December/January 2021, FREE
CAVALIERS’ CHOICES Top Product Reviews
HOW TO GIVE YOUR PET SOME XMAS CHEER! PRICKLY PET:
Charlie, the
& MUCH MORE INSIDE
Pygmy Hedgehog Vet
Cavaliers’Choices Premium pet products for you & your pet chosen by Sophie Nell and Rufus, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, assisted by the Marie.
THIRSTY Hounds…
We love this pet water fountain as hydration is so important for your pooch and this special dog bowl also filters the water.
Pet Water Fountain
The fountain looks nicer than a standard dog water bowl too. The Bunty Water Fountain features a replaceable charcoal filter, this fountain ensures your pet receives clear and pure water, with a removable pump making this fountain simple to keep clean and dishwasher safe. With the capacity to hold 60oz of water, the amount of times needed to refill this bowl is significantly reduced. Priced at £30.00 from Dunelm.
Perfect PET ART
Narla is a new online platform that offers customers the opportunity to design their own personalised metal artworks, perfect for pet owners that want to create an everlasting masterpiece of their 'best friend’. Manufactured from steel, and designed for both indoor and outdoor environments, the artworks are produced using cutting-edge technology that takes a hand-drawn stencil which is then laser cut onto metal art panels. Unlike other metal art manufacturers, Narla utilises real artists for its ranges, meaning that each piece is truly created by hand. The company is named after, and inspired by, co-founder Warren's dog 'Narla'. Warren wanted to find a way to commemorate his beloved labradoodle in art form. Prices start from £200 - for more information: www.narla.uk
Yummy & Healthy Dog Treats!
We’ve reviewed many types of dog treats before, ranging from baked biscuits to organic grain free offerings, but seldom do we come across a brand that packs such a mightily wholesome punch. Pawfect Foods is true to its name in producing dog snacks that are delicious and high quality. These grain free human grade treats come in a selection of very palatable offerings from including Himalayan dental sticks (Rufus’s personal favourite!) to herbal infusions and ‘elevenses’ dog cookies, vegan fruit and veg jerky. The dogs loved the ‘Nature’s Munch’ range which consists of fresh dried and bit size banana, apple, pineapple, papaya, coconut and mango. The humans in the team also smelled the treats and they did indeed indicate their respective fruit – far removed from so many similar offerings, they actually resembled in more than appearance what they are. A great start. It felt good and wholesome to be feeding the dogs something that looked and smelled natural and was good for them too.The Himalayan cheese treats were a huge hit with one lucky boy especially, 3 year old Rufus, who absolutely cannot get enough of the brand’s Himalayan Chew Bars – yum yum! It’s a 5-Star Paws Up from the Pets Mag Canine Review Team. For more information and to buy, please visit: www.pawfectfoods.co.uk.
PS/ We’re always looking for premium products & services to review for both pets and people! Please get in touch with the boss at editor@petsmag.co.uk.
Why You Should Give Your Pet Some Festive Cheer Too!
The festive period is a time to express gratitude, bond and make memories with your loved ones. For pet owners, furry friends unquestionably qualify as a loved one - 95% of dog owners and 93% of cat owners agree that owning their pet makes them happy, according to veterinary charity PDSA’s recent report. With this year having been a particularly tough one for all, involving your pets in traditional Christmas activities is a fantastic way to strengthen your connection with them. This year’s pandemic kickstarted a new wave of first-time pet owners, who will be celebrating Christmas with their latest family additions. Whilst Christmas is a welcome break from the usual routine for us, this can have the opposite effect on our pets, making it a stressful time for
cats and dogs. When pets act up at Christmas, it could be a sign that they are feeling anxious or scared, even though new owners may put their disruptiveness down to simple bad behaviour. The RSPCA have already expressed their fears of a rise in pet abandonment, which calls for a reiteration of how to smoothly integrate pets into family activities this Christmas, while keeping them calm and content. One of the UK’s best and most loved groomers, Laura Campanella, who is Styling Director and Head Teacher at GroomArts, is passionate about educating new owners on how to look after their pets’ needs and why this is more important than ever before. Here she shares her advice on how to safely integrate your pets into this year’s festivities - by addressing anxious behaviours early so you can do the right things to make your pet feel happy and comfortable.
