New data from UK Pet Food reveals there is a drop off in feeding our wild birds across the spring and summer months, despite this being one of the most important times to support them.

The post Wild Bird Feeding Guidance appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

Brush your pet’s teeth

• Pet owners should always seek advice from a vet to ensure that brushing is effective. However this depends on motivation, a certain degree of technical skill by the owner, and of course, a willing pet!

How to brush pet’s teeth

• You will need a (soft) toothbrush and a tooth paste formulated for pets. You must use a pet tooth paste as the human tooth pastes have a high fluoride content which can be toxic to cats and dogs. Again owners should seek their vet’s advice.

A balanced diet

• Supporting the mouth’s own self-cleaning system by feeding a balanced diet which includes some biscuits and chews. As well as the above methods of removing plaque, there are a number of excellent dental chews and specially formulated diets which can provide significant improvements to your pet’s oral health.

Veterinary checks

• Regular veterinary check ups should include an examination of your pet’s mouth. Finally, many pets require periodic professional scaling by a vet in addition to on-going plaque control.

There are a number of dental chews for dogs and cats on the market which reduce tartar build up and help keep your pet’s mouth fresh.

Whimzees Toothbrushes are edible, vegetarian, gluten-free dental treats. A healthy option for dogs with gluten intolerance or food sensitivities. 15% Off the Whimzees range at Copdock Mill Wholesale this month.

• Knobby shape ensures proper blood flow through the gums and prevents bad breath and tartar buildup.
• Hollow shapes and spaces allow the teeth to easily grip and chew, with grooves that get in between the smaller spaces.
• Low fat and rich in vitamins and antioxidants, plus fibre to promote regularity and aid in good digestive health.
• Produced sustainably with no artificial ingredients, colours, flavours or preservatives or GMOs, gluten or meat.

Purina Dentalife dental chews are scientifically proven to help scrub even those hard-to-reach back teeth, that are the most vulnerable to plaque and tartar build up. This pet dental health month, small and medium Dentalife sticks are 35% off at Copdock Mill Wholesale.

• Chewy porous texture with wholesome ingredients.
• Cleans even the hard to reach teeth.
• Scientifically proven to help reduce tartar build-up.
• Natural cleaning action.

Did you know you can now place your trade order online? Contact your Copdock Mill Sales representative today for more information. Our full trade price list and February special offer sheet can be found here.

The post Pet Dental Health Month 2024 appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

Common signs that your horse is showing dental discomfort are:

• Resistance and evasion to the bit or bridle.
• Difficulty in feeding and reluctance to drinking cold water.
• Changes in mood, such as irritability or aggression.
• Headshaking or holding their head to the side, indicating pain.

Top tips for prevention are:

• Ground Feed

Horses were designed to eat from the ground, keeping their jaw correctly aligned whilst chewing which will help to reduce abnormal wear and tear on the teeth.

• Using a digestive supplement

Digestion is a key factor as horses rely on a healthy population of microfibres in their gut to digest fibre. Using a supplement containing yeast and prebiotics will help.

Dengie – Feeding Horses With Poor Dentition

Fibre is vital for the healthy function of the horse’s digestive system and satisfies their need to chew. High fibre feeds can be chopped or pelleted; the latter can be fed soaked making them beneficial for veterans, those with poor dentition and aiding hydration during winter months.

Many owners are seeking alternatives to forage for horses with dental issues which affect horses of all ages. A study showed that when high fibre materials were provided in a farm the horse could manage, they were able to consume just as much as a horse with normal dentition. Providing forage in a form that is manageable ensures they are still receiving sufficient fibre to keep them healthy.

Short, soft chopped fibre feeds should be the first alternative for those who struggle with hay or haylage. These types of feed still require more chewing than a pelleted fibre which increases the amount of saliva produced to support digestive health.

