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Hello Everyone!

So sorry we missed our June blog – life got a little crazy at Not Just Pets and as it got hotter outside, we seemed to have even more to do.

First – exciting news! We are delighted to say that have teamed up with Nature’s Veterinary in Bath and David Tweedle is our new resident vet in our Bath store. We are starting out by offering a couple of surgeries a week, on Thursdays and Fridays between 1pm and 2.30pm and we hope to expand on this soon. Here is a list of what we will be offering:

• Microchipping and Registration: £10
• Nail Clipping:  £10
• Health Check: £25
• Dog Annual Booster: £35
• Cat Annual Booster: £35
• Puppy/Kitten Pack: £65 (includes first and second vaccinations, worming, flea treatment and microchipping)
• Anal Glands: £20
• Full Pet Passport: £90 (includes microchipping and rabies vaccination)

You can book either by telephoning on 01225 461461, online via email at bathpets@aol.com or via our website at www.notjustpets.co.uk – or send us a message via Facebook or Twitter @NotJustPets

It’s Hot, Hot, Hot!

It really is hot at the moment, and getting hotter and the middle of July looks set to be a scorcher. Please remember to keep your dogs cool, give plenty of water and never, ever leave them in a car in this weather, even with the window open. Please share the “Don’t Cook your Dog” message and sign up to the campaign.

Also, please remember that they have sensitive paw pads and walking on concrete pavements, tarmac and similar surfaces can really damage their paws. Here is a Facebook link from Lostdogs-Scotland.org.uk which shows the damage which can be done to a dog’s paws from walking on hot surfaces: https://tinyurl.com/nljoa3c

   

Sorry if you find that picture distressing, but it does highlight the problem. We have help on hand though – we sell PawZ, a fantastic product which can help with just this situation, as well as a myriad of others including post-infection protection, ice, salt, allergies etc. These dog boots are so easy to put on, dogs seem to love them and they are totally waterproof, reusable and and disposable and come in a pack of 12! Fantastic value, for all size of dog.

            

We have other ways to keep your dog cool – including Billy + Margot’s iced treats, which are a HUGE hit this summer. Our dog, Luna, loves them. Here’s a short video of her enjoying them – just give a small amount each time, only £2.99 a pot and they get a nutritious, cooling treat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeAKkQqfOb0

Gluten-free and dairy-free, just frozen nutritious fruit – they come in three flavours, Strawberry + Apple, Apple, Banana + Carrot and Honey + Banana. These iced treats are 100% vegetarian and made only from human ingredients (yes you can try them yourself, they are yummy!) You can buy a handy cool-bag too to transport them.

Ever wonder why your cat won’t drink its water from a bowl? Some cats are particularly fussy about this. Here’s a link to the Cats Protection LearnOnline page which might answer your questions.

The African wildcat

Having their head down to drink is a vulnerable position so cats prefer a wide, reflective surface so they can see if anything is coming up behind them.

African wildcats prefer a fresh, moving water source to a stagnant pool.

African wildcats will drink at an alternative location to sites of eating and toileting to avoid contamination from gut contents of prey, or own faeces.

As desert animals, they have evolved efficient kidneys and don’t need to drink a large amount.

Their prey contains about 90% water, similar to wet cat food.

Finally, we would like to put up a link to a website from one of our American cousins, which discusses the merits of buying a first pet for a child – which one to choose and why. We liked this little article so we are posting a link to it here and printing it below (changing the word ‘kids’ to ‘children’ for the benefit of our English readers. We hope you like it. https://www.liveoutnanny.net/blog/10-of-the-best-pets-for-families-with-young-kids/

10 of the Best Pets for Families with Young Children

At some point in your life as a parent, you will be besieged by bargaining, pleading and begging for the addition of a family pet. While your first reaction may be to change the subject or issue a flat-out denial, the truth is that caring for a pet can be a rich and rewarding experience for your children. They’ll learn compassion and responsibility, as well as the rewarding feeling of caring for another living being. That being said, not all pets are ideal for families with young children. These ten animals, however, tend to be a great fit with young families.

Fish – Unless you opt for a massive saltwater tank filled with exotic specimens, fish can be an ideal first pet for youngsters. They require daily maintenance that will keep children interested, but not so much care that little ones become overwhelmed. They’re also virtually guaranteed not to scratch or bite.
Guinea Pigs – There’s a reason why these furry friends find their way into so many schools as elementary school class pets; they’re great with children and fun to interact with. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to place an exercise wheel in their cages like those commonly found in hamster cages, as running on them can cause leg and joint damage in these unique critters.
Rats – Throw away your preconceptions about rats long enough to truly research them, and you may be surprised to find that they’re one of the pets best suited to life with a young family. Sociable and gentle, rats are relatively easy to care for and don’t mind being handled.
Small Dogs – While many parents think that larger breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers are the best bet for households with children, their size alone can be intimidating to small children. Instead, consider a smaller breed with enough energy to play for hours that’s not so big that children are frightened.
Ants – The battle to keep them out of your kitchen seems overwhelming, so at first blush, the last thing you’d want to add to your family is a box full of ants. They’re actually fascinating creatures to watch, very inexpensive to keep and only likely to escape if children deliberately let them out of their habitat.
Sea Monkeys – Few pets offer children the opportunity to watch something come to life, but the brine shrimp commonly referred to as sea monkeys do just that. Like ant farms, their habitats are inexpensive to maintain and provide children with hours of observational fun without requiring extensive upkeep.
Birds – As long as they’re chosen for temperament rather than showy color, certain types of bird make great pets for children. Their cheery chirping brings a smile to little faces, but their cages do require adult assistance for cleaning and maintenance.
Gerbils – While gerbils require less maintenance than cats or dogs, they do need lots of attention and affection to thrive. They’re very unlikely to hurt children, but little hands can cause the gerbil injury if they get too rough. Be sure to have a long talk about gentleness with your little ones before introducing a gerbil to the family, then enjoy the fun!
Hamsters – Similar to gerbils in some ways, hamsters are another fun and cuddly member of the rodent family that make great pets for children. It’s not a great idea to keep the cage in kids’ bedrooms, however, as these naturally nocturnal critters can make just enough noise to disrupt children’s sleep if they’re in the same room at night.
Leopard Geckos – There’s something about reptiles that appeals to children, but not all are safe for children. Iguanas, for instance, have razor sharp teeth that they won’t hesitate to plunge into an offending hand if they feel the urge. They also can carry salmonella. Leopard geckos, however, do tolerate handling and will only reach about eight inches in length, making them more manageable for families with children.

Before you commit to bringing a pet into your home, it’s important that you ensure that you’re well-versed in the care the animal will require and aware of the fact that pet ownership is a commitment that should be taken very seriously. In addition to flooding the market with adult animals that aren’t likely to find homes, changing your mind after lengthy ownership can be hurtful to children that have grown attached to their animal friends.

We now have a Pinterest account and we have begun with two boards featuring customers’ pets – Beautiful Bunnies and Customers’ Cats. Do pop over and take a look 🙂

Please let us know if you like our articles and any constructive feedback you have is very much welcomed. You can follow us on Twitter at @NotJustPets, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Notjustpets or contact us by email at bathpets@aol.com or via our website at www.notjustpets.co.uk

Thank you for reading! 🙂