Latest news with #petCare
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Busy pet owners love this vet-approved flea treatment - here's how to get your first month FREE
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A tailored pet treatment delivered monthly so that you never forget is helping homes stay flea, tick and worn free this summer and beyond. And it's being hailed a 'no brainer' by pet owners. Itch Pet is helping take out the stress of a flea infestation in the home. Shoppers and pets tormented fleas have reaped the benefits of the vet strength treatment - all without a prescription and delivered straight to your door and personalised to your pet. Better still? You can get your first month for free. Itch Flea Treatment for Cats Available for both cats and dogs, this fast-acting Itch Flea Treatment for Cats is vet-approved and scientifically proven to protect your pet and your home from fleas. The double action spot-on flea treatment kills adult fleas within 24 hours and stops, kills eggs and larvae and new fleas tormenting your cat. Plus it kills ticks and lice too. And better still? You can get your first month for free. £2.99 P&P applied to first order of each pet who order Itch Flea. Delivery is free with all future orders. Free treatment available for up to three pets. From £7.95 Shop With a whopping nine million flea and worm treatments sold, Itch Flea has been a phenomenally popular choice for pet owners looking to wage the war on flea, ticks and worms. A skin-crawling fact, just five fleas on an untreated pet can lead to over a million eggs infesting a home in as little as four weeks. Thankfully, Itch Flea is here to help with a tailored treatment delivered monthly so that you never forget and stay flea, tick and worm free forever. Plus, you can get your first month for free. The vet-approved flea protection plan is here to take out the hassle of treatment. Scientifically proven to protect your pet and your home from fleas, this could be the end of your hunt for an effective treatment. Itch Pet does the hard work for you, working out the right dose for your cat or dog, and without you having to pay a visit to the vets. The brand's personalised service has been recommended time and time again by impressed shoppers who write: 'Convenient how it turns up every month without me having to remember when my cats treatment is due. It's also very reliable and is doing exactly what it's meant to do by keeping my cat worm and flea free.' Tailored to your pet's unique needs and delivered to your door, the flea treatment is applied directly to the coat rather than having to grapple with a tablet. And better still? It penetrates flea eggshells, preventing flea larvae and pupae from developing in the future too. 'Our dog is an old cavalier and we used to use another brand and it stopped working a few months ago,' wrote one Itch Pet user. 'We struggled with flea removal for months and tried so many other brands until a friend recommended itch pet. We have never looked back it is brilliant and would recommend this 100%.' While the flea treatment is great at preventing the fleas from coming back, they can lay eggs on your pet that fall off, or jump off your pet and into your home laying eggs directly. Another shocking stat? A shuddering 95 per cent of fleas live in your home rather than on your pet. That's where the brands Itch Flea Home spray comes in, containing ingredients which kill fleas, eggs and larvae in your home, stopping new fleas developing or breeding. Itch Pet is offering the first month for free, and allows you to pause, move or cancel your subscription at any time giving you complete control. Free treatment is available for up to three pets.
