Table of contents for 51 - January 2016 in Pets

Hi PETS readers, The sun is shining, the birds are singing — it’s definitely summer in the PETS office, and we love it. There is nothing better than spending time outdoors in the warmer weather with our pets, and whether you have a dog, cat, horse, rabbit, bird or guinea pig it’s a great time to get active. I’ve been taking Berry and Danger for walks in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the full heat of the sun’s rays. This has led me to notice something — my Danger is getting older. She’s a Staffy, and is around seven years’ old. Previously, she would go through a 45-minute jog without seeming to break a sweat, but this season, I’ve noticed that she’s panting quite heavily a little…

Maddie loves her dog Uppie because she’s soft and snuggly, and is always ready for a cuddle on the couch! How sweet are Jo’s Bunny and Moo? We love these little guys! Harriette’s Cosy is seen relaxing on her ‘husbun’, Bailey. Harriette adopted Cosy from Porsche’s Rescue — well done! Thanks for saving this little sweetheart. Dana’s Bandit is one cool canine. This shot of Louise with Spots and Dozer is just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. Staying out of the wet doesn’t mean a lack of style! We love Ally’s pic of Socks with her fabulous umbrella. Zoe has impressed us with her reptile pets before, and this issue is no exception! Check out her Central Bearded Dragon, Louis. What a handsome reptile! Danica’s Milo and Jelly proving that the…

Animals Australia is just as passionate about keeping our pets hydrated and safe this season as you and I are. Here are some of their top tips for a safe and successful summer: 1. Leave a water bowl out for local wildlife. Our pets aren’t the only ones who love having access to clean and fresh drinking water in summer. Leave a bowl of water out for your local wildlife (just make sure it’s in a place where your dog won’t get it, particularly if he or she is fond of chasing things with wings). 2. Keep an eye out for heat-stressed wildlife. Whether it’s an animal crawling alongside the road or generally looking distressed, call your local wildlife group for assistance. 3. Watch out for snakes. Unlike a lot…

CATS REVEALED Discover everything you need to know about your feline friend in Cats Revealed. This print edition of Dr Kim Kendall’s fabulous three-part digital series will let you know all the important things your cat is trying to tell you — and then some! The book also covers living in peace with your cat, and even tips on owning a fit and contented cat — as opposed to a dreaded ‘fat cat’. For more information, visit thecatpalace.com.au. PETS has three copies of Cats Revealed to give away. Puppies in a Pickle Fall in love with a new pup every week with our Puppies in a Pickle diary. This diary is complete with more than 52 different images of gorgeous little pups of many different breeds doing the things they…

LOOKING FOR A NEW PET BUT NOT SURE WHAT TO GET? Whether you’re after something furry, fuzzy, slippery, scaly or slimy, PETS takes the hard work out of choosing your new family member. Kids and pets Most of the critters we feature are family-friendly, though it’s important to remember children should be supervised when playing with any animal whether it’s a dog, cat, bird, bunny or reptile. Keep an eye out for our “At a glance” boxes, where we rate the care and maintenance, grooming and exercise requirements of different breeds and creatures on a scale from one to five: Low maintenance Moderate maintenance Requires regular attention Lots of work High maintenance…

One of my favourite activities to engage in with my gorgeous four-legged friends is taking them for a jog or walk. We love our time spent out and about together, and even though not all of the roads in our area come with a paved footpath, we still manage to enjoy traversing the streets safely at all times. I do have more concern when I exercise them at night. I often work long hours putting together this awesome magazine, and it’s not unusual for me to walk my dogs at 5am or 9pm, at either end of my day. That means it can be dark — and that’s when the walking can become a far more stressful activity. Enter DOGlite. When I first heard of this product I was intrigued.…

