Animal Care
Contents
Rabbits-​
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Diet
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Exercise
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Toys
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Enclosure
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Vet care
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Taking a new small animal home
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Introduction to another rabbit
Cats-
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Diet
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Exercise
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Toys
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Vet care​
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Taking a new cat home
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Introduction to another cat
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Introduction to another animal
Horses-
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Diet
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Environment
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Enrichment
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Vet care
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Introduction to another horse
Exotics-
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Diet
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Exercise
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Enclosure
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Vet care
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Taking a new exotic or other home
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More general information
Wildlife-
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What to do if you come across injured wildlife
Dogs-
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Diet
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Exercise
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Toys
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Training
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Vet care
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Taking a new dog home
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Introduction to another dog
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Introduction to another animal
This is a general guide for animal care paired with useful links to other reliable websites, in some cases introductions may not work even if you do everything perfectly, and potentially your pet only gets on with a certain brand of cheap food. Every animal is different and it's about finding what works best for you and your pet whilst still giving them the best care that they will allow.
Dogs
Diet
Dog Feed-
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​Different dogs require different amounts of food each day. Most dog food packaging have their own recommended amount for the weight of your dog. Typically dogs should be fed twice a day to maintain a healthy weight and stop them from eating too much in one go. If your dog is throwing up after they eat then you can always split their food into three meals a day or invest in a slow feed if they are eating too fast.
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Changing your dogs food-
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When changing the food that your dog is eating, it should always be done in a slow gradual manner. Immediately switching their diet can cause an ever more upset tummy. The best way is to gradually add a little of their new food into their dish and take away a little of their old food. This way you are maintaining their weight whilst changing their diet.
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Human foods to avoid-
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We all give our dogs a taste of the human palette but it's vital that we don't give them something potentially life threatening.
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Here is a pdf from 'Battersea' detailing some of the most common dangerous foods for dogs.
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Please always just google whether something is safe and it you are not sure then air on the side of caution.
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Good Brands Of Dog Food-
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Each dog has their preferences, some more fussy than others. We recommend that dogs get a mixture of both wet and dry food. The dry food usually provides the nutritional value whilst the wet food adds moisture and hydration.
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Some dogs simply don't get on with this diet, so don't worry if your dog only eats dry food, as long as they are happy and healthy.
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For high quality dry food brands we recommend:
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-Burns
-Forthglade
-Purina pro plan
-Royal Canin
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For high quality wet food brands we recommend:
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-Butchers
-Natures Menu
-Lily's Kitchen
-Wainwright
-Pooch and Mutt
-Naturo
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There are so many different dog food brands out there, and you can always just check the nutritional value and ingredients to decide for yourself, but if you are completely lost these are some good options to start with.
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There are specific foods best for different types of dogs. For puppies there are food options labelled for puppies etc. Just get whatever fits your dog and if in doubt you can check with your vets.
​​Sensitive dogs-
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It is important for dogs who lean towards having a more sensitive stomach (or other issues like skin conditions) to be fed different high quality food although, we are aware though that it can be very expensive. We recommend dogs who struggle to digest food well (or sensitive in other ways) to be fed dry/wet food that directly caters to that. Some examples include:
Chappie - There are both dry and wet versions of this
Hypoallergenic food, some brands that sell this are
-Purina
-Royal Canin
-Hills
-Dechra Specific
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All of the above have dry and wet versions.
There are plenty of other brands out there for you to see however these are some good options that you could start with if trying to convert your dog to a diet more catered to their sensitive needs. If they have bad skin or their bowel health is not improving you can always check with your vets if you feel something else is going on.
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Some brands to avoid:
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-Pedigree
-Skinners
-Bakers
Treats-
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We all know that dogs love their treats and will beg for more but too many aren't good for them. Just follow the recommended amount on the package to ensure that you aren't overfeeding. I f you are training with them and find yourself using more treats than you would like a good option is to use a part of their breakfast or dinner kibble/food to allow you to train without giving your dog more food than you would like. There are certain ingredients that are a big NO that happen to be in a lot of popular treat bags.
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Rawhide. Please we urge you to check your dogs treats for rawhide before buying them. This ingredient is spotted by its white 'pure' look. They are soaked in chemicals and have been shown to contain traces of arsenic and other harmful products. They can land your dog at the vets with an intestinal blockage, poisoning or choking, and yourself with a hefty vet bill or worse. Without a dog.
We just wish that the supermarkets would stop selling these products however, in the meantime we would like to inform people about it's dangers.
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If you are interested in learning more about rawhide and alternatives check out the website below-
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Exercise
Different types of exercise-
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​ Exercise for dogs comes in many forms and both a mixture of mental and physical exorcise are key in a dog's life. Different dog breeds will require different levels of exercise. ​For example border collies are breed to be working dogs and without a good amount of exercise they will be bouncing off the walls. ​​
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Physical exercise keeps dogs fit whereas mental exercise is what tires them out the most. This mental effort can come in the form of physical exercise as well.
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Physical Exercise-
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All dogs should get at least two walks a day to ensure their fitness as well as the chance for them to sniff around and do their business. We recommend one in the morning and one in the evening. However, dogs are very adaptable and if your routine strays from the typical then whatever works best for you.
A point to note is that dogs shouldn't be fed within about thirty minutes before or after strenuous exercise to ensure that it is digested properly and that they don't end up being sick.
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Dogs will benefit from being able to run regularly. Whether you want to build up your fitness and take them for a run or let them off lead, is up to you. It is vital that if your dog is being left of lead that they have a strong recall. This can be trained up and should be something that they can do, although if your dog is the mischievous type then there are ways around this.
Alternatives to worrying about your dog darting off can include:
-Booking an enclosed park space
-Having your dog on a long line
-Booking a dog walker who will run with your dog
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Obviously as dogs reach the senior age not all of this applies and in fact too much exercise isn't good for dogs with health issues or of old age. The best thing to do is watch your pet and tailor yourself and their lifestyle to their needs.
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