A new study has revealed that many cat and dog treats rival the calorie content of fast food.

Direct Line Pet Insurance, which conducted the research, said calorie content was rarely shown on pet food, making it hard for owners to choose healthy treats.

Analysis by the insurance company claims a host of well-known brand names are rich in calories.

Dreamies, one of the most popular snacks bought for cats, contains 21 calories per serving and 415 calories per 100g. Rival Whiskas Temptations fares little better, with 16 calories per serving and 415 per 100g.

Meanwhile, Bonio dog treats, at 323 calories per 100g, contain around 53% more calories than a McDonald’s Big Mac burger. One Bonio dog biscuit has 78 calories, about 7% of an adult Labrador’s daily allowance, if it is exercised normally. This is similar to a KitKat Chunky, which has 207 calories – 8% of an adult man’s recommended daily calorie intake.

Marc Abraham, a vet and animal welfare campaigner, said: “Animal obesity is on the rise and as pet owners, it’s up to us to control how much and what type of food our pets eat.

“I would be delighted to see calorie information made available on all pet treats and believe it would have a positive impact in helping tackle the country’s growing pet obesity crisis. Obesity can lead to numerous life-threatening health problems, the most common of which are arthritis and heart conditions in dogs, and diabetes in cats.

“These are all serious illnesses but the risks can be dramatically reduced by ensuring your pet stays at a healthy weight.”

Prit Powar, head of pet insurance at Direct Line, said: “We want clearer labelling on dog and cat treats in order to better inform owners about what they are feeding their pets, much like the nutritional information readily available for human foods. With the number of obese dogs and cats on the rise it is vital that the industry encourages responsible pet ownership.”

Calorie content per 100g (calories per recommended serving size):

• Dreamies Cat Treats 415 (21)
• Whiskas Temptations 415 (16)
• Felix Goody Bag Original Mix 401 (60)
• Felix Crispies 386 (46)
• Whiskas Dentabites 343 (14)

Calorie content per 100g (calories per treat):

• Pedigree Gravy Bones 343 (14)
• Bonio Dog Biscuits 323 (78)
• Winalot Shapes 320 (16)
• Misfits Wonky Chomps 304 (255)
• Bakers Allsorts Whirlers 269 (23)

PATS Telford will be the biggest ever pet trade show staged under one roof in the UK as a record number of companies have already signed up to exhibit their products and services at September’s showpiece event.

With still over three months to go before the big event on September 27-28, an impressive 164 companies have confirmed their attendance and this number is set to rise even further in the next few weeks.

It will be the first year that PATS takes place at Telford International Centre, where a massive exhibition hall offers more floor space than ever before.

A growing number of companies – 34 in total – will be exhibiting for the first time. Companies like InformPet, Dog Hair Day, NPET, Fladen Fishing and Adorable Cushions are new to PATS as they see the exhibition as the perfect opportunity to showcase their products to retailers and overseas distributors.

“PATS has become the largest trade show for the pet industry in the UK and InformPet really want to be a part of it,” says Jessica Hargreaves, the company’s marketing coordinator. “It is a great way to meet trade buyers and customers alike.”

"PATS is the ideal place to relaunch Dog Hair Day shampoo,” reveals Katie Jenkins. “Such a large and well-known show will give us unparalleled opportunities for networking and showcasing our product. We hope to have lots of inquiries and to create a real buzz around Dog Hair Day, a shampoo produced to the highest ethical and environmental standards.”

Fladen Fishing is the market leader in the introduction of beginner and starter fishing products. Sales director Anthony Connolly says: “As the market is changing, we are seeking new channels for our comprehensive product array. We already supply pet related independents, who are looking for an opportunity to diversify into one of the UK’s most popular leisure activity.”

NPET are producers of pet beds and mats and at PATS Telford they will be looking to secure orders from wholesalers and retailers both in the UK and Europe. Group sales director Brian Toulson says: “This will be our first exhibition, and there isn’t a better place to showcase our antibacterial treatment products.”

Dave Riley, of Adorable Cushions, adds: “We chose PATS because of the reputation the show has for delivering high quality visitors, as we are launching our unique range of animal-shaped cushions. Designed to appeal to pet lovers all over, the cushions are both visually appealing and very tactile.”

