Check out these new videos by Dr Barry Nielsen on Vetalogica Joint Support and Omegaderm for cats and dogs.






You can now view the whole range of Vetalogica pet multivitamins at VetShopAustralia.

One of the wonderful things about living in the western world is the abundance of "things" that we have the good fortune of having. While we all like getting presents at Christmas time, it's probably safe to say that most of us have more "stuff" than we really need.

Some years ago, the team at VetShopAustralia decided that rather than sending presents (more "stuff") to customers and suppliers, we would instead make a gift to a poor or underprivilaged community in the name of our staff, customers and suppliers.

We chose the "Smiles" program operated by World Vision (worldvision.com.au), as it is focused on helping the poorest of the poor, with items that are sustainable, and help break the brutal cycle of poverty. As animal lovers, we choose gifts of farm animals, which help the communities by providing not just food, but also wool, milk & eggs to sell and donkeys and cattle to help till the earth and cart goods.

World Vision also provides the communities with animal husbandry training and support, so that we know that these animals will not just be appreciated, but well cared for as well.

Although the economic conditions have been tough this year, we are proud to say that we have been able to maintain our tradition of giving "just a little bit more" each year. This year, our selected gift was a Stable full of animals (click here to view). This gift will go to a community in Australia's close neighbour, East Timor and comprises of two donkeys, two cows, two goats, four ducks, and six chickens with chicken feed.

We hope our contribution will go some way to helping the families in this community. Click here to read more about the work of World Vision in East Timor.

On behalf of everyone here at VetShopAustralia, we wish you, your family, friends, and of course pets, a safe and merry Christmas!

Pet food company Purina set out recently to determine exactly what cats do all day when their owners are not home. They fitted tiny cameras to the collars of fifty indoor cats. The digital cameras snapped off a still photo every 15 minutes. By examining the thousands of photos, animal behavior scientist Dr. Jill Villarreal was able to determine just what our kitty friends get up to during the day.

While cats have been known to sleep between 8 and 16 hours a day, when they are awake they are extremely active, seeking out sensory stimulation. Contrary to the belief that cats are solitary animals, cats spent a lot of time seeking out and interacting with other animals in the household. Not just other cats, but also dogs and other pets such as rabbits. The cats in the survey spent 12% of their time in the company of other animals, 6% of the time sleeping and 5% of the time playing with their toys. However the one activity that took up most of their day, in fact 21% of the time, was surprisingly staring out the window! Cats just seemed to love observing what was going on outside! Curious by nature, cats were able to lie in the sun and watch the world go by for hours.

Following on from her research, Dr Villarreal suggests that we make our home stimulating for our feline friends, by providing different toys, such as furry mice, treat-dispensing balls and catnip filled stuffed toys. She suggests hiding small treats around the house, leaving the blinds or curtains open and even leaving the television on during the day.

They say that every dog has its day, but it seems that now, every pet of every type has his or her day. Check out this list of pet "days" I just found online:

JANUARY
National Bird Day--January 5
National Dress Up Your Pet Day - January 14
Answer Your Cats Questions Day - January 22

FEBRUARY
Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
National Bird Feeding Month
Pet Dental Health Month
Responsible Pet Owners Month
Petsitters Week - February 1 - 7
National Aminal Poison Prevention Week - February 15 - 21
Have a Heart for Chained Dogs Week - February 7-14
Groundhog Day - February 2
Sled Dog Day - February 2
Pet Theft Awareness Day - February 14
National Dog Biscuit Day - February 23
International Polar Bear Day - February 27

MARCH
Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
National Pig Day--March 1
National Puppy Day- March 23

APRIL
International Pet First Aid Month
National Pet Month
Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month
Prevention of Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
International Pooper Scooper Week April 1 - 7
National Pet ID Week - April 18-24
National Wildlife Week - April 18 - 26
National Pet Day - April 10
Hairball Awareness Day - April 24
Bulldogs are beautiful Day - April 25
National Kids & Pets Day - April 26