dangerous for pets to consume, such as chocolate and currants, which are toxic for pets, and turkey bones, which can splinter whilst being chewed, risking damage to your pet’s throat or stomach. By being clued up on what foods are safe to feed your pets, you can ensure their overall health and mood remains positive this Christmas. Additionally, it may help to create a space for your pet to escape to for some peace and quiet if they get too overexcited at the table - lots of new people combined with strange decorations can impact their typical levels of calm, so allowing them to have a break from this can help restore their composure.
GET CRAFTY Getting stuck into some arts and crafts is even more fun when you get your pet involved! DINE TOGETHER Making a Christmas card with Here, Laura shares her Christmas Day is famous for your pet is a great opportunity advice on how to safely indulging in a big meal with to bond with them and integrate your pets into this your friends and family strengthen your connection as accompanied by sweet treats year’s festivities - by companions. Stick to using and festive recipes. dog-safe materials - avoid addressing anxious glitter, toxic glue and behaviours early so you can Use this as an opportunity to permanent paints, and this do the right things to make treat your pet with a luxurious activity will provide a simple meal so they can take part in your pet feel happy and way to include your pet in the festive magic along with the comfortable. something festive. whole family. However, beware that certain festive foods can be
GIVE THEM A GROOM!
and take in the outdoors is essential to maintaining your Over the festive season we all like to treat ourselves to a spot overall sense of wellbeing over of grooming, and this applies to the festive period. our pets too. When to brush depends on the type of dog. Dogs with short, dense hair like PLAY DRESS UP a husky can generally be Mintel research reveals that brushed fortnightly as opposed 30% of millennial pet care to long-haired dogs who will purchasers say they like their probably need to be brushed pet to keep up with the latest weekly to prevent the coat from trends (eg. clothes, grooming becoming tangled. styles), which equates to an average of one in five (19%) buyers. The key things to consider when dressing up your GO WALKIES pet is whether they can move When most festivities involve properly, are able to relaxing and lounging around communicate or and do not at home, allowing your pet (as seem stressed (which they may well as yourself!) to get active
express by licking their lips or panting). As well as this, be aware of any potential choking hazards and try not to leave them alone whilst in their costume.Â
HAVE A PHOTO SHOOT
DECORATE THE TREE
decor options include paper or felt decorations, which are less Immortalise the special This one’s for the cats! There memories you are making by are a few things to bear in mind tempting to kitties compared to taking some adorable images of when you decorate your tree so the shiny stuff. your pet integrating with the that it is a safe and fun rest of the family. You can experience for your pet. Setting When attempting these activities with your pets, Laura increase the chances of your pet up the tree a few days before added: “The younger your pets being comfortable with this by decorating gives your cat a are the happier they will feel making sure you avoid using a chance to familiarise with being bought out of their flash. Also, try and capture the themselves with it and authentic moments without investigate the new addition to comfort zone each year. This way, it will become natural for forcing your animal into any your home. Gather together them and they will look forward unnatural positions. Tips for some cat-friendly ornaments making sure these photos look and give your pet something to to it as much as you will.” as professional as possible play with whilst you decorate include getting on their level, the tree with your cat having playing with different angles fun by your side. Take note that and using props. tinsel poses a hazard for cats, with the risk of them chewing and choking on it. Other pretty
Sponsored Content
We Meet PRASH PATWARDHAN, Founder, Pawfect Foods Pawfect Foods is one of a new breed of dog treat providers that’s tackling the uncomfortable stranglehold large numbers of ‘opportunist’ producers have historically had over an underpoliced category, where large swathes of inappropriate overprocessed/‘nutritionally-vacant’ junk food still dominates. Thankfully, like human food and dog food before, premium-tier dog treats are thanks to specialist producers like Pawfect going through a long overdue redemption curve, championing a new swathe of tasty, nutritionally well-rounded snacks made with best-in-class, human-grade ingredients. HOW DID YOU COME TO HEAD A COMPANY PRODUCING DOG TREATS? Being a passionate animal lover and having spent many years in the marketing, handling multiple national & global brands, it became abundantly clear to me that whilst pet food has made significant step-change improvements, (grain-free, BARF, functional, organic, increasingly tailored) dog treats have been left in the clean-deck ‘slow lane. Too often treat providers have settled for unsavoury meat derivatives, masking salt & sugar and test tubes of synthetic flavourings,
colourings and preservatives. Then there are the equally curious practices of products like raw hide being masqueraded as a beneficial treat. Having spent the last 20 or so years plying my trade in large, blue chip operations, I felt the
moment was ripe to enter the nimble-pawed, underdog arena, embracing the newfound appreciation for ground-breaking, premium quality produce with a sincere sustainable and ethical outlook, which in a nutshell is the very essence of Pawfect Foods.