The number of overseas companies exhibiting at PATS is also increasing. Terra Canis GmbH is a German producer of super high grade pet food, and export sales manager Nils Güttrich admits: “The Telford show is important for us because were are seeking to set up a dealer network in the UK. It’s the place to be in order to get connected to decision-makers.”

Steve Preston is the UK representative for Tolsa, having recently joined the Spanish company from Burgess Pet Care. “I know the value of attending the show,” he says. “We want to take the opportunity to talk to the trade directly about our range of products.”

There will be an International Buyers’ Centre at Telford, run in association with PetQuip, where overseas visitors will be able to have meetings with clients.

One of the biggest successes of previous PATS shows has been the New Product Showcase, which will have an even larger presence at Telford. A record number of over 260 new products were showcased at last September’s show and all the signs point towards this figure being broken again.

All the products entered into the Showcase will be judged by a panel of independent pet retailers on the first day of the show, and the winners of each category will be announced at lunchtime.

As well as seeing an unrivalled array of new pet products and speaking to top suppliers and manufacturers, visitors will also be able to witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent industry figures.

Parking is free at the Telford International Centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue. Visitors will also be able to relax and chat further with exhibitors at a free drinks reception once the show closes on Day One.

A full and up-to-date list of exhibitors is available on the website www.patshow.co.uk together with information on how to reach the venue and regularly updated show news.

Pet retailers flocked to Pedigree Wholesale's impressive trade show at Peterborough Arena, East of England Showground, yesterday (Wednesday), taking advantage of a host of hot deals and viewing some great new products.

Pedigree Wholesale has been holding its trade show for over 30 years and it has now become one of the most anticipated events in the pet trade calendar.

Packed with lots of fantastic business opportunities, there were over 70 trade stands representing the market leading brands in the pet trade.

Pedigree Wholesale also ran a fantastic selection of no-nonsense hot deals which were only available to visitors of the show. 

For ideas and inspiration as to what to stock over the coming months, retailers were encouraged to check out the New Products Showcase, which featured the latest innovations from exhibitors.

Pedigree Wholesale's Managing Director Steve Brown stated: "We had a record number of both customers and suppliers attend the show. The atmosphere was great, in the new product showcase there was a great selection of lines and overall feedback has been hugely positive. We would like to take this opportunity to thank both customers and suppliers for supporting the event and making it such a success."

Pets at Home Group Plc, the UK’s leading specialist retailer of pet food, accessories and services, today announces its preliminary results for the 52 week period to 26^th March 2015.

Financial highlights

·         Total revenue growth of 9.6% to £729.1m

o   Merchandise revenues grew 8.3% on the prior year; Food revenues up 9.8% and Accessories revenues up 6.6%

o   Services revenues grew 25.2% on the prior year; fee income from Joint Venture veterinary practices up 30.7%

·         Like-for-like revenue growth 4.2%, driven by strength in Advanced Nutrition, Health & Hygiene, VIP Club, Services and Omni-channel

o   Merchandise like-for-like revenue growth 3.7%

o   Services like-for-like revenue growth 10.7%

·         Gross margin 54.2%, +40bps on the prior year

·         Underlying EBITDA* £121.3m, up 9.6%, margin of 16.6%

·         Profit before tax £87.0m, basic EPS 13.5 pence

·         Underlying free cashflow** £92.8m, conversion 77% and leverage 1.6x net debt/underlying EBITDA

·         Total dividend payable for FY15 of 5.4 pence per share, payout ratio of 40%

Operational highlights

·         Building customer offering and loyalty across multiple platforms

o  VIP Club reached 3.2m members, up from 2.0m in FY14. Card swipe rate at store tills represented 65% of revenues in Q4, compared with 61% during Q3 FY15

o  In Advanced Nutrition, our flagship private label Wainwright’s, grew 44.1% to £40.1m

·         Increasing scale through new openings

o  25 stores (gross), 61 veterinary practices, 50 Groom Rooms

Evolution to a new divisional Group structure

·         Ian Kellett appointed CEO of newly created Retail Division

·         Sally Hopson appointed CEO of newly created Services Division 

Nick Wood, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“I am delighted to announce another year of progress as we continue to deliver on our targets for growth, with strong cash flows allowing us to deliver a dividend payment at the top end of our commitment.