MAY
Go Fetch - Food Drive for Animals month
National Pet Week - 1st week of May
Be Kind to Animals Week - 1st week of May
National Dog Bite Prevention Week May 13-19
Save the Rhino Day--May 1
National Disabled Pets Day - May 3
Respect for chickens Day - May 4
National See Monkey Day - May 16
Frog Jumping Jubilee Day-- May 19
World Turtle Day - May 23
Hug your cat day - May 30

JUNE
Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month
Turkey Lovers Month
Take Your Dog To Work Day - June 26

JULY
Rabbit week - July 15 - 21
Cow Appreciation Day - July 25

AUGUST
Assistance Dog Week - August 9 - 15
National Homeless Animals Day - August 15
National Dog Day - August 26th

SEPTEMBER
World Animal Remembrance Month
National Dog Week - Last week of September
Responsible Dog Ownership Day - September 19
Elephant Appreciation Day - September 22
Fish Tank Floorshow night - September 28

OCTOBER
Adopt-a- Shelter Dog Month
National Animal Safety & Prevention Month
Fire Pup Day - October 1
Mule Day - October 26
National Cat Day October 29

NOVEMBER
National Pet Cancer Awareness Month
Senior Pet Month
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week - November 5-11
Cat Days - November 20 - 22

DECEMBER
Operation Santa Paws - December 1 - 19
National Mutt Day - December 2
Day of the Horse - December 12

It's our 10th birthday. 10 years since VetShopAustralia.com.au was created, and to celebrate we are giving our customers a little something back to show our appreciation for their support over the years.

Recently we published the results of a survey we conducted, on who people would rather be shipwrecked with. It turns out most respondents chose their dog!

56 per cent of respondents to our online survey said they would rather be stranded on a desert island with their dog than a human. Spouses were a distant second (16 per cent), followed by cats (12 per cent), mothers (11 per cent) and human best friends (5 per cent).

For us the survey was just a bit of a laugh, but we were delighted when the story was picked up by television and radio media throught the country.

What really amazed us was that the story was picked up by media all of the world, including the Czech Republic, Holland and India. I guess it just goes to show that people all over the world are the same, and everyone enjoys a good chuckle now and then.

A lot of vets are now embracing alternative therapies for pets. Treating dogs with acupuncture is not new, and this trend is something we've been watching for some time. I was surprised to read last week that there are now more than 200 vets in Australia  accredited with the  International Veterinary Acupuncture Society. This accreditation is the official veterinary acupuncture qualification endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Association.


Vets use acupuncture to treat variety of problems in all kinds of pets, but its most common use appears to be for treating back problems in dogs where the problem has not responded to drugs or surgery. Acupuncture is also used to treat complaints such as arthritis, urinary & bladder problems, some behaviour and skin problems and older animals.

Trauma is the most common cause of back problems in dogs. Causes include car accidents, falling, repeated jumping and twisting during exercise. Some dog breeds such as dachshunds and bulldogs appear to be are more prone to back injury due the lenght of  vertebrae. Many vets report significant improvement in dogs treated with acupuncture.

Many of us are familiar or at least aware of the traditional Chinese therapy of acupuncture, which  involves placing fine needles into specific points in the body. Health, according to the Chinese, is the life force energy, or chi (also sometimes called qi) flowing freely around the meridians or energy channels of the body. Acupuncture is said to clear any blockages to allow the free flow of chi.

Vets report that most dogs receive acupuncture well. Each treatment generally takes about 20 to 30 minutes  and in most cases three or four treatments a few days apart are required.

If you think your pet might benefit from a course of acupuncture,  talk to your local vet or the Australian Veterinary Acupuncture Association.

