Review || Natures Aid Coconut Oil - Guinea pig Grease Gland

Hi PetPals!

Some of you may know this but male guineapigs (boars) have grease glands near their bottoms that need cleaning frequently. 

For those that don't know what I am on about, here is a picture that will help:

The grease gland in a guinea pig is located just above where a tail would be (if cavies had a tail). Some sows and some boars have active grease glands that can be a challenge to clean. 

You will know if your guineapig has an active grease gland as it will be quite smelly, greasy and look black. 

Owning 3 boars myself, I know how hard it is to keep this area clean. I have tried everything from using washing up liquid to pet shampoo much to my avail. 

Recently, I stumbled across a website that told me to use pure coconut oil. Now I know what you're thinking, 'the grease glands are oily so why use oil to treat it'. Well much to my surprise, it works!

I purchased this 'Natures aid Coconut Oil' from Amazon for £3.45 which is a bargain! The tub is 100ml which is more than enough. It arrived very quickly and I have been very impressed by it.

It's not a pure oil as it's name might suggest but more a waxy kind of cream that turns quite wet when you get a little bit on your fingers.

   

To apply it, I sit my guineapig on a towel and stick my fingers into the pot and get quite a generous layer out. I then literally rub it all over my guineapigs grease gland. As I do this, I can feel the wax becoming loose and wet which is obviously the coconut oil itself. Now you have two options, you can either leave the coconut oil on your guineapig or wipe it off 10-15 minutes later. I've tried both and they work both the same.

Since using this, my guineapigs grease glands have improved and I find myself not having to do this as often as what I was. My guineapigs are also not getting stressed out having baths and their grease glands scrubbed. It's definitely a lot more gentle and calming for your guineapig. 

I really would recommend this to all guineapig owners. Not only does it do a good job of cleaning out the grease glands but coconut oil also has anti-fungal properties too. 

You can purchase this particular pot here: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Natures-Aid-Coconut-Oil-100g/dp/B009M3VOSI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=Coconut+oil+nature+aid

Guinea-Pigs Bedding and Enrichment

Hi PetPals!

Guinea-pigs are not as tough as what they were 10-15 years ago. There are a number of reasons why this is and these include breeding, genetics and owner knowledge.

Some breeders are not choosing wisely which guineapigs they mate. To get the 'perfect' guineapig, both the male and female need to be healthy and have good genetics so that their offspring will be as healthy too. Breeding a guineapig that has health problems is only passing on those genes to the offspring which means they too will get sick. Now of course, every animal will become ill at some point in their life but what you don't want is an animal that's constantly sick. This is not good for the animal or you as it's distressing on both parts. 

Owner knowledge is also something that could be a reason for them not being as hardy as they used to be. Not everyone knows their needs and signs/symptoms of illness etc. This is purely why I decided to set up this blog.

Anyway..

Bedding

The best bedding for guinea-pigs is a layer of newspaper with LOTS of HAY. 

You should never give a guinea-pig straw as it does not provide them any nutritional value. It can also irritate your guinea-pig too. Hay like vitamin C is essential in keeping guineapigs healthy.

Another thing you should never give guinea-pigs is sawdust. A lot of owners use sawdust to soak up the urine and the smell (especially if the guineapigs are kept indoors). Whilst, it does a good job at soaking up the urine and masking the smell, it's SUPER BAD for your guineapig. Sawdust gets stuck in their ears, eyes and paws which can cause infections and illnesses. It's also not very nice to lay on, just imagine sleeping on a bed of sawdust - sharp, smelly and rough. Vets do not recommend sawdust and blame most eye and ear infections on sawdust. 

If you want something to soak up the urine and the smell, I recommend you use carefresh. It's a little expensive but the benefits for both you and your guinea-pig are far greater than sawdust. You can get it at pets@home, amazon, ebay and most pet shops. 

Carefresh is soft and enables guineapigs  to make little nests and feel safe and comfortable. It soaks up urine and you wouldn't even notice the smell. For more info on carefresh, check out their website: http://www.carefresh.com/products/happy-habitat-system

Of course, if you use carefresh, make sure you add hay on top too. 

