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Author njpadmin Posted on

Not Just Pets 10 year Anniversary Charity Open Day a Huge Success

We celebrated our 10th anniversary last month here in our Bath city centre store with a big party and a fun game challenge by the Abbey in Kingston Parade. We managed to raise over £250 for local animal charities. Greyhound rescue West of England and Swindon Reptile Rescue.

The theme of the day was fun, fun, fun with animal education thrown in as always and the staff all dressed in glad rags and local and tourist folk were invited to participate in various ways.

A big draw for the weekend was having celebrity dog listener Tony Knight give a very funny and informative talk to customers on the day. He also ran a three day dog behaviour course based at the store, and the feedback from the participants was fabulous. Not only did they learn so much about themselves and their dogs but they had lots of fun too.

Customers enjoyed cakes, coffee, animal handling, advice and more, and went away with a party bag each, various freebies and samples and probably a raffle ticket.

Janine Tozer owner of the store says “We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the day. We would like to say huge thank you to all the fabulous local businesses and to our suppliers who gave prizes, samples, or who attended on the day to give nutrition and behaviour advice. A very big thank you indeed goes to Tony Knight, celebrity dog listener and Andy from Rolf Hagen for the Nerf challenge. Our team of staff were brilliant on the day and we would like to thank all our lovely customers who came in and took part. They seem to have a lot of fun too. We were delighted to be able to raise some valuable funds for Greyhound Rescue West of England.”

The raffle was a huge success raising a grand total of £132! The prizes were kindly donated by Society Cafe, Eric Snook’s toyshop, MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel , Shakeaway, Roman Bath and The Fashion Museum, Spirit Photography and also many suppliers including Happy Pet, Ancol and Trixie

We were able to treat all the customers who attended the open day to samples and offers due to the generosity of the companies that supplied free samples and products for prizes. A huge thank you to Applaws, Barking heads, Beapher, Burgess, Burns, Canagan, Wofytrade, Company of Animals, Ezydog, Johnsons, Rosewood, Supreme, Tetra, Kong, Pooch and Mutt, Nature’s Way, Green and Wild and Fish4dogs.

We would like to thank you all for the support. It is lovely to be a part of the Bath community.

 

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

 

 

 

Author njpadmin Posted on

Spring Time News at Not Just Pets

We are looking forward to spring and summer time here at Not Just Pets as the sun starts shining across Bath it makes the city shine brighter. We have our spring sale in store at the moment in our Bath store across all departments so why not pop in and grab a bargain!

Spring Sale Window

We are fully stocked with travel and sunny day accessories for all animals. Take care of thirsty dogs with fold down water bowls and clip on water bottles. Dogs can not sweat like us so give your dog a helping hand by using a cooling coat. Just dip in water and place on your dog. Make sure your cat or dog is cool and hydrated with a pet water fountain that filters and keeps water fresh.

If you are on the road, rail or in the air with your pets we have travel accessories that will keep your pets safe and secure. Travel harnesses and airplane approved travel boxes of all sizes for dogs,  cats, rabbits and other small animals. Keep your car cool and your pet safe with a Car vent that fits on your window. Never leave your dog in your car unattended.

It is a great time of year to encourage and observe wild animals in your garden . Here at Not Just Pets we stock a wide range of wild bird seeds and feed. As well as a great selection of feeders, tables and houses.

We also keep Spike’s Hedgehog food in stock which is designed for hedgehogs to ensure they are getting the right nutrition. If you find a hedgehog visiting your garden you may be tempted to feed it bread and milk which could do more harm than good.

Why not create your own Spring Watch and install a camera in your garden? We can provide Gardenature bird boxes and camera systems that are specially designed for watching wildlife!

Let us know via twitter or Facebook about the animals that are living in your area!

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon; remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

Author njpadmin Posted on

Guest post – Keeping Dogs safe this Easter

Not Just Pets Guest Post for Easter

Keeping dogs safe at Easter time

Here at Not Just Pets we stock a wide range of dog safe chocolate Easter treats. These are great for encouraging your pet to join in the fun during the holidays. But there are also a great many hazards for dogs at Easter time. Here is a guest post that will explain more about these and how you can avoid a trip to the vet with your dog.