I recently had two weeks holidays at Airlie Beach, Queensland which is one of the stopovers for visiting the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Though I didn’t actually go to any of the islands this trip, (years ago I spent a great deal of time exploring the Great Barrier Reef islands while cruising on a 40 ft yacht with my husband and two young children), I did visit the Mackay region hinterland which boasts beautiful waterfalls and great walking tracks. Eungella National Park has a lovely river called Broken River that meanders through it. Whilst visiting Eungella National Park, I was fortunate to see one of the resident platypii up early one morning searching for his breakfast. It was very exciting seeing him fossicking around. I managed to get a good shot of him swimming and below is a photo of him surfacing with a lazy old turtle sunning himself on the log.

November 15 is Steve Irwin Day, an international and annual event to celebrate the extraordinary life of the one and only Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. The day will represent the many things Steve was passionate about: FAMILY, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, FUN and KHAKI.

This year Wildlife Warriors are raising funds to continue the research on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in order to learn more about this amazing place and the wildlife that inhabit it. There are a number of ways in which you can help so read on and pick the one that is most suitable for you.

Build your own Khaki Hero fundraising page

Ok, I know there are literally millions of cute photos of dogs and cats out there on the internet. But sometimes one just catches your eye. Here is one I saw today and I just had to share it.

10 years!  It can just go by in a flash, can’t it? 

Our lives were different 10 years ago.  When Mark and Steven founded VetShopOnline 10 years ago, their families comprised just them and their wives and a handful of young pets (in Mark’s case, Pearl the Labrador, Jake the Irish Wolfhound Cross and Lokki, the Clinic Cat, for Steven, a young Cavalier King Charles Puppy named Poppy).   In what seems like only a heartbeat, Mark and Steven have seen their families, and their businesses grow. They have 6 kids between them, Pearl, Jake and Lokki are in the great pet playground in the sky and Poppy is a geriatric old lady with arthritis!

It’s hard to remember that, 10 years ago, the Internet and computer didn’t play the dominant role in our lives that they do now.  We didn’t tell our friends what we were doing each day (or minute) on networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, our cars didn’t have television screens or GPS, we had VCRs and couldn’t imagine MP3 players replacing the Discman! And home internet access was just taking off, as more and more people accessed the Internet for fun and for personal convenience.

VetShopOnline (now VetShopAustralia for our Australian customers) was born during a long lazy summer Perissinotto family lunch in 1999. Mark and Steven spoke about the internet, and how it would change lives.  Mark, a veterinarian, believed that e-commerce and the internet would change shopping habits, and that people would prefer not to take time out of their precious weekends to visit the vet to merely buy products for their animals. From those initial thoughts, VetShopOnline was created!  VetShop took its first order in November 1999, and is now celebrating 10 years of service to animal lovers around the world.

The business started small.  Initially, operations were conducted from a room within Mark’s vet clinic. The best advertising for the fledgling business was word of mouth, and it seemed that every happy customer told at least 3 friends – in a short time, the number of orders had tripled, and VetShop grew quickly, resulting in a move to purpose built facility on the Sunshine Coast. Growth has continued and this year, we’ve moved again in to bigger, more efficient premises.

VetShop has also benefited from exposure in the local and national press, with articles recommending the store in magazines ranging from Business Review Weekly, and the New Idea to the Readers Digest and newspapers including the Sydney Morning Herald, and our “local rag” the Sunshine Coast Daily. We have also benefited from strong government support including being reviewed in the Austrade and Australia Post Annual Reports.  Mark was even featured in a national advertising campaign by Australia Post.

Like lots of people our age, we refuse to grow old gracefully and our business has had quite a few “face lifts” over the years.  We do a lot of online shopping ourselves, so we do try and constantly improve! In our 10th year, we felt delighted that our hard work was acknowledged when  we received the First Annual Online Retailer of the Year Award from the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association.

However, some things at VetShop haven’t changed, despite the growth of the business.  Lots of the VetShop staff have been with the company since the very early days – like Robyne, now dispatch manager, whose daughter was once Mark’s veterinay nurse, and who started with us packing and shipping products 7 years ago.We pride ourselves on being a friendly place to work,  with lots of the staff bringing their pets to work with them. We even give “carers leave” to allow staff to take time off to care for ill pets! 


