s health insurance? What do you and you pet need to gain from having insurance and you need to consider the benefits of the insurance against the cost of the package.

An insurance package is supposed to make your life simpler and it is not meant to cause you strain or worry, which is why Medipet sets out to give you the best insurance package that covers all your veterinary and animal health needs. For more information on Medipet insurance packages or to apply for a Medipet insurance package send us an email or visit www.medipetsa.co.za.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

What if your cat won’t eat?

Have you noticed that your cat does not eat properly? Or does not eat quite as much as you think they should be? Cat food packaging does give directions as to how much food cats of certain ages and sizes should be eating but you need to keep in mind that these measures are a generalization and your pet may differ from the norm. This is not necessarily a cause for concern but if your cat is refusing to eat their cat food or seems to be underweight then your best bet is to visit a vet and change around your cat’s food until the problem levels out.

Remember that cats, like children—and even some adults—are at times just being fussy. In this case their eating is not something to be too worried about, but you may need to invest some time and effort into finding a good cat food that your cat is happy and willing to eat.

If you are having trouble or any concerns over your pet’s cat food or eating habits you can feel free to send us an email with any questions or be sure to pop into your local vet to ask some specific questions relating to cat food options.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Specialised and Prescription Dog Food

Specialised dog foods are a highly effective way to ensure that your dog is getting exactly what he or she needs from their food. A dog’s health is extremely dependent on their diet and by making sure that your dog is getting the right nutrients in doses that are specifically suited to his or her needs will make taking care of their dog health a whole lot easier! An added benefit of eating the right foods is that your dog’s current state of health can be sufficiently managed or even improved. Many vets will even prescribe or recommends a vet endorsed dog food for your pooch depending on what your dog’s dietary needs are.

The prescribed and speciality foods are designed to target and improve any ailments or deficiencies in your dog’s health. Speciality dog foods come in the form of foods that treat kidney problems or can be as simple as a food designed specifically for senior dogs. Some of these foods will be needed to boost your dog’s health for a short time period or they may even need to switch foods permanently. Your vet is the best person to advise you on these foods and which would be best for your dog and their health.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Finding a kitten to love

The suspense in on to see just what type of a puppy the Obamas choose to take with them to the White House. They have until January next year to make a final decision and find the next presidential puppy, until then we will keep you updated as to any news over their choice. But if puppies are not your first choice of pet then you should be looking around to find you next best friend in an adorable kitten!

Kittens will not grow up to be guard dogs but they can be just as loyal and even protective of their owners! The key to having a long term loving relationship with your kitten is to give them the right start to life. This means that if you treat them as best as you can form eth minute that they enter you life you are definitely set to have a friend for life!

Kittens will purr and run around looking adorable and with a bit of training and attention they will even learn to come running to a whistle or call. Kittens really do not need much more than lots and lots of love, which is a pleasure to give when you know that it will becoming back to you!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Animal Safety with MediPet Insurance

Your pets are like kids to you and that is why it is important to make sure that their animal safety is well looked after by both you and by Medipet insurance. Medipet insurance is determined to make your life easier and your animal’s health a lot safer. For just R115 per month for your cute little cat and R125 per month for your boisterous pooch you can work hand in hand with a top health insurer to protect the health and animal safety of your pet!

The last thing we as animal lovers ever want to see is compromised animal safety where an animal is in need, hurt or ill, but the reality is that these things do happen, with the right forward thinking and preparation you can be ready to handle anything regarding your animals’ safety. Medipet insurance will be there to cover your finances were anything to happen to your pet and they were in need of medical help. The assurance of not having to deal with piling vet bills and financial worries means that you can focus all of your concern, time and love into your pet who will need you and your tender loving care more than ever!

For animal safety with reliability apply for Medipet insurance cover by giving them a call on: 0800 6334738 / 021 701 2023 or apply online at www.medipetsa.co.za.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Puppies!

Puppies are always everybody’s favourite little critters! They can be cute, fluffy, crinkled, lazy or playful, and as puppies go, they could probably ignore all of those traits and still be adored by their owners and other admiring friends, fans and passers-by! Puppies just have that x-factor which we all seem completely unable to resist!


Even the white house will soon have one! In his acceptance speech, newly elected United States President Barack Obama told his two daughters that they deserved the new puppy that would be going with them to the White House. One thing that seems obvious, or at least should be obvious, is that puppies eventually do grow up to be fully-grown adult dogs. That is why it is vitally important to make sure that you give proper and well-reasoned thought into choosing your puppies!


If the cute little dog is what you are after then choose your puppy from a breed that stays small and cute. Think about Jack Russles, Maltese Poodles, Yorkshire terriers, etc. If however you are quite happy with the idea of a big dog then look towards puppies from medium to large dog breeds, such as Labradors, Dobermans, and Weimereiners. Do remember that puppies grow up faster than you think so enjoy them while they are small and learning about the world around them.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Planning your holiday when you have a pet

The December and school holidays are the perfect time to get away and to travel to new and far off destinations. Having the responsibility of a pet however can make going away seem like a luxury reserved only for those who do not have furry, extended family members. Going away means that you have to ensure that you pet will be looked after while you are gone. This means either finding someone to stay at your and look after you animals or you need to find somewhere for animals to go to.

Your pets will be missing you but you can still make their own pet holiday as comfortable as possible either by setting them up at home or by sending them a kenel or cattery. If you do not have a neighbour, house sitter or pet sitter around to feed, walk and spend time with your pets then your next best option is the kennel or cattery.

Many pet owners actually prefer to house their cats in catteries and their dogs in kennels while they are away. Kennels and catteries offer reliability and comfort in knowing that your animals are being well looked after.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Report Back on the Wiggle Waggle Walkathon

Yesterday, the 2nd of November, saw hundreds upon hundreds of dogs and animal lovers gathering for the annual SPCA Cape Talk Wiggle Waggle Walkathon. The walkathon, which is hosted by the SPCA, is aimed at bringing together animals and animal owners alike for a safe and fun day in the sun! Not only does the day offer a great outing for families and their animals but also gives all those attending an opportunity to show that they care about their own pets, as well as giving support to the SPCA and every single pet that may not be living with a caring and loving family.

The SPCA woks very hard to ensure that animals are looked after and cared for in the necessary and appropriate ways and days such as yesterday’s Wiggle Waggle Walkathon go a long way in showing that the SPCA has the support of others too! If you missed yesterday’s animal walkathon you can still be involved in helping out animals – by taking good care of your own, volunteering or getting involved at a local animal shelter, or you can start today in getting those legs moving and ready for next yea’s Wiggle Waggle Walkathon!