Monthly Archives: April 2016

Cats, Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Office pets: what you need to know

Office-pets-what-you-need-to-know

Whether it’s working alongside a resident pet or bringing in your own, a furry creature can be a welcome addition to an office. In Britain we love our pets and over half of us have said we’d happily take them into work if we could.

To find out what having an office pet entails, Lilli Hender from OfficeGenie.co.uk provides an insight into the trend and discusses the possible advantages and disadvantages.

Pets glorious pets

For some workplaces having an in-house pet is nothing new, but for the majority of people, sharing their office with an animal companion is yet to happen. The phenomenon has proved popular in the news and it seems more and more companies are wanting a slice of office-pet action.

Perhaps most notably the transport service Uber has provided deliveries of kittens and puppies to workplaces across America. HR firms have begun to introduce ‘peternity leave’: time to settle new pets; comfort sick pets; and bereave lost pets. In addition to this, another business recently made headlines for allowing every day to be a ‘bring your pet to work’ day.

Is it good news for employees and employers?

The answer, unsurprisingly, is yes. Pets have been shown to lower workplace stress and boost employee morale and productivity. They also improve bonding between staff members and clients by giving the place a family feel.

It’s worth noting that not everyone responds well to animals, some people have allergies and some people have phobias. Business owners should check all staff members would be on board before interviewing a prospective pup. It’s important to take into consideration the additional finances, such as food and veterinary bills, and what happens with the pet after office hours.

Is it good news for pets?

Almost all of the data and commentary on the phenomenon is from the perspective of the employees rather than the animals. However, there are more than a few factors that will affect how the pet takes to their new life in the office: including (but not limited to) their personality, their size, and their age.

Measures should be taken to ensure the move is as stress and danger free as possible. Uber, for example, had representatives from the cat shelters visit the offices before hand to check they were suitable for the kittens. Support is out there: Cesar’s Way has a guide to introducing a dog into the workplace and in the UK The Health Insurance Group have teamed up with clinical pet behaviourists to create a wellbeing programme for office pets.

Deciding upon your furry companion

When it comes to the best office pet, most business owners opt for a dog. Caring for a canine is usually familiar territory which makes for an easier adjustment period. Many breeds will be more than suitable but here are five of the best:

  • Poodles: intelligent, obedient, and kind to allergy sufferers because they don’t shed.
  • Bulldog: even-tempered, affectionate, lively but not loud.
  • Pug: playful, charismatic, friendly, and fun.
  • Beagle: social, happy, curious, and good around new people.
  • Bichon Frise: affectionate, easy to train, and fluffy.

It might be a while before pets in the workplace are the norm but it’s something to look forward to in the meantime. As long as both parties are happy, having an office pet can be a brilliant decision for all involved.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Lilli Hender works for Office Genie: a desk and office space marketplace. She writes about office life and the latest workplace trends.

References for dog breed characteristics:

http://www.pet360.com/slideshow/dog/lifestyle/8-best-dog-breeds-to-take-to-the-office/1/VLma3CdZOEmX1PpFXr-ipg?intcid=LINKART#/slideshow

http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/10-best-small-dog-breeds-for-therapy-work/
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Dental disease in pets

Dogs 44 - Dental disease in pets

The importance of our pet’s dental health is often underestimated. Having poor dental health doesn’t affect just a pet’s breath. Pets with poor oral hygiene can suffer from painful oral infections, premature tooth loss and the problem is not restricted to their mouth. The bacteria causing infection in their mouths can also spread and affect other organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver.

Dental disease will develop if the plaque (a soft yellowish film that accumulates on the teeth surface after eating) becomes too thick. The bacterial population becomes more pathogenic causing inflammation of our pet’s gums (gingivitis).

If left untreated the problem will become more serious and our pets will develop periodontal disease, which means the inflammation involves not only the gums but also the tissues that surround and support the teeth (gums, ligaments and bone). The damage to our pet’s teeth is caused by the inflammatory mediators produced to fight the infection, by the bacteria themselves and by their metabolic products.

