The Pet Travel Scheme:

Introduced to the UK in 2000, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), allows pet owners to take their animals to specific overseas countries and bring them back into the UK without having to go through quarantine. In order to qualify for this scheme there are some very strict rules that need to be adhered to, and there is no leeway or flexibility so it is essential you get it right if you are considering travelling outside the UK with your pet.

Here are the key facts you need to know about the PETS:

• The scheme only applies to dogs, cats and, rather strangely, ferrets.
• To qualify for the scheme pets need to have a microchip implanted under the skin. This relatively painless procedure involves a large injection in the scruff of the neck, usually done by a vet, and typically costs between £10 and £30.
• All pets need to be vaccinated against rabies, which involves a single (or sometimes two) injections administered by a vet. The costs for this vary but a likely to be around £40 per injection. Most vets nowadays just give one injection, but some prefer to give two as this is slightly more reliable.
• After the rabies vaccination a blood tests is taken to check that the rabies injection has worked. This tends to be the most expensive part of the procedure, costing up to £80*
• Once the blood test has confirmed that the pet is fully protected against rabies, the vet will issue a pet passport which is an official document that is needed when you come back into the UK. And yes, it does have a space for a nice picture of your pet, although this is not a legal requirement!
• Crucially, the passport is not valid for entry into the UK for 6 months after the date of the blood test, so you need to get organised well in advance of coming back into the UK*
• All pets must be treated with an approved tick and worm treatment between 24 and 48 hours before re-entering the UK.
• Pet passports are only valid for a specific list of countries which includes the all of the countries of the EU, the USA, Canada and most of the Caribbean islands.

This may all sound quite daunting but in practice it is usually very straightforward once the initial paperwork and waiting period is over. Ask your vet for advice and to organise microchipping, rabies vaccination and blood tests, and you can also visit the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk for more information.

* Latest news is that DEFRA are going to remove the requirement for a blood test and reduce the minimum time between the vaccination and return to the UK to 3 weeks, and this should be in force in 2012 so keep an eye on the news for confirmation. To find out more, visit the DEFRA website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/30/new-rules-pet-passports/

The issue of ultimate target weight is more subjective and should always be kept in context with the concurrent use of condition scoring as a ‘fail safe’ back up. For example, if your vet advises that your 30kg dog needs to lose 5kg to get to a target weight of 25kg, it might be that at 26kg, a condition score exercise determines that your dog is actually now at a ‘normal’ weight and the weight loss program can be stopped rather than continuing on the arbitrary figure of 25kg. Always be prepared to modify your target based on the physical evidence of condition scoring as this is a much more reliable and safe guide to your dog’s true state of weight than simply relying on what the scales say.

There are many approaches to effecting weight loss in dogs, ranging from simply feeding less and walking more, to the use of expensive ‘prescription’ diets, but whatever approach you chose to use, there are some key pieces of advice that you should consider:

1. Diet

Eating too much of the wrong kind of foods is the main reason that so many pets are overweight, and by making some simple changes to the way you feed your pet, you can make a big difference to their weight and wellbeing:

• Reduce the calories – the ideal way to keep your pet slim is to feed them exactly the right amount of calories, or energy, everyday. If they are overweight, then you simply need to feed less, or use a lower calorie food, and they will lose weight. Your vet will be able to give you detailed guidance, but generally reducing their total daily calories by around 20% is ideal. My new Vte;s Kitchen Light variety for dogs is ideal, containing 20% less fat and calories than our adult foods.
• Cut out the tit bits – leftovers and tit bits from the table are the number one enemy of slim pets! We tend to give the least healthy bits from our meals, such as fatty bits of meat, and these go straight from your plate onto your pet’s hips!
• Use healthy fillers – grated veg such as carrots or courgettes add bulk to food but very few calories so they are a good way of keeping your pet feeling full but not piling on the pounds.
• Small regular meals – are better than one big meal, so divide your dog’s food into 2 small meals, morning and evening.
• Choose a healthy food – avoid ‘junk foods’ containing high levels of sugars, fats and artificial additives.

1. Exercise

Along with a suitable diet, regular and appropriate exercise is vital to keep your dog in shape.