CNET
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
6 Devices and Tips if Your Pet Is Afraid of Fireworks This Fourth of July
Few things are worse than caring for an anxious pet that's afraid of fireworks when Fourth of July hits. It's bad for them and their health, unpleasant for you and there's not much you can do to stop it. But you can make it better. I've rounded up several of the smartest pet gadgets that many owners have found helpful in calming their pets and preventing any pet-related issue when the big bangs begin. Here's the tech most worth investing in. A Petcube collar tracker with nightlight PetCube's glow and siren options help make this tracker much more useful to worried pet parents. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Petcube's pet tracker ($40) fits on the average collar and provides location services for pets who may bolt away. And if they run and hide in the night when fireworks go off, this model comes with a useful glowing LED light with a battery life to spot pets under decks or in corners. Dr. Abel Gonzalez, Clinical Director and Veterinarian from online vet service company Dutch, told me, "July 4th is the busiest time for missing pets with vets seeing a 30-60 % surge in lost furry friends around those dates." Gonzalez recommends a tracker that offers GPS, such as this Petcube model, so you can use an app map if a pet has wandered far. A Furbo pet cam Furbo's cam requires a subscription, but you get a lot in return. Furbo If fireworks start early or you will be away from home at an Independence Day event, a pet camera like Furbo's ($100) can keep watch over your pet while you're away, and allow you to talk to them through a two-way audio. Today's advanced versions can also send you phone alerts if they hear barking or notifications about what the AI recognition thinks your pet is doing, like jumping on a couch -- although that may require a subscription. Plus, many can toss treats to distract worried pets. Noise-cancelling dogphones If your dog doesn't mind them, headphones could be a calming solution. Famikako Companies make noise-cancelling headphones specifically for dogs, like this $70 model from Famikako or the extra-cheap $13 Happy Hoodie. They're generally designed for larger dogs, but if your furry friend is fine with it, the noise cancelling can make a big difference. You may also find other uses for these headphones, like taking your dogs to concerts and fairs, or dealing with thunderstorms. A smart speaker for white noise and ambient music A smart speaker can provide distracting noise for pets who are worried about big sounds. Amazon A smart speaker incorporates a voice assistant and can link to a variety of music streaming services or mini-apps that can provide white noise, nature sounds, background sounds or whatever music you prefer. You can also control them remotely, use them for two-way audio communication and link them to smart devices for additional home management. An Echo speaker starts at $100 but you can find mini models for $50. If you don't have a smart speaker, simply running a fan can help distract a pet's sensitive ears -- one occasion where I'm fine with a fan being a little noisy. An anxiety wrap for scared doggos Anxiety wraps can be very soothing for the right pet. Thundervest Like humans, some dogs feel calmed by a weighted blanket. That's why brands like ThunderShirt ($50) design anxiety wraps that accomplish something similar with a vest-like coat that dogs can wear no matter what they're doing. If your Fido responds well to wrap treatment like this when anxiety strikes, see if you can find anxiety wraps at local pet stores or order one for next time. An aroma diffuser for calming scents Calming scents may work well with other methods for soothing pets. Mellow Kits Companies make diffusers specifically for pets like this Petfriend Mellow Out kit ($32) or the ThunderEase diffuser ($25), but if you have a spare diffuser around your home you can use that, too. Pair it with a pheromone mixture that's made to help relieve stress, and it could work well with my other recommendations. Bonus tip: Don't hesitate to contact your vet With today's speedy telehealth options, you can often contact your vet right away if your pet is having bad anxiety (many vets will have staff specifically ready for Fourth of July). Your vet can give immediate advice, recommend calming treats or behaviors and even provide a quick prescription if necessary. For more info about protecting loved ones, take at look at my 11 tips to prevent trespassers, my overall home security cheat sheet, and the top home security systems I've tested.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
How to protect your pets from ticks and the diseases they carry
FILE: Dr. Karen Woodard checks for fleas and ticks on Gail Friedman's allergy-prone dog, Mr. Friedman, in Elmhurst, Ill. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld) When Marshall Doucette brought his dog, a four-year-old Shih Tzu named Tessa, to his cottage in Grand Lake, N.B., he expected he might find one or two ticks nestled in her fur. At least, that's what he would usually find. But this year was different. He found 10. And then, later that day, he found six more. Doucette said Tessa picked all those bugs up during 'a little three-hour stint down around Grand Lake.' 'So, kind of a lot more than we're used to seeing, for sure,' he said. Ticks can carry bacteria and viruses that cause diseases such as Lyme disease. Tessa seems to be doing fine, but her owner's advice is to keep an eye on your dog. 