Adorable Baby Hedgehogs Rescued

Have a look at this clip about a Galway family who have adopted five baby hedgehogs who were orphaned when their mother was run over by a car.

Seriously cute, the story starts 22 minutes and 15 seconds into this clip from RTÉ News.

By Juan. Posted in News, Random

Pet Expo 2010

The RDS in Dublin went pet mad last weekend when over 20,000 pet lovers, many of whom were accompanied by their furry friends, attended this year’s Pet Expo.

Aided by some great weather this expo, we believe, was the best yet. An improved layout saw the exhibitions stalls being moved to a more comfortable hall. Overall there were a good mix of exhibitors and less of the tacky non-pet related stalls of previous years.

As always it’s great to see the animal welfare organisations and shelters present. This year there were a few notable additions including PAWS, Dogs Trust and Cats Protection.

What was also great about this years event was how family friendly it was. If the huge number of pets on display was not enough to occupy your little monsters, there were plenty of extra activities including a mini fun fair to entertain them.

The out door arenas were very popular, largely due to the fantastic weather. On show were dancing dogs, beautiful birds, and elegant equestrians. The large grass area and picnic area was the perfect spot to chill out or enjoy some play time with your pooch.

Some of our favourite attractions were the Dancing Dogs, a very cute ferret from the Silvers Ferret Sanctuary, the Bald Eagle on the Flying Eagles stand and an enormous cat!!!

By Juan. Posted in Events, News

Keeping your dog cool this summer

Just like many of us Irish dogs are just not used to hot weather. Those dogs that suffer most from heat related problems are those with very long fluffy coats, especially dogs like Huskies and Samoyeds which are designed to live in snow!

Here are some practical easy tips to keeping your dog cool this summer:

1. NEVER leave your dog unattended in a hot car especially after a walk when they are already exhaused. consider investing in a non-spill water bowl for the car and leave windows open or air-con on when traveling with your dog.
2. Ensure your dog has a nice shady spot to relax in the garden, you can always improvise and build a little sun shield in the shadiest corner.
3. A childrens paddling pool is a good idea for hot days; just a few inches of water so your can dog can cool down when you are out!
4. Ensure there is adequate water to last all day long if your dog is home alone, for example a bucket of water for larger dogs instead of just a bowl. If outside make sure water is kept in the shade.
5. Try to avoid walking/exercising during the hottest parts of the day, it is much safer and more pleasant to walk early in the morning or later at night. Also remember dogs don’t wear shoes so can burn their feet easily on hot paths.
6. If your dog has a very long dense coat consider getting it clipped for the summer months; a simple haircut can be a great relief!
7. If your dog is mainly white in colour or has white ears and a white snout beware of sunburn. White hair and skin burns very easily. consider applying a high factor childrens sunblock to these areas.

Just remember that if you are feeling hot your pet probably is feeling the heat 10 times as much ! So keep cool, drink plenty and enjoy the summer!

This blog post was contributed by Liam Moriarty MVB. For more pet care advice visit www.myvet.ie.

By Juan. Posted in Dogs, Pet Care

Bark in the park 2010 update

Sunday’s Bark in Tymon Park might have been a wet one but that didn’t stop those tails wagging! The Irish Blue Cross is holding the last Bark in the Park of summer 2010 in Marlay Park on the 29th of August which barks off at 3pm.

All the funds raised from the Bark in the Park initiative will help fund a new mobile vet clinic and also get people out and about with their canine friends. There are prizes up for grabs for the waggiest tail, happiest bark and funniest smile and even a few treats for the owners.

Let’s cross our paws for some sunny weather for the Marley Bark in the Park.

By Adam. Posted in Dogs, Events

Unbelievably cute kitten begging for food

By Juan. Posted in Cats, Random