 

Hazards for dogs at Easter

The world is full of hazards for dogs, just as it is for humans and, just like for humans, most of the time we can avoid them. Knowing what poses a hazard to our four-legged friends is key to being able to keep them safe and avoid illness or an emergency trip to the vet.

Local veterinary nurse, Hannah Burton, who runs Dog First Aid courses for dog owners and those who work with dogs across Bristol, Somerset, Bath and Dorset, is keen to spread the word about how to avoid doggy disaster over the Easter holidays.

Hannah says: “Having worked in a vet’s practice for many years I am all too familiar with how badly dogs can be affected by eating foods commonly found in the home. A dog coming across a stash of Easter Eggs hidden out of sight can have fatal consequences and nobody wants to spend the Easter weekend facing the loss of their dog.”

Below is some advice from Hannah on how to avoid hazards that are particularly prevalent over the Easter holidays.

Chocolate eggs

Now Christmas is behind us, we can be sure to find Easter eggs in our local supermarkets tempting us at the end of aisles.  Not only are these often kept hidden ‘en masse’ before Easter, but we find children receive so many Easter eggs they may have a hoard of their own somewhere!  And while discovering this hoard may be your dog’s idea of heaven – it can quickly turn to disaster.

Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs.  Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are much higher in concentration of theobromine and caffeine – and therefore pose more of a threat – than milk or white chocolate. However, large enough quantities of milk chocolate still regularly get consumed during the Easter period to warrant presentation to vets for treatment.

If you arrive home to an array of wrappers and the dog is looking terribly guilty, it’s time to call Animal Poison Line or your vet, to find out whether or not the amount consumed constitutes risk of toxicity for their bodyweight.  If a risk is posed then a trip down to the surgery where your vet can induce vomiting is likely to be required, followed by monitoring for signs of poisoning, which include restlessness, increase in heart-rate, panting, pacing, vomiting, diarrhoea and increased drinking.

She may need to be admitted for further care including intra-venous fluids and other treatment as planned by your vet.

Untreated, signs of chocolate poisoning may progress to un-coordination, seizures, severe cardiac abnormalities, coma and death.  The high fat content of chocolate products may trigger pancreatitis in susceptible animals.

Sultanas, currants and raisins

Simnel cake and hot cross buns-a-plenty, Easter time presents more than average opportunities for our canine friends to snaffle some of these potentially toxic dried fruits. The toxicity of raisins, sultanas and grapes isn’t fully understood yet, as while some will prove fatal others won’t. But, it’s important to remember that just one raisin or grape can be enough to kill a dog of any size if they are unlucky.  Dogs that have eaten sultanas, currants or raisins need to be taken to a vet as soon as possible, where the vet can induce vomiting. Further treatment, including intra-venous fluids and monitoring kidney function may also be necessary.  Left untreated in susceptible individuals, signs include lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, dehydration and increased drinking. By the time these symptoms occur it may already be too late to successfully treat the dog, and if kidney failure develops this can prove fatal.

Xylitol

Used more and more commonly in baked goods, the sweetener xylitol may not be on the doggy menu but end up being consumed by your dog inadvertently.  Eating products containing xylitol can cause hypoglycaemia, and possible liver damage.

The amount of xylitol the dog has eaten should be recorded and reported to Animal Poison Line or your vet – this will be useful in determining whether toxic signs will be expected and how severe they will be.  Where enough xylitol has been eaten, signs of hypoglycaemia can develop rapidly so it is imperative to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible, and before signs such as weakness, vomiting, lack of coordination, collapse, seizures and coma.  Affected animals should be hospitalised and treated.  Signs of liver damage include depression, jaundice, vomiting and clotting problems, and those showing severe liver damage may not recover despite treatment.

Easter plants

Easter plants and bulbs are given as gifts or kept at home around this time for ornamental purposes.  Many of these are toxic to dogs and if you suspect your dog may have eaten some you should contact your vet for advice.