Thank you for being part of the last 10 years at VetShopAustralia – we certainly couldn’t have done it without you!

Summer time is just around the corner, and as the heat creeps up, we all start thinking of ways to cool down.   The four-legged members of the family are just the same, but here are some ways to ensure that your faithful Fido is kept cool but safe this summer.

First priority has to be safety.  Make sure that your pool and spa areas are dog-safe.  In most States, there are now strict laws about pool fencing, to protect children from accidental drownings.  These laws also have the consequence of protecting our dogs from drowning – but only if we comply with the law.  Now is the time to check that the pool fencing is adequate to keep children and dogs from accessing the pool without supervision.

• Does the pool gate latch safely when closed?
• Are there chairs or landscaping features that can be used to climb the fence?
• Has Fido dug holes under the fencing?

What would happen to your dog if he did get into the pool?  Now might be the time to ensure that your dog can swim (most dogs can instinctively “dog paddle”, but some struggle with this skill).  The most important thing to teach your dog is that the stairs are the safe place to exit the pool.

But what about a place where your dog can cool down?  Many dogs love water play, particularly on hot days!  Fill a children’s wading pool (the hard plastic type that are often shaped like a shell) no more than 15 cm deep – less for little dogs with shorter legs!  This dog-pool should be in a shady place – perfect for a splash and a lie down on a hot day!

Discount Comfortis Chewable Flea tablets are now available on VetShopAustralia.com.au

Comfortis Chewable Tablets for Dogs are a meat flavoured tablet that rapidly kills fleas on dogs and then goes on to prevent flea infestations for a further month. Comfortis starts to kill fleas within 30 minutes of administration and will kill 100% of fleas on a dog within 4 hours. The chewable meat flavoured tablet is readily accepted by dogs and as the product is an oral medication there are no restrictions with regards to swimming or washing after treatment. Comfortis comes in 5 convenient sizes for dogs between 2.3 and 54 kgs in weight.

To check out the range click here.

My family and I where recently enjoying a day out at a street festival at Brisbane's Racecourse Road, when we saw these two beautiful ladies with their dogs.

Look closely though, and you'll see, the dogs aren't real! They are actually toys mounted on wheels. The two ladies do a 1960s Ladies in Gloves Routine which is hilarious!

My kids liked them so much they insisted that I post a photo of them on our blog.

We are delighted to say that last night, VetShopAustralia.com.au was announced as Australian Online Retailer of the Year in the 1st Annual AMBER Awards! Needless to say, we are all overjoyed by the award, and in particular that the reason we were picked was because of our outstanding "customer experience delivery".

The Amber Awards are given by peak industry body, the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association and we are really proud of the fact that we even made it in to the list of 5 finalists, along with ebay.com.au, ticketek.com.au, greysonline.com.au and citysoftware.com.au.

Consumer survey and usability testing were the two factors in determining the award winners, so we really must thank all our customers who voted for us and our staff who work so hard at making the business run well.

What do we as pet owners have to look forward to in the next few years in terms of pet products?

We all know that Australian trends often follow those of the US, so here are the 12 latest trends for pets and pet owners in the USA according to the 2009/2010 Pet Owners Survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association :

Reducing Your Pets Carbon PAW print
Around the world people are making conscious efforts to help our planet Earth, and the pet industry is no exception. From natural litters to toys, accessories and organic food options, earth-friendly pet products are sprouting up everywhere. 

Going to the Dogs
More and more companies traditionally know for human products are going to the dogs, and cats, and reptiles. Big name companies including like Paul Mitchell, Omaha Steaks, Origins, Harley Davidson and Old Navy are now offering lines of pet products ranging from dog shampoo, pet attire, and name-brand toys to gourmet treats and food.

Pets Welcome
Many hotels across the country are adopting pet friendly policies. Several chains have announced new pet-friendly policies that include everything from oversized pet pillows, plush doggie robes, to check-in gift packages that include a pet toy, dog treat, ID tag, bone and turn down treat. Some even have a licensed dog masseuse on staff.

