Fish4Dogs is set to undertake its first-ever television advertising campaign next month (May), enouraging dog owners to ‘Switch to Fish’.

‘The Run’ features a man and his dog enjoying their run over the moors as they consider the health benefits of a switch to fish.

The ad will run on TV and online and is aimed at heightening visibility of the brand with a call to action for consumers to purchase either from the extensive network of UK pet shops or online from the company’s own webshop www.fish4dogs.com

The ‘Switch to Fish’ campaign, which Fish4Dogs launched at Crufts, urges owners to consider overall health and obesity challenges and is supported by the use of #Switch to Fish – Reasons on social media. It will be accompanied by an extensive programme of digital activity to highlight the nutritional benefits of a fish-based diet.

Graham Smith, CEO for Fish4Dogs, said that the television ad was an ‘exciting step’ for the Worcestershire-based company which still employs just 52 while exporting to more than 35 countries across the globe.

“Creating our first TV commercial has been a major undertaking.  We make premium quality dog and cat food, not TV commercials so we needed the support of an experienced agency that understood our brand values and how to create a great TV ad.

“Walker, based in Bournemouth, has assisted us with all aspects of the TV production - from creative scripting which needed to mirror our brand values, through to identifying locations, casting for the talent – our two-legged and four-legged stars and the shoot itself.

“We got to spend a lovely couple of days on location around the Saddleworth Moors towards the end of last year ‘making the magic happen’. Having tested a final cut, we are very pleased with the end result which can only help in making Fish4Dogs a household name.”

A preview of ‘The Run’ can be seen on the company’s YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYxAYF6jKR8&feature=youtu.be

For trade accout information visit: www.fish4dogstrade.co.uk

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against Ceva Animal Health concerning Adaptil, and told the company not to claim or imply that the product could treat anxiety related and behavioural issues associated with owner separation unless it held adequate evidence to demonstrate that was the case.

The ASA had received a complaint challenging whether the claims in a TV advert for Adaptil regarding the alleviation of anxiety and improved behaviour were misleading and could be substantiated.

In response Ceva Animal Health Ltd provided a number of studies which it said showed that Adaptil had anxiety reducing properties. The studies assessed the use of Adaptil collars, sprays and diffusers. The comany said that Adaptil was proven to help adult dogs cope in challenging or worrying situations; it helped to promote learning and ensured puppies became well-behaved, confident and resilient dogs, thereby reducing the likelihood of anxiety related behaviour problems developing in later life.

Ceva Animal Health said the method of how consumers used Adaptil (collar, spray or diffuser) was not the most important influence as to how the product worked and that all delivery mechanisms included the same synthetic analogue of the dog appeasing pheremone (DAP), a pheromone which they said helped relax dogs and was also Adaptil’s main ingredient.

Ceva Animal Health said that the ad directed owners to Adaptil as a complementary option alongside behavioural advice to help dogs cope with being separated from their owner and that any additional help required should be sought from a behaviourist or vet. They said they worked with a number of specialists, behaviourists and vets who used Adaptil in cases of separation anxiety to help their patients be in a more positive emotional state during behavioural therapy.

However, the ASA ruled that because the advertiser had not submitted sufficient evidence to support its efficacy claims regarding behavioural and anxiety-related issues associated with owner separation, the authority concluded the ad’s claims were likely to mislead.

The ASA’s full ruling can be viewed by clicking here

"The first quarter of the year has surpassed our expectations," says Different Dog. There are more retailers than ever now stocking the brand; PATS Sandown was a great success; and the company also sponsored the inaugural London Dog Week. Different Dog even made its first TV appearance on Channel 4 during Crufts, demonstrating how natural our food is, by cooking live with Clare Balding!

"As the weather starts to warm up, it’s that time of year when lifestyle magazines are full of ‘beach body’ diets and work-out articles. At Different Dog, we believe it’s equally important to look after our dogs' health and wellbeing – not just for summer but throughout the year," says the company.

"We’re committed to changing dogs’ lives through real food and are working with a growing number of retailers to deliver even greater choice. In keeping with the demand for fresh, locally sourced and seasonal recipes, we’ve introduced two new meals."

These are now available in our fully recyclable and compostable pots:

• Spring Lamb – Spring into action with this fresh seasonal lamb recipe bursting with spring greens
  Lamb 60% (Mince 40%, Heart 15%, Liver 5%), Spring Greens, Parsnip, Pear
• Fish Pie – Our first ever fishy dish and its low fat too!
  White Fish 60%, Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash, Apple

"These new dishes have our same uncompromising approach to creating nutritionally balanced meals using fresh, natural ingredients. All our recipes are designed by our vet and nutritionist and then carefully hand-prepared by our team of dog-loving chefs.