What to do if you suspect your dog has ingested a poison or toxin, and what signs to look out for, are covered in Hannah’s Dog First Aid courses. To find out more about the courses, visit www.dog-first-aid.co.uk.

 

Not Just Pets stocks dog safe chocolate for any dogs that adore chocolate. Visit us in store and find out more.

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon;

remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

 

 

Author njpadmin Posted on

Lungworm – Keeping Dogs Safe

Keeping Dogs Safe this Autumn

Here at Not Just Pets we try to provide all the care information that is available to help keep pets happy and healthy. We became aware that some owners did not know about Lungworm and we wanted to make sure that the word was spread about the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatments.

What is Lungworm and how is it spread?

Lungworm is a parasite (Angiostrongylus vasorum) that can cause serious health problems in dogs and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated.

Slugs and snails carry the lungworm larvae and dogs can pick these up just by playing in the garden or area where the slugs and snails have been. Even from their outdoor water bowls and toys.

Dogs unfortunately have plenty of opportunities to come into contact with snails, slugs and slime. Even just investigating the hedgerow or grass on a daily walk.

Signs of Lungworm

Your dog may show signs such as –

  • Change in behaviour
  • Breathing problems
  • Poor blood clotting
  • General sickness

Although these signs may be caused by something else Lungworm can be detected by testing a blood or poo sample. This test can be done by your vet.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention is the best way to protect your dog. Here at Not Just Pets we sell wormers for dogs that cover protection for roundworm and tapeworm. The medication prescribed to protect against lungworm is available by prescription only. You will be able to get the monthly spot-on lungworm protection from your vet.

You can also arrange to visit your vet and get your dog checked over if your dog loves snails and slugs or if you think they have been in contact them.

Treatments are available if your dog does become ill. Once diagnosed and treated your dog should go on to make a full recovery. Acting early is key to dogs recovering.

SPREAD THE WORD!

Most dog owners know nothing about lungworm and do not realise they need to protect against it. Talk to other dog owners and share the information.

The information above has been provided by the Act Against Lungworm website where you will also find all the information about treatment and prevention as well as view the interactive case map that will show you how many cases of lungworm have been reported in your area.

We put the Not Just Pets postcode for Bath and 162 cases have been reported and for Frome, 201 cases. This information can help you decide the risk for your dog in your area.

Not Just Pets encourages you to share this information with other dog owners and help prevent the spread!

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon;

remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

 

Author njpadmin Posted on

Guest Blog from Country & Stable – Summer Safety Tips

Not Just Pets welcome a guest blog from Country & Stable this month as we head into the warm and sunny weather. There are some great tips here and Not Just Pets stocks the products mentioned in the article.

Summer is a wonderful time to spend time with our dogs. The long walks bathed in sunshine, trips to the beach, and just generally more opportunity to spend time outside in (hopefully) nice weather.

However, summer also brings with it its own set of problems for our dogs, that it’s essential we’re aware of to ensure they stay healthy, safe and happy. Here Country & Stable have kindly provided their top summer safety tips for you and your dog.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is caused when your dog’s body temperature becomes too high and they can’t bring it down to a safe level. Signs of heatstroke in dogs include heavy panting, fainting, raised pulse rates, excessive salivating, and lethargy, which can quickly lead to death if not treated.

Overweight dogs, those with thick coats, and those with squashed up faces and brachycephalic muzzle are even more susceptible to heatstroke, so take extra care if your dog falls into one of those categories.

One of the most common (and dangerous) causes of heatstroke in dogs is leaving them in a hot car, and the seriousness of doing this cannot be stated vehemently enough. Quite simply, DO NOT leave your dog in the car on a hot day, no matter the circumstances.

This article and infographic gives more information about the dangers of leaving a dog in a hot car.

If you think your dog has developed heatstroke, you need to try and reduce its body temperature. Make sure it’s in the shade and use cool (not cold) water to bring its temperature down. You should then contact your vet to determine what to do next.

Sunburn

Dogs can get sunburned just like we can, which can lead to skin cancer if not looked after. Yes, fur can act as a barrier to some extent, but if you want to really protect your dog from the sun, then do as you would do and slap on some sun cream.