This condition is a very common problem and it is estimated that more than 80% of pets in the UK suffer from some form of periodontal disease. Although this disease can cause a lot of discomfort and even pain, many pets adapt, learn how to live with it and may show few signs of disease.

Common signs of periodontal disease in our pets include bad breath, appearance of a yellowish-brown crust near the gum line, red looking gums that may bleed easily, reluctance to eat, decreased appetite, difficulties eating, loose or missing teeth, depression and weight loss. Some pets can drop the food from their mouths when they try to eat and dribble.

The treatment for pets suffering from this condition is the removal of the bacterial plaque off the surface of their teeth through professional dental cleaning under general anaesthesia and can include teeth extraction if severely damaged teeth are found during the procedure.

It is really worth taking the time and the necessary measures to prevent this disease and the best way to do it is to regularly remove the plaque from our pet’s teeth. This can be achieved through daily brushing using an appropriate pet safe toothbrush and toothpaste. It is not recommended to use toothpaste designed for humans since pets can’t spit the paste out like we do. They will swallow the product and it can upset their stomach.

For pets that do not allow regular tooth brushing other options such as giving your pet chew toys or feeding them hard or course textured food can also help. Ideally pet owners should start brushing their pet’s teeth from a young age, so they can gradually get used to the procedure and feel comfortable with it.
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Cats: Indoors or Outdoors?

Cats 21 - Cats indoors or outdoors

Statistics show that indoor cats have longer, healthier lives than outdoor cats and in fact keeping your cat indoors may reduce some risks. However, these cats are also more likely to develop behavioural problems than those allowed outside if their environment isn’t properly enriched. The decision to keep your cat inside or allow him or her to go outside is a personal one and much will depend on your circumstances and on the personality of the individual cat.

Knowing the benefits and disadvantages of keeping your cat indoors or outdoors will help you decide what is best for your cat. Here are some factors you should keep in mind when making this important decision:

  • Accidents and injuries. Cats that live outdoors can be hit by vehicles, become injured from other cats, or attacked by dogs and other predators.
  • Infectious diseases and parasites. Cats with access to the exterior can contract infectious diseases from other cats and from the environment. They can also get more parasites, such as fleas, ticks and internal parasites.
  • Poisoning and getting lost. Cats that live outdoors are more likely to get poisoned and lost, since cats tend to wander. They can have access to different kinds of poisons such as slug pellets, anti-freeze and rodent control poisons, including eating poisoned prey.
  • Cats with outdoor access can exercise more. Not only because they have extra space, but also because they can hunt and climb trees among other activities. Indoor cats may not get the exercise they need, which can lead to a weight problem as well as stress. In order to help your indoor cat do more exercise you can enrich your household and provide him or her with places to climb such as cat towers and a supply of toys.
  • Scratching behaviour. Cats have a natural instinct to keep their claws sharp, and they do this by scratching. If cats are not allowed outside they are more likely to scratch your furniture. If you have an indoor cat, you can get a scratching post that will allow your cat to display this normal behaviour.
  • The outdoor environment is particularly stimulating and interesting for cats. If you have an indoor cat, there are ways to give him or her outdoors time while minimizing the associated risks. You can use a screened in porch or an outdoor cat enclosure to allow your cat to feel like he or she is outside, without exposing him or her to the outdoors dangers. You can also train your cat to walk with a harness. Either way it is recommended to provide adequate environmental enrichment if you want to keep your cat indoors. Keep in mind some timid and older cats may also prefer to stay indoors, where they are warm and protected.

Cats kept solely indoors should be provided with ways to exhibit their natural behaviour to ensure their welfare and avoid undesirable behavioural issues. Your cat needs to have enough space to exercise, climb and play indoors. He or she should also have a variety of resting places.

Some cats love going outside and others don’t want to go out at all, so wherever your cats spend their time, make sure they’re safe and happy!

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Horsebox Safety Week

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Have you heard of the Horsebox Safety Week?

This campaign ran between the 4th and 10th of April and was launched by an insurance company. The goal was to raise awareness of the risks involved when loading and transporting horses, and to encourage horse owners to perform a few key safety checks before transporting their horse in order to prevent accidents.