"With more customers discovering Different Dog each week, we’re starting to develop a real sense of the impact that our real food is having on dogs' lives."

Here are some of the comments Different Dog has received from owners:

• The food is excellent.
• My dog eats better than me now!
• “Best dog food company I've ever come across – it's truly changed her and I'll be forever grateful”
• “I feel quite evangelical about this company. I know what’s in it, and it’s all good”
• The Marco Pierre of Dog Meals
• Different Dog is a godsend!

"We exist to make our dogs, family and planet healthy and happy. Find out more from our friendly team. Contact 01743 384 562 or feedme@differentdog.com to discuss special seasonal offers or to arrange a store visit.

"Help us to change the world, one dog at a time."

Smart phone brand Huawei has partnered with the animal charity, RSPCA, to improve the profile picture quality of animals in need of adoption. Using the latest in Huawei’s smartphone range - the Leica Quad camera system and advanced AI Master technology inside the P30 Pro – allows the phone to recognise objects such as a cat or a dog and adjust the settings accordingly, for profile picture ‘paw-fection’. As part of the partnership, Huawei have donated 20 brand new P30 Pro devices across the RSPCA’s rehoming centres nationwide.

The RSPCA rehoming stats currently show those that take the longest to rehome include certain breeds of dogs such as English Bull Terriers, which can take up to 98 days and black cats – notoriously tough to photograph - up to 30 days. For these pets in particular, showing them in their best light and letting their individual personalities shine is essential, if they are to stand out for potential adopters. Huawei P30 Pros can identify important features so now each of the many cat and dog profile pictures at the RSPCA can be as individual as they are.

Over four in ten (44%) said that when thinking of adopting, they feel that a pet’s physical appearance is important to them. As an increasingly image-focused society, research by Huawei found nearly a fifth (19%) of Brits find being able to take top-quality photos and selfies with their pets important.

With 43% of the country confirming how vital photos and descriptions are when making adoption decisions, Olympic silver medal gymnast and proud pet owner, Louis Smith joined the campaign and visited the Millbrook RSPCA centre to create a mini documentary named ‘The Unadoptables’, highlighting what can be done to ensure pets get the best chance to find their #FureverHome.

He said: “It’s heart-breaking to see animals who have found themselves in a rescue centre through no fault of their own. All rescue pets deserve a home of their own and, as the research shows, their profile pictures can be crucial to catching the eye of a potential adopter, in the initial stages. A good photo shows off their amazing personalities, which might just be enough to find them their perfect home and the Huawei P30 Pro makes capturing high quality images easy.”

There are currently thousands of pets needing homes across country, pets like Penny, the Lurcher who featured in The Unadoptables mini documentary, has been waiting for a home at Millbrook centre for over 200 days.

Dr Samantha Gaines, Head of Pet Welfare RSPCA said: “We go above and beyond to find all the animals in our care a loving, forever home and we want to do our best to show them and their unique characters in the best light. Every pet is an individual with their own personalities and needs and it is so important they find the right home. We’ve partnered with Huawei to raise awareness about our harder-to-rehome pets and hope their new, pawfect profile pics will help find them their furever homes.”

The Huawei P30 Pro device is being used in ‘The Unadoptables’ film to capture images of long-stay animals. Imagery captured using the P30 Pro device will use Huawei’s AI Master which can recognise up to 500 different objects and adjust the camera lighting/settings, resulting in the perfect snap.

Justin Costello, Director of Marketing, Huawei UK and Ireland said: “The fact that our devices are being used to help find animals who are struggling to find a home across England and Wales is very rewarding. We support the great work that the RSPCA do and we’re glad that we’re able to help them achieve their mission with the easy to use camera and AI assistance on our P30 Pro device”.

Support the RSPCA and their mission by donating today.

New survey taken by Pet Food Manufacturers' Association members confirms reasons why pet food manufacturers value the trade body. An impressive 100% confirmed the effectiveness of PFMA as overarching industry representative. 

The most valuable benefits of membership were ranked as:

1. Technical support 94%
2. Increased credibility 92%
3. Committees and Working Groups 85%
4. Lobby Influence 83%
5. Networking 81%
6. Educational Material 79%

Deputy Chief Executive, Nicole Paley, responds to this feedback: “PFMA represents over 90% of the UK pet food industry with 85 companies in membership. Over the last 15 years, PFMA membership has doubled and diversified - we now have dedicated working groups focusing on feed for birds, fish and a group of commercial raw producers."

Nicole continues: "With this growth and diversification, we are delighted to have received such positive feedback particularly after an extremely busy year.  As a small team, we have had to balance our increased focus on Brexit with ‘business as usual’ so it’s testimony to the hard work of the team and the ongoing commitment of our members that our technical support, ongoing working groups and educational material has been so highly valued." 