Sponsored Content We began tentatively with 7 SKUs and yet were inundated with interest, which is why after a mere 15 months we already operate in 15 different markets. Our vision in 2020 is to a 64 SKU strong portfolio with a clear back-toNature vision: • First BRC accredited Himalayan Chew producers in the world • The most farreaching range of freeze-dried vegan treats for dogs • A groundbreaking portfolio of functional herbal infusions for dogs
source.We’ve a business that prides itself on not only our integrity and honesty, but our long-standing commitment to preserve traditional food practices, because whilst we have a state-of-the-art, BRC approved facility we also understand that whizzy tech isn’t always the
WHAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CANINE NUTRITION? A balanced and nutritious diet equals a happy and healthy pet enjoying a longer-stress free life devoid of angst, aching joints and spiralling veterinary bills. It sounds obvious but good nutrition should be just as important for our pets as it is for the rest of our family. Pawfect’s underlying vision is that good nutrition should be driven by nature, not science. We insist on great taste and exceptional nutritional standards in equal measure by putting our trust in natural ingredients and always looking beyond the P& L goals of a company. WHERE DO YOU SEE PAWFECT IN 5 YEARS TIME? Still spreading health and happiness for pets across the answer. DO YOU HAVE DOGS? world. Being acknowledged, Yes, both at home and at our appreciated and admired as a Take for example Himalayan production facility. It’s important wholesome pet food pioneers that Cheese Products, this isn't to never lose sight of your core puts pets before profitability. marketing speak for ‘Himalayan customers (dogs and their more style’ chhurpi cheese. Unlike discerning pet parents) so it’s NAME 5 THINGS YOU LOVE many peer products that are made always pleasing to see their ABOUT DOGS in the lowlands using the milk - Their unequalled capacity positive responses to all our from synthetic hormone induced fledgling new product trials; the to convey love herds, our milk comes from ‘high - Their willingness to perfect barometer for reminding altitude’ herds that are not only us just how delicious and diverse become part of your life free from human syringes but our far-reaching range really is. without any complicated allowed to graze the panoramic, negotiations pesticide-free panoramic - The way they always HOW DID YOU SOURCE THE Himalayan vistas. ALL-NATURAL appeal to your good side INGREDIENTS? (you’re their unwavering Then there’s our freeze-dried We are really proud of not only the hero) mango treats made from the way we source of our ingredients, Their appreciation for the internationally revered Alphonso providing a fair price for a great simple things in life (a mangoes. The bottom line is we product, but our state-of-the art walk, a tickle….) spare no efforts in bringing the - Eradicating loneliness. traceability programme which can finest from nature ingredients to track any single batch back to pets around the world.
New Scheme to Help Homeless & Pets off the Streets
The StreetVet Accredited Hostel Scheme – which will roll out nationwide – will enable hostels to accept multiple residents with their pets by offering free, accessible veterinary care, as well as support for hostel managers and staff to adopt and implement positive pet policies. Currently, many people face the impossible choice between a roof over their heads or giving up their beloved pet.
