The Ralph Site provides non-profit pet loss support. Comfort and understanding from like-minded pet lovers who have the same bond with their furry/winged/scaley…family members. They all ‘get it’, they all know why pet loss hurts so much.

One of the ways in which The Ralph Site does this is through its busy and highly interactive private Facebook group where members can share how they feel in a secure environment and support each other through their grief. Many people have told me over the years that this support from others is the main thing that has made a difference to help them cope with the grief of pet loss.

Recently I asked members of the Ralph Site’s private Facebook group to share how they feel about their departed pets in 1-2 sentences. There were lots of responses, too many to share them all so I have picked a selection at random.

CLICK THE PICTURE above if you would like to join our pet loss group.

“If I could move heaven and earth to get you back safe in my arms I would. Love you more than words can say xx” (Julie)

“My beautiful Suki one of a kind … Think of you every day RIP my dear sweet fury friend until we meet again xxx” (Rachel)

“My sweet Enzo, you have taught me how to love perfectly, and how to hurt endlessly” (Debbie)

“My girl Tilly, my baby, my friend, my soulmate. Came into my life when I needed her and left when her work was done – Love of my life.” (Lynn)

“Privileged to have known you, sad because you have gone.” (Amanda)

“When my Ruper died part of my heart and soul went with him. I loved him so much and still miss him daily.” (Ginger)

“An amazing, beautiful soul” (Sunni)

“I’m still looking for her in all her favorite spots,I can’t get used to being without my lovely Miss Kitty girl” (Lynne)

“Feel like I have lost a child, loved my Marvin as I love my kids. I had him for over 21 years and he was my baby and my best friend.” (Lori)

Does this sound familiar to you?

If it does, please feel free to join The Ralph Site’s Facebook group, as well as follow the Facebook page and have a look at the resources on the main website.

Until next time do take care,

Shailen

Losing a pet is hard enough for us adults, but for a child, losing their best friend, confidante and partner in crime can feel devastating. Parents already coming to terms with their own loss are called upon to comfort, advise and encourage their children through the healing process, and this can add extra stresses at an impossibly difficult time. Equally, the very process of sharing your feelings and talking about positive steps forward, as you help your child come to terms with his or her grief, can be beneficial for you too.

Clearly everybody’s reaction to the loss of a pet is different, depending both on the circumstances of the loss as well as on the personality, age and situation of the carer. Yet at their varying stages of development and maturity, helping children deal with grief will require a
particular, and more predictable, approach, according to their age.

Losing a pet is hard enough for us adults, but for a child, losing their best friend, confidante and partner in crime can feel devastating.

The following guidelines are from the Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement:

Toddlers:

At this age children should be told the pet has died and will not return. It is important to reassure them that they did not do or say anything to cause the death. It is good to cry and show your own feelings of grief, but these must be controlled and perceived as a normal response to the loss of a loved one. Extra reassurance, as well as maintaining usual routines will help. Any new pet will usually be accepted very easily.

4-6 year olds:

There is now some understanding of death, but the permanence of it may not be grasped. Manifestations of grief may include bowel or bladder disturbances as well as a change in playing, eating and sleeping habits. Through ‘little and often’ discussions, allow the child to express feelings and concerns. Give extra reassurance. Drawing pictures and writing stories about their loss may be helpful, and it’s recommended that you include the child in any funeral arrangements.

7-9 year olds:

Children in this age group know that death is irreversible. They do not normally think this might happen to them, but they may be concerned about the death of their parents. They are very curious and may ask questions that appear morbid – this is natural and is best approached frankly and honestly. Grief may manifest as problems at school, anti-social behaviour, aggression, withdrawal and clingy behaviour – once again, it’s important to reassure the child that the death was not their fault.

10-11 year olds:

Now children are usually able to understand that death is natural, inevitable and happens to all living things. They often react in a manner very similar to adults, using their parent’s attitude as their model. A pet’s death can trigger memories of previous losses of any kind, and this should always be open for discussion.

Adolescents:

Whilst teenagers react similarly to adults, the typical adolescent span of expression can range from apparent total lack of concern to hyper-emotional. Peer approval is very important – if friends are supportive, it is much easier for them to deal with a loss.

