Category: Birds

Pet First Aid – Be prepared!

If your pet has an accident or mishap in front of you, it can be incredibly harrowing, especially if you don’t know what do to. Being prepared for an emergency is incredibly important, and knowing a few simple first aid tips for pets can help immensely should the worst happen. In this blog, I will share a few general first aid tips for any emergency, as well as how to deal with particular incidents.

  • Firstly, ensure that you have an up-to-date telephone number for both your regular vet and an emergency vet. Not all practices are open 24 hours, and your pet may need professional care as soon as possible. Keep these numbers somewhere that’s easy to get to, such as stuck to the fridge. Phone your vet immediately before attempting anything yourself, and they will advise you on what to do. If the accident is severe, your vet may make a home visit.
  • If you own cats or other small animals such as rabbits or ferrets, don’t leave animal carriers stuck in the loft or forgotten in a cupboard. Make sure that they’re easy to get to in case of an emergency, as it’s more than likely that you’ll have to take your pet to the vet’s. You could also leave a few blankets inside the carrier, as you may need them depending on the situation.
  • Finally, remember that should anything happen to your pet, they are likely to be scared, in pain and confused. This may cause even the most docile of pets to lash out, even to people that they know, love and trust. Approach your pet slowly and calmly, and stay away from their mouth if possible. Also, in some situations you should muzzle them, but not if they have any problems with their breathing or if they are vomiting. If you do not have a muzzle at home, you can use a strip of soft cloth or a necktie or nylon stocking. Wrap it around their nose, under their chin and tie it behind their ears. Be careful not to tie it too tightly to allow them to pant and you can use a towel wrapped around the head for small animals.

Bearing these points in mind will go a long way to helping in an emergency. Just be sure to call your vet before attempting anything for yourself, and they will give you the advice that you need. These basic procedures will help in particular situations, and you should familiarise yourself with them should your vet advise that you do them.

  • Bleeding/Bite Wounds

Approach your pet slowly and muzzle them. In the case of bites, check the wound for debris or other contamination. If there is anything like this, wash the wound with a saline or balanced electrolyte solution. If you don’t have any of this, then use plain water. Wrap any large wounds to keep them clean and apply firm, direct pressure until the bleeding stops or at least 10 straight minutes. Ensure that you don’t use a tourniquet or any bandages that could cut off circulation.

  • Burns

This refers to chemical, electrical or heat burns, with symptoms including singed hair, redness, swelling or blistering. You need to flush the area with plenty of cool, running water. However, if there are large amounts of dry chemicals on the skin, be sure to brush these off first as the water may activate them. Then, apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes. You can use frozen food, but any ice pack must be wrapped in a clean, dry blanket or towel first.

  • Choking

If your pet is choking, they will have difficulty breathing, may be pawing at their mouth and may have blue lips and tongue. More than likely, this will make your pet frantic so be careful not to let them bite you. If they can still partially breathe, the best thing to do is get them straight to a vet’s. If not, look into the animal’s mouth to see if you can see the blockage. If possible, use pliers or tweezers to remove it, but you must be really careful not to push it further in. If the object is too deep or your pet collapses, then put your hands on both sides of your pet’s rib cage and apply firm, quick pressure. Alternatively, you can lay your pet on their side and strike the side of their rib cage firmly with the flat of your hand three or four times. You should continue doing this until the object is removed or you arrive at the vet’s.

  • Fractures

Your pet may have a fractured limb if they are in pain, are refusing to use that limb or if it is at an odd angle. Firstly, muzzle your pet and look for bleeding. If you can stop this without causing more damage, then do so. In case of a fracture, keeping the limb supported is the most important factor. Don’t try to set the fracture by tugging or pulling on it, just get your pet to the vet’s.

  • Poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning include sickness, diarrhoea, convulsions, weakness, salivation or depression. If you know what your pet has ingested, record what it is and how much. If possible, retain the packaging and phone your vet immediately. If your pet has something on their skin, such as paint or insecticides, ask your vet whether to wash it off and how to do so. Ensure that you do not induce vomiting, as this may do more harm than good.