• Build up gradually – don’t suddenly change the amount of exercise your dog gets as this could cause health problems – instead, make the change gradually over a few weeks to let them adjust to the new regime, especially if they are old or very overweight.
• Make it fun – exercise regimes are so much easier to stick to if they are fun, so choose something that you and your pet will enjoy. Why not consider joining your local flyball club, or try mountain biking or jogging with your dog as activities like this can be a great way of burning off calories as well as being fun for all concerned.
• Take it easy – if your pet is old or suffers from a mobility problem such as arthritis it’s important not to overdo it. Regular short walks are much better for older dogs than long hikes, and make sure you talk to your vet if you are concerned about any lameness or stiffness associated with increased exercise.

1. General Weight Loss Tips

• Don’t give in to begging – dogs who beg will never be satisfied so even if you do give them the treat they want, they will still want more. Much better to be firm and only give them healthy snacks at set times such as just before bedtime.
• Give your pet attention, not treats – many owners use food as a reward and way of ‘buying’ affection from their pets – use attention as a reward instead by spending quality time with your pet.
• You are not being cruel by cutting down their food! A healthy, slim dog will be much happier than an overweight one.
• Dry food is much more filling than it looks – dry dog food swells up when it reaches the stomach, so what looks like a tiny portion will still fill your pet up.
• Neutering does not cause obesity! – many people worry that their pet will become overweight if it is neutered, and while it is true that neutering can slow the metabolism and reduce the amount of calories a pet needs, that doesn’t mean that this should automatically lead to weight gain, as you can easily reduce the amount of calories they eat to compensate for this.

Condition scoring involves assessing the pet’s body based on a variety of criteria including fat coverage, shape and prominence of underlying skeletal features, to give a score based on a scale, usually 1-5 (although some condition scoring scales are more detailed and include up to 10 different scores). My personal favourite approach is a simple scale from 1-5 based on assessing the following key features – fat coverage over the ribs, presence or absence of a waist behind the ribs if viewed from above, prominence or not of the hip bones and size of the abdomen. If you consider your pet’s body based on these criteria, you should be able to decide which of the following classifications best describes the condition of your pet:

1. Emaciated

It is easy to see your pet’s ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all body prominences from a distance. There is no obvious body fat and clear evidence of muscle wastage.

2. Thin

Whilst you cannot easily see the ribs and the pelvic bones are not obviously prominent from a distance, your pet’s ribs are easily felt with no palpable fat. The tops of lumbar vertebrae are visible and there is an obvious abdominal tuck behind the ribs, as well as a clear waist when viewed from above.

3. Normal

A normal pet should have a distinct but not excessive covering of fat over the chest, through which the ribs are easily palpable. The abdomen tucked up when viewed from side, and there is a visible but not extensive waist when viewed from above. The pelvis and other bony prominences are well covered and not clearly visible.

4. Overweight

A pet that is overweight will generally be carrying up to 20% extra weight compared to a normal pet, and this is generally laid down around the chest and abdomen, making it hard to feel the ribs, and giving the abdomen a full appearance, with little or no abdominal tuck. There is also very little or no waist visible from above, and there may also be obvious fatty deposits in the lumbar region and around the base of the tail.

5. Obese

Pets carrying more than 20% extra weight are classified as obese and these pets will have large fat deposits over their chest, neck, spine and tail base. They have no waist or abdominal tuck behind the ribs, and their abdomens often appear distended. As well as appearing clearly overweight, their movement will also be affected by their weight, giving them a shortened stride and splayed leg appearance as their legs are forced outwards by fatty deposits.

Of course this is somewhat of an oversimplification of matters and if it was that straightforward there wouldn’t be an obesity problem, and there clearly is one. Pet owners are people and people don’t always work in a logical manner, with an infinite number of psychological influences affecting decision making. At the most extreme end of the spectrum, this can lead to a form of body dysmorphia projected onto their pets, making the owner see their pet as underweight when in fact they are grossly overweight, but in most cases it is more subtle influences such as anthropomorphism where the owner identifies too closely with the pet’s feelings, particularly hunger, or misplaced affection confusing feeding with love or attention. These ‘owner factors’ are one of the main reasons why we see so many overweight pets; the other main reason is lack of awareness and this can be a key contributing factor in many cases.