Enrichment

For those that don't know, enrichment means to make your animals life fuller and happier. Guineapigs are very sociable animals and so you should always keep them in pairs or small groups (preferably the same sex). 

Guineapigs love exploring and 'tunnelling' - it's something they would do in the wild. Add tunnels to your guineapigs enclosure, even stuff the tunnels with hay, they will love exploring them. 

Guineapigs need things to chew to keep their teeth trim and in good health. Lots of pet shops have toys your guineapig can chew but most guineapigs are happy with one of these:

Yep, toilet roll tubes are guineapigs favourite toys. They love to pick them up, chew them and are lots more fun when you hide fruit in. They're also extremely cheap for you too, everyone has toilet roll so there's no reason why you can't give your guineapig the toilet roll tube when it's empty.

Recently, I noticed my guineapigs love the sound of bells and chimes. So, off I went to Asda for some kitten bell balls. They were super cheap and strong enough that I knew they wouldn't break and cause a choking hazard. As soon as I put them in their cage, they were intrigued and were soon picking the me up by their teeth and shaking them. Guineapigs LOVE them and they're super cute to watch them playing with them. 

It's extremely important you provide your guineapig with something to do. How would you feel being stuck in an empty room ALL DAY EVERY DAY. Make sure you let them out of their cage too, guineapigs need exericise every day. Just because the weather is bad outside does not mean you cannot bring them inside and let them on the floor (Make sure you get rid of wires, block holes, no dogs/cats around and it's safe to let them out). 

Perhaps even buy your guineapig a play run so that you can feel reassured your guineapigs are safe during floor time in your house.

Well, I hope this has helped some of you. Please check out the following links for places to buy enrichment, bedding and for more information

http://www.carefresh.com/petcare/guinea-pigs

http://www.cavyhaven.org.uk/bedding.html

http://www.northeastguineapigrescue.co.uk/Bedding/

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/small-pet/guinea-pig

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Toys-Guinea-Pig-Small-Animals/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A471575031%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A1452929031

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/category.asp?dept_id=396

Buying a Puppy

Hi PetPals!

Hope you've had a wonderful Easter and Bank Holiday Weekend. Today's post is all about buying a puppy :)

When buying a puppy it's important to think about it long term. Puppies are a huge commitment and require a lot of time, love and care. Just like any other animal, puppies come with a financial commitment too. Potential owners need to make sure they can afford the vet bills, food, toys and grooming costs as otherwise owners may have to rehome their dog which can be stressful on both parts.

These are a few things that every potential owner should do/consider

1. Research your breed thoroughly - whatever breed you choose, make sure you do your homework first. Talk to owners of the breed, go to the library, research on the internet. Whatever source you choose, make sure you know what the breed is like, how it behaves?, how much food it eats? How much exercise does it need?,  Can it be trained easily?, do they suffer with any health problems?. It's extremely important to know what dog your buying before you bring it home.

2. Your lifestyle - it's important to look at your lifestyle also. Do you work long hours?, Do you have time to care for your pet?, Are you fit and healthy enough to walk the dog? Can you afford to care for the dog? Do you live in the right area/house?

3. Research your breeder - it's okay to check out your breeder before buying, ask to see certificates and check them out on the assured breeder scheme (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding/assured-breeder-scheme/). Also ask them questions like when can I take my puppy home? If they say at 7 weeks, do not buy from them and report them to the police. Good Breeders will sell their puppies at 12 weeks. Always ask to see receipts for vaccinations and worming products, even ask for their vet details so you can check the puppy has had their vaccinations.

4. Prepare early - So you have decided to get a puppy and have put your deposit down. Now it's time to prepare for the arrival. Get your house puppy proof and purchase all the necesseties. Always follow the breeders guidelines when it come to feeding as for so many weeks they will need a particular diet. 