The most common injuries related to horse transportation were caused by legs falling through rotten floors or tyre blow outs that led to overturned boxes. Horse boxes and trailers are required to pass an annual MOT or ministry plating but there are no inspections or security checks to ensure these vehicles are safe and suited to carry horses.

Recent research with data from the company has shown that 19% of injuries in horse boxes and trailers result in the horse being euthanized. Sadly, many of these accidents could have been easily avoided. For this reason we feel it is urgent to spread the word among horse owners about the importance of doing maintenance and safety checks on all the equipment involved on horse transportation.

Take a good look at your vehicles regularly:

  • Ensure that there are no visibility or lighting issues that may interfere with safe driving. All bolts and latches should be working properly to allow easy opening if necessary.
  • Take some time to check your tires. It’s important to verify if your horseboxes and trailers are equipped with the right type of tires (the tires on your horsebox are different from the tires on your car) and check their general condition (age, pressure, tread depth, and integrity of the tire wall). Please remember that if your tires are too old, damaged, worn, or have not been inflated with the right pressure you will have limited control over your vehicle and risk having tire blow outs.
  • Keep an eye on the floors, ramps and sidewalls. Over time, these surfaces suffer considerable damage and come into contact with a lot of liquid. Ongoing damp conditions will often rot the floor. It is recommended to lift the rubber matting and check the floor (above and below) for damage. Prod suspect areas with a flat head screwdriver and if you find any damage or rot the problem must be checked out by a professional before using those structures to load or transport horses. Check the floors, ramps and sidewalls every few months.
  • Keep in mind that horse boxes and trailers have a legal amount they can carry and exceeding this limit has serious safety implications.

Don’t forget to perform these safety checks every few months and keep your horses safe!

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Cats

Bringing a kitten home

Cats-20---Bringing-a-kitten-home

Bringing a new kitten home, what a joy! We know you want to keep your new pet happy and safe so here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Firstly, you need to have a cat carrier not only for your kitten’s first journey home, but also for later trips. Cats can get stressed when travelling in cars so it is better if they are confined in the carrier where they might feel safer. When you bring your kitten home put the carrier in the room you’ve prepared for the new pet to help him or her become comfortable with its presence.

Before bringing your kitten home you should prepare a small room where your new furry friend will be for the first days. Having a smaller area to explore at first will help your kitten get comfortable with the new home. The room shouldn’t have long curtains, objects that can be dangerous to your pet or poisonous plants, such as lilies. You should also get a comfortable bed with a nice blanket and you can place a scratching post nearby.

You should place the litter box in one side of the room and the food and water bowl in the other, as cats prefer to keep these two separated. Usually cats start using the litter box quickly with very little effort from their owners but if necessary you can show your new kitten where the litter box is and place him or her on the box when waking up from sleep and after meals, or when he or she is sniffing, scratching or beginning to crouch.

Kittens are very playful so your new pet will also need toys. You can leave some toys in the room to keep him or her entertained and occupied. Do your best to engage in several interactive play sessions per day and to socialise your kitten to people, sounds and experiences. Cats are naturally active at dawn and dusk but your kitten can adjust his or her sleeping patterns to fit in with your lifestyle.

It’s in a cat’s nature to have several small meals a day and it is recommended for kittens to be fed a good quality diet. Clean drinking water should be available at all times!

Many cats love to drink milk but please remember that many cats are lactose intolerant. This means cow’s milk can cause diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort in cats. There are commercial versions of milk for cats (that had most lactose removed) which are less likely to cause any issues. If your cats show any discomfort or diarrhoea the best option is to stop giving them milk.

You should make an appointment with your vet, so that your new pet can be properly examined, and treated if necessary. You can also take the opportunity to clarify all your doubts and get all the health information you need.

Your kitten shouldn’t be allowed outside until at least a week after he or she has finished the first course of vaccinations because of the risk of getting infectious diseases. It is also important to microchip your cat just in case he or she becomes lost or injured away from home. Microchipping is the best form of permanent identification.

Enjoy your new kitten and don’t forget to schedule a vet’s appointment for your furry friend every year.

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