Feeding soaked pelleted fibre is ideal for horses that struggle to chew even short-chopped fibre. As a soaked feed this helps reduce dehydration too. Research has shown that horses tend to drink 6-14% less in cold weather. Combined with a change from grazing to much drier hay, winter can result in a considerable decrease in water intake, thereby increasing the risk of dehydration and problems such as colic.

Whether using chopped or pelleted fibre, feed the same amount as you would have fed of hay, which should be at least 1.5% of body weight per day including grazing.

The post Equine Dental & Digest appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

This switch could be to a new brand for preference or cost or a different type of feed due to advice pertaining to a medical condition. Switching from puppy to adult and again to senior feeds is also a process every dog owner must consider.

The best way to switch to a different food is gradually over time. Spreading this process over a two week period is the safest way to avoid any problems. Unless advised to by a Vet, never change a dog’s food suddenly. This is because sudden changes to diet can cause issues concerning the digestive system, which can make dogs less likely to eat the food offered to them.

On days 1-3

Offer your dog a small amount of their new food along with their existing diet. About ¼ new and ¾ old. Try to keep the foods separate in two different bowls. This allows them the choice to explore the new option without affecting the existing meal.

On days 4-6

Combine the two different feeds in one bowl, still in the same ratio as days 1-3.

On days 7-9

Increase this ratio to ½ of the new food and ½ of the old. At day 9 if your dog is happily eating the new food, gradually increase the amount of new food over the next five days until you have completely phased out the old food.

If at any point the amount of new food being added is deterring your dog from eating, decrease the amount back to a level they will happily eat and continue with this for a few more days. After several days they should start to show interest again and you can begin to increase the amount of new food in their diet.

If you’re having trouble with switching over to a new food, it’s best to speak to your vet. They can make sure that the food you have chosen is best for your dog and that they don’t have any health issues that might be affecting their appetite.

Looking for a recommendation?

Brigadier’s Choice Premium dog food is specially formulated to suit all breeds throughout all life stages. Using only quality ingredients and manufactured in the UK to the highest standard, you can be assured your best friend will get all they need from this highly palatable dog food. All diets are complete, balanced and hypo-allergenic, formulated to meet the unique dietary requirements of your pet. Don’t compromise on nutrition, feed Brigadier’s Choice Premium Dog Food and start saving today.

If you are considering moving from dry food to feeding raw Nature’s Menu have a helpful guide to help dog owners understand the differences at dinner time.

Find your dog’s new food, including Brigadier’s Choice and Nature’s Menu, at one of our Gladwells Pet & Country Stores. Where pets are more than companions, they’re family!

The post Switching to a new dog food appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

We thought Earth Day would be the perfect day to share with everyone a step in our road to Net Zero…

In February we applied for and received a grant to cover 75% of the costs of installing new LED lights throughout the Copdock Mill warehouse. Firstly these new lights contain a programmable sensor that detects staff in the area and illuminates accordingly. Secondly they can be programmed to stay on for a certain amount of time and then dim down before switching off completely.

This new lighting installation should save around 5.2 tonnes of CO2 per annum!

“We’ve all heard the term net zero, but what exactly does it mean? Put simply, net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. Net zero is important as it’s the best way we can tackle climate change by reducing global warming. What we do in the next decade to limit emissions will be critical to the future, which is why every country, sector, industry and each one of us must work together to find ways to cut the carbon we produce“. – National Grid

However this is just one important step to share on Earth Day in our developing road to achieving a net zero status.

The post Earth Day – Our Road To Net Zero appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

“Rabbits found my heart a little over 10 years ago. A stray rabbit was wondering round our street. I was lucky enough to coax it into my arms one autumn morning before work. Scared, lonely and desperate for safety, we gave this little rabbit sanctuary. And in return, he gave us his love. Max was our first rabbit on a journey that is still continuing. 