In the UK, one in ten people experiencing homelessness has a pet (around 32,000 people) and, whilst some hostels accept pets, the vast majority do not. Those that do accept pets may also only accept one pet for the entire property. The accreditation scheme ensures that hostels are well-equipped to proactively support petowning residents, including: having a variety of health, hygiene and safety policies in place; etraining hostel team members to support the policies and the people and pets they are accommodating, and providing pet owners with access to vet care including telemedicine, free provision of pet essentials, transport to vet
practices when needed and emergency kennelling should the pet owner be taken ill. The charity was able to launch the scheme after winning funding from Purina’s BetterwithPets prize – the accreditation scheme was chosen as the winner from entries across Europe. StreetVet co-founder and vet Jade Statt says: “Under current regulations, if people turn down housing due to “no pets” clauses, they are told they are making themselves “intentionally homeless” and are refused further housing assistance. Any pet lover will understand that choosing between a roof over your head and the company of your beloved pet is no choice at all.”
StreetVet has seen a huge increase in people seeking their services during 2020, with a 50% increase in clients in Bournemouth during lockdown alone.
accredited, helping keep people and their pets together. Pets are more than animals, they are our family and friends. No pet lover would want to be separated from their pet, especially when going through a very difficult time in their life.”
StreetVet co-founder Sam Joseph explains: “Once people have been temporarily housed with pets, they still face hurdles “Currently, one of the many to access permanent complex reasons that people accommodation, due to many remain homeless is because StreetVet ambassador, the landlords banning pets. For there are not enough hostels this reason, StreetVet is that can safely also supporting accommodate them Jasmine’s Law and has and their pet. One of the many complex shared our policies and reasons people remain procedures in the hope “Our hope is that in they can also be setting up the homeless is because there are applied to permanent StreetVet Accredited Hostel Scheme, fewer not enough hostels that can rented accommodation. Our people will have to charity’s purpose is to make this impossible safely accommodate them protect the humanchoice. Access to petand their pet animal bond and keep friendly hostels is their our clients and their first step towards presenter, writer, broadcaster pets together.” independent housing. With homelessness on the rise due to and animal-lover Clare Balding says: “This is a simple idea that To find out more information the economic impact of about StreetVet and the hostel COVID-19, it was important to will make an absolutely huge scheme, visit https:// us to launch this scheme before difference to pet owners experiencing homelessness and www.streetvet.org.uk. Christmas, as winter sets in.” is a brilliant extension of Co-founder Sam Joseph added: StreetVet’s excellent work treating pets on the streets. “We hope this scheme will enable hostels that have previously not been pet friendly “The charity has made it as simple and low cost as possible to startwelcoming pet-owning for hostels to become residents.”
Top Dog Expert: Help Your Pudgy Pooch!
Tony Knight, an internationally-acclaimed Dog Listener and trainer, on  how to help the portly dog in your life fight the battle of the bulge this New Year...
Tony Knight, an
is commonplace in many societies and the new fight is the battle of the bulge.
internationallyacclaimed Dog Listener
Needless to say, this phenomenon is also responsible for the evergrowing of dogs with evergrowing waistlines. Canine obesity is much more common than we think and even with the best intentions, our dogs can succumb to it.
and trainer, on how to help the portly dog in your life fight the battle of the bulge this New Year... Happy New Year! I hope that the festive season has been kind to you and yours. I know from long experience that I will not be the only one using the idea of new resolutions to once more take control of my diet. The problem with all that food is that it is soooooooo good! I am always impressed with my body’s ability to gorge food as if it is going out of style – a trait that we all retain (along with the stored calories) as part of our instinctive makeup to survive.
of humans on the planet. The body is designed to fast and feast, and the temptation to take in as much as is physically possible is at its strongest when surrounded by food during the festive period.