  • Seizures

Symptoms of seizures include salivation, loss of bowel control, muscle twitches or falling unconscious. Move your pet away from anything that might hurt them, using a blanket for padding or protection. However, do not restrain your pet as this will put you at risk. Time the seizure, they should only last 2 or 3 minutes, and then keep your pet calm and quiet and phone your vet.

  • Vomiting and/or Diarrhoea

In both cases, withhold food for 12 – 24 hours. If they’ve been vomiting, wait for two hours after the vomiting stops and then give your pet ice cubes. Then, you can slowly increase food and water over the next 12 to 24 hours. In the case of diarrhoea, make sure that water is readily available. Phone your vet for more advice, and don’t try any at-home remedies without knowing the exact cause.

  • Heatstroke

We have gone into heatstroke in much more detail in a previous blog, but you should look out for difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, vomiting, collapsing and a high body temperature. Cool your pet by placing them in a bath of cool (not cold) water, gently soaking them with a garden hose or wrapping them in a cool, wet towel.  Be careful not to overcool them, and phone your vet.

While these first aid tips may help in an emergency, your priority in any situation should be to get your pet to a professional. Phone your vet immediately should anything happen, and do as they say as it may be dangerous to move your pet. While no one ever wants their pet to fall ill or get hurt, being well prepared and ready to act quickly and calmly will make a whole world of difference should the worst happen.

Everything you need to get started with a parrot!

Have I told you about my parrot yet? He’s a 10 year-old African Grey named Nelson. He likes to whistle the Indiana Jones theme song, laugh at funny things on the TV and tell our dog to shush whenever she barks.

Parrots of all shapes and sizes make absolutely wonderful pets, and aren’t nearly as difficult to look after as you might think. This blog is going to have a look at everything you need to give a parrot a good home, as well as a few general points to consider.

So, without further ado, what essential items do you need?

  • A suitable cage or aviary: When we say parrot, we mean anything from small conures that range between 9 and 18 inches, right up to macaws that are 33 inches from head to tail with a wingspan to match. This means that you need to buy a suitable cage, because if it is too small then your bird may become stressed and unwell due to not being able to exercise. You also want to make sure that is has secure closures as well as tough bars. Parrots are incredibly intelligent and will try to get their cage open, and their beaks can be very strong.
  • Food/water bowls: Most cages come with these attached on to swinging doors, so that you can open them without opening the cage’s main doors. You may also want to pick up heavy ceramic bowls for extra food or treats to sit on the bottom of the cage (My parrot has a ceramic dog bowl in his as he used to keep tipping his food bowl out of the holder). However, don’t use this for water as your bird may drop things into it, contaminating it.
  • Perches: You’ll want to ensure that your bird has a special place to roost. Most parrot cages come with one or two perches that fit across the cage, but you may want to invest in extras. A small perch in a quiet corner of the cage would be a perfect place to sleep, and you can use wooden ones or even a loop of solid rope.
  • Toys: Birds are immensely intelligent, so it’s incredibly important that you cater to this. Toys with a mixture of colours and materials will keep your bird stimulated, and rope and ladders will give them plenty of things to climb. Of course, nothing beats interaction with its owners, so be sure to give your bird plenty of attention. If you’re going out for the day, a radio or TV left on is a great idea.
  • Spray Bottle: Birds will groom themselves regularly, but a spray bottle with warm water can be used to emulate the humid conditions that they would experience in the wild. Don’t spray the water directly at your bird, instead spray it above the cage to create a mist. Floristry bottles are ideal for this.
  • Food: Most parrot food available on the market is specially chosen to give your bird all of the nutrients they need, and include plenty of dried fruits and nuts. You can choose to give your bird fruit and vegetables to complement this, as a tasty treat. Just be sure to remove any uneaten food before it starts to rot. You can even feed them cooked or uncooked pasta, and plain popcorn (Just not the microwave varieties!).

There are other items you can pick up, like stands for when your bird’s out of his cage as well as supplements and the like. However, there are a few points to bear in mind before you make the decision to keep a parrot.