We have seen excellent progress in Advanced Nutrition, a product area that benefits significantly from the specialist knowledge of our highly-trained colleagues and where we have a strong market presence through our private brand, Wainwright’s. We have also seen excellent growth in pet services as we roll-out new vet practices and groom rooms and the existing estate continues to mature. I am particularly proud of our colleagues whose passion for pets mirrors that of our customers and helps to keep our focus firmly on customer engagement.

With our business growing strongly, we have decided that now is the right time to implement a new divisional structure to drive performance further. It’s a sign of our strength that we have two people of the calibre of Ian Kellett and Sally Hopson to take responsibility for our Retail and Services Divisions, as we look forward to another year of expansion and profitable growth.”

Ceva Animal Health is launching a major new national TV advertising campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of its leading veterinary behaviour product Feliway among cat owners.

Featuring the strapline ‘Best behaviour starts with Feliway’, the advertisement focuses on the real life story of Clare and her rescue cat, Mewsli, who was often scared and anxious, so much so that she would hide under the bed and scratch the side of the chair. 

It follows Mewsli’s progress as she takes part in the Feliway 30 day challenge to see a difference in her behaviour.

During the challenge Clare plugged in a Feliway diffuser and after a little time saw a remarkable difference in Mewsli’s behaviour as she appeared content and a lot happier.

The new 30-second advertisement, which is aimed at ABC1 women, will air between July 6-26 and will be featured on ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, digital channels including E4, Film4, ITV2, ITV3 and ITVBe and London Live.

For further information on Feliway visit feliway.com/uk

• Lily’s Kitchen visits largest parks in London during June with a bespoke tricycle loaded with samples for picnicking dogs
• Thousands of samples to be handed out of the new limited edition recipe for dogs - ‘Picnic in the Park’
• Campaign coincides with International Picnic Day and National Picnic Week (Sat 13 – Sunday 21 June)
• ‘Picnic in the Park’ window display competition for stockists runs in conjunction with the campaign

The tricycle, with its brightly branded basket, is unmissable as it tours the capital's biggest parks, bursting with goodies to keep picnicking dogs entertained.

Clad in branded clothing, the Lily’s Kitchen team spend time with dog owners explaining the benefits of a natural diet and sharing the Lily’s Kitchen story. Each interested pet owner is offered a free full-sized tin sample of ‘Picnic in the Park’ to take home, along with a product brochure.

Using iPads, the team will direct new customers to their nearest independent stockists using the online Find a Stockist tool, and there are plenty of extra treats and tennis balls up for grabs for some lucky four-legged friends!

The campaign is live throughout June and coincides with International Picnic day and National Picnic week. It’s further supported by a social media drive, generating further reach and awareness amongst pet owners online, using the hashtag #doggypicnic

A new ‘Picnic in the Park’ window display competition for all Lily’s Kitchen stockists will run in conjunction with the campaign.

For further information on the new Picnic in the Park recipe, the window display competition or to find out more about stocking Lily’s Kitchen, please get in touch with our dedicated trade team on trade@lilyskitchen.co.uk or call 020 7433 6979.

With only a few weeks to go until the most memorable day at the office, some of the UK’s most reputable pet brands have stepped forward to help promote Bring Your Dog To Work Day.

On Friday, June 26, businesses from across the UK will welcome their dog loving employees into the workplace, along with their loyal (and well-behaved!) four-legged companions.

HOWND, Dogs & Horses, PetSafe, Long Paws, Natural Instinct, MedicAnimal, Leucillin, LoveSniffys, Vet’s Kitchen and Billy & Margot have all donated products towards a mega-prize, which has a total retail value of £450. It will be awarded to the best individual entry (and a minimum donation of £5) on this year’s ‘Dog With A Job Hall of Fame’, which consists of ‘pooch selfies’, along with a brief description of the dog’s work duties! 

This year the event will be raising money for All Dogs Matter, a charity that rehomes hundreds of dogs every year in London and Norfolk. Businesses can donate online (minimum of £50) to take part and become a sponsor, while individuals can gift online or via text (minimum of £2 online, or £1 via text) and upload a ‘pooch selfie.’

