Controversial claims by dog behaviourist Stan Rawlinson that vets should share some of the blame for falling pet welfare standards have been refuted by Caroline Allen, Clinical Director at Canonbury Veterinary Practice in London.

In this week’s Pet Trade Xtra, Caroline responds to the points made by Stan Rawlinson.

The PDSA PAWS Report is certainly a wake-up call to all those who care about this country’s pets, including vets who must ensure they are doing all they can to educate clients and promote preventative care. It is a shame to see individuals using this important report to play a ‘blame game’ and spread unsubstantiated scare stories.

On the subject of vaccinations, while vaccination manufacturers' guidelines do state that some vaccine components should be administered every three years, the Leptospirosis component (Weils disease, that can be transmitted to people) is shown to only last a maximum of 14 months. We therefore need to give this every year.

A yearly health check is a vital measure. Our pets can't tell us how they feel and we often pick up painful and debilitating conditions at these checks, which would otherwise have gone untreated. The annual health check should also be a place to ensure owners are given the information they need to maximise their pet's welfare.

I strongly refute the claim that there is a “massive ground swell and knowledge base, that suggest over-vaccination is causing major health problems with our dogs’ immune systems. Dogs are becoming very ill and in some cases dying as their immune system breaks down.” This claim simply is not backed up by any reliable evidence. A major independent study by the Animal Health Trust demonstrated no link between vaccination and disease.

Unfortunately misinformation about vaccination leads people not to vaccinate and not to visit the vet. We are seeing an increase in cases of parvovirus. Anyone who has battled parvovirus and seen animals die horribly in a pool of vomit and diarrhoea will know that this misinformation is leading to suffering, and we are even hearing about the return of Distemper.

On the subject of early neutering, not only does the research show overall health benefits especially in terms of a large effect on prevention of mammary (breast) cancer but we also need to accept action is needed to tackle overpopulation, leading to the tragedy of thousands of dogs being killed every year because there are no suitable homes.

Early neutering is an important part of this. This review provides research based information regarding early neutering and the potential side effects. 

What makes an animal too fat is too much energy intake and not enough energy expenditure.

Behaviour issues are certainly on the increase. Again a visit to a good vet, offering opportunities for early socialisation is important. Also realistic owner expectation, an understanding of normal behaviour and effort put in to training are vital. Unfortunately the field of animal behaviour is dangerously unregulated. I only ever recommend a member of the Asssociation of Pet Behaviourist Counsellors to clients who need further assistance. Sadly I have seen others who claim to be 'behaviourists' do more harm than good.

I commend the PDSA report and hope that it promotes more research and education in to how we can improve the welfare of pets. It is clear that relying on rumours and myth can do more harm than good.

Pet owners should look for a vet who is willing to discuss concerns and answer their questions and places a strong emphasis on preventative health care.

More than 80 jobs could be lost after Mars Petcare announced proposals to close its Peterborough plant.

Mars Petcare admitted it was consulting its 82 staff at the factory in Shrewsbury Avenue, Woodston.

In a statement, the company said: "This proposal follows a review of capacity requirements at our dry pet food manufacturing sites across Europe.

"The proposed changes, if they proceed, would enable us to continue investing in industry-leading facilities and people at our other UK sites."

If the closure goes ahead, he said Mars expected to be able to offer "a substantial number of our 82 associates employment at our other sites, such as the Melton Mowbray pet food factory."

The Peterborough factory was opened in 1974 and produces dry pet food brands including Pedigree and Whiskas.

With the end of winter fast-approaching, dog owners will be gearing up to spend more time outdoors with their pooches, so it’s the ideal time to get collars, leads and harnesses looking fab in store.

While evenings and early mornings are still dark, a range of night-time safety-related dog walking accessories are essential, such as flashing safety lights which clip on to collars and reflective leads. These should be at the fore of displays, and consider multi-buy promotions across the coat and night safety lines to get customers to trade up and spend more.

Ever heard the saying ‘the dog is taking the owner for a walk’? Dog control can be an issue for some owners with dogs pulling and misbehaving whilst on their leads. Specialist training leads are now available to help solve these common behavioural problems to make dogs calmer while out on their walks.

