We Love Pets News

Chip Your Pet Month - what's a microchip?

The month of May is recognised as “Chip Your Pet Month,” to help bring awareness to the benefits of microchipping your pet. Microchips are tiny computer chips that are implanted underneath your pet’s skin, and each one has a unique number. These numbers are recorded and stored in a pet database, and when scanned the registered chips can be identified. Statistics show that pets with a microchip have a much higher chance of being reunited with their families if lost!

We all know how important it is to provide food, water, and shelter for our small furries, but just as important as all of those is to provide them with appropriate enrichment! In the same way that we get bored if we’ve got nothing to do, so do they, and it’s up to us as their owners to make sure that our Rabbits and Guinea Pigs are as happy as possible.

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs some of our most popular small pets in the UK, and are both extremely curious creatures who love nothing more than getting stuck into exploring their environment. They are most active at dawn and dusk, but can also be quite active during the daytime in between eating and snoozing. Whether your pets live outdoors or indoors, there are plenty of ways that we can help encourage them to display a wide range of natural behaviours such as digging, chewing, reaching, and foraging. Remember to change and swap things over in their environment on a regular basis so that they don’t become bored!

If you’re one of the 3.2 million households that has added a furry member to your family, you may be working on some training techniques! Our We Love Pets Reading West’s director, Amy Pearson, is an experienced dog trainer, and has several tips for getting your dog to take treats gently.

Spring is in the air, and with Easter this weekend, many of us instantly conjure up mental images of cute and fluffy rabbits, or possibly consider heading down to the pet shop to buy the kids their very own Easter Bunny.

As part of being a responsible pet owner we all try and make sure we respect the wildlife in areas where we walk our dogs, and that we also look out for hazards that might cause injury or disease. With the surge in new dog ownership during the pandemic, many may not be aware of potential threats when out in nature with their walking companion -especially if their dog is off lead and not always in sight.

Many cat owners know that lilies are poisonous to their furry family member, right? If the stamen of the lily is inhaled or digested, it can cause severe kidney damage. But it's not just lilies you should keep away from your pet.

February is National Pet Dental Health month and, just like humans, it’s important to look after your pet’s teeth! Dental health is vital to your pet’s overall health and wellbeing and making sure they have regular check-ups and cleanings are key.

So, you want to add a cute furbaby to your family group; what are your first thoughts? Are you thinking of breeds? Colours? Long hair versus shorthair? (Because after all, you will need to clean up the hair that is shed) Where will your cat sleep and play? Will you need a cat flap? What is your approach to making a decision? Would it involve a family discussion or are you just going to find one you personally are drawn to? And finally, but importantly, where will you go to find your new pet?