On a hot day, the temperature inside your car can reach 39°C in 10 minutes. Even in the shade with the windows down, the temperature can rise to a deadly 49°C in 30 minutes. Your dog’s natural cooling process is ineffective in these conditions.

Dogs overheat much more quickly than humans as they cannot sweat like we can, but instead they pant to dissipate heat and cool their body temperature. This is near impossible to do when the air in their immediate environment is thick and hot, such as in a hot car. Your dog’s normal body temperature is about 38.5°C. Their body can withstand a higher temperature for only a short amount of time before irreversible damage is done.

Even after walks and exercises, I always recommend to let your dog cool down, (i.e. have had some water, and the panting has slowed down) before putting them in the car with the windows down due to their ineffective cooling processes.

Signs and Symptoms of Heatstroke:

A dog in a hot car will soon overheat and suffer from heatstroke. Some symptoms to look out for are:

• Heavy panting
• Profuse salivation
• Extremely red gums and tongue
• Lack of co-ordination
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Loss of consciousness

If the dog is not removed from the car and treated quickly, symptoms can worsen to result in brain damage, or even death.

Emergency First Aid:

If a dog is overcome by heat exhaustion, give immediate first aid by cooling with water or other liquids. (Room temperature liquids are preferable as ice cold liquids can bring on shock or hypothermia.)

• Wet the skin thoroughly, not just the coat. Focus on the belly and inside of the legs
• Spray or sponge the dog until their body temperature is lowered
• When the dog is cooling down and responding, gently dry the body
• If the dog is conscious give them small amounts of water
• Seek veterinary attention as soon as possible

• Beware of cooling the dog too much and lowering the body temperature too fast. Ten minutes application of cold should be enough. Take the dog to the veterinarian even if it appears to be fully recovered.

There is a product on the market called Arctic Blast Pet Coolant which I highly recommend all pet owners to have and keep as part of your first aid kit in the car as it helps reduce shock effects and still works rapidly to reduce temperature safely.

If you find a dog locked in a car in distress, please call Animal Management or your local SPCA immediately.

Having your pet microchipped is very important for a number of reasons!

Dogs are now legally required to be microchipped but cats, rabbits and other pets don't legally require a microchip. Cats & other pets should still be microchipped as this is the best way to find your pet if it becomes lost and someone finds it, if someone takes your cat/rabbit/dog to any vet clinic, shelter or animal rescue center the staff will be able to scan your pet to see if it has a microchip and if they do they will be able to contact you straight away for you to come and collect your animal. But if your animal was not microchipped they wouldn't have anyway to contact you. So in short it is a great idea for your piece of mind to microchip all your animal in case they ever becomes lost. 

There is also on the market 'Mirochip cat flaps' for your home, theses are great if you want to prevent unwanted cats coming into your homes to steal/eat your cats food. Also the cat flap has to be able to scan your cats microchip (between their shoulders) to be able to unlock the flap it means that the cat cannot have anything in front of it i.e a bird or mouse in its mouth, so this is also a great way to prevent unwanted wildlife & rodents in your homes.

Post a photo of your animal getting into the Christmas Spirit onto our Facebook wall with a brief description about what you & your pet will be getting up to this Christmas Holidays and one lucky person will win an awesome prize.

PRIZE: A Holiday Paw Stocking, 3 Piece Deluxe Bowl Set, A Snow Man Soft Toy and Receive a 10% discount off your next In Store Purchase at Pets Wonderland.

Winner will be chosen randomly by a computer generated website on Monday 22nd December 2014 at 3pm.

Prize to be picked up from Pets Wonderland, or arrangements can be made with the winner if this is not possible.

Please note discount can't be used on Super Premium Foods & Live Stock.

The words Guy Fawkes & Fireworks to us Humans can mean fun, enjoyment, entertaining and a fun thing to watch, but for our pets its a different story. Fireworks can be a very scary and stressful event for your pets. Please read through the list below of some tips and ways you can reduce the stress for your pets so they feel safe and secure while the fireworks are happening. 