“It’s amazing to see all these fabulous pet product brands step forward and contribute toward our mega-prize. We’re very hopeful that this will encourage even more individuals to donate, and help raise more money for All Dogs Matter,” explains Jo Amit, co-founder of dog grooming product company HOWND, the company behind the initiative.

“There’s still time for new businesses to get involved too. All they need to do is make a business donation of £50. If they choose, they can also donate a product or service towards our mega prize. Just £2 could be used to buy food for one day, while £10 is enough to buy new bedding for these rescue dogs.”

ITV This Morning presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford were amongst thousands of enthusiastic participants back in 2014, as Britain went barking for its very first Bring Your Dog To Work Day.

In addition, comedian and animal rights campaigner Ricky Gervais expressed support for this year’s Bring Your Dog To Work Day by posting the event to his 8.27 million Twitter followers. 

The award-winning sitcom writer also mentioned the event to his three million Facebook fans, raising hopes that thousands more will donate and participate later this month. 

For further information - or if you would like to headline sponsor Bring Your Dog To Work Day 2016 - please visit Bring Your Dog To Work Day’s official website, or email hello@bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk. 

Owners spend almost £70,000 on pets over their adult lifetime, according to new research by VoucherCodesPro.

The study polled more than 2,000 adults across the UK. Respondents were asked how much they spent on their pet in an average year, taking everything into account including pet food, cages and housing, accessories, grooming, insurance and trips to the vet.

The average spend on each pet was:

• Dog - £1,900
• Cat - £1,200
• Rabbit - £850
• Goldfish (aquarium or pond) - £510
• Small mammal (such as a hamster or gerbil) - £310

As for lifetime spend, the results look something like this:

• Dog (11 years) - £20,900
• Cat (14 years) - £16,800
• Rabbit (10 years) - £8,500
• Goldfish (10 years) - £5,100
• Small mammal (two years) - £620

They were also asked to share which pets and how many of each they planned on having over their adult lifetime. The average response was two dogs, one cat, one small mammal and two goldfish. From this, researchers calculated that the average person would spend a whopping £69,420 on pets during their life.

Owners make significant sacrifices for their pets, with 42% saying that they probably bought more for their pets than they did for themselves. And 12% admitted that they’d gone into debt keeping their pet previously.

Channel 4 primetime show Food Unwrapped has visited the headquarters of pet product manufacturer Armitage, to find out how its popular Good Boy Choc Drops are made.

Exploring the issue of chocolate poisoning in dogs, the programme explained the dangers of human-grade chocolate, before finding out what makes Choc Drops different and, most importantly, safe. Presenter Matt Tebbett introduced the feature with a trip to the Dogs Trust, where he met Freda, a Labrador-cross who had to have her stomach pumped after eating Christmas chocolates.

Chocolate is poisonous to pets because of a naturally occurring compound found in the cocoa bean. Called theobromine, it acts as a stimulant and diuretic (similar to caffeine) that cannot be filtered out quickly enough by a dog’s liver, or effectively metabolised through its body.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning can include diarrhoea and vomiting, while the central nervous system, heart and kidneys can also be affected - and in some cases, this can be fatal.

Having heard about ‘doggy choc’, the Food Unwrapped team was keen to find out how Armitage can make its tasty dog treats without using any cocoa. Armitage sales and marketing director Adam Jaggar gave co-presenter Jimmy Doherty a tour of the company’s Nottingham factory, where he watched the manufacturing process and tasted a Choc Drop, before finding out about the secret ingredient, carob.

Adam Jaggar commented: “We’ve been manufacturing dog safe Choc for half a century, so it was great to have Food Unwrapped approach us to share our expertise. The safety message is important to promote and we’re giving it a particular push in our anniversary year.

“Following on from our appearance on Channel 4, we’re now working with The Community Channel on their Helping Homeless Pets programme.”

Armitage has been manufacturing Choc Drops for 50 years. The company has over 200 years of expertise and was appointed Pet Food Manufacturer to Queen Elizabeth II in 1976.

Above: Senior product manager Claire Astle meets Food Unwrapped presenter Matt Tebbett.

Loving Pets UK, the manufacturer and supplier of high quality pet feeding bowls and accessories, has signed with more than 10 leading European pet food distributors in its drive to increase sales across Germany, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia and the Netherlands. 

