Pet beds

Where do your animals sleep? Pets don’t only sleep at night but they also take cat – and I suppose dog – naps during the day. Cats will often make themselves quite comfy in a sunny warm and spot in a garden, or on a chair, and with dogs you will often find them lounging somewhere in a cooler, shady spot. If you are not too keen on your pets spending time on your furniture during the day or on your bed at night, then getting hold of a dog cushion or cat cushion might be the answer to where you pet will sleep.

Having their own beds or dog cushion will give your pet a sense of safety and will allow them to have a space in the house that is solely their own.
Often cats and dogs that get on well with each other will sleep next to each other and can share a bed or dog cushion.

Dog cushions and pet beds come in a full range of sizes to suit any size of cat or dog from the smallest right up the larger breeds. And in terms of style and designs you can have great fun choosing your pet’s new bed in a variety of colours.

Some animal assistance fun

The need for animal assistance can sometimes be something far more light hearted than something truly serious. Here’s something many of us pet owner’s have experienced as a frustrating but humorous time when some good animal assistance would have been very much appreciated…

How to Give a pill to a Cat

1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right
forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat
process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

4. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl, and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws.
Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while
forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

5. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler
and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to
one side for gluing later. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just
visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil
and blow down drinking straw.

6. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans. Drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap. Retrieve cat from neighbours shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard & close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

7. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Apply cold
compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw T-shirt away and
fetch new one from bedroom. Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road.
Apologise to neighbour who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat.
Arrange for SPCA to collect cat, and ring local pet shop to see if they have any goldfish.

How to give a dog a pill

1. Wrap it in meat.

MediPet SA

Are you looking for pet health insurance? Well look no further! Medipet is an animal health insurance company that is dedicated to giving you and your pet the best health and financial insurance services around. You can now insure your cat or dog’s health from only R115 - R125 per month and you can rest assured knowing that you will never have to compromise or worry about your finances ahead of your pet’s health needs. With Medipet insurance your animal will be covered for everything from accidents to illnesses and Medipet will even help you to set up a reward and advertisements were your cat or dog ever to go missing.

When it comes to health insurance for your pet you need to know that what you are paying for is both affordable and reliable and with Medipet you can know with absolute certainty that your finances are as secure and are as cared for as your pet’s health needs. Claims with Medipet are fast and hassle free, and should you ever, at any time, require information on your insurance package you do not have to hesitate to contact Medipet for a fast and effective response. Visit www.medipetsa.co.za for more information on insuring your pet’s health.

Fleas!

Fleas and worms are grave concern for any pet owner. They are not only pesky and very, very creepy but they can only pose as serious health hazards for both animals and for humans. The presence of fleas is easy to spot, your cat or dog will be scratching a lot more than usual and chances are you too will have a bite or two from the pesky little black parasites. The best treatment against fleas is early treatment before they are able to lay eggs. Using anti-flea shampoos, powders, drops or pills can get rid of fleas quite effectively. But there is another side to your pet having fleas that you will also need to watch out for – worms.

One of the most common ways that your cat or dog can become infected with tapeworm is by your pet swallowing a flea while your animal is grooming itself. Fleas often carry tapeworm larvae and these larvae arrive in your cat or dog’s stomach where they continue to grow and eventually hatch as worms. Recognizing that you pet has tapeworms is pretty easy by simply check your pet’s stools. A scary fact is that adult tapeworms may reach 8 inches in length as it matures inside of the intestines, so getting rid of worms, along with the fleas, with cat or dog deworming medication is vitally important to your pet’s health.

Comfy Dog Kennels

The latest in kennel designs are built on the premise that a kennel is much more than just a wooden box – kennels are now being designed as miniature homes for your dogs and for their ultimate comfort. Whether your dog sleeps outdoors or inside you will want to have one an ultimate kennel to make them feel at home and very cosy in the coming winter months.

Important things to keep in the forefront of your mind when buying or building kennels are the comfort of your dog, the sanitation of the kennel and the practicality of being able to keep the kennel clean. You also need to think about where you will be keeping your dog kennels.

If your dog’s kennel is outside then one of the first things you need to do is to ensure that the kennel is wind and water proof. There are many ranges of kennels on the market that are designed with the weather in mind, and so finding one that is wind and water proof should not be a hassle. If you already have a kennel, or have a wooden kennel and need to make it wind and water proof there are ways and means of doing this such as lining the kennels with waterproof materials and using sealants on any cracks or gaps. But do keep in mind the need for fresh air to still be able to circulate through the kennel.