Pet Products Sold Here
Shopping for pet products is becoming easier than ever with an increasing variety of retail outlets now selling pet products. Right along side fertilizer and shovels, shoppers can now find pet products such as doggie doors and yellow lawn spot removers sold at many lawn and garden stores, nurseries, and major home improvement stores including Home Depot.

Ultra-Clean…
Pet-owners take grooming one step beyond a haircut, a quick bath and a nail trim. Mouthwash and an electric toothbrush for canines are routine steps in a beauty session for some pooches. Birds receive daily pedicures with special cage perches, while others enjoy manicures complete with nail polish. Pet-owning homes stay cleaner with automatic, self-flushing litter boxes, cleaning cloths for muddy paws that mimic traditional baby wipes, and scented gel air fresheners to keep rooms free of pet odors.

Dinner is Served
Today's pet foods include complete and balanced diets that tantalize our pets' taste buds and satisfy their tummies. Formulas for puppies and kittens, specialized meals for reptiles, birds and fish and diets for senior pets ensure a long and healthy life for our beloved companions.

State-of-the-Art
High-tech products including computerized identification tags, digital aquarium kits, automatic doors and feeders, enhanced reptile terrarium lighting systems and touch-activated toys help pet-owners take care of companion animals with ease and precision.

Loosen Up
As pet owners meditate in yoga class, cats relieve stress by frolicking in a toy gym or relaxing in a feline spa before enjoying herbal catnip packaged in a tea bag. Dogs sip fresh water from flowing fountains after a soothing rub with a doggie massager.

Help Yourself!
Products designed with convenience in mind lead this trend. Programmable feeding and drinking systems, automatic and battery-operated toys, self-cleaning litter boxes and self-warming pet mats let pets virtually care for themselves!

Straight from the Catwalk
Faux mink coats, hipster lumberjack vests, designer plaid jackets, matching jeweled and leather collar and leash sets, Halloween costumes, and holiday outfits keep pets in fashion throughout the year. Upscale leather carriers complete with a cell phone and water bottle holder are the perfect accessories to keep the pet owner in style as well.

Keep on Truckin'
Whether it's a quick trip to the supermarket or a long ride to the beach, companion animals are now traveling animals too. Buckled up in a harness, seat belt system or a portable carrier, these pets stay safe and secure while on the road. Food and water along with safety supplies are on hand in all-in-one kits, waste disposal systems make for easy clean-up on quick stops and motion sickness aids are available too.

Hello, My Name Is…
From monogrammed sweaters and personalized food and water bowls to digitized collar tags and hand-made treats, owners embrace their pets as true members of the American family celebrating their fluffy, finned and feathered companions with their very own belongings.

Whether or not you choose to keep up with these pet trends is of course up to you, but its interesting to see what the rest of the world is up to.

How much does it cost to keep a dog? How much does it cost to keep a cat?

According to a recent news article in the Adelaide Advertiser  it costs the average Australian family  $746 a year to keep a pet dog and $583 to keep a cat. The annual costs of keeping a dog include:



1.    food
2.    flea, worm, heartworm and tick control (buy online at VetShopAustralia.com.au – its cheaper :)  )
3.    vet visits (pet insurance can help)
4.    a toy or two
5.    grooming fees
6.    brush & shampoos/conditioners
7.    collar and lead
8.    council licence/registration fees
9.    pet sitting/boarding

This is all on top of the initial costs of getting a dog including the price of the dog (consider a shelter dog), vet check, vaccinations, bedding, food and water bowls etc.

If you’re thinking of getting a cat, you’ll be up for the same sorts of expenses (although generally because cats are smaller than dogs, there are cost savings).

Although Australia has a very high proportion of pet ownership (there are more dogs and cats in Australia than humans!) the incidence of pet ownership seems to be declining a little, and cost does appear to be one of the factors. There are ways of saving money owning a pet, but you need to remember to keep these costs in mind.

