M&S Premier Pet Insurance has sent out the warning, amid fears of record claims for veterinary services in the UK. The British-owned company pays out up to £7,000 a year in veterinary fees and has become a firm favourite among consumers.

Common Complaints

It’s little surprise that many pet owners don’t realise that our pets can contract many of the same skin complaints as us — and like us, these complaints can’t usually be cured. With summer heating up, it’s up to pet owners to consider their pet’s common complaints and get the lowdown on who to talk to.

Skin allergies tend to rise with the increase in pollen, while the annual spawning of fleas adds to the problem facing British pet owners, however experts tell us that most allergies are simple to treat if seen early.

UK Pet Insurance Recommendation

One such service recommended by M&S Premier Pet Insurance is Vetfone™, a 24-hour advice line catering to UK pet owners. Vetfone Operations Manager, Louise O’Dwyer, said: “Allergies in pets can be incredibly frustrating for the owner. The most common allergies we see are those affecting the skin, with the most common symptom being itching. However the respiratory tract can also be affected, leading to wheezing, sneezing or coughing.

“Just like in humans there are also dietary allergies where the digestive system is affected sometimes resulting in the animal having diarrhoea or vomiting.”

Expert Advice for Pet Allergies

Experts are predicting a heated summer, and advice from across the board is to keep an eye out for early signs of allergies in your pets. Handle them often, and use bathing times to examine the most common areas for infection.

While buying good pet insurance will help some way towards the cost of treatment, it’s naturally much fairer to be proactive and look for preventative measures. Keep an eye on Simply Pet Insurance for the latest on the seasonal ailments affecting your pets.

Has your pet suffered from an allergy? What treatment did you choose? Our readers really value good, honest feedback from fellow pet-owners, would you consider sharing your experience with us?

The global financial crisis of 2009 is being cited as a possible catalyst for the widespread abandonment of dogs across Britain, causing the RSPCA to take a stand and request the immediate implementation of a national dog licence.

RSPCA Alarming Stats

In 2009, a total number of 11,574 calls from the British public were handled by RSPCA staff, and the statistics out this month reveal 2010 is destined for similar heartache, with 3,500 calls taken in the first quarter alone.

This is despite the relatively high punishment-by-law that is being threatened by British courts. Owners who abandon their pets can face a fine of up to £20,000 and/or six months in prison. Critics are arguing these measures are rarely enforced, especially in more lenient recent times.

RSPCA Urges Dog License

The RSPCA believe the funding generated from a national dog licence scheme could fund a number of important initiatives such as dog cruelty and abandonment, anti-social dog behaviour, irresponsible breeding and, alarmingly, the risks to human health from dog-related disease.

David Bowes, head of external affairs at RSPCA confirms: “Every year, we sadly see thousands of dogs heartlessly abandoned throughout England and Wales. The RSPCA and various organisations work tirelessly to help the poor animals that are cast aside in such a reckless manner.

“But we believe that a dog licensing scheme could provide a solution to this ongoing problem and help make sure that people who do dump their dogs don’t get away with this criminal offence.

“We hope that an effective licensing scheme providing traceable ownership could help to track down the people who are committing a criminal offence by abandoning an animal.”

Public Support for RSPCA Cause

And it appears the British public are behind the concept. An RSPCA commissioned survey revealed that 76 per cent of people asked believe a dog licence should be enforced in England and 66 per cent of the dog owners asked, would welcome a licence scheme.

The dog licence scheme is set to be one of the hottest topics in the pet industry this year, along with the potential introduction of compulsory dog insurance for Britain’s dog owners. We see a lot of value in introducing the dog licence scheme; we believe it makes dog owners accountable for their dogs’ actions, and equally as important, their own.

What do you think? Is the RSPCA right to suggest a national dog-licensing scheme? Should it be voluntary? Have you seen a different scheme in operation elsewhere? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue, and your fellow readers are always open to hearing different points of view.

Failing to stop neighbourhood cats can have all kinds of ramifications for your home. Cats are territorial, and they’re always on the prowl for a new patch. Cats spread disease quite easily between themselves, and won’t hesitate in eating your moggy’s food.