To find out more about PFMA, membership and nutrition advice, please visit pfma.org.uk or contact the team at info@pfma.org.uk

Leading pet food brand EUKANUBA has revealed the lifetime of love owners and dogs share together. With 8 in 10 (81%) owners admitting that their dog is an important member of the family, it’s no surprise that our canine companions play a pivotal role in our lives.

In fact, over one third of owners spend birthdays with their dog (38%) and nearly half will bring them along on seasonal holidays (46%), while for one in 10 (9%) their dog has been by their side as they buy their first house, get engaged, marry and even give birth to their first child!

And it’s not just the monumental moments in our lives that our dogs are there to support us with. Our canine companions are also there for the day-to-day activities such as exercising (61%) and watching TV (57%) together, early morning wake ups (32%) and for one in 10 (7%) going to work.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that our pets are eager to show their love for us. As expected, tail-wagging (72%) is the most common way our canine companions respond to us, followed by resting their heads on our knees (58%), cuddling up next to us on the sofa (57%) and of course, big sloppy kisses and licks (55%)!

The survey also reveal that Staffordshire Bull Terriers and West Highland White Terriers are the most communicative and affectionate breeds with Staffies being the ‘waggiest’ (80%) and most partial to a belly rub (62%), while West Highland White Terriers are more likely to demonstrate their love through licking (65%), jumping up (61%) and pawing (69%) closely followed by Corgis and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Meanwhile, Labradors are the first to meet you at the door when you come home (61%).

It also appears that like humans, love responds to love, as our most affectionate breeds are also the most spoilt, with over a third of West Highland White Terriers (39%) and Staffies (37%) being allowed to share our beds. In fact, in order to spend the most time possible with our pets, 33% of owners will prioritise their dog over their social life while 16% will put their four-legged friends’ needs ahead of their partners!

And, it seems it’s not just the dogs who do the communicating. A whopping two thirds (64%) of dog owners confess to regularly talking to their canine companion, while one quarter (26%) will even sing to them. However, women tend to get the best response with over half (56%) of owners revealing their dog prefers a female voice with 25% replying with a playful bark!

Dog behaviourist Karen Wild comments, “Though every dog is different, every single one wants to be loved, and when they are, they will return that love ten-fold. They can show affection in so many more ways than the obvious tail wagging and licking our faces. Many dogs tilt their heads when they’re keen and can show their bond with us by resting their head on our knee or seeking us for a sofa snuggle. It’s important to understand how your dog shows affection so you can return it for a loving and happy partnership – there really is no relationship like it!”

Kellie Ceccarelli, EUKANUBA’s Veterinary External Relations Manager, says: “Dogs have always been referred to as a man’s best friend and as the survey results show our love for our canine companions has only grown. As owners, to ensure we have as many enjoyable days with our dogs as possible it’s important that we feed their love with tailored life-stage nutrition. If our dogs are in optimal body condition, we can share many more happy memories together.”

For 50 years, EUKANUBA has been committed to creating high quality advanced nutrition which is tailored to dogs’ nutritional needs throughout their lifetime to support lifelong wellbeing. EUKANUBA’s recipe combines tasty fresh chicken2 alongside dry chicken and turkey as concentrated protein sources and other highly digestible animal protein ingredients such as fish meal and dried egg. Not only does the fresh chicken improve the palatability and digestibility of each recipe but it also aids in the absorption of the important amino acids and supports lean, healthy muscles. 

For more information on EUKANUBA’s range of premium tailored nutrition, please visit www.eukanuba.co.uk

Natures Menu has refreshed its existing Fruit and Vegetable Raw Nuggets line with the addition of Natural Raw Nuggets Veggie Boost, as well as new look packaging.

Part of the Natures Menu Home Prepare range, the Veggie Boost Nuggets are made from a wholesome blend of 15 fruits and vegetables including butternut squash, red cabbage, apples and pears. Sitting alongside the existing Fruit and Vegetable line, the latest variant of nuggets forms part of a wide-ranging menu of raw ingredients for those looking to feed a mixed raw diet at home and aims to offer an alternative to owners looking to add a little variety to their dog’s meals.

Available in 1kg packs and combining real passion and expertise with real ingredients, the nuggets are a perfect accompaniment to the rest of the Natures Menu Home Prepare Range, which includes raw chunks, treats and free flow minces, all providing a convenient way to make a raw meal.

As well as a new variant offering, Natures Menu has also created new-look packaging for the range to help attract customers and boost sales for stockists and retailers. The refreshed packaging now comes with updated feeding advice and storage instructions as well as a window to enable customers to see the product, meaning retailers can guide their valued customers to choose the best product for their best friend. The new product will be promoted through social media, PR activity and email marketing. 