Of course, there are benefits (including costs benefits) to owning a pet. For example:

• pet owners visit the doctor less and get sick less often
• pets (especially dogs) deter theft and break ins
• exercising your pet at the park saves on gym fees
• playing with your pet is cheap fun for you (and the kids!)

We certainly think each one of our pets is worth the cost!

We are very excited to now be stocking the great range of vitamins, supplements and other pet care products from Vetalogica.

Vetalogica is a leader in animal nutrition and healthcare with vitamins, supplements and other pet care products developed by Veterinarians, nutritionists and pharmacists over many years (it even comes with a flavour guarantee!).


The great range of carefully developed vitamins for dogs and cats includes:

Canine Joint Support
Joint Formula for Dogs with Glucosamine
Canine Omegaderm
Canine Total Oral Defence
Canine Tranquil Formula
Canine Senior Multi
Canine Multi+Immune Complex
Canine Prodigestive Ultra
Canine Slim Extract
Feline Joint Support
Feline Omegaderm
Feline Total Oral Defence
Feline Tranquil Formula
Feline Senior Multi
Feline Multi+Immune Complex
Feline Prodigestive Ultra
Feline Slim Extract

To check out the range click here.

 It was great to see that part of Dr Mark's recent article and blog post on reducing your pet's carbon "pawprint" has been picked up by the national media. The article appeared in 10 different newspapers across Australia including the Sydney Morning Herald, the News Mail, the Herald Sun, the Fraser Coast Chronicle, the Morning Bulletin, the Queensland Times, the Townsville Bulletin, the Geelong Advertiser and the Border Mail.

The story also appeared in various online news sites, including these ones:


http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/pets-trigger-green-p
aws-for-thought-20091001-gdoh.html

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/870106/pets-trigger-green-paws-for-thought

http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/pets-trigger-green-paws-for
-thought-20091001-gdoh.html

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/lifestyle/a/-/lifestyle/6131420/pets-trigge
r-green-paws-for-thought/

At VetShopAustralia.com.au we are currently implementing various green initiatives to improve our own performance (stand by for more on this over the next few months). In the meantime, here are some simple steps you can take to help mother nature just that little bit more:

• buy  high-quality pet food containing good sources of  protein such as beef, lamb, chicken or fish as the first ingredient rather than a by-product or beef meal. This change also has major impact on your pet's health as well as reducing the amount of “mess” that you need to clean up.
• Keep away from highly processed treats - highly packaged, heavily processed treats that resemble human junk food are not good.
• Recycle cans and plastic food bags and try shopping for products with minimal packaging.
• Use stainless steel or ceramic food and water bowls. They last longer and reduce the risk of exposing your pets to nasty chemical emissions and residue.
• make your own. Google “home made pet toys” and you get literally thousands of ideas. You can also make your own catnip.

Simple steps like those outlined above, all add up and cost very little (or even save you money) so why not give them a try?

Traditionally, Kingaroy is the centre of Australia's peanut and navy bean industries and also has a strong agricultural and beef cattle heritage. I travelled to the field day with my father, and we really enjoyed the country hospitality and feeling of community.

As well as taking the opportunity to meet many of our customers from local farms, I particularly enjoyed just walking around watching the families, listening to the country singer, taking a chance guessing the weight of a 3 year old steer, and watching the faces of the small children as the visiting trick horse riders do their thing.

There is something about seeing 4 generations of a farming family strolling through the stalls displaying everything from tractors, cowboy boots, seed and of course discount pet products (that's us!) with great grand dad in a wheel chair, grandad and dad wearing matching cowboy hats, toddler in the in push chair and of course, mum in boots, hat and a baby's milk bottle tucked in to her back pocket!.

The old saying is true - "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy".

The day itself was a great success financially, raising over $10,000 for anti-depression initiatives among rural communities. Well done to all the organisers.

Update: We Won! Click here for details

Everyone here is very excited that we have made the final 5 nominees for the title of "Australian Online Retailer of the Year"!

