As well as an excellent range of pet supplies, our stores also supply a wide range of small animals, birds, reptiles, fish and insects which are well cared for.  Our staff have expert knowledge of all of our animals and products so, whether you’re looking for that perfect pet or don’t know what dog food to go for, we are more than happy to help. They’re also pet owners themselves, caring for everything from cats and dogs to iguanas, chickens and even a duck!

Most of our Ark Pet Centres also has their own Facebook page, run by the staff in-store.  You’ll find pictures of all of our animals currently at each store, as well as exclusive competitions and events!

Below, I’ll have a closer look at what you can expect from each store, as well as giving you the links to more information about each store and their Facebook pages.

Transit Way, Plymouth – Website Facebook

This is easily the busiest store, with 14 hard-working staff on hand to give you any help or advice you may need. Between them, they have nearly 60 years’ experience working with us!

Western Approach, Plymouth – Website Facebook

Our Western Approach store is laid out across two floors, and its city centre location means that it has plenty of parking available and is incredibly convenient to get to!

Plymstock – Website

Based in Plymstock’s Broadway, this store has five lovely staff who are always happy to help you answer any questions you may have.

Paignton – Website

With 8 staff, this store prides themselves on good customer service and you can always be sure of a warm welcome here.

Exeter – Website Facebook

This store has their own welcoming committee in the form of Peanut, the resident cockatoo! They have a large car park right outside and a passionate team of staff.

Torquay – Website Facebook

Our newest store, and our largest! In fact, it has one of the largest collection of pet products in the UK! This store even has a self-service dog wash and weighing service.

All of our stores offer a free delivery service for orders over £20 on particular days of the week or the staff will be more than happy to help take your purchases to your car; perfect for those big, bulky or heavy items like dog food or rabbit hutches.

All of our stores aim to put pets first, whether that’s the animals we have in each of our Pet Centres or the ones that are staff have at home. You can be sure that you will always get the advice that you need, as well a friendly smile and a helping hand, whenever you shop at an Ark Pet Centre.

Of course, if you’re not local to Devon, don’t forget that The Pet Express delivers across the UK and has absolutely everything you need for cats, dogs, small animals, birds, fish and reptiles!

• 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.

• Chewing gum, mints and sugar-free sweets: These contain Xylitol: a sweetener, which in dogs causes a massive rush of insulin. This then leads to your dog having low blood sugar, which in turn leads to vomiting, lethargy and problems with coordination. If you don’t get your dog to a vet, this could be fatal.
• Chocolate: Most people know not to feed dogs chocolate, but this is due to a chemical called theobromine and caffeine. In very small amounts, very rarely, this will be fine (After all, whose dog HASN’T stolen the odd chocolate biscuit?), but in larger amounts it can cause sickness, irregular heartbeat, seizures and even death.
• Grapes and raisins: While grapes seem like a healthy enough snack, they can actually cause kidney failure in dogs. You should look out for vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy in the event that you think your dog’s eaten the bowl of grapes on the table.
• Avocado: Both dogs and cats can be poisoned by avocado, and it causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Onions and garlic: Like grapes, they may seem harmless enough but in fact garlic and onions both contain chemicals that can damage red blood cells. This goes for both cats and dogs, and these damaged cells then can’t carry oxygen which leads to anaemia. Be careful, as some foods contain these without making it obvious.
• Macadamia nuts: Just as few as 10 of these can cause symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, tremors and joint pain in dogs. Be sure to keep any snacking bowls well out of paw’s reach!

The danger with a lot of these foods is that they’re either used in lots of other foods (Chocolate and onions) or are often kept lying around the house (Grapes, nuts, sweets). The safest course of action is to keep bowls of fruit and snacks on high tables and surfaces and keep them covered. Secondly, the best idea is to not allow your dog or cat leftovers at all. If you must, then give them small amounts of meat or fish, with as little sauce as possible.

Don’t forget that feeding leftovers too often can lead to weight problems in dogs and cats, so it’s best to stick to a regular feeding pattern. The Pet Express has a fantastic range or dry and wet food for cats and dogs, so that you can be sure that your pet is always getting the nutrition that’s right for them.

Sadly, rabbits are also one of the UK’s most neglected pets for many reasons. Firstly, they’re often bought at the insistence of children, who quickly become bored with them. Then, they’re left on their own, in hutches that are far too small for them. Although they’re still fed and cleaned out, they don’t have the exercise and company that they need.

Before you even decide to buy a rabbit, you should be aware of a number of things. Rabbits are naturally sociable animals, and so need to preferably be kept with another rabbit. It helps to introduce rabbits to each other when they’re young, otherwise they may fight. Also, it’s no ideal to keep rabbits and guinea pigs together as the rabbit may bully or injure the guinea pig, and they have different dietary needs.