• Ensure your pets are kept indoors before dark not only on Guy Fawkes night but also on the nights around the 5th November.
• Provide your pet with somewhere safe to hide such as a crate so they can feel safe and secure whilst the fireworks are going off. 
• If your pets hide under the furniture or beds leave them there, they will be safe and comfortable, trying to coax them out can stress them out even more.
• Provide your pets with new toys and chews to distract them from the fireworks, close curtains and put on the TV or radio to mask any noise.
• Ensure windows, doors and cat/dog flaps remain closed during firework sessions to both prevent pets escaping and reduce the noise.
• Ensure your cats have access to enough litter trays during firework season especially if you’re keeping them inside.
• Take your dog for their walk earlier in the evening before the fireworks start.
• Remember to take your dogs out to the toilet before the fireworks start. 
• Put collars on your pets with identification so if they run away they can be returned to you.
• Try not to leave your pets alone while the fireworks are going off.
• Please DO NOT punish your pet for being scared! This will only make your pet more distressed.
• Consider using natural calming products to put your pets at ease, we here at Pets Wonderland have a variety of Natural products and homeopath remedies great for stressful situations such as Guy Fawkes such as: Bradfield's Pet Calmer, Fear Less - Anxiety & BioPet Courage

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Fireworks and your pets please call/text us on 265-1358, email us at [email protected], or send us a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PetsWonderlandNZ

Always combine a deworming program with a flea control program.

It is rare for animal intestinal worms to be transmitted from animals to humans. However, children can pick up tapeworm by swallowing a flea infected with tapeworm larvae (fleas are intermediate hosts for the common tapeworm). Hookworms can infect human skin and roundworms can migrate to the eye and cause serious problems for people. Although these problems are rare, they can have devastating consequences. Deworming is important for the health and wellbeing of your pet and family.

Cats and Kittens 

Cats can be infected by a number of different types of worms. These include roundworms, hookworms, tapeworm. (Ringworm is in fact NOT a worm, but a fungal skin infection).

Your cat needs regular worm treatment – as a kitten it should be treated fortnightly until 12 weeks old, then as an adult, treated every 3 to 6 months.

Tapeworms are often seen as small “grains of rice” around the anal area. These worms cycle through fleas so are an indication that your cat is likely to need flea treatment.

Dogs and Puppies 

Because of the roundworm life cycle, puppies can be born already infected with roundworm. People can be infected with canine roundworm if there are poor hygiene practices when handling infected puppies. Puppies need to be treated with an appropriate worm treatment every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old, and then monthly until they are 6 months. From 6 months of age onwards we advise worming every 3-6 months.

Other worms such as hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm can also infect older puppies and dogs, so you need to choose worm treatments effective against these parasites when worming older puppies and dogs.

Understanding the life cycle of the flea

1. Eggs are laid in your pet’s coat and fall into their environment.
2. Larvae, which feed of ‘flea dirt’ from adult flea faecal material, develop and spin cocoons.
3. Pupae develop. They can lay dormant for many months until they emerge as adult fleas.
4. Adult fleas are free to infect their host. Once they have a blood meal they will only last a limited time. However, during that short period they produce many more eggs to start the infectious process again.

The Effects Fleas can have on your pets 

• Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD)
• Discomfort & restlessness
• Obsessive cleaning which can become a behavioral problem
• Tapeworms
• Anemia in debilitated and young pets
• Death in severe cases

Fleas are a nuisance, causing skin itching and irritation leading to scratching and biting of your pet to try to resolve the itch, however some pets are allergic to flea saliva which results in severe skin irritation and rashes on your pet.

Dogs and cats can also get tapeworms by swallowing a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae. A dog or cat may swallow a flea while self-grooming.

Once the flea is digested inside the dog or cat, the larval tapeworm is free to develop into an adult tapeworm. By controlling the flea population you can help prevent your pet from getting tapeworm. 

Did you know?

