3 Tips for Flying with Your Dog on an Airplane

For many folks, going on trips without their pet is simply out of the question. A vacation

away from Woofy, Mr. Pickles or Noodle is simply not a vacation. Rather, for many people,

this could feel like a separation from companions you love, which is simply excruciating.

The good news is that for these people, modern travel via air has expanded to make

inclusions of four-legged passengers. Dog travel is something that most airlines now offer,

either in the cargo hold of the plane or in the cabin. Depending on what airline you select

the costs of travel with your dog can vary. There are requirements and restrictions you will

simply need to consider. Before your flight, make sure you find out all the information you

will need. Here are a few tips you might want to consider when flying with your furry four-

legged pal.

Pay the Vet a Visit

Around the globe, almost every airline will be needing veterinarian documentation that

states your dog is fit enough to travel. Some hotels and resorts also require this type of

document before letting your pet stay. This is not really a bad idea considering no one

really wants a cat with feline distemper or a dog with rabies on their vacay. Since you are

already at the vet, you might also want to get treatment for heartworm and flea shots if you

haven’t already.

Go to a Pet-Friendly Destination

If you don’t make sure the resort or hotel you are staying in is pet-friendly your pet may

not be welcome. Don’t assume that every destination offering lodging welcomes pets.

Rather, find ones that do as you make your travel plans. This way, you won’t encounter an

unpleasant surprise upon arrival.

Food and Water Before Flying

Check-in delays are not uncommon these days. For this reason, you might want to arrive

not less than 2 hours before flying. While a lot of time is spent waiting around in the

airport, it is a good idea to prepare your pet for flying. Some mandates require that dogs

flying on a plane with you need to be watered and fed within 4 hours of departing. When

you check in for your flight, you will be asked to sign a waiver to certify that your pet has

eaten and drank water. On the other hand, don’t overdo this. A dog with a belly that is too

full might be prone to travel sickness, so moderation is important.

Dr Katrina Launches Bravecto

 In a world where less is increasingly viewed as more, media veterinarian and brand ambassador Dr Katrina Warren has officially launched Bravecto® in Australia, a revolutionary new treatment for dogs against fleas and deadly paralysis ticks that makes protecting man’s best friend dead easy.

Launched in Europe and the United States last year and now available in Australia, Bravecto offers Aussie pooches unprecedented protection - a phenomenal 3 months for fleas and 4 months for paralysis ticks – with just 1 tasty oral chew. To date, protection from fleas and deadly paralysis ticks has most commonly been gained from products that require fortnightly or monthly application. As a result, many pet owners may forget to treat, leaving dogs unprotected, and pet owners worried.1 Due to its extended protection from one tasty treat, and super convenience to pet owners, who can now worry less, and love more, Bravecto is being hailed around the world as a quantum leap forward in pet science and its launch is highly anticipated.

Dr Katrina was joined by the amazing Wonderdogs today in Sydney, as she unveiled her new role as Bravecto brand ambassador.

Dr Katrina is appealing to all dog owners to proactively talk to their local vet about deadly paralysis ticks and fleas, the incidence levels in their region, and Bravecto, which can be purchased at veterinary clinics without the need for a prescription.

“I have seen first-hand the reality of not protecting dogs against paralysis ticks and fleas. I’m proud to be associated with Bravecto, the only preventative oral treatment for these nasty critters that protects dogs for a full three months. It’s my choice for Riley and gives me peace of mind,” Dr Katrina said.

Dr Rob Webster, Director & Veterinary Specialist at The Animal Emergency Service Brisbane, sees
the devastating consequences some owners face if their dog is not protected, especially when it
comes to deadly paralysis tick.

“Thousands of cases of paralysis due to ticks are treated by vets every year, many animals not
surviving the deadly parasite’s effects. The temptation can be to just protect dogs during the peak parasite seasons, when in fact the best protection is all year round. It’s not an exaggeration to say that being proactive and taking action to protect your dog can make a big difference to  their health. In terms of paralysis ticks, it could be the difference between life and death,”comments Dr Webster.

Bravecto is part of a new innovative class of parasiticides and starts working within hours.A tasty oral chew, it can’t wash or rub off, so dog owners can keep doing the things they love to do with their dog without interruption. It is safe to use in puppies as young as 8 weeks of age, and there’s an email and app reminder service dog owners can subscribe to via www.bravecto.com.au, making treatment times easy to remember and hard to forget.

The single most dangerous tick for dogs in Australia is the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) found on the eastern coast of Australia, with just one tick capable of causing paralysis and even death.