Cats live in a world of powerful scents, and many believe it to be their most trusted sense. It’s believed a mature cat can sense catnip when diluted 1:1,000,000,000, and it’s this overriding sense of smell that leads them to follow their nose, and through your catflap.

Keep your cat safe

Like all animals, cats have no sense of human borders. Your catflap is just an access route to territory, much the same as a hole in a rock is, or a loose fence post. It’s not just the power to detect scents that make our cats such incredible explorers; it’s the power to leave their scented mark.

Cats have scent glands along the tail, on their temples, their lips, and chin and on the underside of their front paws. They brush these against features, and it’s their way of drawing a line in the sand. I live here now. Naturally, for domesticated cats we want to avoid this kind of bolshie attitude. We can’t eliminate it, it’s instinctual, but one inventor has come up with an ingenious idea.

Hightech Catflap

Dr Nick Hill has invented SureFlap, a device that uses radio frequency identification technology built around your catflap. We agree, it sounds a very futuristic solution to an age-old problem, but the device is proving to be a hit among cat owners across the globe.

The device works a lot like many electric garages. A microchip cat flap is programmed to recognise the ID chip already installed in your cat. When your cat approaches the SureFlap it automatically allows access, and the device is built to allow access for up to 32 different cats, while consistently locking out mischievous intruders.

We like SureFlap because it presents a simple solution, to a big problem. By allowing cats to roam freely between homes we discourage the sense of security our own cat feels at home. For more information, visit the SureFlap website or find them at the SureFlap Facebook page.

Do you have a problem with intruding cats? What’s your favoured solution? Do you think SureFlap fits your needs? What could they do to improve the system? We’d love to hear your thoughts, and fellow readers could really benefit from what you have to say, consider leaving a comment below.

It’s not often that a deal as sweet as this comes along, but there is method behind the madness. In 2009, Britain began to promote the so-called ‘staycations’, or the practise of holidaying at home. Animal experts were quick to realise the benefits for Britain’s animals, and not least our dogs.

Take your Dog on Holiday

The PDSA charity is best known for providing free veterinary care for the pets of people who need it, so it was no surprise when they announced they’d teamed up with national holiday rental company, cottages4you which offers Britain’s pet owners holiday accommodation in over 5,000 properties across the country.

Senior Veterinary Surgeon for PDSA, Sean Wensley, explains: “We want to encourage dog owners to holiday at home with their pets rather than take them to other countries. Owners are often unaware of the potential disease risks to their pets if they go abroad and many don’t realise that they need to prepare several months in advance to meet the requirements for a pet passport.

“Travelling and unfamiliar climates can also be very stressful for a pet. They will probably have a much better time if they join you for a break in this country.”

Why holiday in Britain?

Simply Pet Insurance believe the partnership is extremely positive. In this economic climate the cost of travelling overseas has seen a steady increase, especially with the coninual downfall of our currency. Britain has worked hard on its image in recent months, and we firmly believe it’s time British pet owners start to celebrate the greatness beyond their own front door.

For more information on PDSA and cottages4you visit www.pdsa.org.uk/cottages. By booking your holiday through the website, you acknowledge the great work being done by the charity with an inclusive 10% donation.

Are you taking your favourite pooch on holiday this year? Where will you be going? Overseas, or closer to home? Have the PDSA hit the right notes with this deal? Sharing your thoughts enables our readers to understand the mindset of British pet owners, please consider adding your point of view to the conversation.

The short answer, is yes. Many pets are able to live a meat-free lifestyle, often dictated by a vegetarian pet owner. However, a high level of care and consideration needs to be taken when introducing such dramatic changes.

Vital Nutrition for Cats and Dogs

Or are they really, dramatic changes? Experts believe dogs and cats need meat for their high levels of nutrition. One of the main gains for cats in meat-based pet food is the maintained levels of taurine, because a deficiency in this vital amino acid can lead to feline blindness and even death. On the flipside, there are a number of taurine supplements available on the market for cats, including popular chewy tablets.