Your rabbit’s environment is incredibly important, and you should bear in mind that a hutch will not be enough room. Rabbits really need a raised hutch, to stop it becoming damp, with a large run attached to it. At The Pet Express, we have a great range of rabbit hutches and runs, so you’re sure to find something that will match your budget and your available space. What would be best for your rabbits is a hutch with an attached run, with a tunnel leading to a much larger run.

Inside the run and hutch, your rabbits need shelter from the sun and rain, which you can create by using a tarpaulin over part of it, or perhaps creating a wooden shelter. They will also want to escape to these if they feel afraid. You will also want to give them plenty of things to do such as tunnels, wood to chew on, and toys to play with. If you have space, a sandbox or somewhere for your rabbit to dig would be great.

When it comes to bedding, your rabbits need natural materials that they can eat, such as hay or dust-free straw. This bedding needs to be replaced regularly, and the inside of the hutch should be cleaned often. Your rabbits will also need places to go to the toilet, and this can use hay or shredded paper. Again, this needs to be replaces and cleaned often.

Finally, in regards to feeding, grass or hay is the most important food for your rabbits. This is why a garden run is great, as your rabbits can constantly graze on grass. Otherwise, ensure that hay is always available. Complete rabbit foods are a good addition, and you should feed them washed, leafy foods every day. Carrots or other root vegetables should only be given as a treat.

Now you have everything you need to give your rabbits a healthy, safe home. As long as they’re handled and given plenty of attention every day, they will live long and happy lives. Rabbits are wonderful, inquisitive and intelligent animals, and with the right care they make incredibly rewarding pets.

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.

In fact, convictions for cruelty and neglect rose by 24%, cruelty to dogs by 22%, and a disqualifications on keeping animals rose by 21%. On one hand you could argue that cruelty itself is rising, but as calls to the RSPCA’s control room rose by 13%, it would appear that as a country we’re becoming less tolerant of animal cruelty.

Unfortunately, this has led to the RSPCA becoming “stretched to breaking point”, making next week’s fundraising efforts even more important. You can check out last week’s blog for all the details. With your help, the RSPCA can keep improving the welfare of animals throughout England and Wales.

Of course, if you do see an animal in distress, or one that’s being mistreated, neglected or is injured, you should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. It’s open 24 hours a day, but you should be aware of a number of things that they will ask for. For example, your name and address as well as that of anyone involved or any witnesses, the date, time and place of the offense, as well as the registration and description of any vehicles involved. Finally, they will ask about the animal’s environment and condition.

The RSPCA completely relies on the help of the British public to carry on their fantastic work, so between the 30^th April and the 6^th May, give what you can.

Lungworm is a parasite that is carried by common garden slugs or snails, which dogs can accidentally or purposefully eat. When the parasite infects dogs it lives in the heart and the major blood vessels that supply the lungs. If this isn’t treated, it can cause many problems and can be fatal. The parasite can also be passed on to other dogs through faeces.

There are four main symptoms of lungworm to watch out for:

Breathing problems: Such as your dog is coughing or getting out of breath quickly.

Poor blood clotting: Such as bleeding from the nose and eyes, excessively bleeding from small cuts or anaemia, which is indicated by pale gums.

General sickness: Such as diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite or weight loss.

Changes in behaviour: Such as depression, tiring easily or having fits.

However, if you think that your dog may have already become infected, the key is to get him to a vet’s as soon as possible. Treatment for lungworm is easily administered, but infected dogs can deteriorate incredibly quickly. If you own multiple dogs and one becomes infected, or you see your dog eat a snail or slug, take them to see your vet as a precautionary measure.

While lungworm isn’t prevented or treated by usual worming tablets, your vet can prescribe a spot-on treatment that is applied to the back of your dog’s neck every month. The importance of this treatment should not be overlooked, especially as the small size of slugs and snails make them easy for dogs to accidentally eat. They may happen when playing with a toy or rummaging through undergrowth.

For more information on lungworm, head over to the Be Lungworm Aware campaign page, and be sure to pass this information on to your friends and family; it may just save your dog’s life!

The RSPCA was founded in 1824 by Richard Martin, William Wilberforce and Reverend Arthur Broome. You may know William Wilberforce as the leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.  As the first animal charity in the world, Queen Victoria gave it its royal status in 1840 and since then it has created, lobbied for and enforced many pieces of animal welfare legislation. The most recent of these was the Animal Welfare Act which was passed in 2006 and replaces the RSPCA’s own Protection of Animals Act 1911.

Nowadays, the RSPCA’s mission statement is:

“The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of all animals.”

They care for domestic pets, farm animals and wild animals through their hospitals and centres across the UK. They provide treatments for pets whose owners cannot afford it, as well as rehome and care for sick, injured or abandoned pets and wild animals.