Rabbits and Easter

Rabbits are soulful little beings – full of charm, character and personality. And whilst they might sit behind dogs and cats in the league table of most popular pets, they are often overlooked and very much misunderstood by people. Seen as the epitome of our Easter, many rabbits become ‘temporary’ pets at this time of year. Small, cute, fluffy, they paint an image that sadly is also as much to do with their downfall as it is their popularity. Because not long after easter, many rabbits find themselves innocent victims of the bored factor. The children for which they were bought find they don’t have the time to look after their new companion. Ultimately the rabbits will end up in the numerous rescue centres round the UK. 

These rabbits arrive confused, and uncertain of what their lives will become. And yet all the rabbits need is our love and support, warmth, security. And most importantly of all, a companion to share their lives with. Volunteers and staff at these rescue centres work tirelessly and selflessly to provide these beautiful little creatures all of that. But ultimately it is us who can mend rabbits broken hearts. And rabbits hearts do get broken.

Ben & Georgina

I have adopted several rabbits since Max found me, and I am proud to have done so. We have always used and supported rescue centres because this is where those rabbits who deserve a second chance at life can be found. I recall vividly the day I adopted a beautiful harlequin male rabbit. He was sitting, alone, abandoned at a rescue centre in a large cage, and no one else wanted him. But I looked into his eyes and saw a deep love in there. A rabbit just wanting to be with a family and be loved. And Ben, as we named him, got all of that and more. Ben had the biggest heart and was the most gentle of rabbits. Ignored by many and left at a rescue centre, he got his second life with us.

We already had a female rabbit called Georgina, and Ben and Georgina fell in love immediately. They had the best of both worlds – an outside hutch, a lovely safe garden and access to our home when they chose to come into our world. They were inseparable and shared a deep silent love based on body language and understanding.

Alfred

Our next addition came to us in October. Alfred is a gentle bunny, who has an enthusiasm to explore. He loves to climb and is fearless. His journey to us was far from ideal as he was part of a large group of rabbits rescued from an overcrowded hutch. Cramped and confined, Alfred had never even seen a garden or grass before he came to us. Now, Alfred has a large garden to run about in. There are large bushes to hide in and areas to sunbathe in. Alfred loves to be outside, just being free and enjoying the freedom he so desires. 

Alfreds wife-bun is Flo. We took in Flo a year ago. She had an extremely traumatic start to life before she found us which left Flo with deep emotional trauma. 

Flo

Flo had lost her two companions before being abandoned by her family and put up for adoption. She had an emptiness in her eyes and she was quite resistant to a new environment.

The day after we adopted her, we saw the beginning of a weeks worth of snow. Flo was very keen to explore the white blanket that enveloped the garden. This gave way to Flo earning the nickname ‘Sno-Flo’. But Flo was very wary of her new family and she pushed back very strongly by boxing with us. She was not aggressive, but in her own way, she was just reacting to a confusing situation. And I couldn’t explain to Flo that she was safe and free from harm. All I could do was to be patient with Flo and spend time with her so that she could get used to me and her new home. And slowly, over time, Flo did get used to the house. Flo became a house rabbit, taking over the kitchen/dining area. 

But as a female, Flo was also extremely territorial and this hampered our efforts to bond her with a new companion. Female rabbits are extremely territorial and as we were unable to locate a neutral part of our house to facilitate a bond with another rabbit, we found ourselves in quite a predicament. But our friends at the Blue Cross approached us and they offered to assist with bonding Flo to their new resident – Alfred. And as the Blue Cross centre was neutral territory, then Flo would not display the aggression that she displayed in our home. We were very sad to hand Flo back to the Blue Cross. But we knew that it was for the better long term, as we would then get Flo back, along with her new companion. 

Three weeks later, we re-adopted Flo and her hus-bun, Alfred.

Are you ready to own a rabbit?

When you open up your home to rescue rabbits, you also open up your heart. But you are also healing the heart of those you adopt. It is an acceptance of trust – a trust that the rabbit places in you to be their guardian, because rabbits are a complex species to understand.

Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits cannot vocalise their emotions and feelings. And as prey animals, rabbits have instinctive DNA that means they hide any illness or injury. This makes caring for rabbits extremely challenging because one has to quickly identify any problems or illnesses. Any delay in this process will expose the rabbit to potential suffering or worse. And so, as rabbit ‘parents’, it is vital to understand and become in tune with your rabbit companions. Learning your rabbits routine is extremely important to not only helping to identify any early signs of problems, but to also bond better with your bunny companion. 

Being a bunny parent has absolutely given me a greater perspective and awareness of life and also a greater daily focus in my own life. My bunny companions have been there to help me, as I have been there to help them. And they share their love without condition. Despite an obvious sadness that they must have felt as they transitioned through being put up for adoption and then spending time in an adoption facility and without knowing what lay ahead, with patience and care and a lot of love, our rabbits have become a close part of our own family.

We are extremely proud to have given rabbits the life that they deserved and should always have. They have not only taken over our home, but have also become part of our lives. And our lives would be whole lot emptier without the companionship of one of natures most absorbing and understated animals – the beautiful and charismatic rabbit”.

Thinking of getting a Rabbit and need supplies, or finding a new feed supplier?

Check out our Gladwells Pet & Country retail stores here.

Read more about our Copdock Mill Small Animal Feed range here.

The post Life with Rabbits by Craig Derry appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

1. firstly Think carefully before getting a pet and learn about its special requirements. which pet is right for your lifestyle and home?

2. Ensure your pet is sociable and well trained.

3. make sure to Provide a nutritious and well balanced diet.

4. always Provide suitable housing and bedding for pets.

5. Clean up after your pet and worm it regularly.

6. Protect your pets against disease. Your vet can provide you with advice.

7. Prevent unwanted litters and neuter your pet when appropriate.

8. Groom your pet regularly whether this is at home or professionally done.

9. Control your pet outside of your home and ensure it is properly identified.

10. lastly Take out pet insurance for dogs, cats, rabbits and horses to cover against unexpected veterinary fees and third party liability

You can learn more about pet travel insurance here: www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/guide/travelling-with-pets/

“National Pet Month (NPM) celebrates and raises awareness of responsible pet ownership through our educational campaigns and resources across our various platforms. NPM celebrates pet ownership, sharing the many benefits of our cherished companions across the UK.” – NPM

The post National Pet Month – Top 10 Pet Ownership Tips appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.

Brush your pet’s teeth

• Pet owners should always seek advice from a vet to ensure that brushing is effective. This depends on motivation, a certain degree of technical skill by the owner, and of course, a willing pet!

How to brush pet’s teeth

• You will need a (soft) toothbrush and a tooth paste formulated for pets. You must use a pet tooth paste as the human tooth pastes have a high fluoride content which can be toxic to cats and dogs. Again owners should seek their vet’s advice.

A balanced diet

• Supporting the mouth’s own self-cleaning system by feeding a balanced diet which includes some biscuits and chews. As well as the above methods of removing plaque, there are a number of excellent dental chews and specially formulated diets which can provide significant improvements to your pet’s oral health.

Veterinary checks

• Regular veterinary check ups should include an examination of your pet’s mouth. Like humans, many pets, particularly middle-aged and older cats and dogs, require periodic professional scaling by a vet in addition to on-going plaque control.

There are a number of dental chews for dogs and cats on the market which reduce tartar build up and help keep your pet’s mouth fresh.

Whimzees put together this video to illustrate the benefits of their daily dental chews…

Everything you need to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy can be found at our Gladwells Pet & Country Stores today. February 2022 is Pet Dental Health Awareness month to remind pet owners to take care of their pet’s mouth but these tips and guidelines should be followed all year round. Happy brushing!

(Suggestions on health care taken from the PFMA website).

The post Pet Dental Health Month appeared first on Copdock Mill Wholesale.