Articles
Field notes on caring for the pets you love.
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A Complete Guide to Caring for Kerry Hill Sheep
Kerry Hill sheep are a native British breed from Kerry in Powys, Wales, known for bold black and white markings and upright ears. They are medium sized and hornless, hardy and easy to keep in upland or lowland systems. Ewes weigh about 55 to 70 kg and rams 80 to 90 kg. They have strong maternal ability, high lamb survival and usually straightforward lambing. Housing needs are small: good pasture, shelter in bad weather, secure 1.2 metre fencing and fresh water. Feed with grass, plus hay or silage in winter and minerals for pregnant and lactating ewes. Work with your vet on vaccinations, worm testing, flystrike prevention and hoof care. The medium fleece is used for carpets and rugs and the lamb meat produces a well shaped carcass. Kerry Hills suit commercial farmers, smallholders and show people who want a hardy, productive and attractive native breed.
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Safe Car Travel With Your Cat
Travelling with a cat by car can be stressful but safe with the right steps. In the UK the Highway Code says pets must be suitably restrained so they do not distract the driver. Use a sturdy cat carrier that is well ventilated and large enough for turning, and secure it with a seat belt so it cannot slide or tip. Never let a cat roam loose in the car or open the carrier near open doors. Prepare by leaving the carrier out at home, adding familiar bedding and smells, checking microchip and ID, and packing water, food and any medicines. For long journeys plan rest breaks, watch for motion sickness and avoid leaving your cat in a hot car because heatstroke can be fatal. Talk to your vet about a health check and calming options for anxious cats. Careful planning, calm driving and a secure carrier make car travel safer for both cat and driver.
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How Hot Is Too Hot? The Danger of Hot Cars for Dogs
Cars can become deadly for dogs in minutes, even on mild days. There is no safe outside temperature to leave a dog unattended in a car. Vehicles act like greenhouses and heat up fast, and cracked windows do not stop this. Around 20°C outside can already be risky and 22 to 24°C can quickly become life threatening inside a car. Flat faced breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs, French Bulldogs and Boxers, plus puppies, older dogs, overweight or thick coated dogs and those with heart or breathing problems are at higher risk. Early signs of overheating are heavy panting, drooling, restlessness and bright red gums. Later signs include vomiting, collapse, seizures and loss of consciousness. If a dog is overheating move it to a cool place, give small sips of cool water, wet their body with cool water, increase airflow and call a vet; do not use ice cold water. Never leave a dog alone in a warm car. If the weather feels warm to you it is probably too warm for a dog. Leaving a dog in a hot car can cause severe suffering and may lead to fines or prosecution.
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An Owner’s Guide to Keeping the Fantasy Horned Frog
Fantasy horned frog care and facts. The fantasy horned frog is a captive-bred hybrid, usually a cross between Ceratophrys cranwelli and C. cornuta. Adults reach about 10–15 cm and can live 8–12 years with proper care. They are heavy, terrestrial ambush predators that spend much time buried in damp substrate and strike quickly at prey. Use a glass terrarium, deep moisture-retaining substrate (8–12 cm), minimal decor and a humid 60–80% environment. Keep temperatures around 24–28°C by day and 20–22°C at night. Feed large insects and earthworms, size no bigger than the frog’s mouth; juveniles eat every 2–3 days, adults every 4–7 days. Avoid frequent handling, watch for obesity, impaction and infections, and keep hygiene and feeding habits correct. Breeding is best left to experienced keepers and hybrids must never be released into the wild. Buy captive-bred animals from reputable breeders and label hybrids clearly.
Exotic -
Mobility Issues in Rabbits: Signs, Causes and How to Help
Mobility issues in rabbits are problems with hopping, jumping, standing or grooming. Watch for signs such as limping, stiffness, reluctance to hop, dragging back legs, poor grooming and less activity. Common causes include arthritis, injury, spinal or neurological disease such as E. cuniculi, obesity, sore hocks and age-related muscle weakness. See a vet for diagnosis, pain relief and possible scans or physiotherapy. At home, make the rabbit more comfortable with soft bedding, non-slip floors, low-entry litter trays, ramps, easy access to food and gentle exercise. Keep the rabbit’s weight under control, groom more often and check for urine scald or flystrike. Seek urgent veterinary help for sudden paralysis, severe pain, inability to stand or loss of bladder or bowel control. With early vet care and simple home changes, many rabbits with mobility problems can still live happy, comfortable lives.
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Wild Swans You’ll Find in the UK
A simple guide to UK swans: mute swan, whooper swan and Bewick's swan. Learn to identify swans by bill colour and shape. Mute swans are large, white, have an orange bill with a black knob and a curved neck. Whooper swans are winter visitors from Iceland and northern Europe with a yellow and black bill, no knob, a straighter neck and a loud trumpeting call. Bewick’s swans are the smallest winter visitors from Arctic Russia with a smaller yellow patch on the bill and a shorter neck. See swans at wetland reserves, RSPB and WWT sites, lakes, flooded fields and estuaries in winter. All wild swans in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so watch from a distance and enjoy watching their size, colour and behaviour.