'If you're out in the woods, give them a good comb, make sure they've got none non crawling on them and check them for four or five days after to make sure none are stuck into them for sure,' said Doucette. Dr. Mary-Ellen Themens, registrar of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, said ticks are most active this time of year and during the fall. 'Cats, dog, both species can have ticks on them. Do they all have Lyme disease? Not necessarily,' said Themens. The veterinarian points out how in New Brunswick, the problem is worse in the southern part of the province. But, due to milder winters, more ticks are showing up in the northern regions too. Prevention is key To prevent your animals from getting ticks in the first place, Themens advises to be careful in the woods, tall grass, around marshes and in damp and shaded areas where ticks love to be. When you bring the animal inside, check for ticks, she said. If you find a tick, remove it If your animal does have a tick, don't squeeze it or put alcohol or Vaseline on it. If you do, the tick could spit up the bacteria back into the animal, explained Themens. 'It is important to remove the head of the insect, which is embedded in the skin to feed. The best way to detach the tick is to use a tick twister, or similar device,' she said. And if you're using tweezers, be careful. The U.S. Centre for Disease Control recommends using one with fine tips to avoid tearing the tick and spreading bacteria. Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible and pull the bug away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk it, reads the guidance. Ticks on dogs and cats A sign advising hikers of Ticks is shown on a trail in the woods in the Eastern Townships west of Montreal, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Products to help prevent ticks To prevent ticks in the first place, there are different products available for your pets. The veterinarian said many of them are in the isoxazoline family of medications. 'These are products that you either use once a month, (or) once every three months,' she said. 'The ticks die. So, they don't have the chance necessarily to transmit the disease.' There's another product called permethrin, which is 'safe in dogs, but it's deadly for cats,' she added. 'This is where, if you have a product that contains permethrin, you can't let the cat near the dog until it dries,' she continued, adding that pet owners should read the packaging 'very closely.' Themens said most people choose to use isooxazolines because they work against fleas, ticks and mites. She added that there are Lyme disease vaccines for dogs, but not all veterinarians necessarily use them. She also highlighted how there are different diseases caused by ticks. 'The biggest thing is to avoid ticks period,' she said. Potential symptoms Themens said the classic statement pet owners tell veterinarians when their animal is sick is they don't feel well and aren't themselves. There are in-clinic tests that can be done that only take around 15 minutes. They can reveal whether an animal has antibodies against Lyme disease. If they have antibodies, it means they've been in contact with it. 'Is it an active infection or not? That'll be up to your veterinarian to decide,' she said. 'If it's positive, then the discussion is, 'is the animal sick?'' If so, there are antibiotics that can be used that are very effective, said Themens.
CTV News
08-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
How to protect your pets from ticks and the diseases they carry
FILE: Dr. Karen Woodard checks for fleas and ticks on Gail Friedman's allergy-prone dog, Mr. Friedman, in Elmhurst, Ill. on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld) When Marshall Doucette brought his dog, a four-year-old Shih Tzu named Tessa, to his cottage in Grand Lake, N.B., he expected he might find one or two ticks nestled in her fur. At least, that's what he would usually find. But this year was different. He found 10. And then, later that day, he found six more. Doucette said Tessa picked all those bugs up during 'a little three-hour stint down around Grand Lake.' 'So, kind of a lot more than we're used to seeing, for sure,' he said. Ticks can carry bacteria and viruses that cause diseases such as Lyme disease. Tessa seems to be doing fine, but her owner's advice is to keep an eye on your dog. 'If you're out in the woods, give them a good comb, make sure they've got none non crawling on them and check them for four or five days after to make sure none are stuck into them for sure,' said Doucette. Dr. Mary-Ellen Themens, registrar of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association, said ticks are most active this time of year and during the fall. 'Cats, dog, both species can have ticks on them. Do they all have Lyme disease? Not necessarily,' said Themens. The veterinarian points out how in New Brunswick, the problem is worse in the southern part of the province. But, due to milder winters, more ticks are showing up in the northern regions too. Prevention is key To prevent your animals from getting ticks in the first place, Themens advises to be careful in the woods, tall grass, around marshes and in damp and shaded areas where ticks love to be. When you bring the animal inside, check for ticks, she said. If you find a tick, remove it If your animal does have a tick, don't squeeze it or put alcohol or Vaseline on it. If you do, the tick could spit up the bacteria back into the animal, explained Themens. 