Best Friends Pet SuperCentre

Have a Pet Safe Christmas

We’ve put together this list of things to remember to ensure you have a pet safe Christmas this year.

• Avoid tinsel on your Christmas tree, as your best friend may eat it. Keep all tree ornaments out of reach and make sure you don’t have any edible decorations like strings of popcorn on your tree. Also, don’t use chemicals in your tree’s water as your pet may drink this.
• Ensure you don’t have any Christmas treats such as candy canes, Christmas lollies and chocolates where your best friend can reach them.
• Dispose of Christmas wrapping paper, bows, ribbons etc as soon as possible as curious pets may play with them then eat them or get caught up in them.
• Christmas lunch is always delicious for us humans, but not that good for pets. If you want to treat your best friend to a special Christmas treat at lunch time, select items from Best Friends that are suitable. Be careful not to over feed your pet. Make sure your guests know not to feed your best friend too.
• Ensure your best friend has their collar with their ID tags on securely. Some pets often take the opportunity to sneak out the front door as guests are coming in. So always make sure your best friend can easily be identified and returned to you.

Keep your best friend safe from garden hazards

When you're working in the garden, be careful of any chemicals, plants or tools that could harm your pet.

Warmer weather means it's time to dust off the garden tools. Pets love investigating the garden shed, but be careful - there are hidden dangers:

• Fertiliser: Most blood and bone fertiliser contains high levels of nitrogenous additives. If eaten, these can prove rapidly toxic or even fatal.
• Insecticides and Weed killers: These are toxic to pets and should be safely stored and locked up.
• Compost: The garden compost heap is very attractive to your pet, but it contains bacteria, moulds and toxins that can make them very sick if ingested.
• Snail and Slug Bait: A common cause of death in dogs and cats. On the garden bed or in the box, it's attractive to pets, but ingestion of small quantities can be rapidly fatal. Products that call themselves "pet friendly" contain a bittering agent, but this only acts as a deterrent. Some pets will still eat these highly toxic baits, so be careful.
• Rat and Mouse Baits: These are very toxic and unfortunately very attractive to pets. Ingestion causes internal bleeding and your pet can become unwell before you are even aware.

Enjoy the sunshine with daily walks and outdoor excursions

Just like humans, pets risk their health when they put on too much weight. Over the winter months, your best friend has probably been less active while keeping out of the cold, wet weather, and you might have got out of the daily walking routine.

Spring is a great time to get active again and enjoy some outdoor time with your best friend. Play in the backyard, promenade at the dog park, frolic at the pet-friendly beach, or come and see us at Best Friends, where you and your pet are welcome in any weather!

Spending time outdoors doesn't just keep your dog fit and active. The chance to socialise with other dogs and owners at pet-friendly venues will get your best friend used to the company of others, which will lead to an improvement in behaviour.

The right walking and play equipment will make this time with your pet even more enjoyable. Talk to the Best Friends team in store for expert advice on collars, leads, harnesses, interactive toys and travel equipment.

Keep your pet's flea and worming treatments up to date

Whether your best friend is a cat or a dog, you'll have to grapple with fleas, ticks and worms at one time or another.

Left untreated, these common parasites can be the cause of dermatitis and infection for your pet, and can even infest your home.

The best way to prevent things going this far is with regular monthly treatments.

There are some great spray, tablet and spot treatments out now, which are safe, quick and easy to administer, so your pet is always up-to-date and protected.
Remember, with the right advice, and regular treatment,   you needn’t let these little pests get between you and your best friend!

For advice on flea and worming treatments, talk to our expert staff at the Grooming Salon or Our Vet™ Pet Hospital.

Shed your best friend's winter coat without the mess

As the weather warms up and daylight hours increase, dogs start losing their winter coats. Shedding hair is a natural process for most dog breeds. It happens all year round, but especially in spring and summer.

With a little extra attention to brushing and combing, you can save your house from masses of loose hair everywhere, and from mats building up as your dog’s winter coat moults:

• Brush and comb weekly, more often for long-haired dogs. Talk to our groomers in store for advice on grooming techniques, brushes and detangling sprays that can reduce unwanted shedding.
• Shampoo regularly to keep shedding and allergies under control. Consider a Health Essentials Coat Conditioning treatment at Best Friends Salon to get your dog’s coat back in good condition.
• Do a quick health exam. Check the skin for sores, ticks and fleas. Make sure ears are clean and odour-free, and nails are at a comfortable length. If you have any concerns, make an appointment at Our Vet™ Pet Hospital.
• Make sure your dog's flea and tick treatments are up to date.

For the best results, bring your best friends in for a Salon visit. Our grooming experts have specialised equipment to de-mat and brush out your dog's winter coat. Better to shed hair on our floor than your couch!

Premium Food: More nutrition, less clean up

Premium foods are the best foods you can feed your pet. They are made by companies known for high-level nutrition research to provide the perfectly balanced diet for your dog and cat. Premium food can be tailored for your pet’s specific needs and is formulated for different life-stages, activity levels, size and even specific breeds. The health benefits of feeding premium food include:

• Concentrated nutrition: feed less, costs less per feed
• Better dental health
• Healthy skin & coat conditions
• Less clean-up & odour
• Greater overall well-being

Plus at Best Friends Pet SuperCentre, as a VIP Member you get minimum 10% off premium food Every Day!

Join for free in store or on line.

Help your best friend shed those extra kilos!

33% of cats and 41% dogs are overweight or obese, according to a 2008 study by the RSPCA.

Obesity is a growing problem for pets. It can lead to other health issues like joint stress, heat intolerance, and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. Just like in people, obesity in pets can be caused by overeating, lack of exercise, and underlying medical issues.

If you're concerned about your best friend's health, you may need to review their diet and exercise routine. The team at Our Vet Pet™ Hospital can assess your pet’s body score, and give you expert advice on how to get them looking and feeling healthier.

We’ve even got a specific “Slimmer's Program” to get your pet on the right track.

Top 5 Summer Tips

Here are some basic tips over the hot summer months to ensure your best friend is happy and healthy:

1. Always ensure your pet has fresh water easily available.
2. Make sure your pet’s habitat, aquarium, kennel is in a shaded area out of direct sunlight.
3. Avoid exercising or over-exerting your pet on extremely hot days or when the sun is at its most intense.
4. Pets can get sunburnt, especially those with short and/or light coloured hair. Apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.
5. Never – ever – leave your pet unattended in a car. This is particularly dangerous in Summer when heatstroke can occur.