My dog Pru once stayed with friends while I was out of the country working. They made the error of not shutting the door to the pantry properly when they went out for a short while. Pru succeeded in opening the door and finding the big bag of dog food therein. My friends returned to find her in a food coma, stomach like a balloon, lying right by the now halfempty bag of food. Fortunately, she was OK but not keen to move for several hours…
Extra weight on joints can be a serious issue for certain breeds of
Give me an empty plate and a buffet and the instincts to balance as much food as possible on it is still very strong. It takes willpower to not come away with a mini Mount Everest of Gluttony…This natural instinct comes from a time when we didn’t know the next time we were going to eat – something which is still a stark reality for a fair amount
The reason that obesity is a growing problem (no pun intended) in more affluent countries is down to this nature in conjunction with the ability to eat at will. Food quality is also an issue as the body needs more time to digest less natural foodstuffs (and not having the time to do so). In the not-toodistant past, corpulence was seen as a sign of wealth. Now it
For dogs and humans, being overweight has a detrimental effect on health. In addition to the obvious problems, extra weight on joints can be a serious issue for certain breeds of dog that have inbred conditions such as hip dysplasia or early arthritis. Our Golden Retriever Kobe is
Battle of the Bulge...
just such a case. At 14 years, age is also a factor. It also means that simply giving him more exercise will make things worse, not better. We don’t expect pensioners to keep healthy by making them run marathons! Adding pressure to already weakened joints is a recipe for disaster.
enough food, while actually they are only getting a relatively small amount of nutrition. If you feel that you need a degree in chemistry to understand the list of ingredients on a bag of dog food, it’s probably best to steer clear of it.
you’d be right (and there is nothing wrong with that). Dogs are also – with some exceptions – quite robust when it comes to what they can eat. Let’s be honest; dogs can eat disgusting stuff sometimes! A healthy mix of kibble, meat and vegetables is fine in a smaller We know that our bodies find it meal. It is easy to take your eye easier to process natural off the ball, though. Once, when The easiest solution to avoiding foodstuffs and it is a good idea I suddenly noticed that my a chubby Chihuahua or a to keep that in mind when dogs were a little wider in the blobby Bloodhound is to feed feeding our dogs. However, waist department over a period them less. There are even the best quality food can of time, I reduced the amount “formulated foods” out there make a dog fat if they are given of food. that claim to be good for too much of it. Therefore, dieting, when in fact a quantity is also as important as The problem was resolved in a remarkable percentage of them quality. If you’re thinking that couple of weeks. Of course, they simply add fillers to make it this is too simple a solution, would always seem to be look like a dog is getting hungry (for which the Guilt
Fairy blamed me), but then again they did that even when they were getting more than enough. Maybe you have thought that when your dog acts like they haven’t eaten for days the moment you make yourself some toast 5 minutes later… Some begging is not so subtle… I always like to keep things simple, so as well as knowing the general weight range for your dog’s breed (N.B. this cannot realistically apply to multi-pedigree dogs who have parents of surprisingly different sizes) my basic rule for knowing if your dog’s weight is correct is to feel their ribs. If you can feel them but can’t necessarily see them, they are probably fine. If there is a fair layer of blubber around them, give them less. The exercise
element to better health should not be done to their detriment, especially if they are prone to injuries as a result of their breed or age.
permanent change with a healthy balance of ingredients (in an equally healthy quantity) is the key to weight loss. The same goes for our dogs.
Gentle exercise for a short time Remember that their instincts is good, even when they are in will tell them to eat whenever good health. There’s no need to possible (those individuals who seem to be fussy with their food are doing it for a completely different reason – that subject is for another time) so it is up to us to make sure that they aren’t eating stick them on a treadmill and themselves into health run them into the ground. problems. Taking responsibility for their eating habits makes the difference between a healthy hound and a paunchy pooch…
Remember -their
instincts will tell them to eat whenever
You don’t really need to weigh these two to find out who needs to drop a collar size… In short, good nutritionists will advise that there is no such thing as a successful fad diet. A
To find out more, visit: www.tonyknightdoglistene r.com
Charlie, the Pygmy Hedgehog
Extremely cute but perhaps not so cuddly, Charlie, the African Pygmy hedgehog is owned by 22-year old Antonia Milson from Worksop. Antonia, who brought Charlie into her life during lockdown 1.0, is making her adorable pet with personality an Instagram star with a growing following. We meet the pair and share some pics of the photogenic pet.
