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Welcome to Petplan’s blog, a space where you can read up on the latest pet-news, find out interesting facts and tips about keeping your pets happy and healthy, and share your views on hot topics.

Does your quiet cat need to see the vet?

Does your quiet cat need to see the vet?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat purr
Q: Our cat seems to have a silent purr. We have never heard him make any purring noises, but we have felt a vibration in his throat when he is content. Is this common?A: It is likely that your feline is purring, but at such a low volume that you

Why your pet rabbit may stop using the litter tray

Why your pet rabbit may stop using the litter tray
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: rabbit toilet training toileting
Q: My three-year-old dwarf lop house rabbit was perfectly house trained and used his litter trays with no any 'accidents' until he went into a rabbit boarding hotel for a weekend 18 months ago. After that, he continued to use his tray but occasionally urinated just outside it, too. Recently, he has

Is your jealous pet ruining your relationship?

Is your jealous pet ruining your relationship?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat dog pet pet relationships Jealous pets
Pets often demand a lot of care and attention – and this can put a strain on other relationships in your life. We take a look at what to do when your pet becomes a green-eyed monster. From the PetPeople magazine archiveWhen your dog insists that you cuddle up to him and not your new partner, or your cat disappears in a huff every time your partner shows their face, it could be down to a case of pet jealousy. The problem of jealous pets is now of such sensitivity that Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have offered their advice to pet owners about how to best to bring your pet and new partner together. ‘Jealous pets can be a deal-breaker for relationships, especially in the early stages,’ says Pat Moore, Battersea’s behaviour unit manager. ‘Over-compensating by mollycoddling them doesn’t work either,

Woofers and tweeters? The very latest doggy technology

Woofers and tweeters? The very latest doggy technology
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog collars lost pet GPS

As if the range of technology available to humans these days wasn't mind-boggling enough, now it's time to bring your beloved dog into the 21st century.

Is your pet a bit of a loner or prone to going for long walks on his or her own? Then why not try the new Retrieva tracking collar? Yes, sat nav for dogs. It's the world's most advanced tracking and anti-theft dog collar and has a whole host of features including detailed topographical mapping, and even the ability to follow your pooch's direction and speed of travel.

It works on most smartphones, where you can study the tracker's history and you'll even get a text if the battery's running low or Rover roams into or out of safe areas. Bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase 'tracker dog'. Or should that be 'track-a-dog'?

Look out for Puppy Tweets too. It's a little electronic device that attaches to your dog's collar and transmits tweets about his or her physical activity. The software then interprets your dog's actions, sending updates to a Twitter account via your internet connection! It's available on Amazon or eBay.

How to make your cat use its scratching post

How to make your cat use its scratching post
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: cat scratching
Q: I've had both my cats for a long time. One of them uses their scratch post, but the other uses my (now virtually non-existent) carpet instead, and meows constantly. Can you help?A: Some cats prefer to scratch horizontally, whilst others scratch vertically, so this probably explains why your cats differ in their behaviour. I suggest that you try

What does it take to keep your rabbit really, really happy?

What does it take to keep your rabbit really, really happy?
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: rabbit
Hop along to a Rabbit Awareness Week event between 23rd and 29th of May to find out how to keep your pet happy and healthyRabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK, with over 1.6 million owned up and down the country. They make excellent pets and will stay happy and healthy with your care and commitment. But as with any pet, they are a big responsibility for owners, which is where Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) comes in.

How to keep your dog's ears healthy

How to keep your dog's ears healthy
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog ear wax hygiene
Q: Some days we can hear the liquid in the ear canal of our four-year-old Labrador. Our vet says that she suffers from overproduction of earwax but doesn't have an infection. Can we do anything to help her?A: Labradors are commonly seen in veterinary clinics for ear problems, which usually begin with excessive wax build-up in the

How to teach your dog to sit

How to teach your dog to sit
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains:
Ever wondered how to get your dog to sit? Here, trainer Colin Tennant shows us how. From the PetPeople magazine archiveStep 1: Start in an enclosed room so there are few distractions. Hide some treats (Fish4Dogs or tiny pieces of cheese, sausage or chicken) in a pocket or bag on your person. Call the dog's name and put the treat near his nose to immediately get his attention. If your dog is too energetic, tie him with a lead and

Jay the dog and Petplan - a long-term relationship

Jay the dog and Petplan - a long-term relationship
Posted on by Petplan
Dog Jay's long-term health conditions meant he was always at the vets. Fortunately owner Catherine Humphreys' Petplan policy made things that bit easierPetplan has helped out my 11-year-old rescue dog Jay on numerous occasions during his life. His problems started when he was only one; his mouth was itchy all the time and, although he never broke the skin, he would scratch it all the time.

Overcoming fear in an adopted dog

Overcoming fear in an adopted dog
Posted on by Petplan
This article contains: dog behaviour fear
Q: Last year, I adopted a young male Border Collie. Though generally friendly, he was aggressive to other dogs and, sometimes, people. Following training classes, he's fine around other dogs and I take him to my local pub to get him used to strangers. Is this an appropriate socialising method for him? A: You sound as if you are doing the right things. In many cases of aggression, the behaviour is fear-based and
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