• The most common way pets catch fleas is from the environment. Fleas rarely jump from pet to pet.
• Fleas consume 15 times their body weight in blood daily.
• 95% of fleas are in the environment
• Some fleas can jump more than 150 times their own body
  length – a distance of about 33cm – the same as you jumping
  over a sky-scraper
• The female flea can lay 2000 eggs in her lifetime – that’s about
  30-40 eggs every day
• Adult fleas can bite your pet up to 400 times a day.
• A flea can hatch from its cocoon, jump onto your passing pet (or you) and start feeding in
  as little as 7 seconds

Here at Pets Wonderland we sell a range of different Flea Treatment products such as Topical/Tablet Treatments, Shampoo's/Soaps, Flea bombs for your house and Flea Combs. 

Brands we stock: 

• Prac-Tic
• Fipnil 
• BioPet
• Fiprovet
• PetScience
• Bradfields
• WashBar
• Tagiwig
• Capstar
• Groomers Choice
• Fidos
• Diatomaceous Earth 
• Pawtect

Click this link to see our range of flea related products: https://www.petswonderland.co.nz/search.php?search...

PURE OXYGEN converts to Oxygen and Water vapour when drying. The intense flood of Oxygen coming from PURE OXYGEN will wash away fungus and odours, often after just one application. Ideal for conditions like:

• Mud Fever
• Thrush
• Girth Itch
• Ringworm
• Scratches
• Rain Scald
• Hot Spots

Restore the natural softness and brilliant shine of your animals coat with the power of Anivac’s PURE OXYGEN Rinse Free Shampoo and Deodoriser.

Available in:

• 50ml Mist Spray Bottle (Ideal for spraying around the outer ear) - $14.90
• 250ml Dispenser Bottle (Ideal for refilling into the 50ml mist spray bottle) - $24.90

Pure Oxygen Technology

Pure Oxygen Ultra Shampoo is a synergistic blend of commonly used, safe ingredients that when combined with low levels of hydrogen peroxide produce exceptional potency and performance.

Pure Oxygen Ultra Shampoo has an excellent Safety and Environmental Profile for the user and the environment. The In-Use Solution is non-irritating to eyes and skin, is free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's), there are no toxic ingredients in the formula and Pure Oxygen Ultra Shampoo does not leave any residual on the surface once dried.

MSDS: http://ogenasolutions.com/MSDS/PureOxygen.pdf

To celebrate our 8th Birthday we are offering:

30% off All Accessories In store (not online)

Excluding: Livestock, Super premium foods, Flea & Worm treatment and Clearance stock

Special ends 30th September 2014

We would like to say "Thank you" to all our customers for all of your support over the last 8 years. Come in store to celebrate with us and get great specials on your purchases you make at Pets Wonderland

For all-around general dog eye-cleaning advice, follow these tips:

• Trim hair from around your pet’s eyes using blunt-nosed scissors. Keeping hir from scraping on the eye will help prevent bacteria from getting into the eye.
• By making sure the corners of your pet’s eyes are mucus-free, you may be able to prevent infections. Bacteria often feed on mucus and can migrate into the eye. Using sterile eye lotion is a convenient way to do this.
• Before you apply any insecticides or before bathing your dog, protect his eyes with a drop of mineral oil or eye ointment. This can prevent eye irritations that can lead to infection
• Keep your pet from situations where he may get eye trauma. Fights with other animals, exposure to irritating substances, or letting your pet hang his head out of the car windows are 3 preventable situations when your pet could receive eye trauma.
• Tear stains are also an area that may become a hotbed for bacteria. Some dogs, such as Poodles, Cockers, and small terriers, may not have the proper mechanism for draining the tears out of the lacrimal gland (tear duct). The excess tears spill down the lower eyelid causing unsightly staining. Trimming hair around the eye, keeping the eye clean, and using a tear stain remover such as Rudducks Pretty Eye Solution and Eye wipes can all help.

Have a look on our website at the range of Eye care products we stock

I hope I’ve given you a good idea of how to clean and maintain your dog’s eyes