The Kumfi range is a great accompaniment to standard collar and lead lines, and has been developed and extensively tested by George Grayson, leading dog training expert who had many years dog handling experience in the Yorkshire Police Force. Being able to offer problem-solving products to customers will help to make your centre the ‘go to’ option for their pet’s needs, which in turn makes for repeat purchases.

At the end of long, muddy walks, dogs will probably require some sort of cleaning, whether it is a quick rub-down or a full-on bath. Consider new-to-market hygiene products that can make the bathing experience much easier. Waterless shampoos, deodorising sprays and grooming wipes all make it simpler to clean dogs when he/she is less dirty, then full shampoos are available when a really good scrub is in order.

Find products with an active ingredient such as Byotrol as these have the added benefit of antimicrobial technology that delivers long-lasting germ killing and protection. This USP over other pet cleaning products is a great feature worth shouting about as an ‘added health benefit’ which customers will embrace.

For more information on Petface products visit www.petface.com or call 01462 744500

Eleven British petcare product firms will be travelling to Florida at the end of February to exhibit at Global Pet Expo as part of a UK group organised by the PetQuip association.

The companies - Animology, Baggee & Doggee, Byotrol Pet Care, Classic Pet Products, Dog Rocks, Hilton Herbs, Hing Designs, Litter Kwitter, Pet Rebellion, Profleece and Scruffs - will be showing ranges of grooming, feeding, pet supplements, rugs and mats, beds, toilet training and waste disposal items.

Eight of the British companies are exhibiting for the first time at Global Pet Expo, so their exhibits will be of particular interest to the US market, which is estimated to be worth around $50 billion each year.

The show also attracts a worldwide buyer attendance, and the British exhibitors will be aiming to emulate the export successes of UK companies that exhibited in previous PetQuip-organised groups.

One of the British exhibitors, Animology, visited last year’s Global Pet Expo on the recommendation of PetQuip and attributes its entry into the US market to that visit. The company is now consolidating its links with the US by launching 16 new products at the show.

The eleven exhibitors in 2013 will all benefit from funding arranged by PetQuip via the UK Trade & Investment Trade Show Access Programme and from the show organiser’s attractive exhibitor package.

PetQuip is organising and manning the British pet product information stand at the show and providing a comprehensive package of services for the UK firms as well as a free product sourcing service to overseas buyers.

Global Pet Expo (February 20-22) is the largest North American trade show for the pet care sector, and attracts independent retailers, distributors and mass-market buyers

A pet retailer has urged other shopkeepers to stamp out the growing trend of showrooming where consumers browse in store but then buy online.

Piers Smart of Scampers in Cambridgeshire said: "I think shoppers who do this are downright rude. If I see it happening in my store I would tell the person to leave, and I would advise other retailers to do the same."

Showrooming has in double quick time become a serious reality across almost all retail sectors, including the pet retail industry, thanks in part to the relentless march of smartphone and tablet technology, which makes it easy to check how the price of the product you’re looking at in-store compares to online sources.

The British Retail Consortium reported that in the fourth quarter of 2012, search volumes on tablet devices outpaced those on any other device, increasing by 238% and on smartphone devices by 76%.

A survey before Christmas by Real Business Today (realbusiness.co.uk) revealed that that one in five shoppers said they had researched online after a store visit – and nearly half of those ended up buying elsewhere.

"Fortunately, we haven't suffered from this practice," said Piers. "But I'll be keeping a close eye on it in future.

"We pride ourselves on having the best range of products on our shelves. Customers visit us because of that fact and they know they are getting good value for money," said Piers, whose shop has just experienced it best January sales weeks ever.

"I'm always urging suppliers to help independent pet shops, and they can do their bit to stop this practice of showrooming."



If Piers spots showrooming happening in Scampers, the shopper will be ejected from the store.

OATA has saved the aquatics industry about £3 million in lost sales after preventing a ban on three plants originally on a DEFRA prohibition hot list.

News was announced this week that DEFRA is finally stopping the sale of five plants, some of which OATA has recommended that retailers do not to sell for more than a decade.

But successful campaigning by the trade association, which lobbies on behalf of the industry, means oxygenators such as Lagarosiphon, and also water hyacinth and water lettuce will still remain on shop shelves following the ban announcement.

