mypetfriends.co.uk

Defra has announced that new rules on pet travel will be introduced from 1st January 2012. The changes will mean that the rules on rabies vaccination for entry into the UK will be in line with the rest of Europe.
-
Defra has carried out a scientific risk assessment to find out how the changes will affect the level of risk of rabies entering the UK. Although the probability of rabies introduction into the UK will increase, the assessment found the risk to still be very low after the increase. 
 -
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) are informing their members of the new rules so that the right advice can be given to pet owners planning to travel abroad with their animals.
-
 

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has reiterated its disappointment at the delays in implementing a badger cull to tackle bovine TB and in agreeing plans to crack down on puppy farming at the annual BVA Welsh dinner, held at City Hall in Cardiff on Tuesday 28th June 2011.
-

BVA President Harvey Locke also raised the BVA’s significant concerns over the unintended consequences of the Welsh Government’s commitment to subsidising the cost of Welsh students attending Welsh universities.
-

The Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths AM, delivered the response on behalf of the guests, which included parliamentarians, key representatives of the agri-food industry and animal health and welfare organisations, senior members of the veterinary profession, and members of the media.
-

Petplan Equine, the UK's leading specialist Equine insurance provider, is giving veterinary staff from across the country one last chance to nominate their outstanding colleague for this year's prestigious 'Petplan Equine Vet of the Year Award' 2011.
-

Petplan Equine has worked closely with equine vets for over 20 years and understands the important role vets play in supporting the long-term health and wellbeing of a horse.
-

The award, which has been running since 2008, was developed to give horse owners and veterinary staff an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding care that equine vets across the country provide to horses each day.
-

If you’re thinking about taking a holiday this year, don’t use your furry friend as an excuse not to go. According to Petplan, the UK’s largest pet insurer, one in four pet owners are taking less holidays since getting a pet* with the majority saying their pet is the culprit for the reduction in their vacation. Despite 99% of respondents** claiming that their pet is an integral part of the family*, only 23% actually take their pet on holiday with them and many would rather not go on holiday at all! To overcome the myth that pets make holidays difficult, Petplan has compiled a hot list of pet friendly hotels for every county of the UK.
-

During the financial pinch, it could be assumed that pet owners would be deterred from taking a holiday due to the cost of looking after a pet whilst they are away. Research from Petplan however reveals that the majority of pet owners (30%) say that they can’t bear to be away from their pet for extended periods of time. Interestingly, there seems to be a gender divide when it comes to holiday cancellations suggesting that men are more compassionate when it comes to the health of their pet. A fifth of men (20%) compared to 12% of women have cancelled a holiday because their pet was either ill, they were worried about leaving it or couldn’t find a suitable sitter. 
-

A set of five new cat toys have just been launched by Trixie. Using predominantly black, orange and lime green colours, the toy designs feature scary fish, octopus, spiders, bats and monsters. The new Trixie cat toys are made from plush/felt materials and are especially robust, of a high quality and affordable. As cats are known to get bored with their toys and need rotation, this new range provides cat owners with something bight and new for their cat’s entertainment!
-

Two toys from the new range are on elastic with bells. Also, cat nip is included in the products to make the toys particularly cat friendly. One of the toys, Set of Fish, is sold in a pack of two. The fish colour is black with white eyes, mouth and scales. Bright orange and lime green fins of the fish toy bring them to life. The fish toy is 8cm long. The Octopus and Spider toys are bright orange and lime green in colour with long black legs and scary white eyes. Octopus and Spider measure 9cm and 10cm long.
-

The British Horse Society (BHS) is continuing its fight to combat the toxic plant Ragwort with a second nationwide survey in July.
-

Every year animals die painful and unnecessary deaths as a result of damage to their liver from consuming Ragwort. The danger that the plant poses is widely known, yet levels in the UK still continue to rise. This suggests that the laws governing ragwort (Weeds Act 1959, Ragwort Control Act 2003) are not being enforced and the threat that the plant represents is not being taken seriously.
-

Last year, spurred by concern over the increase in reports, the BHS launched a nationwide survey to draw up a true picture of the extent and location of the weed. The Society believes that if hard evidence is acquired, the battle to control the weed will be easier to fight and win.
-

The initial survey produced some very interesting results. More than 75 percent of cases reported involved land that animals were grazing on or near. A total of 13,189 horses were identified as grazing on ragwort infested pasture, with the figure for cattle and sheep being estimated as approaching 20,000. In more than one third of reports, the plant was said to cover at least half of the land. 
-

Freshfields Animal Rescue based in Ince Blundell, Liverpool, has won a valuable £500 donation from the UK’s favourite pet insurance provider, Petplan. 
-

The animal rescue charity, which cares for abandoned, abused and unwanted animals across Liverpool, intends to put the Petplan donation towards maintenance of the rescue centre. 
-

Helen Stanbury General Manager of Freshfields Animal Rescue said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be lucky enough to be this month’s Petplan charity cheque prize winner. The money will be a huge help and we’ll be able to use it on maintenance that we have been unable to do. We are very happy to be associated with Petplan because they provide us with a number of benefits including being able to offer 4 weeks free pet insurance for any animal re-homed from our centre.”
-

The Blue Cross, Britain’s pet charity, is calling for nominations from veterinary practices across the country for its Veterinary Nurse of the Year Award 2011.
-

The annual accolade is presented at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Annual Congress.  It recognises the contribution of veterinary nurses in educating the public about responsible pet ownership and the welfare of pets in the community.  This year’s Congress will take place on 7 - 9 October at the Kettering Conference Centre, Northamptonshire.
-

In the pet food manufacturer Royal Canin’s extensive study into pet care, 30 percent of the European Population is over eight years old, with the average cat having a life expectancy of 16 years.  The company also revealed that 80% of owners failed to change their cats diet as they get older simply because they are not aware that their animals nutritional needs change.
-

In most cases owners do not realise that as a cat gets older, her digestive system becomes less efficient, so owners should be providing them with several smaller meals, rather than to main meals. 
-

- Beware of the summer sting - Ichneumon wasps AKA Pimpla instigators/black slips and other insects.
-

It was the summer of 2010 and I was enjoying one of the very few hot summer days in my back garden in Birmingham that year.  As a writer for My Pet Friends my time was spent writing articles and replying to users whilst playing with my two young boys and our black Shih’tzu puppy Cilla.  I was distracted when an insect with a long orange/red legged body zoomed past my face.  I thought nothing of it at the time, a harmless insect just enjoying the sun as we were.  But as we returned indoors I noticed the very insect I saw earlier, trapped in the conservatory. It had flown in and was trying to escape; its 1cm sting in its tail did nothing to help make it look any less threatening.
-

As I frantically tried to usher it back into the garden its tail rose and that’s when I knew it was not to be messed with.  But I eventually managed to escort it out and back into its natural habitat.
-

I began seeing more of these insects so my curiosity moved me to find out exactly what they were.   It didn’t take me long to find out that these were Ichneumon wasps which originally came from Denmark and North Africa and are now common place in the UK.   Although harmless, they can sting and if you get stung, you might experience some swelling, itchiness and a little soreness.
-
This got me thinking - we as humans can protect ourselves but how can we protect our cats, dogs and other pets from insect stings?
-