Since January 2015, Loving Pets UK director Jonathon Moyce has successfully secured contracts with well-known industry leaders including AB Dogman in Scandinavia – the biggest distributor in the Scandinavia region – Petsand in Portugal, Hanse Pets in Germany, Japag in Spain, Warmako and Hofman in the Netherlands, Vet Pets in Italy and Canino in the Czech Republic, amongst others.

The expanding European network indicates a healthy appetite across mainland Europe for Loving Pets UK products, which include high quality pet feeding bowls and its newly- launched range of healthy treats for dogs and cats.

Since launching the UK arm of the Loving Pets business last year, overall sales have increased by 120% according to Moyce, who says that having a strong presence at trade shows has paid off for the business during the past twelve months.

“Attending and exhibiting at trade shows such as Zoomark in Italy have been well worth the investment for us in terms of networking with distributors and buyers.  We’ve also managed to raise awareness of our range,” Jonathon explains. “Loving Pets UK is a small, growing company so being able to get our best-selling products into countries like Cyprus, the Czech Republic and even Turkey, is very exciting indeed.” 

The company’s best-selling items for the company across Europe include:

• Bella Bowls: average sales of 20,000 units per month
• Bella dog and fish mats: average sales of 6,000 units a month
• Robusto bowls: average sales of 13,800 a month

Loving Pets UK was officially launched in 2014 by Jonathon Moyce, who was previously a food safety consultant with the British Standards Institute. 

The company is a partner to the highly successful Loving Pets brand in the US, which was established in 2005 by Moyce’s uncle Eric Abbey.  In the past 10 years, Loving Pets has established a reputation for selling high quality, affordable accessories and healthy treats for dogs and cats, using only natural ingredients.  

Further information is available on the Loving Pets website http://lovingpetsproducts.com/. 

Over 20 animal rescue charity workers and 10 dogs visited Pets Choice's HQ in Blackburn for a special tea party and to receive donations of dog and cat food...

The charities were chosen after an appeal was put out on social media for people to nominate worthy causes. They were primarily North West based, but one charity did travel from Bournemouth to collect their haul after visiting the Webbox stand at Crufts!

While they were at Pets Choice, the charity representatives had tea and cakes and were given the opportunity to speak with Ashleigh Walker, who is the company’s technology and nutrition technologist, and ask her any questions on feeding rescue dogs.

So that the dogs weren’t left out during the tea break, the Pets Choice team had prepared ‘Pupcakes’ – a doggy-edible version of cupcakes, topped with Webbox treats such as black pudding sticks, chicken sushi and liver sizzlers. Made with peanut butter and cream cheese frosting, the cakes were wolfed down by the rescue dogs.

Pets Choice donated a vast amount of dog and cat food from their leading grocery brand Webbox, Goodwyns Holistic dog food and the well-established range of Davies.

Charities that received food were: RSPCA Preston, Pendle Dogs in Need, Moggies of Darwen, Rossendale Responsible Rescue, Rochdale Dog Rescue, Millstream Lodge, Manchester Dogs Home and Greek Animal Rescue.

Sarah Farrimond, PR and social manager at Pets Choice, said: “When I was asked to find homes for some excess stock I thought it would be a great idea to bring the charities to the warehouse facility and make a bit of a fuss of them and their dogs to commend them on the amazing work they do. It’s an absolute pleasure to see that the food and treats have been so well received and will go to fantastic causes.”

Nell Burgess of Greek Animal Rescue, who spent nine hours on the road to get attend the event, is sending the Pets Choice products to Greece.

Nell said: “They will be devoured by the stray dogs that are in abundance on the streets there. Abuse and neglect is rife in the country our charity work tirelessly to save as many of the poor animals as we can.”

Another charity who attended was Pendle Dogs in Need (PDIN). Kieron Mayers, from the rescue, commented: “We’d like to thank Pets Choice for the fantastic donations they gave to lots of animal charities, including ours. All of us at PDIN are very grateful – the dogs are going to love all of their treats."

For further information on Pets Choice  visit www.petschoice.co.uk. 

H&J Pet Supplies in Dundee has closed down after 40 years following the retirement of 72-year-old owner Hugh Burke.