'It is important to remove the head of the insect, which is embedded in the skin to feed. The best way to detach the tick is to use a tick twister, or similar device,' she said. And if you're using tweezers, be careful. The U.S. Centre for Disease Control recommends using one with fine tips to avoid tearing the tick and spreading bacteria. Grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible and pull the bug away from the skin with steady, even pressure. Don't twist or jerk it, reads the guidance. Ticks on dogs and cats A sign advising hikers of Ticks is shown on a trail in the woods in the Eastern Townships west of Montreal, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes Products to help prevent ticks To prevent ticks in the first place, there are different products available for your pets. The veterinarian said many of them are in the isoxazoline family of medications. 'These are products that you either use once a month, (or) once every three months,' she said. 'The ticks die. So, they don't have the chance necessarily to transmit the disease.' There's another product called permethrin, which is 'safe in dogs, but it's deadly for cats,' she added. 'This is where, if you have a product that contains permethrin, you can't let the cat near the dog until it dries,' she continued, adding that pet owners should read the packaging 'very closely.' Themens said most people choose to use isooxazolines because they work against fleas, ticks and mites. She added that there are Lyme disease vaccines for dogs, but not all veterinarians necessarily use them. She also highlighted how there are different diseases caused by ticks. 'The biggest thing is to avoid ticks period,' she said. Potential symptoms Themens said the classic statement pet owners tell veterinarians when their animal is sick is they don't feel well and aren't themselves. There are in-clinic tests that can be done that only take around 15 minutes. They can reveal whether an animal has antibodies against Lyme disease. If they have antibodies, it means they've been in contact with it. 'Is it an active infection or not? That'll be up to your veterinarian to decide,' she said. 'If it's positive, then the discussion is, 'is the animal sick?'' If so, there are antibiotics that can be used that are very effective, said Themens.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Expert reveals why you should NEVER feed your cat milk - even though they love it
Along with purring and hairballs, cats are also well known for their love of milk. But you should never give your cat a bowl of the white stuff, an expert has revealed. Like all mammals, cats begin life drinking from their mother and constantly meowing for more. However once they are past kittenhood, milk is a completely unnecessary part of their diet, experts say. Julia Henning, from the school of animal and veterinary science at the University of Adelaide, explained that the majority of cats are actually lactose intolerant. After they have finished weaning, at around six to 12 weeks of age, kittens stop producing the enzyme lactase – required to digest lactose in milk - she said. If they are then given cow's milk – which contains much higher levels of lactose than the milk of mother cats – they can experience unpleasant symptoms including bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Cats who drink milk or dairy regularly are at increased risk of these health complications. And it could even become deadly, as chronic diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition. Previous studies have suggested that cats may initially enjoy cow's milk because of the high levels of protein and fats in it. Cow's milk has also been linked to a calming effect in our feline companions. So, is it okay to give them a bit of milk every now and then? 'The short answer is no,' Ms Henning told The Conversation. 'Dairy is not a natural part of cats' diet. While they may like the taste, milk is likely to cause your furry friend discomfort and health issues, so it's best to avoid entirely. 'And if you're thinking your cat is one of the lucky few that isn't lactose intolerant, think again. 'Cats are very good at hiding discomfort because, in the wild, showing weakness would make them a target for predators. 'If you absolutely must, opt for lactose-free milk or milk formulated specifically for cats, and keep it as a very occasional treat. 'While it won't upset their stomachs in the same way as regular cow's milk, it still won't offer your cat any nutritional benefit.' Milk alternatives such as oat, soy or almond milk are also likely to cause digestive upset, as they are an unusual addition to a cat's diet, she added. 'The bottom line? Don't give your cat milk,' she said. 'They don't need it, they probably can't digest it and it's likely to cause more pain than it's worth.' A previous study, published in 2023, found that some cats like to play fetch in the same way as dogs. A survey of nearly 1,000 owners also suggests cats like to be in control of the game and respond best when they lead the play. While fetching is not typically associated with felines, the researchers believe the behaviour is instinctive – often happening without any formal training. Based on their findings, published in the journal Nature, the academics are urging cat owners to be more attuned to their pets' needs and their preferences for play. They say that playing fetch may be beneficial for the welfare of the cat and may strengthen the bond between the pet and its owner. Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner's demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth. In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language. In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin - with the help of animal behaviourists - explains how to interpret your pet's movements. Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.