However, OATA tempered the good news with a note of caution for the future, calling on all involved in the sale of aquatic plants and fish to ‘up their game’ in encouraging the public to responsibly dispose of unwanted or excess plants or pets.

“When the sales ban was first suggested the range of species was rather longer because it included Lagarosiphon, water hyacinth and water lettuce,” explained OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“Losing these three plants would have been a major blow to the whole trade, losing them an estimated £3 million a year in sales. OATA recognised this, and campaigned long and hard to make the proposed prohibition list as short as possible, while not losing sight of the need to address the issue of garden pond plants appearing in the wild.

"Our work with DEFRA means these three plants – originally on the banned list – will continue to be sold which we think is a really positive outcome for traders at such a difficult economic time.”

But OATA is warning the issue of non-native invasive plants is far from over and wants everyone in the industry – from retailers to dry goods manufacturers – to up their game in encouraging people not to get rid of unwanted plants or pets in the wild. 

“The government recognised that the industry's willingness to promote the ‘Be Plant Wise’ did play a significant part in encouraging people to be responsible. But we can’t become complacent and now’s the time for us all to up our game.

"As an industry, we need to take the lead and demonstrate that tighter controls are not needed and could never be as dynamic and effective as the industry's own efforts. 

“We all need to play our part in shouting the message loud and clear so that customers don’t get rid of unwanted plants - and pets - into the wild. OATA is the ‘voice of the industry’ – and this victory clearly demonstrates that DEFRA listens to our voice – but we also need the industry to support and join us in this fight.”

The five plants banned by DEFRA are:

• Water Fern
• Parrot’s Feather
• Floating Pennywort
• Australian swamp stone crop (New Zealand Pygmyweed)
• Water Primrose

The ban means all retailers must stop selling these plants or face a fine of up to £5,000 and/or up to six months in prison. Retailers have a year to adjust to the ban.

The Italian producer of Sansone pet mats have added several new products to their car range, and they're now available in the UK.

The range, produced by TDS srl in Italy, is distributed by Verotapes in the UK. The hygienic pet mats are now available for use over car seats and boot/bumper covers.

Different types are available, offering total cover for the back seats, individual seats or boot and bumper.

Full details available from Verotapes on 01246 857 491 or visit www.verotapes.com

Police are appealing for information after 46 koi carp were stolen from a garden centre in Snettisham, Norfolk.

The valuable fish were taken from a covered pond at Poppyfields Garden Centre between 5pm on Thursday, January 24, and 8.10am on Friday, January 25.

A sheet was forcibly unhooked from the pond and the fish, 31 weighing 20lb and the rest smaller, were removed into a vehicle.

This vehicle was parked near a fence next to the A149 - the fence was damaged to gain entry to the grounds.

Officers believe that more than two people were involved in the incident and that the fish were not damaged during the theft.

Investigating officer, PC Scott Lammas of Hunstanton Police, is keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have noticed any suspicious activity, or anyone who may have been offered the fish for sale.

Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The popular Chuckit Ultra Ball is now available in two new forms with Ultra Tug Medium and Ultra Duo Tug Medium now available in the UK through Mines for Pets (UK) Ltd.

The Ultra Tug Medium consists of a medium sized Ultra Ball firmly attached to a strong nylon rope (rope 8-inches long and 1-inch wide). The Ultra Ball is the best selling Chuckit product, making these two new versions a worthy addition to the range.

The Ultra Duo Tug Medium contains two medium Ultra Balls joined at either end with the same strong nylon rope (rope length 9.5-inches).

Both the Ultra Tug Medium and Ultra Duo Tug Medium are available in the medium size, utilising the 2.5 inch Ultra Ball compatible with the company's extensive range of Chuckit ball launchers.

The Ultra Ball, which floats in water, can be used in or out of a ball launcher. The addition of the rope to both new products changes the Ultra Ball into a more interactive toy to be enjoyed by dogs and their owners.

Ultra Tug Medium has a suggested RRP of £7.65 and Ultra Duo Tug Medium of £10.99.

For more information call 01243 265378 or visit www.minesforpets.co.uk

Pets at Home is investing more than £470, 000 in a new store on Clwyd Retail Park in Rhyl, creating 19 new jobs.