The dad-of-five is heading for a well-earned break after his years of dedication to the pet trade. The store in the Keiller Shopping Centre closed on Saturday.

"A lot of people used to come to my shop for help and advice — I think we have been a very trusted establishment through the years and I take pride in that,” said Hugh.

He started his career in the pet-selling business in Dens Road Market where he sold goldfish.

“I had a small tank of fish and my own little stall at the market — it was great.

“It moved on to a store in the Wellgate Market Hall then to the store in the Keiller/Forum Centre, where I’ve been for 36 years. 

“I’ve had a great time and it’s been a laugh a minute, but I feel it’s time to move on and enjoy my retirement.”

As forecasters predict a heatwave in early June, vets are warning that pets can struggle as the temperature rises.

The warning follows findings from the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey that show nearly half of vets (48%) questioned treated animals for conditions related to hot weather during Summer 2014.

More than one in three small/mixed practice vets (36%) had seen cases of heat stroke last summer, while a similar proportion (31%) had seen animals with other conditions relating to hot weather, including:

• Respiratory problems and worsening of conditions affecting the heart or lungs (seen by 11% of small animal/mixed practice vets)
• Skin conditions (7%)
• Fly strike (7%)
• Heat stress/ heat exhaustion/ collapse/ lethargy (4%)

Overwhelmingly, vets who had seen heat-related conditions treated dogs, with 9% mentioning small mammals (such as rabbits and guinea pigs), 8% mentioning cats and 4% other animals.

Dog owners should take extra care to keep their pets healthy and happy in the sunshine and contact their veterinary practice immediately if they are concerned

Dogs, and other pet animals, may struggle in high temperatures as they are unable to cool down quickly through sweating, rendering them vulnerable to overheating. Despite publicity campaigns in recent years, dogs still die in hot cars every summer or succumb to heatstroke as a result of over-exertion on walks and daytrips – this can be a particular problem in short nosed dogs and older animals.

BVA and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) are highlighting seven simple steps to help keep dogs safe as the temperature rises:

1. Don’t leave dogs in vehicles or conservatories.
2. Make sure they always have water to drink.
3. Provide ventilation at all times to prevent the temperature rising.
4. Avoid exercising dogs in the heat of the day.
5. Provide shade from the sun in the hottest part of the day.
6. Watch out for early signs of heatstroke, such as heavy panting and profuse salivation.
7. Contact a vet immediately if the animal does not respond to efforts to cool it down.

 Vet John Blackwell, President of the BVA, has some advice for owners as the weather gets warmer. He said: “As it gets hotter this summer, all owners need to think about taking simple steps to ensure their pets are happy and healthy during the warm weather.

“Most people know that dogs should never be left in cars by themselves, even when the day is warm as opposed to hot, but it can be tempting to ignore advice if you think you won’t be gone for long.

“Leaving the car windows open and a bowl of water is not enough. As a dog can only cool down through its tongue and paw pads, it cannot react quickly enough to cope with the rapidly rising heat inside a car.

“Dogs are also vulnerable to heatstroke while out with their owners. I see animals in my practice every summer that have overheated while out walking or exercising. A dog won’t stop enjoying itself because it is hot, so it’s up to the owner to stop the animal before it suffers.

“Older dogs and those with respiratory problems are particularly susceptible but it’s sensible to keep a close eye on any dog on warmer days. If your pet is affected by the heat the quicker you get help the better the animal’s chances of survival.”

Detecting overheating early and treating it promptly is essential to dogs and other pets recovering successfully. Signs that animals are overheating can include faster and heavier panting, and restlessness, which may include lack of coordination. They might produce more saliva than normal and have darker coloured gums than normal. Eventually their eyes may become glassy and they may start to become unresponsive and may slip into unconsciousness.

Pet owners should immediately get advice from a vet if they are concerned their pet is suffering from a heat-related condition. In addition, if heatstroke is suspected, pets should be taken to a cool, well-ventilated place and given water to drink. Dogs can also be cooled down with a fan or by covering them with a wet towel. However, pet owners should always contact a vet for advice rather than trying to treat on their own an animal who could be suffering from a heat-related condition.

Pooch & Mutt has published top tips to help shop owners keep their customers happy this summer. The tips include ways to treat your dog over the summer months and important safety messages.