It’s widely believed that it’s easier for our dogs to maintain a vegetarian diet than it is for cats. This stems from the fact that dogs in the wild live an omnivorous lifestyle (plants and meat), whereas wild cats almost always live an obligate carnivorous life (meat only).

The naysayers argue that it’s just not natural for our pets to live without meat, and that we shouldn’t be enforcing human-beliefs into the animal world. Meanwhile, supporters believe that the majority of pet food isn’t ‘natural’, and that processing removes much of the nutritional value of the meat content, before being boosted with supplements, which some believe can be easily used as a stand alone.

Vegetarian Pet Food

There are already a number of vegetarian pet food options freely available on the market (Ami, Benevo, Yarrah and Wackidog) and demand is on the rise. With many of the same ethical arguments about origin of ingredients and sustainable production methods being used against our own foodstuffs, now being squarely levelled at the pet food industry.

We’d like to remind readers that Simply Pet Insurance advises all pet owners to consult their local vet or animal expert about individual pets, before committing to any changes to their diet or medication.

While we fully believe that a vegetarian lifestyle is achievable we do remind readers that such decisions should not be taken lightly. Gather all the information, consult all the right people and move forward with an informed decision.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the issue of vegetarian dogs and cats? Do you believe the facts outweigh the ethics? Are you a vegetarian, and if so, would you consider a vegetarian diet for your dog or cat? Consider sharing your thoughts below.

A one-year-old Pixie Bob, affectionately known as Bear was rushed into the emergency room by the Reynolds family in Ingleby Barwick after the moggy stuffed his whiskers into a common lily, one of Britain’s most popular houseplants.

The family were alerted when son Oliver (10) saw the distinctive yellow pollen around Bear’s mouth and told his mother, Michelle: “Oliver said ‘why is Bear’s mouth yellow?’ and I realised it was the pollen. At first I didn’t think much of it, and went back to cooking tea, but something kept nagging away at me.

“I went to look on the internet and found that lilies are poisonous to cats, so got him straight to the vets,” said Michelle.

Bear was administered with vomit-inducing drugs by the Copeland veterinary surgery in Ingleby Barwick, and after a turbulent couple of days he recovered well. Now the Reynolds family are urging fellow cat owners to take caution: “We’re so glad he has got better,” said Michelle. “I just want people to know and be on their guard — we got Bear to the vet early and were lucky, but other cats might not be.”

The informative website, Moggies.co.uk has a full list of plants poisonous to cats. It includes other common plants including the beloved poppy, potato and buttercup varieties.

Derek Copeland has 22 years experience as a vet, and treated Bear. He explains what you should do if your cat is caught with his whiskers in the lilies.

He said: “Lilies are fatally poisonous to cats. Eating any part of the plant makes your pet very ill. It causes kidney failure. First your cat will salivate a lot, then wee a lot before the dehydration sets in. Then it is too late.

“If you think your cat has eaten lilies, get them to a vet as soon as possible, where we can give them a drug which causes them to vomit.

“If we get to them early, they can make a full recovery. After a few hours there can be problems, and after that then there is nothing we can do.

“And the best thing to do, if you own a cat, is not have any lilies in your home, and don’t buy them as gifts for people who have cats.”

We certainly learned something from this shocking experience. Did you know cats are allergic to so many common plant species? What flowers have you got in your home? Share your experience with fellow readers.

The upshot of the move will create 230 new jobs within RSA, backed up by an expected £100 million in premium income (income from consumers buying pet insurance policies) in the first year.

Adrian Brown, Chief Executive of RSA, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tesco to provide pet insurance to all of their pet owners. By combining our expertise in underwriting, pricing and strong service delivery with Tesco’s brand and marketing ability, I am confident that this partnership will go from strength to strength.”

Tesco Bank is already the UK’s largest online pet insurer, with over 700,000 pets insured and this latest move can only mean good news for British pet owners; both RSA and Tesco have proven track records in offering consumers competitive packages, and some of the best pet insurance policies in the market. Tesco Pet Insurance customers will migrate to RSA over a 12-month period.

