mypetfriends.co.uk

Not only are humans gaining weight, but pets are too.  Teddy is only a virtual pet so doesn’t have the same worries that real pets with weight problems may have, but we realise how difficult it is what with the plethora of tasty treats on offer these days.
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Losing weight is not something that you can do overnight, and is something that you have to work on for a long while.  It's not only increasing the amount of physical activity, it's about reducing the intake of food and also thinking about the quality of food that you meet.  However, it's easier said than done.
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With so many pets now obese, it makes you think and question why so many pets are now overweight.  Some would argue that the pet obesity epidemic has come about as a result of the human obesity epidemic – i.e. as humans move less and consume more, pets have less exercise and are given more food in an attempt to comatose them into submission (Teddy: so we don't ask for more walks). 
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However, if we then suggest that the root of pet obesity stems from humans inactivity, then that still leaves the question about why are humans getting bigger?  The rise in obesity is an international issue, and it can't just be that that they are all developing bad habits, there must be something more to it.  And pets can't simply be eating more food, has something changed to the nature of pet food?
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Happy New Year my pet friends; Teddy, Kitty and the My Pet Friends team hope you had a wonderful Christmas break and a fantastic start to 2011. 
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With the indulgences of Christmas behind us (kitty: and I look at Teddy when we write this), many of our owners and fellow pets will be thinking about dieting to shed off some of those pounds that we have gained over the festive period.  So, just how can you and your owners start 2011, in a happy and healthy way, the way you mean to go on?
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New Years resolutions are one way of doing this.  They are simply a set of games or goals that many of our owners will make.  The problem with many of these goals is that they are unrealistic and too broad (Teddy: like whoever believed that our owners were really going to be fluent in Spanish by the end of the year).  So, the best way to ensure that you stick to your goals is to make sure that you are clear about what you want to achieve, how you're going to do it, and how you will know when you have done it. 
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Ho Ho Ho – yes, it’s almost time for the fat man in the red suit to break into our homes and empty his sack of presents under our trees.  So, whether you are a cat like Kitty, a dog like Teddy, or some other pet, just what are you looking forward to receiving from your pet owners?  One thing we have noticed is that it might not be a simple squeaky toy or a bag of treats.  The commercialisation of Christmas means that many pets across the UK will be receiving lavish presents that, according to research, amount to an average of £80 per pet. 
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Pet accessories are many pet owners gift of choice, we know of many who have their own wardrobes to store all their pet paraphernalia.  Were not against pet clothing, as long as it's practical - for example, a coat to keep a dog dry or visible to others and road users in these dark nights, is practical but can also be attractive as well.  Pet collars are also very important, if your pet is ever lost, at least the details of their collar will enable somebody to contact you and make sure that you are reunited (my pet friends always recommends getting your pet microchipped as this is the best way to reunite you with your missing or stolen pet).
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We’re lucky, as we are only virtual pets, we don’t have to worry about the frightening noises that are made by fireworks that are set off to celebrate Diwali or bonfire night, but may of our pet friends are.  So, to help you to cope with your pet friends Paula Knight, a veterinary nurse from York, gave us these handy hints to share with My Pet Friends pet owners:

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• Plan for the fireworks season well in advance.  If your pet is prescribed sedatives from a vet, speak to your vet and get a full health check for your pet to ensure that they are still suitable.
• You can condition your pet to become used to / not so anxious about the noises made by fireworks by using a sound effects CD accompanied with simple behavioural therapy techniques.  You can purchase these and full instructions from a variety of pet shops.
• Ensure outdoor pets are back in their pens, coups and hutches well before the fireworks begin.
• As for cats and dogs – again, ensure that they are fed and walked before settling them in for the night. 
• Prepare a space for your pet to use as a hideaway / snug.  Ideally, this should be within the main structure of the house away from windows so there is less chance of noise and upset caused from flashing lights – under the stairs is a favourite. 
• Keep windows and curtains closed and turn the sound up on the TV, radio or CD player to block out any outside noise.
• If your dog barks, resist the temptation to stroke and cuddle them as this gives them the signal that there must be something wrong.  Conversely, do not shout and berate them – this will again make them anxious.  Just keep relaxed and act as if the noises are nothing to be afraid of – they’ll pick up on this relaxing atmosphere.
• Depending on your budget and circumstances, why not spend the night in a country hotel that accepts cats and dogs as residents – away from the noise and a great break for you and your pet too.
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Although we are still getting some good warm days, the crisp cold nights are approaching and as they do, we received an email from Joanne in Yorkshire who asked us why animals hibernate in the winter and why our pets don’t.   In the wild many animals hibernate to conserve energy as stocks of food are low.  It’s a common misconception that bears hibernate; in fact they spend more time sleeping during the coder months but come out of their lair on a daily basis to eat.  So, they don’t technically hibernate. 