For those of you who didn't see our earlier posts, VetShopAustralia.com.au has been nominated for the 2009 Online Retailer of the Year as determined by the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association. While obviously we have our fingers crossed for the award itself, its terrific just to make the shortlist along with household names like ebay.com.au, ticketek.com.au and graysonline.com.au

Thank you once again to everyone for thier support during the public voting stage.

• Border Collie
• Poodle
• German Shepherd (Alsatian)
  
• Golden Retriever
• Doberman Pinscher
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Labrador Retriever
• Papillon
• Rottweiler
• Australian Cattle Dog

Personally, I am not sure if lists like this are really that helpful, and if you feel you have a clever dog, but his or her breed hasn't made this list, I would not be too put out. What I do know is, that as an owner of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, I am not the least bit surprised that this breed never makes any of those sorts of lists!

Scheduled for release to the market this (North American) Autumn, the Honda Element's optional features for car travel with dogs will include:

• a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform;
• second row and cargo area pet restraint systems;
• an extendable cargo area load-in ramp;
• a 12V DC rear ventilation fan;
• second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric);
• all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern;
• a spill-resistant water bowl; and
• Dog Friendly exterior emblems.

With nearly half of all Australian households owning at least one dog, no one doubts that there is a growing market for these sort of dog specific features in cars, but I hope no one tells my Spaniels that Honda's purpose designed "Dog Friendly Equipment" will accommodate the transportation of dogs in the second-row passenger seats (as well as in the cargo area). I already have enough trouble getting my "girls" in the back. If they know there is an option to ride up front, I'm in real trouble! On the other hand, the rear loading ramp will be a great help for smaller spaniels and all other little dogs that have trouble getting in to the cargo bay of most SUVs.



It is good to see car manufacturers building in features which makes car travel with dogs safer and easier. For full specifications and more pictures and photos of the Honda Element you can read the Honda press release about the 2009 Honda Element and its Dog Friendly features .


I'm not sure the Dog Friendly Exterior Emblems would convince me to buy the car, but I love the load-in ramp and the rear ventilation fan and of course, dog restraint systems are a must for anyone traveling with dogs in the car. The idea of a "spill-resistant water bowl' is interesting, but I would like to see it in action before I pass judgment on how useful that is.

Please don't forget to vote for VetShopAustralia.com.au as Australia's Best Online Retailer in the AMBER Awards.

The Amber Awards, conducted by the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association, recognise outstanding service by online businesses.


VetShopAustralia.com.au has made the nominees list, and to make the final 5, we need lots of people to rate us highly in the online survey run by CoreData. The survey takes less than a 2 minutes, and is completely anonomous. The link is:

http://www.coredata.com.au/limesurvey/index.php?sid=51964&lang=en

Voting closes on 24 September 2009.

John Sherri, the Chief Steward, who was responsible for organising the Dog Show approached us to find out if we could lend any support.

We were more than delighted to.

Over 450 dogs flooded the showfield that morning, in all shapes and sizes. It was a rather unique scene on the field which usually host weekly Rugby matches.

It was a perfect morning for any show to be held, bright and sunny. Dr. Mark and I were amongst the first to arrive to set up our marquee which was just next to the stewards' stall.

The show's organiser were surprised with the number of entries received, some came from as far as 200km away.

We gave out heaps of brochures about who we are, products we range, heartworm, flea and tick control educational printed materials.



The response that we received was quite overwhelming. We received a lot of entries in the small contest that we held during the show.

We were particularly keen in cheering for Sheri and her dogs, Matilda and Uluru. Both are Australian Cattle dogs. Sheri consistently breeds champions Cattle Dogs. Not long ago she received a certificate for a pup that she bred and it won something big in New Zealand. Congrats!

A pure bred Doberman stole the judges' heart and ran away with the Best in Show award. Too bad I did not get the chance to snap a few pictures of finalist competing in the final round.

Overall, we had lots of fun. The feeling to reach out to the community was fantastic.

If you have a favorite animal shaped building, let me know and we will post some pictures!