Benny Higgins, Chief Executive of Tesco Bank said: “We are currently the UK’s largest online pet insurer and have ambitious plans to further grow our pet insurance business to develop new products and services that meet our customers needs. RSA understands our customer-focused approach and has demonstrated that it has the capabilities to support and develop our pet proposition.”

This isn’t RSA’s only foray into the pet insurance market, they’re already the fourth largest providers of pet insurance, through their MORETH>N brand, which offers British pet owners, pet cat insurance, pet dog insurance or combined cat and dog pet insurance at competitive rates.

Are RSA spreading themselves too thin? Are Tesco flexing their might too much? We don’t think so. We see this as a positive move for pet owners, and the British economy as a whole.

Creating 230 jobs, and creating added competition in a relatively new marketplace is a good thing. We’ll be keeping you updated on the alliance over the course of the year, but what do you, the consumers think?

“Pets come into our lives and become part of the family, which makes their death so difficult to accept,” says Denise, a devoted dog lover for over 30 years and owner of rescue dogs Max, Tess and Primmie.

“Having a lasting reminder of a pet can be a huge comfort and a way of keeping good memories alive. In some ways that loving companion is still alongside you every day.” Denise’s comforting words came at the time of release for some emotional findings during a recent survey by the UK’s leading veterinary charity and providers of great value pet insurance, PDSA.

In a remarkably survey, PDSA questioned 472 pet owners and former pet owners about the way they would prefer to immortalise their deceased pets.

Of those surveyed: 27% said they planted a rose bush in the garden usually on their pet’s favourite sleeping spot; 15% displayed a photograph of the animal in pride of place in their home; and 12% said a plaque or headstone bearing a personal inscription was the way they wanted their pet to be remembered.

Others preferred to keep the pet’s ashes in an urn on the hearth or in their pet’s bed. Private family services to commemorate their pets are also popular, although there seems to be no limit to a pet owner’s imagination.

In response to the findings, the PDSA has created a paw-shaped garden where up to 2,000 personalised tribute tags can be displayed in the Paws Forever Pet Tribute Garden in Ilford, London and personal tributes can be viewed on-line via the PDSA website.

Gill White, who manages requests for the Paws Forever Pet Tribute Tags, says the survey revealed the profound feelings people have for their pets: “Losing a pet can be as heartbreaking as losing a friend or relative. It’s no surprise that the way they choose to remember that animal is so special.”

After completing the free registration at MyPetBook.co.uk, you’re encouraged to get involved with the community and to share advice, pictures and any other animal miscellany with users around the globe. In return, the editorial team are promising to link to informative articles, offer veterinarian tips, provide an animal product market and detail upcoming animal events in your area.

Founding editor, Rachel Benneworth is excited by the long-awaited launch: “Mypetbook will allow anyone passionate about pets and animals to spend fun and constructive time on the site, sharing their photos and knowledge on every related topic from health to events, and to learn from new friends as well as the experts.”

The website will not discriminate against non-pet owners, encouraging those without a pet to register a wild animal in order to use the site and start learning more about the animal world as a whole.

Mypetbook is aware of its audience, and the passion they hold for animals. Benneworth promises: “All the latest in the animal world, from Tigers in Asia to Vet check-ups for your pets.”

We certainly believe the site has potential, and properly managed the future of Mypetbook.co.uk is sure to find a place in Britain’s hearts.

Is Mypetbook.co.uk filling a gap in the online pet market? How will you be using the site?

With the recent economic downturn, there has been a worthy increase in the number of Briton’s turning to sustainable living methods. Over a million Briton’s now actively grow their own fruit and vegetables, and many are expanding their lots to include the affable chicken, and it appears to be a shrewd move.

Britain consumes a staggering 30 million eggs per day, and a dozen free-range eggs typically costs approximately £3.00 in a British supermarket.

Some home insurance policies do cover damage caused by the birds to third-party property, but if you’re a victim of theft, or your chickens become sick then you won’t be insured for any costs incurred and this has chicken owners across the country pecking around for a pet insurance policy, which seemingly doesn’t exist.

Are you a smallholder? What’s your experience of British insurance companies attitude towards insuring your livestock?