Due to their status as a charity, the RSPCA receives no funding from the state or lottery and relies entirely on voluntary donations. With RSPCA Week just around the corner, there is no better time to get involved with this wonderful charity and do your bit to help them continue their work.

If you’d like to get involved, there are a number of ways you can do this:

• On the RSPCA’s website you can request a fundraising guide. Why not try hosting a bake sale or sponsored dog walk?
• If you have some spare time on your hands, volunteer at your local RSPCA centre. Most of these centres are run by volunteers, and you’d be amazed just how much difference one afternoon of your time can make.
• Throughout the week, the RSPCA are hosting events all across the country, from pet welfare days to dog shows and auctions. The handy calendar on their Events Page will show you all the events in your area.
• Finally, if you can’t make it to an event or shelter, you can contribute simply by heading to the RSPCA’s donation page.

The RSPCA rely completely on your donations, so help them to help the UK’s animals by getting involved with RSPCA Week! Let us know in the comments below what you plan on doing, or head over to our Facebook page and share your ideas!

This pack provides prospective puppy owners with all the information and guidance that they need in order to find the puppy that’s fit and healthy as well as well-socialised. It also benefits good breeders in that it’s a way for them to show the good care and attention that they give to all of their dogs. The RSPCA is hoping that this pack will become the industry standard.

The way the pack works is that the breeder will fill it in before the puppy is sold. It’s full of information about the puppy’s health such as vaccinations and worming, who the puppy has been socialised with, whether it’s toilet trained, as well as the puppy’s parentage, pedigree and possible inherited conditions. This isn’t exhaustive; the pack really does cover every aspect of the puppy’s health and wellbeing.

The contract, on the other hand, is signed by both the breeder and the buyer, and both parties keep a copy as well as a copy of the PIP. Any puppy sold in England and Wales is sold under contract whether one has been written or not, but this one ensures a clear, consistent standard. The contract requires the breeder to confirm that all information given in the PIP is accurate, and because the PIP is referenced there can be legal consequences if it is not. The buyers are required by the contract to meet all of the puppy’s future health needs.

The PIP and the contract ensure that owners know exactly what health problems that their puppy may experience in the future and that their puppy has been well looked after. The RSPCA and BVA Animal Welfare Association are hoping that this will help to reduce the number of new owners who have been misled over the health of their puppy and have had to pay hundreds of pounds in vet bills. It should also lead to an improvement in the conditions that puppies are kept in before they’re sold, as new owners now have the power to easily find out just how well the puppy has been cared for and socialised. As mentioned above, it will also help good breeders get the recognition that they deserve.

Despite the PIP and the contract being a fantastic step forward for puppy welfare and empowering potential owners to find reputable breeders, it requires the participation and co-operation of breeders and owners. If you’re thinking of buying a puppy, ask the breeder to provide you with a PIP and a puppy contract. If they haven’t heard of it, show them the link and ask them to fill one out. If a breeder really cares for their puppies and treats them well, they will be more than happy to do this for you. As a breeder, you can fill out PIPs for all of your puppies and give them to any potential owners who come to visit; it may even help to encourage them to buy their puppy from you and you know that your puppy will be looked after when they go to their new home.

Breeder or buyer, everyone should take the time to read through the PIP, the contract and the guidance notes. It truly is a fantastic scheme, and one that The Pet Express wholeheartedly supports!

Puppy Contract website – Print your PIP and contract from here, as well as more information and useful links.

For example, their Light dog food has fewer calories than their regular food. This makes it ideal for older dogs who are not as active, or those that are overweight. For dogs with delicate digestion or sensitive skin, their Sensitive dry food is made with white fish and potato to help with these ailments. On the other hand, for more active dogs, Arden Grange’s Performance food has all the nutrients and energy that a working or very active dog needs. Similarly, their Prestige food is also suitable for these dogs, as well as pregnant bitches due to its high protein and fat content.

For puppies, Arden Grange supplements its regular dry puppy food with food suitable for puppies that are being weaned. It’s easily digestible and is full of all the nutrients and minerals that puppies need to grow.

As well as these, there are also dry foods available for large and small breeds, as well as large and small puppies. These foods have smaller or larger sized kibbles, which are just right for your dog!

Whatever your dog’s specific needs, Arden Grange is sure to have a dry dog food that’s just right. All varieties are made from only the finest quality ingredients and free from wheat-gluten, dairy products, beef and soya as well as artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives. This reduces the risk of food intolerances, which can be to blame for many health conditions in dogs.

Simply head over to Arden Grange’s product page to find the perfect food for your canine friend!

Arden Grange Dry Dog Food at The Pet Express.