5. Viewing your puppy - when viewing your puppy make sure the mother dog is present too. If the breeder makes up any excuses, do not buy from them and report to the police. Good breeders will allow you to see the mother and sometimes the father depending on if the studs owner has agreed to it. Also check the mother, does she look healthy? Is she friendly? Is she young herself? (Bitches should not be bred until they are at least 18 months old and should not be bred more than 6 times in her lifetime) Does the mum look like she's had more than one litter this year?. Don't be afraid to question the breeder, it shows you are a serious and dedicated dog owner. If the puppy is still suckling then they are too young to be sold. Make sure the puppies look healthy, have clear eyes and nose, clean bums and are alert to their surroundings. Check the dogs environment, is it clean? Is it safe? Are they being provided with food, water, toys? 

And there you have it, 5 key points to buying a puppy. 

If you ever have any doubt about a puppy or a breeder, do NOT buy. It's tempting to purchase a puppy just to save them but the best thing you can do is to report the breeders to the police and RSPCA. If you need to, revisit the puppies and take pictures/videos. The more evidence the police/RSPCA have, the better chance they have at taking the breeders to court and getting them convicted. 

If you are looking to buy a puppy, please remember all the dogs in rehoming centres who are looking for a second chance.

Don't miss the last episode of The Zoo

Hi PetPals!

Quick reminder that The Zoo is on tonight at 8pm on ITV. It's the last episode in the series :(

In tonight's episode we find out if the Rhinos from Whipsnade Zoo make up and start a family.

Mak sure you don't miss it! 

The Zoo- ITV1 8pm tonight

Hi PetPals!

Now, if you live in the UK you will know the popular documentary 'The Zoo' has returned to our screens once again.

The Zoo documents the life behind the zoo at Whipsnade and London. It features all of their animals and the time and hard work that goes into keeping these animals healthy and happy.

I only live about 20 minutes from Whipsnade Zoo and love watching the programme and getting to see all the behind scenes. It's a fantastic insight into life at the zoo.

Anyway, make sure you don't miss tonight's episode. It's on ITV1 at 8pm. 

Operation Wild: Thandi

Hi PetPals,

Operation Wild is a documentary on BBC1 that's being shown every Wednesday at 9pm. I'm currently watching an episode and I'm literally infuriated by what I am seeing. If you are watching or have watched this episode (number 2) then you will know what I am on about it.

Now I'm well aware poaching goes on. I'm also dead AGAINST it. But having seen Thandi the Rhinocerous have to endure the pain and suffering of her horn horn being removed by absolute, evil humans, I feel more needs to be done to help her and all the other animals in the wild facing poachers.

Rhinos and most wild animals are killed by poachers because they believe their horns,body parts, blood etc have medicine inside them which can treat/cure human illnesses. No matter how many times, scientists say it, these poachers and these witch doctors still believe they have medial properties. 

You can blame it on lack of education, but personally I just think they're stupid and selfish. Yep, that's right. What gives them the right to cause suffering to an animal? They are no better than any animal. We're technically all the same, we should all be treated the same. 

There would be uproar if someone went around mutilating people for medical purposes yet there's none when it comes to the poaching of animals. We're extremely lucky that we have the gift of speech, animals can't communicate their feelings but it doesn't mean they don't have rights. 

Every animal has a right to live a happy and healthy life. Sometimes, I hate the human race and feel quite ashamed that I am a human really especially when our kind do such selfish, evil things. 

So Thandi the Rhinocerous had her horn removed by poachers, she was lucky to be found when she did otherwise she would most definitely have died. The rangers in the reserve park she lives in watch her 24/7 and are trying to heal the wound she still has 2 years after her ordeal. At the end of the programme, the rangers announced that Thandi was pregnant with her first baby. The future is looking bright for Thandi.

To finish this rant (sorry), I thought this picture summed up Thandi's ordeal and why it should NEVER have happened: 

Staffie Saturday || 2

Hi PetPals,

Woodgreen Animal Shelter are running a campaign on changing the perception of staffies. On their website (link below) they have explained why staffies make good pets and what they need from their owners. 

Please check the website out and make sure you share to your friends so together we can change the perspective of these friendly dogs. 

http://www.woodgreen.org.uk/what_we_do/animal_welfare/give_staffies_a_chance