1. Keep Your Dog Occupied: When the temperature starts to soar, keep your dog entertained for hours with this refreshing delight: Take your dog’s favourite treat and freeze it in water overnight. This is a cost effective way to keep your dog hydrated and cool all summer long. The frozen treat is refreshing and can be used as a healthy alternative to help keep your dog cool during the long days of summer!
2. Don’t Let Constant Itching Ruin Your Summer: There is nothing worse than watching your poor dog scratch themselves repetitively. Stop itching and scratching with Pooch & Mutt’s Bionic Biotic, a natural supplement designed to naturally aid skin, coat, digestion and overall immunity. With a unique blend of pro and prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals it is a guaranteed way to give your dog relief this summer.
3. Avoid Chicken Bones at BBQs: Enjoying yourself at a BBQ is a summer staple! Go on and indulge, but make sure not to feed your dog any of your left over chicken bones. Cooked chicken bones are brittle and tend to break as they are chewed by your dog. This could potentially lead to many dangerous problems, including choking or fragments becoming lodged in your dog’s mouth, throat, esophagus, or internal organs.
4. Lots and Lots of Water: Don’t ever let your dog go without water. As simple as this sounds, make sure you always have an abundant supply of fresh, clean drinking water for your dog. During the summer months, it can be very easy for your dog to become dehydrated. So make sure you stock up on some H20 and stay active with your furry friend this summer!
5. Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car: NEVER EVER leave your dog alone in a hot car. This point cannot be stressed enough, as every year, dogs suffer and die when their owners make the mistake of leaving them in a parked car. Even for just a minute, parked cars are deathtraps for dogs as the temperature inside a parked car can soar in just minutes. Don’t make the mistake of leaving your dog alone in a car this summer and make sure you call 999 if you see another dog left alone.
6. Stay Calm During Car Journeys: Don’t let your dog’s anxiety ruin any summer road trips you have planned. Keep them calm by feeding Pooch & Mutt’s Calm & Relaxed natural, hand baked biscuits. The treats are ethically sourced, low in calories and wheat free. Chamomile and l-tryptophan have been added to naturally keep your dog relaxed. Give these treats to your dog before any stressful situation such as vet visits, car journeys, fireworks or as a nice bedtime snack. 

www.poochandmutt.co.uk

Britain’s Got Talent winner Matisse was substituted for a look-a-like stunt dog for the high-wire stunt that won the talent show final.

Matisse’s owner Jules O’Dwyer has revealed that he is afraid of heights, so she used a double called Chase to perform high-rope walking climax on the final of BGT on Sunday night.

“Matisse is a little bit afraid of heights, so although he could officially do it, Chase is the action dog, so he plays the double for him,” O’Dwyer admitted on ITV breakfast show Lorraine on Monday morning. “Every dog has a different character. The tightrope takes months of training.”

Chase had previously made an appearance in O’Dwyer’s semi-final performance, however the deception angered some viewers who said it was “shameful” that the public had been “conned”.

Another tweeted that BGT’s producers should have informed viewers about the sleight of hand before the public decided who to vote for in the final.

O’Dwyer and Matisse were the final act of the night, using a cops and robbers theme which ended with three-legged dog Skippy joining them on stage, narrowly beating favourites choir Cor Glanaethwy and runner-up magician Jamie Raven.

After O’Dwyer’s canine victory, Raven quipped that technically the public had voted him the most talented human in this year’s competition.

Figures show that it was extremely close, with O’Dwyer and Matisse winning 22.6% of the 4.5 million votes cast and Raven 20.4%.

O’Dwyer’s act scooped the £250,000 top prize and means she will perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance.

The final was watched by an average of 11.7 million viewers, a million more than last year and reversing a two-year decline in ratings, making it the biggest show of 2015 so far.

Pettex has introduced EkoPet, a superlight non-clumping hygienic cat litter, on to the market.

Each granule contains thousands of fast acting micropores which quickly absorbs liquid like a sponge instantly trapping any unpleasant odours.

Because EkoPet hygienic cat litter instantly locks in all liquid, this controls bacteria more effectively than conventional lightweight litters, ensuring any cat's well-being and contentment.

It’s a clean lightweight cat litter, during production. It’s autoclaved in high pressure steam, so it’s sanitary and very hygienic.