Natures Menu specialises in raw dog and cat food made with fully-traceable quality meats and fish, blended vegetables, fruits and healthy carbohydrates, and uses British suppliers and ethical product sources wherever possible. 

For more information about Natures Menu’s Home Prepare range visit https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/natures-menu-original

Retailers wanting to find out more information about Natures Menu and their range can email trade@naturesmenu.co.uk, phone 0800 0183770 or visit

www.naturesmenu.co.uk/trade-landing. By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified Raw Advisor.

Award-winning Not Just Pets held a Family Fun Day outside their pet shop in Frome on Saturday and it proved to be a big success. The pet store was promoting responsible pet ownership on the day and raising funds for Leash of Life Rescue.

The staff were in fancy dress all day and Boo, the European Eagle Owl, and its owner Steph were outside the shop as the star attraction, along with the Cats Protection (Frome) ladies with their wonderful stall of goodies.

Marceline, the Royal Python, came out to meet some of the braver visitors and some even got up close and personal with tarantula and snake skins.

In the back room, there was handling with a male and female Panther Chameleon and a beautiful bearded dragon. Upstairs, the youngsters could handle the small animals, and professional photographer James Bartholomew took wonderful pictures of customers' dogs. Ursa, the shop’s GSD, had a go, too! In fact, she was busy all day meeting and greeting all the visiting folk.

The Forever Hounds Trust were there with their handsome hounds and the Frome K9 Training Centre sent some fabulous dogs, with their handlers, to show what excellent dog training can achieve.

Not Just Pets were promoting responsible pet ownership on the day and raising funds for Leash of Life Rescue. Elliot (pictured below), one of the staff members, had his head shaved at 4pm and is donating half the proceeds of the funds he raised to Leash of Life and half to Alopecia UK, a charity close to his heart as he has a friend with alopecia. 

The raffle is continuing all week and the total of funds raised will be announced once all the monies are in. 

Not Just Pets would like to thank all who attended, supported and worked on the event. More details are on the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/NotJustPetsFrome/ and there is a photo album there from the day.

A Medical Detection Dog from Kent, who is trained to detect changes in blood sugar levels for his diabetic owner, has been honoured by leading veterinary charity, PDSA, for his outstanding devotion to his owner.

Eight-year-old Labrador Pal was awarded the PDSA Order of Merit – the animal equivalent of the OBE - by PDSA at a special ceremony in Leeds Castle, Kent, today.

During his seven year career, Pal alerted his owner, Claire Pearson, to over 12,000 separate blood-sugar changes. If not caught in time, these could have killed her. His interventions have prevented countless NHS emergency call-outs and resulted in fewer hospital admissions for Claire.

Commenting on today’s award, PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “Pal has spent six years protecting Claire’s wellbeing. It is clear that a special bond exists between the two of them and this incredible life-enhancing devotion makes Pal a most worthy recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.”

Pal’s story

Claire Pearson has lived with Type 1 Brittle Diabetes since birth. But her life, and her family’s lives, changed dramatically when she fell seriously ill with end-stage renal failure in 2003. This meant she needed a pancreas and kidney transplant, and faced dialysis three times a week.

Claire was rendered unable to tell when she was hypoglycaemic (hypo), which meant that her young children would often return home from primary school to find her collapsed. Her health diagnosis plunged her into severe depression and she was later diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – a side-effect of being told she had a life-limiting condition. She was left with little confidence and unable to leave the house on her own.

The cycle of depression and hypo-induced comas continued for six years. Her two sons became young carers by default and the family’s plight became increasingly desperate.

In the depths of despair, Claire saw an advert for Medical Detection Dogs and applied for assistance. In 2012, Claire was introduced to 16-month-old Labrador, Pal, and their remarkable relationship began.

On the very first night in his new home, Pal alerted Claire to a hypo as she slept – nudging her face and ribs with his nose and licking her. He does this by smelling the chemical changes in Claire’s breath. His ability to do this has stopped Claire from falling into hypo-induced comas on countless occasions. 

Discussing Pal’s abilities, Claire said: “He is trained to fetch my blood sugar monitor, glucose, insulin and will even bring me my phone if I need it. If I’m too ill to help myself, Pal will fetch someone or push our panic button at home, which alerts the emergency services.”

In addition, Pal has accompanied Claire to all her dialysis sessions for five years, helping to keep her calm and happy as she undergoes treatment.

“Having Pal gave me the confidence to leave the house again,” explained Claire. “I started joining local fundraising activities and even giving talks about how wonderful Pal is and how he’s helped me reclaim my life. It was truly life-changing and I can never repay him for giving me peace of mind, knowing that my boys wouldn’t face coming home from school to find me dangerously ill.”