  • Talking: Not all parrots are chatterboxes. For example, it is fairly rare for a conure to talk, but they are still incredibly noisy. If you have your heart set on teaching a bird to speak, I would recommend an African Grey, but it is still not guaranteed that your bird will learn hundreds of words.
  • Clipped wings: If you want to let your bird out of its cage, it’s highly recommended that you get their wings clipped by a vet. This is for their safety as much as preventing their escape. For example, my parrot hadn’t yet had his done, and one day when we had him out something spooked him, he took off and flew into our patio door. Luckily he wasn’t hurt, but it could have been much worse. It’s a really simple procedure though. All your vet has to do is clip the flight feather on each wing; it’s completely harmless and only takes a few minutes. Just make sure that it is a vet who does this, though!
  • Sexing: Unless your bird is DNA tested, it is practically impossible to tell the sex of most parrots. This is done through either a blood test or from a feather. Although to most people the sex of their bird isn’t important, some may was to take this into consideration.
  • Long lifespan: My parrot is already older than most pets we’ve had, and to think that he still has another 60+ years in him is mind-boggling. Smaller parrots don’t live as long as the larger ones, but even conures live to be at least 20. While it is incredibly rare that any parrot has just one owner for its whole life, you really shouldn’t give one a home if you’re planning to get rid of it after 10 or 15 years, you should be prepared to look after your parrot for a very long time.

While parrots do require a fairly large initial investment, and can live so long, they make truly wonderful pets. My African Grey is immensely affectionate and just loves his cuddles. He also has a truly wicked sense of humour, like flicking me with water from his bowl whenever I vacuum near his cage. We often have parrots for sale in our Ark Pet Centres, so why not pop in one day and speak to a member of staff about whether a parrot is right for you? And don’t forget, at The Pet Express we have an incredible range of products for birds, including everything listed here and so much more.

Keeping your pets happy and healthy over the hot summer months.

Here at The pet Express, we’re always devastated to hear of animals (especially dogs) becoming incredibly ill and even passing away because they’re not given the proper care and attention on hot days. This week’s bumper blog post is all about how you can keep your pets safe, healthy and comfortable over the summer.

  • Dogs

It seems a summer doesn’t go by without a news story about dogs dying in hot cars. Did you know that when it’s just 22°C outside, the temperature inside a car can rise to 47°C within just 60 minutes? Even leaving a window rolled down or a sunshield on your windscreen isn’t enough; dogs should never be left alone in a car on a warm day. In fact, if you see a dog left in a car, call the police on 999, as owners have a legal duty to care for their animals under the Animal Welfare Act.

When at home, ensure that your dog always has access to a cool, shady spot or a well-ventilated room as well as plenty of fresh drinking water in a heavy bowl that can’t be knocked over. Also, don’t leave your dog in a conservatory, as these are prone to getting exceedingly hot just like cars.

If your dog has long hair, be sure to brush them regularly and give them a haircut at the beginning of the summer. Regular baths will help with skin irritation caused by the heat, as well as helping your dog to cool off. Just be sure to use cool water, not cold.

When out and about, ensure that you have water with you and give your dog small amounts throughout the day. Dogs still need exercise when it’s warm, so avoid the hottest parts of the day and take them for a walk in the early morning or evening. Finally, be aware that dogs can get sunburned too, especially on light-coloured noses and ears. Your vet can advise you about suitable sun creams.

  • Cats

Much like dogs, cats need to have somewhere shady, cool and ventilated to move to when they get too hot. It is also recommended that cats are kept indoors during the middle of the day, when temperatures are at their highest.  If this isn’t possible, then a cat kennel or covered area outdoors will suffice.

Cats also need access to fresh water at all times. If they are to be kept outside, ensure that the water is kept in a heavy bowl, or one with an ‘unspillable’ design. Keep the bowl in the covered area to stop the water evaporating, and check it regularly to refill it.

Cats with light fur are also susceptible to sunburn on their ears and noses, just like dogs. Again, speak to your vet for advice on the best pet-safe sun cream to use. If your cat has particularly long fur, be sure to brush them regularly and give them a haircut if needed.

