Caring for your pets and native animals in summer

The weather has officially started to heat up, so it’s essential that we think of our pets during the summer period and keep them safe and cool.

Small pets and some native animals are particularly susceptible to the heat, so it’s vital to plan ahead and follow our easy tips and tricks to care for your pets during the warmer weather.

Read on for our top tips below:

Funny Dog With Sunglasses On Summer Towards Swimming Pool - Caring for your pets and native animals in summer

Keep your pets cool and have plenty of shade available:

If you’re away for work during the day, make sure your pets (including dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens) have access to cool, covered areas in the backyard or house with a big supply of water. If you have chickens, wet down their chook run as chickens stay much cooler when they can sit on the wet ground.

If it’s going to be a really hot day, it’s best to keep all pets inside on tiled floors with the air-conditioner on, so that you know they will be comfortable and cool all day long. A great tip is to put a few ice blocks into their water bowl so their water stays cooler throughout the day.

Go for a swim:

If you have a dog, why not let them splash around in a nearby lake, river or dog-friendly beach so they can exercise and cool down at the same time. Dogs love to play fetch in the water so bring a ball and we guarantee you’ll be popular!

Be weary of the footpath:

If you’re heading to the lake, river or beach as suggested above, or are just walking your animal around the block, be weary of hot footpaths, pebbles or bricks that can burn the paws of your animal’s feet. Stick to ovals or parks with plenty of grass and covered areas with shade for them to retreat and drink water when required.

Keep them out of the car:

Even with the air-conditioner on, some cars can get extremely hot so it’s best to avoid taking them in the car where possible. If you do need to take them in the car, don’t leave your animals unattended and ensure they have access to water if required.

Make sure they are vaccinated and are up-to-date with their medication:

Summer is a prime time for fleas and ticks to itch and bite your pets, causing added stress and discomfort. Make sure your pets have received recent flea treatments and are up-to-date with their vaccinations so they don’t catch any nasties.

Think of native animals:

During the summer season, we are more likely to see native animals and birds coming out of their hiding places to seek shade and water.

If you live in the country, you may see koalas on the ground as it’s cooler down low and they’ll be looking for water as gum leaves dry out in hot weather. Make sure you leave the koala alone and keep your pets away from them to avoid any unwanted stress. If the koala hasn’t retreated after a period of time, leave a container of cold water at the base of the tree in case it’s thirsty.

For other native animals like birds and lizards, place large, shallow bowls of water in shady places around your backyard to ensure they stay cool and hydrated. Make sure you refill and clean them out daily so there will always be plenty of fresh water to drink!

Be weary of walking through large bushes or long grass in the summer as snakes are much more prominent. Nasty snakebites can be dangerous for humans and pets so it’s best to walk in the evening and avoid these snake hotspots.

What are your top tips for keeping your pets safe and cool in the warmer weather? Let us know on Facebook.

Caring for your pets and native animals in summer - Jetpets cat transport

A New Puppy or Kitten for your Family

The arrival of a new puppy or kitten into your household is an exciting time for you and your whole family, however it’s important to carefully plan and prepare to ensure the experience is a positive, enjoyable one.

Read our top tips for welcoming a new animal into your home.

pug puppy and kitten - A New Puppy or Kitten for your Family

Stock up on supplies:

Make sure you are prepared for just about anything by stocking up on essential supplies in advance, including things like kitty litter, food, water and feeding bowl, a bed, scratching post, toys and more so that you don’t have any unwanted stress when bringing your new furry friend home.

If you have time, you can even set up their feeding area with fresh water and food so they feel right at home as soon as they arrive!

Determine your house rules:

Kittens and puppies learn from a young age, so it’s important to start training them from the beginning. Make sure you’ve discussed with your family or partner what the house rules are for your new pet so you can implement them straight away. House rules can be anything from determining whether they are allowed to sit on the bed or couch to who is in charge of feeding.

Stay at home:

Puppies and kittens are similar to newborn babies in that they require a fair amount of attention and supervision during the first few months! Make sure you have some time off work or bring your animal home over a long weekend so you can spend plenty of time bonding and looking after your pet. This is an important part of the training process as well, as you can start to teach them the house rules and how to listen to your commands.

Supervise children:

Some puppies and kittens are a bit cheeky when they are young and untrained, so make sure you watch your new pet when it’s around children to avoid any biting or scratching. This is also a great time to teach your children about looking after pets including how to pat them, feed them and hold them.

Organise training:

Book your puppy into puppy preschool so they can start learning to listen to instructions from an early age. Make sure you use positive reinforcement when implementing these rules at home, by rewarding them with praise, treats or chews for any good behaviour.

Plan fun activities:

Regardless if you’ve just brought home a new puppy or kitten, it’s always great to plan fun activities so you can bond with them and start having a great time.

After your animals have had their full vaccinations, take them for walk at the park or play fetch with the ball. For cats, have some fun by using a toy to play with them, or simply let them curl up on your lap while you relax and watch a movie.

Consider other pets:

If you have other pets already, it’s important to carefully plan their introduction. If your pets are particularly anxious, consider having a spare room for your new puppy or kitten to play in while your pets get used to their presence. Then just introduce them for small periods of time until they get used to each other. Make sure you always supervise your pets, reward them for good behavior and be patient – sometimes it takes time!