For the Love of Charlie We meet a prickly but gorgeous pet…
FACT BOX: African Pygmy Hedgehog SCIENTIFIC NAME: Atelerix albiventris ADULT SIZE: 5 to 8 inches long, weighing between 1/2 to 1 1/2 pounds LIFE EXPECTANCY: 3 to 6 years in captivity
• Pygmy hedgehogs are nocturnal by nature & sleep a lot!
• Acute sense of smell & hearing • Poor eyesight • Can eat cat food • They can be kept in a cage or a vivarium, that are at least 3 feet long and 2 feet wide. Keeping their environment warm between 72F (22C) and 80F (26.5C) is essential to stop them going into hibernation.
A
ntonia Milson
jumped at the chance in
sensation with his cute
from Worksop
lockdown 1.0 to own one
photos.
has always been
of her own. Charlie, the
We meet the pair and find
fascinated by African
pygmy hedgehog, is now
out more about Charlie.
pygmy hedgehogs, and
fast becoming an internet
Antonia, who has asthma, has had to shield during the pandemic, so took the opportunity to get her dream African pygmy hedgehog with boyfriend Lewis, 28. She looks after Charlie’s ‘complex needs’ including his need for a vivarium that has to have a constant temperature, and his special diet. But Charlie, who has formed a strong bond with Antonia, gives back as much love as he gets, and is quickly becoming something of an Instagram sensation at www.instagram.com/ charlie_african_pygmy_hedge hog/ with almost 8000 followers and climbing.
Antonia says of her adorable pet: “Charlie sleeps most of the day until around 8pm where I get him out for some bonding time.
Pygmy lunch that is available 24/7 in his viv with his water.
“He then has his bugs which can be a mix between black crickets, dubia roaches, meal “He has snuggle pouches made worms, wax worms, locust and especially for pet hedgehogs mario worms. Charlie also loves that he gets cozy in for a cuddle chicken, scrambled egg and with me. He has a pet play pen strawberries that he can have with all his bee themed beds as a treat once a week.Charlie and tunnels and toys to run also enjoys dreamies cat treats around and play in too. chicken flavour.” And, what about Charlie’s diet? The pet has a bath once a month where Antonia uses “African Pygmy hedgehogs Aveeno shower oil to clean all have a very complex diet as his quills using a soft they are exotic pets. He has five toothbrush. different type of cat food, high in protein and low in fat mix together to make the perfect
Quilling “African Pygmy hedgehogs go through a stage of quilling just like a baby teething where some of his quills fall out. “They have a big ‘quill’ at around 8 weeks and it’s their new adult quills growing through which can make them quite grumpy which is understandable as I can imagine it being quite
uncomfortable, so when this happens I bathe Charlie a little more often and give him extra rest time. They then have small quilling throughout their life. I collected some of Charlie’s quills and got them out into a beautiful ring so that I can keep them forever.
“During the warmer days, Charlie comes out with me and Lewis on our walks and enjoys the new smells and adventures but now the weather is getting colder Charlie will have to keep his exploring for indoors as african pygmy hedgehogs can’t get too cold as they may try and hibernate and this could kill “Charlie loves having free roam them.” of the house where he can run around and explore while I keep a close eye on him.
“Charlie has foot baths every day where I just let him run around in a bowl with shallow water in just to wash of his poop boots. “Pygmy hedgehogs are well known for pooping and weeing while running on their wheels at night time, so you can imagine what his feel look like when he first comes out in a afternoon so to stop his little
feet from getting infected he spending a lot of bonding time has a little paddle to clean them with Charlie through lockdown every night. that really helped. “Charlie is extremely friendly “I honestly could not imagine and loves a cuddle he gets along my life without Charlie now, very well with our Rottweiler I’m so glad I got him.” Rosie and our tortoise Tillie. https://www.instagram.com/ “Hogs are very well known for charlie_african_pygmy_hedge being quite grumpy and huffy. hog/ They need a lot of time and patience but I think due to