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The Complete Guide to Manning in Falconry
Manning in falconry is the gentle process of taming a hawk, falcon or owl so it sits calmly on the glove, takes food by hand and copes with people and new places. This guide explains the manning process and key steps: calm initial handling, feeding on the glove, short walks, gradual exposure to sights and sounds, building session length, correct kit and daily weight checks. Manning tips: be patient, stay calm, handle the bird every day and use food rewards to build trust and reduce stress. Timing varies from days to weeks, but good manning makes recall training, free flight and hunting much easier.
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Caring for an Ageing or Elderly Cat
Senior cat care: simple tips for caring for elderly cats and ageing cats. Watch for lower energy, stiff joints, changes in appetite or behaviour. Feed easy-to-digest, high-quality food, keep water nearby and manage weight with small portions and gentle play. Help mobility with ramps, soft beds and easy access to food and litter; ask your vet about medicine or special food for joints. Book regular vet checks and tests to spot kidney, thyroid or diabetes problems early. Brush their coat, check teeth and use low-sided litter trays. Give quiet company, gentle grooming and watch for signs of pain or confusion. Talk to your vet about kind end-of-life care to keep your cat comfortable.
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What Are the Signs Your Dog Is Sick?
Signs your dog is unwell include changes in appetite or thirst, vomiting or diarrhoea, low energy, coughing or laboured breathing, altered behaviour, skin or coat problems, trouble moving, eye or ear discharge, bad breath and sudden weight change. Seek veterinary advice if symptoms persist or worsen, and get emergency help for collapse, difficulty breathing, severe vomiting, a bloated abdomen, seizures or suspected poisoning. Regular vet checks, vaccinations, parasite control, good dental care, balanced food and exercise help prevent many health problems. Trust your instincts if your dog seems 'not themselves' and act quickly to get help.
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What Are the Signs Your Rat Is Sick?
Recognising early signs of illness in pet rats helps you get veterinary care quickly. Watch for changes in appetite, sudden weight loss or less drinking. Look for low energy, sleeping more, less play, or trouble moving. Check breathing for sneezing, wheeze, noisy or laboured breathing and nasal discharge, as these need prompt vet attention. Red stains around the eyes or nose may be porphyrin and can mean stress or illness. Notice a rough or matted coat, bald patches, poor grooming, or excessive scratching. Changes in droppings or urine, new lumps, limping, stiffness or reluctance to move, and changes in behaviour or balance are all warning signs. Swollen or cloudy eyes, head tilt and ear problems can also point to infection or nerve issues. If your rat stops eating or drinking, has severe breathing trouble, becomes very weak, loses weight fast or collapses, see a vet straight away. Early veterinary help improves recovery and keeps your rat more comfortable.
Small Mammals -
How to Introduce Rescued Chickens into an Existing Flock
Introducing rescued chickens to an existing flock needs patience and a slow plan. Quarantine new hens for 10 to 14 days to check for illness or parasites. Keep them in a separate area so both groups can have visual contact before meeting. Start short, supervised introductions on neutral ground with extra feeders, water and hiding places. Short chasing and pecking is normal as the pecking order is reestablished, but stop the meeting if there is bleeding, repeated attacks or a hen being kept from food or water. Help rescued hens by giving safe spaces, watching weight and making sure they can eat and drink. Night-time introductions can reduce morning aggression after visual contact. With quarantine, visual contact and careful supervised introductions most rescued hens integrate and begin foraging, dust bathing and roosting with the flock.
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Understanding Saddleback Disease in Aquarium Fish
Saddleback disease is a fast-moving form of columnaris that affects aquarium fish. Caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare, it shows as a pale, saddle-shaped patch across the back and can cause rapid tissue damage and death. Common symptoms include the pale band, frayed fins, redness, lethargy, loss of appetite and rapid breathing. It is contagious by contact, water and shared equipment. Treatment must start at once: isolate sick fish, improve water quality by removing ammonia and nitrite and doing partial water changes, lower temperature slightly if species allow, increase aeration and give antibacterial medication that works on Flavobacterium columnare. Remove activated carbon and follow the medicine instructions. Monitor for shrinking lesions, better behaviour and appetite. To prevent outbreaks keep water very clean, avoid overcrowding, quarantine new fish for 2 to 4 weeks, clean nets and tools and reduce stress and injury. Seek a fish vet or an experienced aquarist if many fish are sick, a fish gets worse quickly or treatment does not work.
Aquatics