I love summer with its balmy evenings and extra daylight hours that allow me to have beautiful evening walks with my dog, Riley. The heat of the day is a different story; it can be very hot and uncomfortable for me and Riley and I always take extra care to keep him cool in summer. My top five tips to keep your dog safe in summer: 1. Always have fresh water available. Don’t use plastic bowls that can be easily knocked over. Leave two bowls in case one is finished, and you can add ice cubes to keep the water cool. Remember that shade moves throughout the day and that water can heat up to undrinkable temperatures. 2. Walk your dog in the early morning or late evening (once the…

With no original breeding records left, there has been great debate over the history of the Australian Cattle Dog and its true origins. Breeders believe that back in the early days of the Australian colony, people needed a ‘working dog’ with outstanding stamina and endurance and the ability to move cattle throughout Australia’s rough terrain. The Australian Cattle Dog that we see today is the result of the crossing of the Blue Merle Collie (originally from Scotland) with the Dingo, and a late infusion of Dalmatian and Black and Tan Kelpie. This combination proved to be a great success. Instantly recognisable and iconic to outback Australia, the Australian Cattle Dog is one of the three most popular breeds down under. Stocky and compact, the breed is blue or red mottled.…

Write to PETS! Do you have an amazing pet story or a hilarious animal joke to share? How about some feedback on one of our articles? Or did you recently get a new pet? PETS would love to hear from each and every one of you (and your furry buddies). Drop us a line at Paws for thought/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email pets@universalmagazines.com.au with “Paws for thought” as the subject heading. Letters, poems, photos, collages and drawings are also welcome. Be as creative as you like! ARABIAN KNIGHTS Hi PETS, I love your magazine so much. I recently got a new puppy and my other dog is overjoyed with his new playmate. I wonder whether you can write about the Egyptian Arabian horse — this…

Do you love your pet? Tell us a warm and fuzzy tale about the special bond you share with your best pal for a chance to win a really cool prize. TO ENTER: All you have to do is tell us in 400 words or less why your pet is so special and include a few clear, sharp photographs (1MB or larger) of your friend. Please also include your contact number and mailing address. Send your entries to Pet Tales/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entries to pets@universalmagazines.com.au Please read the terms and conditions on page 82 before entering. Good luck!…

Many of us go away on holidays during this beautiful time of year. There are many different options to have your dogs and cats taken care of during this season, including: • Kennels or catteries • Pet-minding services • House sitters Or you can take your pet away with you to selected hotels and caravan parks throughout Australia and New Zealand. If you have fish, you need to make sure they’ll be looked after during your trip away, but thankfully for our aquatic friends, the options are simpler. We like TetraWeekend Tropical Fish Slow Release Feeder (five days) and TetraVacation Tropical Fish Slow Release Feeder (14 days). These innovative tropical fish slow-release feeders contain no plaster, with the gel feeder blocks providing real nutrition for your hungry fish friends. These…

REMARKABLY REXY Author & Illustrator: Craig Smith Publisher: Allen & Unwin RRP: $24.99 Available: Now, from all good bookstores Remarkably Rexy is a charming story of good-looking cat Rex, who truly is the star of Serengeti Street. With his fabulous feline dance steps, impressive coat and endearing array of poses, he’s positive no one can possibly take his crown away … until an interloper appears. All of a sudden, Rex has to work to keep the attention! This is a gorgeous illustrated book by Craig Smith, one of our country’s finest artists with more than 380 books published to date. He has collaborated with many successful authors, including Paul Jennings, and is known for his encouragement of children to enjoy reading. Remarkably Rexy is yet another great read by this…

TRAUMA Traumatic injuries include those caused by being struck by a moving vehicle, falling from a height, or an animal attack, and can cause bleeding anywhere in the body. Even if the bleeding is not visible on the outside, a dog that has been struck by a car may have bleeding into the abdomen, lungs or brain. The impact of traumatic injuries can be minor to life-threatening, and require immediate veterinary treatment. BLEEDING FROM THE URINARY TRACT Many conditions can cause blood to be seen in urine. The most common cause is urinary tract infections. Compared to males, female dogs are at greater risk for urinary tract infections that lead to blood in the urine. Cancer is a possible cause of blood in the urine in older dogs. Because haematuria…