In November 2018, Claire received a life-changing kidney and pancreas transplant. The transplant meant that Claire is no longer a diabetic, but Pal has continued to look after Claire – alerting her to changes in her blood sugar which could indicate early-stage organ rejection.

Claire explains: “Since the transplant, on two occasions Pal has alerted me and when I’ve called the hospital, they have asked me to head straight in. Both times it turned out that my body was starting to act against my new pancreas, so Pal continues to save me to this day!

“I hope he will be able to retire soon. He is certainly slowing down now that he doesn’t need to watch me so closely and is enjoying lots more naps and sleepy cuddles than he did before my transplant.”

Award reaction

PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, continued: “Pal’s intelligence, skill and unstinting devotion to Claire has truly transformed her life and the lives of her family.  His loyalty exemplifies why we love and respect animals as we do. Pal is a thoroughly deserving recipient of the PDSA Order of Merit.”

Claire, added: “I am beyond proud of my amazing furry boy for what he has done for me and my family. He gave my sons their childhood back and gave me a whole new lease of life. His PDSA Order of Merit goes some way to showing him how much he means to our family and I hope that his story inspires others that are in the position I was in, that things can get better, with the love and talents of a clever pooch like Pal.”

Gemma Butlin from Medical Detection Dogs, said: “We are thrilled that Medical Detection Dogs has been honoured in this way. Pal and other Medical Alert Assistance Dogs not only save lives day and night, but they give their human partners their quality of life back. We are so privileged to work with these wet-nosed superheroes and grateful for all the support we receive.” 

To date, including Pal, there have been 21 recipients of the PDSA Order of Merit: 11 dogs and 10 horses. The PDSA Medal, which was instituted in 2014, recognises animals who display outstanding devotion to their owner or wider society, above and beyond normal companionship – and represent exceptional examples of the special relationship between animals and humans. For more information about the previous recipients, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsaorderofmerit.

Global pet product expert PetSafe Brand has announced the launch of two innovative new behavioural products for dogs – the PetSafe Spray Bark Collar and the PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer.

Both are premium training collars that deliver a light spray to stop unwanted behaviours such as barking or not coming when called.

The PetSafe® Spray Bark Collar, £80.99, features innovative bark detection technology which identifies a dog’s barking and distinguishes it from all other noises, so there are no false corrections, even from those of other dogs. The pets’ barking noises trigger a sensor which emits a gentle burst of citronella or unscented spray which distracts them and interrupts the unwanted behaviour. The rechargeable, water-resistant collar is easy to use and requires no programming.

The PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer (300 metre), £161.99, is perfect for teaching basic commands or correcting unwanted behaviours and features tone, vibration and spray training options to accommodate each pet’s individual training needs. The waterproof, rechargeable system can be used to teach basic commands including walking without a lead and recall or help manage behaviours such as jumping or digging. Activated by a handheld remote, the collar includes a range of 300 metres for training at longer distances. 

Both the PetSafe Spray Bark Collar and PetSafe Remote Spray Trainer are equipped with a convenient, recyclable and easy-to-use citronella and unscented spray refill cartridges, which no other collar on the market offers. Each refill has 35-40 sprays per cartridge and can be bought separately for £13.49. Citronella is a unique scent that most dogs do not normally encounter and both spray options are safe.

Rob Steele, PetSafe Brand Marketing Manager, said: “Every pet is unique and these new collars enable pet owners to make the best choice based on their needs and their dog’s temperament. Training solutions continue to form the core of our product range and we’re excited to be able to share these new additions with consumers - they showcase the very latest technological developments in the training space and underline our commitment to enhancing the relationship between owners and their pets.”

All three products are available to consumers this month from the PetSafe Brand website and other selected retailers. www.intl.petsafe.net/en-gb

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

A thief who stole seven iPads from a Pets at Home store has been handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and also ordered to pay £1,566 in compensation.

Workers at Pets At Home on Festival Retail Park, Stoke-on-Trent, discovered the equipment had been taken from the staff room after noticing a normally-locked door was ajar.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard 36-year-old  Lee Hollinshead and another man had been captured on CCTV going into the private area.

The court heard the iPads were valued at £2,742. Three were later recovered – two from a car used by Hollinshead and one from his house.

Hollinshead, of Liverpool Road, Stoke, told officers he had gone into the shop looking for something for his cat but one of the people he was with decided to go into the staff room ‘to see if there was anything worth taking’ and he agreed to go along with it. 

To read the full story click here

The former owner of a kennel raided by the RSPCA over animal welfare concerns has been banned from acting as a company director for seven years.

Jodie Annabel Fairbrother, 40, from Immingham, is the former owner of the 4Paws kennels in South Killinghome.

