It's easy to assume that your dog is healthy if he or she eats well, runs around often and has a nice coat and a wet nose. But did you know that 90% of all dogs over age 3 have some form of tooth decay? It's true! And dental disease is as common in cats as it is in dogs, this condition affects both species. A Dog's dental health is an important health issue to discuss with your veterinarian. Dental health is an essential part of your dog's overall health. Your vet will recommend how often to visit, but once a year may be a good starting point. Ask the vet to check for any signs of gum diseas ..read more

How Dogs and Cats View Themselves Two dogs and a cat go to Heaven and appear before God. The Lord asks the three of them “Why should I give you a position in my kingdom”? The first to answer, a German Shepard, tells God that he is intelligent, is fierce in defence of his master and loyal beyond all doubt. God ponders the German Shepard’s answer and knows it to be the truth. “Come loyal friend and sit at my right-hand side” Next to speak up is the other dog, a Labrador, who answers by stating “I too am loyal, I am trustworthy and I will love you beyond measure”. God again ponders this answer fo ..read more

It seems strange that there was ever a time when cats were not a part of our lives. It's been less than 10,000 years since cats swaggered into our lives. Hardly an eye blink in the grand sweep of life on this planet. Why were cats so late to join our team? The simple answer is they didn't need us to survive. Cats were surviving just fine on their own. Then, people invented agriculture. Agriculture resulted in large scale storage of grains which attracted the usual and well-known group of freeloaders, mice and rats. Grain attracted rodents. Rodents attracted cats who consider them tasty meals ..read more

How old is old? Advances in medicine have increased the mortality rate of humans. This is the same for animals too, that just like we humans need constant care when we reach our senior years so will your cat. The symptoms of ageing vary from cat to cat so it helps to know the signs and be ready. Cats reach their senior years or are classified as such when they have lived for 10 to 13 years. You might think that's not long but one year for a cat is 5 to 7 human years for them. Cats age quickly in their early years and slow down as they grow older. A 1-year-old cat is in our years 15! But, if yo ..read more

1. They are like fast growing babies. They start off lying in your arms looking at peace with the world but before you know it they’re at the “toddler” stage and running up the curtains and under rugs! 2. They are fussy eaters. Even the smallest kitten will spit out everything it doesn’t believe to be the very best available – oh and “the best” is very subjective, it depends less on the price/brand and more on the cat’s likes and dislikes! 3. If your cat likes it, it’s his! Your kitten will grow into an opinionated cat with strong likes and dislikes. It won’t care if that’s your chair, your c ..read more

,,The importance of Dog training There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many communities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoods be well trained. This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behavior problems – dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers for instance. And of course, training your dog well will also make him or her a much better family companion, espec ..read more

Why use a dog walking service, especially as it costs you money, right? Because First For Pets may save you money! Let me explain. By using our dog walking service you will save on vet’s bills, you may also save by not having to use trainers and behaviourists and you may well save money replacing chewed furniture! This list is just a few of the many benefits your dog will experience as a result of being walked. 1. Walks improve the health of your dog 2. Walks help with behavioural issues 3. Walks stimulate your dog, good for their mental health 4. Walks provide much-needed socialisation for yo ..read more

Other companies similar to ours have vehicles for transporting domestic pets (mainly dogs and cats) to vets and groomers etc… we are not alone in providing a transport service. So what is it that sets us apart and makes us unique? Our vehicle is a DEFRA registered Pet Ambulance, that’s what! “Well, what does that mean?” I hear you ask. It means that we have a set of rules to abide by in terms of how we can travel, and transport your pet safely. There are limits set for how long we can travel with a pet. The temperature inside of the vehicle has to be regulated. It must be serviced, and MOT te ..read more

Pet cats have their own version of diabetes, also a serious affliction among humans. It is also important for pet owners to know how feline diabetes affects cats and how they can help make life better for their pets by learning how to better care for them. There are two types of feline diabetes that may affect your pet cats. Type 1 is caused by insufficient production of insulin while type 2 diabetes is characterized by the inability of the cat's body to process insulin more effectively. And just like in humans, diabetes can also strike cats at any age but is more likely to affect older cats ..read more

,,Health Care for Your Cat Getting your kitten vaccinated is one of the most important things you should do for the welfare of your kitten. Vaccinating will protect your cats from, potentially, very severe infectious diseases. It will also prevent them from passing these diseases on to other animals where they live. Vaccinating your cat is also important for if you intend to leave your cat at a cattery, when you go on holiday for instance. At what age should kittens be vaccinated? Kittens will need two sets of vaccinations to get them started. They should have their first set of vaccinations ..read more