  • Caged Animals, Birds, Reptiles & Fish

The biggest danger with any pet kept in a tank, vivarium, aquarium, hutch or cage is that they’re limited to where they can move to in order to escape the sun. Take the time to move your animal’s enclosure to somewhere that is out of direct sunlight, cool and well ventilated. If the hutch has an attached run, make sure that there is a cooler, shady area available at all times throughout the day.

Regularly check your animal’s enclosure to ensure that they always have plenty of fresh drinking water available. It may also be worth investing in an extra water bowl or bottle, depending on how often you may be able to check these.

In the case of fish and aquariums, their water needs to be kept clean, well oxygenated and algae free. If your aquarium or tank has a filter, check to make sure that this is working at all times.

As with dogs and cats, long-haired rabbits and guinea pigs will need regular brushing, and possibly a haircut to keep them cool.

  • Heatstroke

By following all of this advice, you will greatly reduce the chances of your pet becoming ill over the summer. However, be aware that it could still be possible for your pet to develop heat stroke and that this can be fatal, so it’s very important that you know the signs as well as what to do. Especially susceptible are dogs with short muzzles, long coats, or overweight, old or young dogs.

Symptoms to look out for include: excessive panting, heavy salivation, rapid pulse, very red gums or tongue, lethargy (tiredness), lack of co-ordination, being unable to get up after collapsing, vomiting and diarrhoea. Your pet may even lose consciousness in extreme situations.

If you suspect that your pet has heatstroke, quickly move them to a cool and shady area. You need to lower their temperature gradually, so as not to send them in to shock. Do this by spraying or dousing them with cool water, not cold. You could use a shower or a spray bottle, and try to get them near a fan. Let them drink small amounts of cool water, and call your vet immediately. As soon as your pet is cooled down, you will need to take them to your veterinary surgery as they may need further treatment.

The summer is a fantastic time for enjoying the sunshine with your pet, whether it’s in the garden or at the beach or park. These simple, easy-to-follow steps will ensure that you and your pets can make the most of the next few months, while remaining happy, healthy and safe!

For more information, visit the RSPCA’s fantastic FAQ pages, and for all your pet’s summer needs, visit the Pet Express!

Fun Wooden Toys For Your Parrot

As any responsible owner will know, parrots are incredibly intelligent and need plenty of stimulation to stop them from becoming bored and stressed. Over the last few days, we’ve been adding a fantastic new range of wooden parrot toys to our site. These are really quick and easy to install in your bird’s cage and provide hours of amusement.

Image of Coconut & Natural Wood Swing With Colourful Blocks

For example, this hanging toy features two different types of wood as well as coconut shell and rope. The different materials and textures provide great stimulation, and the hidden perch makes climbing on the toy a lot of fun.

Image of Suspension Bridge Ladder with Sisal Ropes

Parrots enjoy climbing and being able to move around their cage, making this suspension bridge an ideal choice. It adds a great extra dimension to your bird’s cage as most climbing toys tend to hand straight down.

Image of Colourful Rope Swing Perch With Blocks, Sisal & Leather - Medium

Finally, how could your bird NOT be entertained with this great perch? As well as providing somewhere to roost and climb on, the leather strips are a fun extra touch.

The great thing about these toys is that the bright colours and mixtures of shapes, textures and materials are really fun for your parrot to play with. Also, by climbing and chewing on the wooden parts, it will help to look after their beak and claws.

Just don’t forget that no amount of toys can substitute human interaction, so make sure that you spend plenty of time with your parrot!

Live the Good Life with these Chicken Houses!

With the economy how it is, more and more people are taking a leaf out of Tom and Barbara’s book and working towards becoming self-sufficient. Even if you’re not quite ready to give up your job and make your own clothes, growing your own fruit and veg and keeping animals is a great place to start.

Chickens are probably the best place to start, as virtually any garden can house them. They’re friendly and inquisitive animals, and hybrid breeds can produce up to one egg a day. Here at The Pet Express, we have some fantastic chicken runs and homes that provide all your birds will need.