The bankruptcy restrictions imposed on Fairbrother, effective from March 28 2019, last for seven years and prohibit her from several activities.

These include acting as a director without permission from the court and attempting to borrow more than £500 without declaring restrictions they are subject to.

In March 2018, 4Paws was raided by the RSPCA and 160 animals were removed from the property.

Pictures emerged of the animals living in poor conditions and tests later revealed that some had ‘serious diseases’ not found in the UK.

Click here for full story

Henry Bell & Co, the family-owned and leading quality animal feed producer, has announced the release of its own brand: Henry Bell Wild Bird Care.

Henry Bell has over 20 years’ experience in the bird food industry and has been pivotal in the growth of many private label wild bird food brands.

The company has now combined its strong expertise and knowledge to launch its own high-quality range of products specially designed to provide health and wellbeing for wild birds.

The Henry Bell Wild Bird Care range is comprised of over 100 products catering for every type of garden bird. Created to meet their specific needs, includes mixed seeds, straights such as peanuts, sunflower seeds and mealworms, suet and fat balls – available in various sizes and formats.

Complementing the food range, the company is also introducing The Henry Bell Wild Bird Care Collection, a range of bespoke and adaptable accessories. It includes the ‘Essential’ and premium ‘Heritage’ collections which feature a broad range of feeders and feeding stations at market-leading prices.

Tom Lee, Henry Bell’s MD, comments: “We’ve built strong pedigree in the animal feed industry and with decades of expertise, it was a natural step for Henry Bell to launch its own brand.

"Henry Bell Wild Bird Care is focused on excellence and we worked hard at designing a range that places the wellbeing of birds centre stage. We know that both the superior quality and attractive packaging of our food and accessories will resonate with both professionals and consumers alike - and will get wild birds coming back for more."

Henry Bell also unveils new branding which focuses on its 175 plus years of experience and strong heritage as a British business. The range showcases an eye-catching and modern packaging design that’s reflective of the quality of its feeds and complementary accessories.

Henry Bell Wild Bird Care will be available across the UK in garden centres, pet shops and mainstream retailers from July 2019.

For sales queries please contact: Trudi Austin - trudi.austin@henry-bell.co.uk - 07982 634646

Ceva Animal Health, manufacturer of Amodip, will be running Feline Hypertension Month for the second consecutive year in May to raise awareness of hypertension and improve the detection and management of high blood pressure in cats.

As part of the campaign, veterinary surgeons are being urged to measure their feline patients’ blood pressure from seven years of age and above, as recommended by ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) ¹.

The company will continue its Mercury Challenge throughout 2019 in a bid to increase veterinary professionals’ confidence in measuring blood pressure and identifying feline hypertension.  Since June last year, 128 practices and over 1,000 cats have participated in the popular challenge.  It is quick and easy to take part and veterinary professionals can register via the Mercury Challenge website - mercurychallenge.ceva.com.  Participating practices will be given the opportunity to win diagnostic tools to help them diagnose feline hypertension.

Dr Rosanne Jepson, American, European and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, comments: “It is great to see that so many cats (over 1000!) and practices in the UK have been involved with the Mercury Challenge promoting the measurement of blood pressure and detection of hypertension.  I would urge as many practices as possible to measure blood pressure; it’s simple, quick and easy to perform and means that we can help prevent target organ damage which at its most severe can leave cats sadly blind for the rest of their life. With careful identification and treatment this can so easily be prevented.”

Known as the ‘silent killer’ because there are no early warning signs, feline hypertension is common with an estimated incidence risk of 1 in 5 cats from 9 years old².  High blood pressure can cause target organ damage to vulnerable organs including the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain.  A simple blood pressure assessment can help identify feline hypertension and, with treatment, the risk of target organ damage is reduced.

To help raise awareness of Feline Hypertension Month, Ceva has produced a range of marketing material including waiting room displays, a pet owner leaflet and veterinary marketing packs, which are available upon request.  The initiative will be supported with an extensive PR campaign aimed at pet owners, including a radio day starring CBBC’s Rory the Vet (pictured right).

For information on Feline Hypertension Month, the Mercury Challenge or feline hypertension, please contact cevauk@ceva.com or visit mercurychallenge.ceva.com

References

1. Taylor et al., ISFM consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of hypertension, JFMS 2017 19(3): 288-303.
2. Conroy et al., Survival after diagnosis of hypertension in cats attending primary care practice in the UK, JVIM, 2018 32(6): 1846-1855.

Charity vets issue warning for pet owners after little kitten Luna nearly died after ingesting lily pollen, which is highly toxic to cats.