CALICO CAT DEBATE Q: Dear Dr Jo, I’ve heard that all Calico cats are female — is that a myth, or true? Lia, via email A: Hi Lia, Calico cats, also called tortoiseshell and white cats, are white with patches of two other colours, frequently ginger/orange and black. Calico is a colour and not a breed, and the colouring can be present in many breeds and crosses, including Turkish Van, Persian and Manx breeds. Coat colour in cats is X chromosome linked (girls are XX and boys are XY), so having the X chromosome determines what colour the cat is. This means that you are correct, Lia; nearly all Calico cats are female (99.9 per cent), and the very, very occasional male that is Calico (tortoiseshell) has an extra chromosome…

Sometimes we all need a little under chin scratch. “My eyes are not bigger than my stomach. My mouth is .” “Make sure you get my good side.” Happy as Larry an Aussie Cattle Dog. “Can’t … see. Basket over eye.” “And then I said … put another rib-on the barbie! Get it?” “You! Hey you! Love me.” Being this cute is seriously exhausting. “As a professional canine model, one must occasionally endure bouts of humiliation.” Raspberry blowing achievement = unlocked Puppy love Awkward family photos audition piece. A huge thank you to Arthur and Cheryl from Turrella Kennels for coming in with their fabulous dogs. For more information, visit turrella.com…

WARM AND FUZZY During its Siberian herding days, the Samoyed served as more than a loyal friend and tireless worker. It was also the giver of warmth — literally sleeping on top of its owner to keep him warm during the freezing arctic winters. The stunning Samoyed has it all — beauty, brains and physical prowess that sees it as one of the forerunners when it comes to agility and sport. Bred by the ancient Samoyedic people who made their way to Siberia, the Samoyed — which took the name of its original owners — accompanied its tribesmen guardians everywhere, herding reindeer, pulling sleds and providing warmth. Being close to members of the tribe and sharing campfires and living space made these dogs very people-friendly. And while it’s unlikely that…

If there’s anything you ever wanted to know about geckos, Danny Brown is your man. They call him ‘Gecko Dan’ and he’s been into reptiles since he was a kid, playing with wild lizards every chance he got. The Queenslander keeps and breeds all manner of reptiles and let us pick his brain for this creature feature on one of the cutest members of the gecko family — the Knob-Tail Gecko. Like why is his tail shaped like a big blob? Is it a camouflage, designed to look like the head to fool predators? “Nobody is sure — it could be a distraction. But only two species have a large tail that could look like a head. Individuals will often wiggle the tail knob when hunting, possibly as a distraction…

1. Entry into the competition implies full acceptance of all conditions of entry, including the instructions on how to enter. 2. Entry is open to all residents of Australia and New Zealand. Employees and immediate families of the promoter, associated companies and agencies associated with this promotion are ineligible to enter. 3. Entries close with last mail and email on January 21, 2016, unless stated otherwise. The PETS editorial team will judge the entries and the winner(s) will be selected on February 21, 2016. The winners will be notified by mail, email or telephone. 4. Write the competition name on the front of the envelope and send to PETS magazine, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email your entry to pets@universalmagazines.com.au 5. Prize(s) will be delivered to winners within…

KONG AQUA It’s no secret that we absolutely adore KONG products, and the KONG Aqua is no exception to the rule. This toy has a foam core that keeps it floating after you throw it into the water using the handy rope attachment, making for an easy and exciting retrieval for your pet. Great for retrieval training, this is one toy that we feel is a summer essential for all dog lovers. For more information, visit kongcompany.com YOURS DROOLLY PREMIUM RAWHIDE We love the Yours Droolly range of products, and were very excited to hear about this new addition to the market! While we haven’t personally tried it yet, some of these flavours sound good enough for us to consider eating — not that we would, of course! Think, Rawhide…