In a paper presented at this year's annual conference of the British Psychological Society's, attendees where told that while participant's answers weren't perfect, they were correct up to 60 percent of the time.



Dr Lance Workman who presented the paper, said there might be a simple logic behind it."If you are of a robust build, you probably get a robust-built dog because you'd want to get lots of exercise," he said. "If you are slight, you might be more likely to have a poodle because you think it needs less exercise."

But he warned it was quite superficial and didn't translate to personality. The researchers had first set out to see if dogs and their masters had similar personalities, but questionnaires filled in by owners of labradors, poodles and bull terriers found little difference in their traits and habits.

The study, by Ross Flom and BYU students, Dan Hyde and Heather Whipple Stephenson was recently reported in the Journal of Developmental Psychology.

The experiment comprised first showing the babies two different pictures of the same dog, one in an aggressive posture and the other in a friendly stance. Then the researchers played sound clips of a friendly and an aggressive dog bark.

The research showed that while the recordings played, the 6-month-old children spent most of their time staring at the picture with the matching body language. Children older than 6 months, usually made the connection instantly.

I guess as the the Mythbusters would say, this one is well and truely proven!

Our own Dr Mark has received some media coverage lately, regarding the need for pet owners to be vigilant as the unusually warm weather of recent weeks could lead to an extended and potentially deadly paralysis tick season this summer.

Ticks thrived in hot, moist conditions found across most of Australia’s eastern seaboard.In previous years, rain after an extended dry period has brought out the paralysis ticks in large numbers and with the unusually warm weather of late, we could see a bumper year for the dangerous parasite.

To see the articles in full visit:

Northside Chronicle

Here's a story that comes from one of our overseas customers.

How many people would know that an Australian trained carrier pigeon carried a message in the Pacific that lead to American soldiers being rescued from heavy enemy attack? The bird in question won the Dickin Medal (kind of like the "Victoria Cross" for Animals). The citation reads:

Blue chequer cock No. 879:D/D: 43: Q Loft No. 5 of 1 Australian Pigeon Section, attached to the US forces, Manus Island, Admiralty Islands 5th April 1944. Awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry carrying a message through heavy fire thereby bringing relief to a patrol surrounded and attacked by the enemy without other means of communication.

And of course, lets not forget the mascots that many platoons and companies keep. From bulldogs to cockatoos, from kangaroos to crocodiles, these mascots bring our fighting men and women some entertainment and comfort while far from home.


I love this World War I photo of Aussie troops with a Wallaby mascot in front of the pyramids.

Regardless of what your view is on the rights or wrongs of a particular war (or war in general) there is no denying the bravery of the animals that work along-side our troops.

If you are in the military or know someone who is and have a photo of a military mascot currently serving overseas, I'd love to see it, and if you let me, I'd be happy to post a copy on our blog.

We're delighted to tell everyone that VetShopAustralia.com.au has been nominated for
Australia's Best Online Retailer in the AMBER Awards conducted by the Australian Interactive Media Industry Association.


To make the final 5, we need lots of people to rate us highly in the online survey run by CoreData. The survey takes less than a 2 minutes, and is completely anonomous. The link is:

http://www.coredata.com.au/limesurvey/index.php?sid=51964&lang=en

Obviously we would very much appreciate your support (and the support of your mum and dad, brothers, sisters, kids, relatives, neighbours, workmates, friends,facebook buddies, people you sit next to on the bus etc :) ).

A cat has become such a well-known user of a Devon (England) bus service, that its drivers know where to let him off.

Casper, the former shelter cat, has been queuing with other passengers to get the number three service from his home in Plymouth for months, according to the bus company "First".

Casper's owner Susan Finden, who has had him since 2002, said he had always been a free spirit.

Mrs Finden said she named her pet after Casper the Friendly Ghost, as he has a habit of wandering off. I don't know what the attraction is but he loves big vehicles like lorries and buses she said.

Welcome to The Lab. The VetShopAustralia.com.au blog!