Are you planning on welcoming a new furry addition to your household in the near future? Here at Jetpets we can help transport your puppy or kitten right to your door, making the whole experience simple and easy – just ask us how!

cat and dog, dachshund puppy and kitten. A New Puppy or Kitten for your Family

Fun ways to mix up your exercise routine with your animals

One of our favourite ways to motivate ourselves to exercise is to take our pets with us, but sometimes even that can get a little dull when walking the same path, or running around the same oval, day after day!

 This year, make a resolution to mix up your exercise routine with your animals so you both can have some fun bonding and reaping the health benefits of physical exercise.

Here are some great ideas:

Dog And Owner Walking - Fun ways to mix up your exercise routine with your animals

Try somewhere new:

Perhaps one of the most simplest and easiest ways to have fun when you exercise with your pets is to try a new location. This could be taking your dogs to the beach, on a hike, or to a new park you’ve been dying to find the time to go to.

Let your dog guide you:

Instead of leading your animal, let your dog do all the steering and see where you end up. If you are in a secure location and your dog is highly responsive when called, let them off the leash and see where they wander. Otherwise, just hold the leash a little looser and let them wander at their free will. You may be surprised where you go!

Go running:

Most dogs love to run, so why not get fit and have them join in too. It doesn’t matter where you go, or if you choose a long distance run or some fast sprints across the oval. They will love to chase you and will push you to run harder and faster! If you do choose sprinting, make sure your pet follows you by giving them a treat and showing them the second treat to encourage them to chase you. We guarantee they will follow you!

Play a game:

We all know dogs love to chase the ball at the park, so why not chase it with them? Throw the ball at a large distance and try and sprint to beat them to the ball. Do that 10 times and you’ve added a great high intensity workout into your routine for both you and your pet.

Climb stairs:

This killer exercise is so great! Stair climbing gets your heart beating while working your legs and glutes. This exercise is also great for high-energy dog breeds who don’t get satisfied at the park. Why not choose stairs near a beach so you can work out, and then both of you can cool down in the ocean afterwards?

Go swimming:

As the hot weather is well and truly here, going swimming will exercise you and your pet and cool you down as well. You can play fetch in the water, or bring along a friend and play piggy in the middle with your dog who will love to chase the ball!

What kind of exercise do you do with your pets? Share your favourite activity with us on Facebook!

Moving Overseas With Your Pet

Have you just made the decision to move overseas? There is no doubt a lot to organise, without even thinking about how you can take your pet or pets along with you. But, at a time when everything in your life might be changing, having your furry friends with you will help you settle into your new home a lot quicker.

Here at Jetpets, we have the expertise to ensure your pet is transported seamlessly, either domestically or across the globe. Our Pet Travel Consultants can guide you through the entire process, and put your mind at ease.

Can we help you with an overseas move? Contact us today to get the process started.

Moving Interstate With Your Pet?

Are you moving interstate in the near future? Not sure where to start when it comes to arranging your pet’s transport? Here at Jetpets, we can help take care of all your pet travel needs to and from any location within Australia.

So how does it work?

Our Pet Travel Consultants will…

  • Find out all about your VIPs – very important pets!
  • Provide expert advice on preparing your pet for travel
  • Decide on the best sized travel crate
  • Book your pet on the most direct flight
  • Arrange a comfort stop along the way
  • Arrange a door to door service where required
  • Prepare your special detailed itinerary

Other parts of our service which make us unique:

  • We have Jetpets Resident Vets on staff to ensure your pet is healthy and fit for their journey
  • We also offer Jetpets Transit Lounge access, for your pet to have a stretch and relax out of their crate before their flight
  • Jetaway Travel (our sister company) can book your flight to match your pets if need be
  • We offer 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year customer service

Did you know?

  • The captain of the aircraft is aware that your loved one is on board their flight
  • The captain will set the temperature to approx. 18 degrees celsius so that they are comfortable
  • The pets cabin is dimly lit so that your loved one can see what is going on around them
  • What we feel and hear in the cabin of the plane is the same as what your pet will experience (except in a travel crate they have much more leg room than us!)

Watch How It Works… 

 

Happy Travellers – Summer 2015

There are few things we love more than seeing our furry friends being reunited with their families!

Here are just a few of the gorgeous ‘happy travellers’ that flew with Jetpets over the summer months.

 

a few of the gorgeous 'happy travellers' that flew with Jetpets over the summer months.

Rosie recently travelled with us from Sydney to the Big Apple – New York! (And yes, we may be just a little bit jealous!) Rosie’s owner Heiko sent us this adorable photo of Rosie in her new home, and some great feedback:

“Hi Danielle,

Just a quick note to say that we all arrived well and safe in New York. We were able to pick up Rosie from Lufthansa Cargo at JFK and it was all straightforward. She was so happy to see us, but we may have been even happier to see her. I even got a call from Pet Express Animal Transport to make sure everything was in order.

Rosie is settling in okay in New York – it’s very cold at the moment so she’s still getting used to that I think. Attached is a picture of Rosie in her new winter outfit. Thanks again for all your help, Heiko”

To view more Happy Traveller Testimonials, click here.