It will open on February 22 on the site of a former Comet, and Pets at Home said it was committed to recruiting from the local area.

Rhyl manager Hannah Radcliff has been with the company for more than five years, having previously worked in Warrington.

Hannah said: “I'm delighted to be opening our new store in Rhyl. It will offer everything a pet owner could wish for, all under one roof. We will provide plenty of advice and ideas for customers and we welcome pets of all shapes and sizes.

“We will also have a groom room, offering full grooming, bath and blow dry, puppy grooming and nail clipping, which are all important to a pet’s health and wellbeing.”

Tickets have gone on sale for The Pet Show, which claims to be the UK's largest indoor and outdoor family pet show. It takes place on July 20-21 at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

The show is expecting to attract 20,000 visitors at its debut outing. Stoneleigh Park offers over 21,000 square metres of indoor exhibition space, and will make use of the venue’s Olympic size equine arenas.

Four charity partners, each representing a zone at the show, have also now been chosen to work alongside the organisers over the course of the next few months, and will benefit from ticket sales, with a percentage of every ticket sold via their own website going towards helping them continue their vital work. They are The British Hen Welfare Trust, Wood Green The Animals Charity, The Pet Education Trust and The British Horse Society.

The show will be packed full of hundreds of different attractions. Sponsors for the show confirmed to date include James Wellbeloved and Royal Canin and a number of unique events are set to take place at the show, including The Dog Agility Open Grand Finals 2013.

Stoneleigh Park was chosen by the event organisers Complete-Publishing Ltd due to its ability to host large scale events, flexible indoor and outdoor space and central location.

Show Director Ian Sear said: “As soon as we knew we were going to launch the show, there was really only one venue we had in mind. Stoneleigh Park is within easy driving distance of so many places and there are 30,000 free car parking spaces, so it can cater for an event on our scale.

“But the most important deciding factor was the variety of inside and outdoor space available, which allows us to put on a more interesting and full show for our visitors – for example, we will be the only pet show which will be able to include Shire horse displays.”

For more information visit www.thepetshow.co.uk

Dog Rocks has appointed Chloe Young as Business Support Executive. 

As the new 'face' of Dog Rocks, Chloe’s main roles will be to support existing customers, to raise awareness of product lines, to oversee arrangements for exhibitions and promotions, and to increase the company's online presence using social media and networking.

Chloe’s can-do attitude, people skills, combined with her experience in account management and social media will enable Dog Rocks to ensure existing relationships are given first-rate care and attention.

Carina Evans, MD of Dog Rocks, said: “We are delighted to have Chloe on board and are looking forward to unlocking potential within the company, and crucially working more closely with our key accounts. These are exciting times for our company and fingers crossed for a sunny 2013.”

Chloe will be making herself known to existing and new clients over the coming months and will be at the forthcoming trade fairs – Global Pet Expo, Crufts, PATS Sandown and BSAVA.

Comparison website Confused.com has unveiled a new Facebook app that allows animal lovers to create personalised comic strips that imagine what their pets are saying behind their backs.

The app has been developed to highlight Confused.com’s multi-pet insurance comparison service, which allows owners to get a quote for up to five pets at a time.

The comic strips can be shared and downloaded and an in-app gallery will highlight the created comics.

Kate Rose, head of Pet Insurance at Confused.com said: “Our new pet comic app is a fun way to highlight our new service, which will save multiple pet owners a lot of time and allow them to benefit from discounts of up to 10%.

“Given the phenomenal success ‘Texts from Dog’ has achieved, we know people like to imagine what their pets say and do when we’re not around. I can’t wait to check the gallery to see what creative comics pet owners can come up with!”

A family have found their missing pet tortoise in a store room – more than 30 years after they lost her.

Manuela disappeared from her home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1982 and despite a lengthy search was never seen again.

Her owners, the Almeida family, assumed she had run away after builders working on the house left the front door open.

It was only after their father Leonel died earlier this month that the Almeida children began clearing out a second-floor room in the house that had always been kept locked.

Leonel's son Leandro said he was astonished to find Manuela alive inside a box containing an old record player.

He told a Brazilian website: "I put the box on the pavement for the rubbish men to collect, and a neighbour said, "you're not throwing out the tortoise as well are you?"