Additionally, it has a special additive with antibacterial action to reduce the unpleasant odour of cat’s waste.

For more information contact sales@pettex.co.uk

All companies need great sales people but do new or smaller companies need them the most?

Pet Trade Solutions have been introducing Sales and Marketing personnel at all levels and in all channels and sectors to employers since year 2000 and founder Lynda Ward says: “I was recently approached by an American company to recruit two ‘Road Warriors’ for them to introduce their products into the UK.  Of course I understood what they meant – people with energy, enthusiasm and a positive attitude who wouldn’t stop until the job was done.

"This is a typical request (although it’s the first time I’ve actually heard that rather apt phrase!) from young companies trying to penetrate our congested marketplace yet don’t the bigger guys need people with those qualities too?

"Outlook and approach often seems to be overlooked or to come way down the list when more established companies recruit new sales people, with experience and contacts coming at the top of the list.

"I know from having spent many years in field sales myself and meeting peers along the way that all the experience and contacts in the world won’t translate into sales without an ‘up and at ’em attitude’ – true Road Warriors will always win the day.”

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

Pet Love has introduced a new breed of chew proof dog toy called Mighty Mutts.

Mighty Mutts offers a new range of eight durable toys made from a revolutionary material with a 3-year chew proof guarantee.

Built of heavy weight rubber, Mighty Mutts are perfect for any aggressive chewers who destroy their toys in minutes.

Prices start from £3.49. Mighty Mutts provides a choice of eight products including four different shapes (ball, bone, tri-bone and s-bone) and a range of three sizes to suit all dogs (small: for dogs 6-15kg; medium: for dogs 13.5-27kg; and large: for dogs 27-40kg).

The design of the Mighty Mutts toy is built not only to last, but to keep a dog entertained.

Each product has a hollow centre making them ideal for filling with your pets' favourite treats; and is made to float so are the perfect toy for playing fetch.

Mighty Mutts toys also include a 3-year guarantee.

“We have real confidence in the strength of our products and we want our customers to feel the same. Mighty Mutts offer a great solution for dog owners who struggle with the aggressive chewing of their pets and it is a solution that will last,” says Harry Scott of Pet Love.

The full terms and conditions of the guarantee can be found here: http://www.interpet.co.uk/brands/mighty-mutts-3-year-guarantee/

For further information about Mighty Mutts please visit www.interpet.co.uk or contact our customer care team: customercare@interpet.co.uk

A woman who has lost her adored family pet is so distraught that she has offered HER HOUSE to anyone who can find it.

Mrs Liu, who lived alone in Beijing with her beloved dog, has put posters up in her local area with a picture of the dog and a promise that anyone who finds him can have her property in exchange, worth around £420,000.

But it seems that the 70 year old's 'lost' posters and online adverts have attracted attention for all the wrong reasons, reports Beijing Youth Daily.

Calls have been flooding in about people finding the dog - except it's always the wrong dog.

In some cases, the callers are offering false clues and even disguising dogs in an attempt to bag the property.

What started as a heartfelt search may yet end in heartbreak.

Liu's nephew revealed: "We are fed up with the false calls and are thinking of giving up the search."

Police have revealed areas in the UK which are becoming a breeding ground for dog napping and criminal activity related to the pet trade.

Dog owners have been warned about strangers taking pictures of their dogs during walks as well as markings appearing on pavements outside their homes.

Kent has been identified as the biggest dognapping ‘hotspot’ with authorities linking the rise in thefts in the area to the proximity to the channel tunnel.

They believed that criminals are taking dogs from their owners and smuggling them out of the country.

Sylvia Tabor from charity Dog Theft Action said: “For thieves, the rewards can be high and the risks low. So it’s sadly seen as easy money.

“In law, dogs are classed as property like a TV, so sentences are low for taking a living creature away from its family.

“Unfortunately, it can also often be seen as a low priority by police.”

Sylvia then added: “Staffies seem particularly high on the list as they can be used in dog fighting and as guard dogs.”

Tragically, the majority of dogs stolen from families are never recovered, leaving pet owners wondering what became of their beloved pooches.

For more information visit www.dogtheftaction.com

Pictured: Staffordshire Bull Terriers are the most popular breed targeted by criminals.