Symptoms of paralysis tick toxicity typically starts with weakness of the hindquarters, progressing to
total paralysis of all four legs. Other early symptoms include the appearance that the dog has something stuck in its throat, vomiting or heavy, loud breathing.

Fleas are an unpleasant experience for dogs causing itching and discomfort. In some cases, an
allergy occurs to the flea saliva, causing hair loss and skin sores on dogs and cats, and worry for
owners.
Bravecto is available from leading veterinarians across Australia and online at VetShopAustralia.com.au . For the latest news and information about Bravecto visit www.bravecto.com.au and “like” Bravecto on Facebook at  www.facebook.com.au/bravectoau.

Easy Dog Kennel Tips from Kennards

 

Into The Dog House

DIY Dog Kennel Building Tips

It’s time to start thinking about all the bigger jobs that need doing around the home. This year, give your beloved pooch the home it deserves by building your very own, custom made Kennel. 

Kennards Hire’s DIY expert Grant Tremlett has devised some handy tips to build your own dog house to suit your pooches requirements like no other.

Things to Consider:

Size Matters: The size of your dog’s house is very important. Before you go out and buy materials, make sure you measure your dog and make some basic plans. Keep in mind that the dog house should be large enough for the dog to stand up and turn around comfortably, but small enough to retain the dog's body heat.

High & Dry: Wooden dog houses should be raised a several centimetres off of the ground to prevent water logging, rotting and increase ventilation. Flat concrete blocks are an easy way to raise a doghouse.

Move It:  Consider building a transportable kennel to make yard work a breeze and relocating your dog house a hassle-free task. This will prevent killing grass and enable you to keep your pooch in the shade during the hotter months.

Construction Tips:

Nail It: If you’re building your pooch palace out of timber, you’re going to be spending a lot of time swinging a hammer. If hand-eye-coordination isn’t one of your strongest skillsets, consider hiring a nail gun from your nearest Kennards Hire branch. Not only will it save your fingers, but a load of time too.

Keep It Cosy: If you live in a place prone to extreme hot and cold temperatures, consider insulating the base and roof of your DIY dog house. Adding a sturdy flap to the door of the house is also a great way to keep the warmth in during the winter months.

Safe n’ Sound: After you’ve finished your construction, be sure to check the dog house over, inside and out for protruding nails, screws, splinters and sharp edges that your pet could easily cut themselves on.

Tidy Up: Add hinges to the roof section so you can easily open up the house to make cleaning your pooch’s new home quick and hassle free.

Kennards Hire has all the tools and equipment you need to complete the job. For more information and handy tips for summer DIY projects head to http://www.kennards.com.au/

Celebrity Dogs- Matt McConaughey and his dog.

Matthew McConaughey and his labrador

Dogs on Surf Boards Hit Noosa Beach

The 2015 Surfing Dog Spectacular official video has just been released and we think it's awesome.  Sponsored by Advantix and VetShopAustralia, this year the Noosa Surfing Dog extravaganza saw eight dogs compete for the title of top surf dog. The event, which is now in its 4th year, drew a crowd of over 8,000 people who delighted in watching these surfing canines go through the paces.


   

The Noosa Surfing Dog  Spectacular is part of the Noosa  Festival of Surfing, held in Noosa, Australia in March each year. For more information about these surfing dogs, visit www.surfingdogspectacular.com.au  

Good names for mixed breed dogs

dog names for bitzers can be hard, but here are some of our favourite mixed breed dog names:

Buddy	Friend; brother. (English)		Bailey	Steward; in charge. (English and French)
Daisy	Eye of the day; synonym for Sun. (English)		Angel	Angelic; messenger of God. (Greek)
Bella	Beautiful. (Latin)		Buster	Hitter; puncher. (English)
Bear	Strong; brave. (English and German)		Charlie	Manly; strong; free. (English)
Ginger	Pep; liveliness. (English)		Chloe	Blooming. (Greek)

Basic Dog Biscuit Recipe

if you;re looking for a very simple dog biscuit recipe, look no further.

 Once you've tried this recipe you can add additional ingredients such as mashed pumpkin, grated carrot, whole oats, wheatgerm, oat bran, bacon bits, Vegemite, canned tuna or salmon.

Ingredients
2 cups flour (substitute rice flour or any other type of flour if you like)
1 egg
1 tablespoon of oil
½ cup hot water with 1 tsp of salt reduced stock added

Step-by-Step

• Whisk oil and egg, then add flour.
• Gradually add water and stock mixture until desired consistency is reached.
• Roll out dough onto floured surface then cut using biscuit cutter.
• Alternatively if the dough is a softer consistency you can shape them with your hands and place them on a baking tray.
• Bake at 180°C for 15-20 mins.