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Knowing when it's time - but how?
At 72 I've had cats and dogs all my life, they all seem to live long and mostly pretty healthy until the end when I've always just known when it's time - and the vet's agreed with me. Although obviously heartbroken I've always felt it was the right thing to do. Until now. My cat is 16, has arthritis (daily painkiller…
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Do your pets get birthday presents?
I so enjoyed this 2009 thread Pets and Christmas gifts, in which comments range from "Of course I don't buy my pets Christmas gifts" to "Yep, I spoil my pets to bits". So on a similar vein, do your pets get birthday presents? Is it a ludicrous extravagance or a necessary token of affection? And if you don't know your pet's…
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Cheap 'n' cheerful homemade pet toys
I'd like to get a few examples going, if possible, of people's homemade pet toys. If it's true for your pet, as it is for my cat, that bits of packaging can elicit more excitement than any full-priced toy, please show me your free/cheap 'n' cheerful makeshift pet toys. My cat loves feathers. Especially if it's a really…
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Pet insurance
My renewal quote for pet insurance for my 2 year old dog has gone from £57 per month to £91! This is with ManyPets, we used to find these really good as they would pay the vet directly but this all stopped and it took around 6 months to get paid for a claim. I just don't know whether it's worth shopping around as my dog…
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Pet plan premium increase
Hi, I am looking for some advice please. I have a two year old cockapoo who is insured with pet plan-covered for life policy. The first year 21-22 the premium was £479, the second year 22-23 it was £551. The renewal docs for this year state the premium will be £694.80 with the monthly payment increasing from £45.95 to…
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Flea treatments - what and where do you buy?
As per the title, I'm looking for experiences and opinions. I've two cats - one not quite 12 months and around 2kg and one 10 years and ~over 4kg. Previously with cats I've alternated every 6 months between going to the vet to get them combo flea'd/worm'd and buying advantage. Last time it was at the vets (at the same time…
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Pet Insurance type
We have two Cockapoo's one is three and the other is seven. Both are in good health. Their insurance is now due. They currently have Lifetime cover from ManyPets. I am minded to downgrade the cover, but i am strugging to see through the smoke and mirrors that the insurance companies put up. I do not understand the…
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How much to pay?
I am going to be using a neighbour's teenager to look after my house cats while I'm on holiday, but I've no idea what is a reasonable amount to pay her. She'll feed them twice a day, spend a little time with them and clean their litter tray. Anyone have any idea of the going rate?
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Is it time?
I know a lot of people say when you’re asking if it’s time to put your dog to sleep it is actually the right time but just after some advice… 13.5 year old dog - has dementia, hip arthritis, and degenerative spine disease which means he doesn’t have much strength in his back legs, trips often, and is incontinent from his…
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Cats Protection
Earlier this year I adopted a "two-year-old cat" in March. The day after I took the cat home I read all the documentation that came with the cat. I was in fact the owner of a fourteen-year-old cat. I contacted Cats Protection saying I thought I was getting a two-year-old cat as was advertised on the website. Seeing as this…
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Best pet insurance
I've had a look through the forum but I can't find any discussion about this. Anybody point me towards a relevant discussion? Adopting a rescue cat during the next week and would like to find an insurance company who will actually settle claims without a battle!
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Puppy knocked a kid over!
Really stressed at moment, I was taking dog to field to go to toilet and it was next to a kids playpark, the lead which is barely 2 weeks old snapped and she was excited and ran to the kids and knocked 2 kids over and was running around some others, took me a few minutes to catch her and I carried her most of way home and…
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"Cheep" Pet Insurance
I would be wary of cheap pet insurance. The essential thing is that the insurers pay up when needed. Saving money on premiums is a total waste if the insurers will not cover the bills - or make it so difficult to claim that you might as well not have bothered. My personal recommendation is for M&S. They most certainly are…
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Poo bags for your pocket
I have, for the past 9 years, used Wilkinsons dog poo bags, they come in a pack of 20 and fit nicely into my back pocket.They don't seem to be stocking these anymore. Are there others, not on a roll, that fit into your back pocket?I have tried to get biodegradable ones in the past, without success.
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Cat was crying in his sleep
I had to spend a few days in hospital after becoming unwell at home Our older cat knew I wasn't well that day - he came up to me looking concerned. I'm home now but he won't come near me the way he used to. He loved sneaking onto my bed from his bed but he won't do that anymore. I heard him meowing in pain, in his sleep,…
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Cat Advice needed
For over seven years since we moved here, our neighbour's cat has visited. He gradually worked his way in and has a chair and water bowl in our porch. His owner is aware but we know not to feed him and he was only here for a few hours, a couple of days a week. 18 months ago, the neighbour's dog was very ill, and the cat…
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pet cost
Im on low income but only recieve pip. The only place that can treat my cat discounted apparently is the pdsa at a discount not free rate. I have tried to get through via phone, but no one picks up .. what is the cost to have a sicky cat put to sleep, he is 16 and giving up before people offer advice on treatment. Also the…
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Food suggestions for Chronic Gastric reflux in 8yo Lab cross with atopic dermatitis?
Has anyone successfully managed to stop chronic gastric reflux through a diet change, even short term? My dog tends to regurgitate rather than be sick, in other words he instantly swallows what he brings up. His breath via the nose is fresh and healthy, but his mouth smells foul even though he has good teeth and gums. He…
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Pet insurance recommendations please
Hi, Only a week to go before we bring home 2 Jack Russell puppies, and excited is putting it mildly! We lost our last JRT back in April, and because of his age it hadn't been worth our while insuring him, obviously things will be diferent with these two. Are their any companies you would recommend? Previously we were with…
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Puppy sick or in season?
3 and a half weeks ago out of nowhere one night about 9pm she started getting very cranky and started jumping on top of my sofas, I don't mean the seats but the actual top of them then barking then she started mouthing my arm and so I took her out and she was overexcited and did nothing took her in and she did a huge poop…