So obesity is clearly a significant issue, but how much actual clinical disease can we attribute to the growing waistlines of our dogs? There are some diseases where the impact of obesity is clear, such as arthritis where every extra pound a dog is carrying puts extra strain on the joints, or heart disease where extra effort is required to pump blood around the circulation, but there are others where the link is less obvious, including diabetes, liver disease, some skin diseases and many others. Put simply, obesity places an extra and unwelcome strain on the whole body and is a contributing factor in many clinical diseases. The end result is not just a reduced life-expectancy brought about by these related clinical conditions, but just as importantly, a reduced quality of life. Obese dogs are generally miserable dogs, unable to enjoy the basic pleasures that dogs should be able to take for granted – running, jumping, relaxing comfortably and so on. In most cases they enter a vicious cycle of weight gain leading to reduced exercise and enjoyment which in turn leads to further weigh gain and so on – and breaking this cycle is the key to treating an obese dog.

We’ve got a brand new new purpose-built trailer, complete with TV screen showing pet health advice videos, and I and the team will be offering canine visitors to the stand a Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan plus advice on issues such as weight control, joint mobility, digestive and skin problems to their owners.

Using the latest ultrasound scanning technology, the Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan will not only give dog owners a unique and accurate insight into their own pet’s state of health and body condition, but because we anticipate assessing the health and wellbeing of over 1,000 dogs during our four month tour, we believe the results will provide a longer-term scientific assessment of the health and wellbeing of our canine companions in the UK.

The work that I do in my practice is as much about people as it is about pets. Explaining to owners the best way to look after their pets is a key part of my job and is also the reason why I developed Vet’s Kitchen. The Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan survey will allow us to build a comprehensive scientific database which will allow vets a greater understanding of the dietary and health issues pet owners face such as digestive problems, joint and mobility issues and skin complaints, which are often side-effects of an unhealthy diet.

The Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan Roadshow will tour county shows during the summer and visit 10 Sainsbury’s stores in May.

 The Vet’s Kitchen Health Scan Roadshow 2011

As well as the County shows, Joe and the Vet’s Kitchen team will be at the following Sainsbury’s stores:

Dear Donna,

I would just like to thank you again for the brochures you gave to go in our dog information bags and the donated sample food bags for our dog show held on this past Sunday (17th April).www.straysofgreece.org

The day went very well and the weather was very kind to us, which was a nice change as a couple of years running the heavens opened raining cats and dogs(excuse the pun!) and the visitors either all hid in the small marquee or scurried off to their cars and headed home.

It was fantastic that people came at 10am and were still with us at 4pm. Having enjoyed a dog display team demonstration, two RAF police dogs, a barbecue, various entertainment stalls as well as the classes in the dog show.

The reaction to the information handed out was very positive and i hope that now the orders from Dorset and Hampshire region will flood your way!

Hopefully some photos of the show should be on our website shortly

Once the aftermath of the show has settled down i will get Lyn to send across the stories and photos as requested. Your support has been truly terrific thank you so much

Many thanks

Nell Burgess

‘Fun’ Dog Shows are excellent social events for everyone, including your dogs who can benefit from interacting with other dogs and their owners. They can also help build community spirit and are a great way of raising funds for local causes. Over the years I have been involved in many dog shows and I recognise that they require a lot of logistical support.  The new website provides handy tips on how to plan a show and also allows you to generate personalised entry tags, posters, show programmes, judging sheets and winners’ certificates.

And, thanks to Vet’s Kitchen, every winners’certificate includes a £1 voucher redeemable at all Vet’s Kitchen stockists, nationwide.

To help you promote your show, the website includes an ‘upcoming events’ calendar where you can upload your event details.

And don’t forget to follow me on Twitter (@joethevet) and Vet’s Kitchen on Facebook.

In diabetic animals the most common type of problem is the pancreas failing to produce sufficient insulin (the equivalent of type 1 diabetes in people). This then leads to elevated levels of glucose in the bloodstream as there is not enough insulin to maintain the glucose at the correct level.