Image of Summer Meadows Chicken House

A great place to start, this chicken house is ideal for up to four hens. It has an egg box to one side, and roosting perches inside. There is also a wire run available that can be attached to it, or you could give your birds free reign of your garden.

Image of The Covered Cottage II With Nesting Box

This high-quality house features an attached run that’s completely covered. This ensures that your birds are kept dry when they’re outside, and gives them the option of going outside whenever they please. It’s kept secure with sliding locks, and has a nesting box on the back.

Image of English Made Chicken House and Run

Made in England from the finest timber, this chicken house is really built to last. It also has an attached run for added convenience.

Chickens make fantastic pets, even if you have children. Each bird has its own unique personality, and will even let themselves be picked up if they trust you. Check out this fantastic page from the RSPCA for all the information you need: http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/farmanimals/chickens.

Amazing Java Wood Pet Accessories

The more eagle-eyed of you will have noticed some fantastic new accessories being added to our site recently, made from Java wood.

Java wood comes all the way from Indonesia, where it is harvested from eco-friendly trees. The bark is stripped from the wood, and then is it sanded and baked for a month. This makes the wood very hard wearing and easy to clean, which is just perfect for pets! Also, every item is hand carved and, due to natural variations in the wood, is therefore completely unique and very beautiful.

Image of Java Reptile Branch - Medium

All the benefits Java wood make it suitable for so many different animals. These great reptile branches make perfect additions to any vivariums, and are available in four different sizes. Because they’re easy to clean, they won’t harbour insects.

Image of Java Bird Toy Branch - Medium

The toughness of Java wood makes it great for parrots, too. These fun branches are available in three sizes, and are more than strong enough to stand up to your parrot’s beak! The attached toys also provide lots of fun for your bird.

Image of Java Complete Cat Forest

Finally, this incredible cat playground really shows off just how gorgeous Java wood can be, and it’s great for keeping your cat’s claws away from your furniture! If the whole thing is a bit much, its separate units are all available to buy separately.

Whatever your pet, there’s bound to be a Java wood item that’s just perfect for them. If you’re looking for a new accessory for a cage or vivarium, Java wood really is one of the best choices available.

New Parrot Cages from Rainforest Cages

This week we’ve been really busy adding our fantastic new range of parrot cages to the site. Rainforest Cages are a leading manufacturer of parrot and bird cages, and we’re really very excited to be able to offer their current selection to you!

All Rainforest Cages feature a number of great features to make life safer and more comfortable for your parrot, and easier for you! All of their parrot cages have parrot-proof clock face locks, and all of their feeder doors are spring loaded to keep them shut. The cages are even finished with a special paint called Avi-Coat, that’s completely free of lead and any other toxins.

Rainforest Cages’ range is fantastic and whatever size bird you own, whether you’re a casual owner or a breeder, you’ll find a cage that’s just perfect for you and your bird. Take a look at these three that show just how great their range is.

Image of Rainforest Cages Santa Rosa Bird Cage

Perfect for budgies or finches, the Santa Rosa is a beautiful cage. While it doesn’t feature the special locks or paint, you can be sure that it’s the best possible cage available for your small birds.

Image of Rainforest Cages Bolivia Play Top parrot cage - Antique

For larger birds, such as an African Grey, I love this Bolivia cage. The skirt around the bottom keeps waste and food inside the cage, which would be a godsend considering how messy my parrot is! It also has a great stand on top, which is ideal for when you want to let your bird out.

Image of Rainforest Cages Parrot Aviary and House

Finally, we have an aviary for serious parrot owners! Perfect for macaws and cockatoos, it features everything that makes Rainforest Cages so great and it even comes with a house for your birds to rest or sleep in. It can even be set up indoors, if you have the space!

Bird Cages by Savic, Imac, Ferplast & more!

Some of the most popular birds kept in the UK today include budgies, cockatiels, parrots and macaws, and if you own any of the above, you will be happy to know that we have the perfect birdcage for them all amongst our collection!

Stocking well-known brands such as Savic, Imac, Ferplast and Hagen Vision, we have high quality birdcages to complement birds of every shape and size, and with prices starting as low as £20, there is something to suit every budget.