Luna, a Ragamuffin kitten, was just four months old when her owner, Emily Pryce (29), received a bouquet of flowers for her birthday. The flowers included lilies and Emily had placed these on a table, thinking they would be out of harm’s way.

However, Emily came home for lunch one day to find Luna with pollen all around her mouth. She knew lilies could be dangerous to cats, so contacted her local vet. They advised Luna would probably need urgent treatment, but an overnight stay and all the treatment could cost around a thousand pounds.

Emily said: “I checked our insurance paperwork only to find out that it had run out the day before! Although I work, I couldn’t afford to pay that much up front.

“But I knew I had to get Luna the help she needed though, so I rang PDSA. They advised that I was eligible for their new reduced-cost service. They told me to bring her straight in, and it was such a relief to know that she would get the treatment she needed.”

Luna was examined by the vet team at PDSA and blood tests confirmed that she had eaten enough of the pollen to cause potential kidney failure, so needed urgent treatment. 

She stayed at PDSA for two nights, receiving round-the-clock care to help her recover. Her confident and friendly nature meant she quickly became a firm favourite with the team, and her care plan included plenty of cuddles as well!

Thankfully, with intensive support to remove the toxins from her system, Luna remained stable and was able to go home a few days later. But not all cases have a happy ending like hers.

Veterinary Care Assistant, Jemma Hughes, said: “Lilies have become quite popular in Easter bouquets, but all parts of the plant, including the flower and leaves are toxic to cats. The biggest danger is if a cat gets some of the pollen on their fur, then grooms themselves, as ingesting even a small amount can be fatal.”

PDSA is advising people not to give lilies to anyone with cats, and for owners to be aware of the dangers.

Jemma continued: “All members of the lily family [Lilium] are toxic to cats, and a number of other plants can also pose a danger to pets, including peace lilies [Spathiphyllum], daffodils, Lily-of-the-Valley [Convallaria], Laburnum, Azalea and Cherry Laurel. If you think your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t, call your vet immediately for advice. The quicker they get treatment the more likely it is they will survive.”

Relieved owner Emily said: “PDSA made such a huge difference – the care was great and the staff were so lovely. I would’ve done whatever it took to get Luna the care she needed, but it would’ve been a struggle financially, so this took a huge weight off my mind.”

Luna’s treatment ended up costing Emily around £200 thanks to PDSA’s reduced-cost service, which enables owners on low incomes in receipt of a wide range of benefits to receive affordable vet care for their pets. For more information, visit www.pdsa.org.uk.

New season Koi are now available at Squire’s Garden Centres in Badshot Lea, Twickenham, Stanmore and Washington. Squire’s in Badshot Lea stocks the largest selection of Koi, numbering thousands, and also offers the largest specimen fish.

There are four beautiful varieties available this season:

• Yamabuki – colour, gold
• Platinum Koi – colour, pure white
• Sanke – colour, white with red and black markings.
• Ochiba – colour, grey and with brown markings along the back. 

All Koi at Squire’s are hand selected from Israel, with only the best quality fish being chosen, and great care is taken regarding their health and welfare. The fish have been through three weeks’ quarantine, are rested, acclimatized, and ready for sale now.

Squire’s pond fish price range offers something for all sizes of ponds and budgets, from £2.50 for small goldfish up to £1,600 for the largest and most prized Ochiba and Yamabuki Koi, which are around 76cm (30 inches) long.

About Koi Carp

• Varieties - There are over 22 varieties of Koi, each categorised by their colour, pattern and nature of their scales. ‘Ochiba’ in Japanese relates to autumn leaves floating in water.
• Value - The value of each fish is determined in part by how closely its colour and patterns adhere to the ideal for its particular variety.
• Symbolism - Koi represent love and friendship in Japanese culture, and they prefer to have the company of other Koi in their pond!
• Sunburn - Koi can actually get sunburnt, so make sure they have shade over their pond.
• Diet - Koi are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. They eat insects, snails and worms, as well as enjoying plants, fruit, and even lettuce and peas!
• Water Temperature - Koi are cold-water fish but benefit from being kept in water between 15-25 degrees centigrade and must be regularly maintained. The water depth ideally needs to be a minimum of 1.5m to enable the fish to regulate their temperature.
• Winter - Koi, and many other fish, go into a kind of dormancy in the winter, using less oxygen and naturally settling to the bottom of the pond where the water is warmer.
• Lifespan – Koi usually live between 30 and 60 years but, amazingly, have been known to survive for more than 200 years!

Pets at Home will not sell any rabbits or other pets this Easter in case they end up ‘in the wrong home’ after an impulse buy.

The national pet shop chain says ‘pester power’ can lead to families heading to the store to buy a bunny over the Easter break.

And to avoid this, the shop will not sell any pets during the Bank Holiday period and will instead offer pet vouchers.