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The only household pets that hibernate are tortoises.  For full details of how to safely hibernate your tortoise, and whether it is suitable to hibernate, please take a look at www.tortoisetrust.org for a full detailed guide. Most pet owners will know what to do and ensure that hibernation is safe, but it’s worth getting expert advice if you are new to hibernation. 
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Pets love the summer months – not only can cats roam more places, dogs are taken for longer walks, but all pet’s will find that their owners spend more time with them – especially if their owners have children.  During the summer break, children have time to spend with their cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, spiders, snakes, reptiles, horses, donkeys and any other of the many different types of pets people have.  So, when children have to go back to school, pets are often unprepared to deal with this sudden change and miss them dearly.
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Clive Potts is a behavioural therapist who specialises in working with pets who are suffering from depression.  He told us that many pets exhibit similar symptoms to that of depression in humans when they experience this loss. 
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“Pets are social animals and enjoy the company of other pets and their owners.  Children make ideal companions for many household pets, and during the summer break children will spend more time with their pets.  Pets get used to this routine and when the holidays are over and the children go back to school, pets are often left alone for long periods once more.”
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Well, you can't have escaped it, unless you were trapped in a bin yourself; yes, you guessed it, Teddy and I are talking about that vile woman who was filmed dumping a cat in a wheelie bin. The woman, Mary Bale, has insisted that she is profoundly sorry and it was a split-second of misjudgement, but its poor Lola that she fails to apologise to, the beautiful cat that was trapped in the bin for 15 hours.
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Pets are innocent and largely harmless creatures that bring much fun and joy to many people’s lives; however, there are some people who find that being cruel to a cat, a dog or other pet is somehow fun and acceptable.  It’s only when something like this hits the news that it makes many of us realise that there are people who will do horrible things to animals in this country.  Whether it’s because they can’t cope or because of some other underlying emotional problems pet owners and non pet owners should all do their best to identify when it happens and try to stop it.  Teddy found that studies suggest that these people will have often been abused themselves, witnessed forms of abuse, or often have psychopathic personality disorders.  This type of behaviour is termed zoosadism, and these people may show similar aggression towards humans as well.  
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Temperatures are rising and look likely to creep even higher as we experience yet another abnormally hot summer.  All this good weather is great for dog owners who can get out and about and enjoy the time with their pets – going for walks in parks, or just hanging around with their owners in their back gardens or the cool of the house.  However, the heat causes problems too and pet owners should be aware of these and adequately prepare.
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Most dog owners are now aware not to leave them in cars – even if you leave a window slightly open, car interior temperatures can soar to over 45 degrees Celsius in minutes.  Dogs can’t easily regulate their temperature because they don’t sweat in the way that humans do, so an increase in temperature like this can be fatal. 
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Another way to prevent overheat is to ensure your dog is well groomed – a tangle free coat will enable cool air to circulate freely.  If your dog has short hair you could also use a sun block which is specially designed for dogs to prevent them from getting sun burn. 
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Looking through our pet news archive, we came across a story that was featured this time last year about Sharyn Wood who volunteered her time to help other cats at the charity cats’ protection.  It made us think about the whole issue of volunteering and how people can get involved to help pets less fortunate than their own (read the full article here http://www.mypetfriends.co.uk/Latest/Think-cats-during-Volunteers-Week-2009.html )
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It’s sad to believe that there are so many unwanted cats and dogs that are left abandoned which have to be cared for by rescue centres, and it’s even more heartbreaking to hear about the abuse that many pets still suffer, despite the Animal Welfare Act of 2007 that prevented outright cruelty to animals.  But our readers can each do a little to help these pets.  Here’s just some ideas and ways you can volunteer or help needy pets during volunteer week 2010:
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- give your old blankets, unwanted pet food and toys to your local animal rescue centre
- give donations of clothing and bric-a-brac to your local pet charity shop, such as the PDSA.
- Volunteer time for a pet charity.
- agree to help take the dogs at your local charity centre for a walk, or help wash and clean out cages & kennels
- if your rescue centre has a fun day (most do) agree to help with the planning of this, or help out on the day by staffing a stand.
- organise a walk for charity, and ask your friends to sponsor you so you can donate the funds that you raise to a pet charity of your choice.
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Hurrah, we’ve all made it through another harsh winter, and wasn’t it a hard one this year?  In fact, it’s still cold out, so we are worried we may jinx it for you by even talking about Spring.  But hey, we’re virtual pets so the seasons don’t really affect us too much (Kitty: miaaaow)
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However, for many dog owners, the harsh winter has meant that you haven’t been able to enjoy a good walk with your dog, so now the sun is shining there’ll be no stopping you.  But don’t limit yourself to short walks down the road, be more adventurous and try other places too.  Dogs do like familiar surroundings, and mark their territory along regular routes, but they love going to new places and sniffing out all those new smells. 
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