Our medium birdcage measures in at 405 x 300 x 395mm and is suitable for smaller pet birds such as zebra finches and budgies. This fantastic birdcage weighs just 1.38kg, comes complete with two perches, a play swing, and two feeding pots and it costs just £19.99!  High quality, affordable and practical, this is a great starter cage for those new to keeping small pet birds.

At the other end of the birdcage scale, our huge parrot cage by Rainforest measures a whopping 161 x 86 x 56cm and weighs a more substantial 34kgs.  Ideal for African Greys, Cockatoos and Amazons, this stylish parrot cage includes stainless steel feeder bowls and perches, and it comes with a 12-month warranty.

A stunning birdcage, it is built to last the 70 – 80 year lifespan of your parrot, and it will look great in any room of the home.

If you are looking for a truly impressive birdcage for your Canaries or Parakeets, you will struggle to find anything better than the Savic Melodie Chrome. This well designed birdcage measures 64 x 38 x 73cm and comes complete with a range of accessories including feeding bowls, wooden perches, a drinking fountain and even a birdbath!

The best part about this birdcage is that the tri-arched roof opens outwards so you can give your birds the freedom to come and go as they please.

Great birdcages like these will provide your pets with a safe and secure living environment, and will the right care and maintenance they will last forever.

Aviaries & Bird Accessories

If you are thinking about adding a wooden aviary to your garden this spring, then now is the perfect time to start planning!  With the warmer weather just a few weeks away, your birds will be ready to move outside in no time, and with the right aviary, you can create a stunning focal point in your garden to enjoy throughout the year.

More spacious than traditional birdcages, outdoor aviaries are ideal for those looking to create a more natural habitat for their pet birds, and as they come in a variety of different shapes and sizes there is something complement every garden or outdoor space.

The Barton Aviary is a stunning octagonal habitat suitable for those with limited outdoor space.  Measuring 4ft wide by 8ft high, this aviary features strong weatherproofed wooden panels, a felt roof, wire front panels, and a wire door.

An attractive aviary that will provide a secure and comfortable home for smaller birds, it comes complete with fixing screws and instructions.

The Abbey Aviary is ideal for those with a larger garden and larger pet birds.  Strong, durable and made from weather resistant materials, this stunning aviary will complement every garden and with a right right care and maintenance it will remain in perfect condition for many years to come.

At 8ft wide by 8ft high, this spacious aviary will allow your pets to stretch their wings and exercise while enjoying the fresh air, and it is large enough to cater for several birds.

classic wooden aviary complete with a selection of colourful birds will transform your garden this spring, so why not order yours today!

Bird Cages by Savic

Savic remains one of our most popular Bird Cage brands and their collection is now bigger than ever before. Stylish, modern and practical, the birdcages in the Savic collection look great in any room of the home, and they are available in a multitude of different shapes and sizes to suit every pet bird.

The Savic Melodie 50 is an attractive birdcage that is suitable for smaller birds such as canaries and parakeets.  The arched wire cage is attached to a durable plastic base complete with a sliding tray, and it has a handle on top for easy transportation.

As with all birdcages in the Savic collection, the Melodie 50 comes complete with perches, feeding bowls and a drinking fountain, and this particular cage includes a birdbath.

For larger birds such as African Greys, the Savic Hamilton Playpen is the ideal habitat.  Made in durable non-toxic anthracite wire, this stunning birdcage features are large front opening door and has a playpen on top where your parrot can stretch its wings and rest when out for exercise.

Complete with perches, feeding bowls, ladders and a toy hanger, this smart parrot cage sits on castors for easy positioning and features an anti-scatter shield to limit the mess around the cage.

The Savic Evelyne 50 is a lovely birdcage for smaller birds such as Zebra Finches.  Beautifully shaped and available in a range of different colours, this birdcage features a durable wipe clean base, and comes complete with four wooden perches, four feeding bowls, a drinking fountain and a birdbath.

All of these impressive birdcages are available to order online, and with the right cleaning and maintenance, they will last the lifetime of your feathered friends.

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