These can be redeemed after the Easter break, or refunded if customers change their minds.

A claim by a pet food supplier that its products were “fresh, home-cooked meals” has been ruled as misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority.

The ASA has told Dogmates Ltd, who produce the Butternut Box brand, that the advertisement on its website must not appear again in its current form.

It sated: “We told Dogmates Ltd t/a Butternut Box to ensure that their future advertising did not mislead by implying a product was created in a home kitchen when that was not the case.”

The ASA had received a complaint challenging whether the claim "home-cooked meals" was misleading.

In response Dogmates Ltd informed the ASA their business originated in a home kitchen where their recipes were developed and it would be possible to recreate their dishes using equipment designed for use in the home. At the time of the complaint, their production was done in a rented kitchen and all their meals were run in small batches, with each part of the process being completed by hand. They said the kitchen was specifically designed for small-food businesses to run and scale up their production.

Butternut Box said their dog food could clearly be distinguished from the categories of wet (canned) food and dry food, which were not possible to produce at home. It could also be distinguished from raw dog food as they minced their meats and mixed them with their dry ingredients, filled them into a sealed pouch and gently cooked the food.

They said their food did not belong to any of those existing categories of dog food; they felt "home-cooked" was the most appropriate way to describe their food.

Butternut Box provided the results of a survey they ran by asking 500 dog owners what language could be used to describe their product.

They proposed to amend their website so that the claim was qualified on the home page. They also proposed to create a page that provided further information on their product, which included an explanation on how the food was produced.

The ASA considered that consumers would interpret the term “home-cooked” to mean that Butternut Box’s products were prepared within a residential kitchen.

In its ruling the ASA stated: “We considered the evidence provided by Butternut Box. We acknowledged the process followed in the preparation of the food and the fact that each step was completed by hand. We also recognised that they sought to differentiate their product from other types of dog food available on the market. However, the product was produced in a rented commercial kitchen and while the processes used could all be replicated in a residential kitchen, the commercial environment in which the food was produced was not one that consumers would readily associate with the claim “home-cooked”.

“We noted the survey conducted by Butternut Box. The results showed that 207 of 500 participants described their food as “home-cooked” or “homemade”. However, participants were only shown images of the food and an explanation that it was dog food sold online. Participants were not shown how the food was produced and the results showed that the majority in fact described the food as something other than “home-cooked” or “homemade”.

“While we welcomed Butternut Box’s attempts to provide further clarification on the product on their website, we did not consider their proposed amendments sufficient to alter the overall impression that the food was produced in a residential kitchen.

“Therefore, because Butternut Box’s product was not prepared in a residential kitchen, we considered the claim ‘home-cooked’ was misleading.”

The ASA ruling can be viewed by clicking here

Pets at Home has been in the news again this week with a number of stories hitting the headlines, including a puppy and its owner being attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier-type dog inside one of its stores.

Here’s our look at some of those stories:

The Stoke Sentinel reported that Pets at Home has reassured customers after a dog owner was badly bitten in the attack at its Festival Park shop. The man’s French Bulldog was lunged at twice by the other dog.

A Pets at Home spokesperson told the newspaper: "Unfortunatel incidents like this are extremely rare and our colleagues at the Stoke-on-Trent store handled the situation very professionally.

The full story can be read here

Meanwhile the Bristol Post reported that a branch of Vets4Pets in Bedminster that’s part of the Pets at Home group is to be closed down. It’s understood that Pets at Home could close up to 30 of its vet practices under plans to overhaul the business and save money.

It was a similar story on the Devon Live website with a report that seven jobs will be lost with the closure of  Exeter Vets4Pets on April 18, with the loss of seven jobs.

For the Bristol Post story click here, Devon Live story click here

On a more positive note several websites reported that Pets at Home stores are hosting free animal workshops for children over the Easter holidays. Click here for the Derby Telegraph’s version.

Pet trade recruitment specialist Lynda Ward claims “the last 12 months has seen the biggest leap in base salaries for over a decade.”

Her business Pet Trade Solutions has recruited Sales, Marketing and Management staff at all levels and in all sectors for over 18 years and she says: “Salaries had been stagnant for so long that many experienced people left the trade in a quest for better pay, but suddenly there has been a big leap in what quality personnel are being paid.”

She adds: “This can of course be a headache for start-up businesses needing expertise or even long-standing companies looking to expand – some of whom who have become used to paying salaries which are no longer attractive - and it can come as a big shock to them when I advise the average salary they realistically need to look at offering.

"Of course the key factor is in my comment about ‘quality personnel’…it is always possible for employers to search and find someone to fill a role at a lower salary … but they need to ask themselves why that person will accept it.”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com