You can buy sun cream specially made for dogs – human sun lotions can have zinc oxide in them, which is poisonous to pooches. Make sure you apply to particularly sensitive areas or where fur is thinnest, such as their nose, belly and ears.

Many owners like to trim their dog’s fur in the summer to keep them cool, but be careful not to go too short, or they will be at greater risk of sunburn.

Watch those foot pads

You know when you go to the beach on a really hot day and you have to sprint to the sea because the sand is so hot? Well that’s what it can be like for dogs when you talk them for a walk on a summer’s day. Pavements and tarmac paths can get baking hot in the sun, so try and keep your walks to shady areas or on grassy paths. If you have had to walk on hot pavements, try and cool down your dog’s feet when you get home – a children’s paddling pool is great for this.

Also be aware of sharp objects and your dog’s paws. Even dried grass or straw can be extremely sharp, and can cause severe discomfort if it gets stuck in their paws.

Keep them hydrated

You know how dehydrated and thirsty you can get on a hot summer’s day, so imagine what it’s like for your dog who can’t just nip to the fridge for a cool drink.

Always ensure your dog has access to plenty of cool, fresh water. If you’re on a car journey (which you might need to rethink anyway if it’s particularly hot), then make sure they have water with them, as we’ve already discussed how dangerous it can be for dogs in hot cars.

If your dog usually eats dry food, then you could switch to wet food to increase their fluid intake.

Don’t assume they’re a good swimmer

A great way to cool off in the heat is to go for a dip in a river, lake, the sea, or a pool if you’re on holiday. However, just because dogs have a natural ability to swim, don’t assume your dog is a particularly good swimmer.

Small dogs are especially prone to becoming tired easily when swimming, as well as easily caught up in currents, which can lead to drowning. Never let your dog near water without your supervision, and if you think they’re struggling, get them out immediately. A doggy life jacket can help, but it’s still important to keep an eye on them at all times.

Also, if your dog is going to be going in a swimming pool, be aware of the chlorine levels in the pool. Chlorine can irritate skin and cause stomach upsets, so if your dog has been in a pool, try and shower it off with fresh water.

Parasites

Bugs, insects and other parasite nasties are at their most lively and irritable during the warmer months, and some may well take a liking to your dog. Keep a keen eye out for ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, flies, and various other pests. Speak with your vet about the treatments available to keep them at bay.

Allergies

If you have any allergies, then you’ll know just how horrible they can be, and your dog can suffer in much the same way. Insects, such as fleas, and flowers can all play havoc with your dog’s allergies, and can cause similar symptoms to those we experience – itching, coughing, sneezing and general discomfort. Again, go and see your vet for the best course of action to combat your dog’s allergies.

We hope this article will help you and your dog have a fun-filled (and safe) summer.

Not Just Pets stocks a wide range of products and accessories to help keep your pets cool in the hot weather. Here are a selection of what we have online and in store.

Luna enjoying some ice cream suitable for dogs from Billy + Margot

Not Just Pets stock a wide range of Travel bottle and bowls that can easliy be brought along on walks and stored in the car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In store we stock dog safe sunscream in a stick, spray and wipes. Handy sized and keeps your dog safe from the sun.

Not Just Pets stocks Tick tools that help remove ticks and treatments that kill and prevent fleas and lice.

We thank Country & Stable for being a guest on our blog. Do you have a great summer top tip that we have missed? Join the discussion and let us know in the comments below or join us on Facebook or Twitter.

We look forward to welcoming you in store soon;

remember we are open in our Bath store 7 days a week!

Any ideas and suggestions you have will be welcomed. You can follow us in many ways:

Facebook                Twitter             Pinterest

 We are now on Instagram! – notjustpets Follow us and see some fantastic photos!

We run regular photo competitions, quizzes, offers and promotions on our Facebook and Twitter pages, so why not “like” or “follow” us today! 

Get in touch via any of the above, or via our website or email at bathpets@aol.com or telephone us on 01225 461461. Or simply pop in, you’ll be welcome!

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