Young adults:

The loss of a family pet at this age can be particularly hard. There may be feelings of guilt for abandoning the pet when leaving home for college, work or marriage, especially where there has been a very close relationship since early childhood. Distance may also make returning home difficult, which can add an extra sense of guilt.

Many books have been written to help children come to terms with the loss of their pet, and you may find it useful to read these together with young children.
You can find a list of our suggestions on our main site at THIS LINK.

There are more resources for parents here.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up (no, honestly, it is. Possibly. Any time soon), it’s important to be on the look out for the signs of Flystrike (also known as Myiasis) in your rabbits.

As you are probably aware, Flystrike is a nasty condition, which can be extremely serious if not caught early. Flies will quickly target a healthy animal who may have loose stools, and whose fur may therefore not be as well groomed as usual. The flies lay their eggs in the fur around the bottom, so the maggots that hatch out have a ready, and rabbit-shaped, source of food. The growing maggots then burrow into the skin, causing pain, shock and subsequent infection, which can often be fatal.

Flystrike can be fatal for bunnies – beware!

Fortunately, with regular checks and good basic hygiene it is possible to prevent the condition occurring, or at least to catch it in the very early stages when effective action can be taken to rapidly return your pet to full health. The following checklist is provided by saveafluff and details steps which should be followed all year round, but which are particularly effective in combating Flystrike:

• In order to keep your rabbit’s stools firm and healthy, ensure that he or she is eating a healthy diet, made up of at least 80% fresh hay
• Remove any soiled bedding every day; clean out and disinfect the entire hutch weekly
• Check your rabbit at least twice a day for any signs of infestation
• Remember that house rabbits can also be at risk
• Add fly-screens to your rabbit’s hutches and runs
• Ask your vet about specific preventative measures: ‘Rearguard’ liquid is applied by sponge to the rabbit and guards against flystrike for up to ten weeks by preventing any maggots maturing to a stage where they become dangerous.
• Hang fly killers such as sticky fly paper (available from DIY stores and garden centres) in the home or in your rabbit’s living quarters
• Some plants and herbs repel flies, so place these in pots on top of the hutch: Dried pyrethrum flowers, Pennyroyal (has a strong peppermint scent), Nigella (Love in a Mist), balm, chamomile, hemp, agrimony, lavender, mugwort, rosemary, rue, peppermint, santalina (Cotton Lavender), basil, shofly, green oregano. Make sure that they are well out of reach of your rabbit though!

If you spot any signs of possible problems on your rabbit, call your vet immediately. It may seem extreme, but Flystrike is a genuine emergency and waiting until morning to seek help may be too late. Get your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible. Don’t attempt to wash your rabbit as this can spread any infection further, and make it more difficult for the vet to remove fur from the affected area before treatment.

It’s a great idea to get into the habit of grooming your bunny every day – it’s a fantastic bonding experience that your rabbit will really enjoy, as well as keeping the flies at bay. Our shop stocks a wide range of rabbit care items.

Until next time very best wishes,

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Now that summer is here, it’s possible that a walk in the countryside might end with either you or your pet becoming a little too well acquainted with ticks. This week we look at these pesky parasites, and share some tips as to what to do should you encounter them.

What are ticks?

More than 20 species of ticks can be found in the UK, commonly using wildlife and livestock as their unwilling hosts. However, as ticks are attracted by the body heat and chemical traces from the breath and body odour of mammals, it is not uncommon for them to attach to any passing dogs, cats or horses (as well as to us humans!)

Ticks feed on the blood of mammals, but as they cannot fly or jump, they climb up long grasses and vegetation and simply wait for a passing meal. Before feeding, ticks are just a couple of millimetres long, and are usually a reddish dark brown or black colour. It is very difficult to spot them at this stage, and it might not be until they have swollen to a much greater size following a couple of days’ feeding, that you notice them on your pet.

Why are they a problem?

Apart from being unpleasant, ticks carry a range of diseases (Bartonellosis, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Borreliosis – better known as Lyme Disease), each of which can cause a range of potentially very serious symptoms in cats, dogs and horses. Not all of these diseases are found in all countries; for example they are rare in the UK but much more common in USA. A preventative vaccination has recently been developed for use in dogs, and your vet can give you more information on this.

Removing ticks safely

Most of us have heard horror stories about ticks: they can leave their head attached unless removed correctly, they can burrow into the skin or lay eggs in their host. These are all myths! But whilst ticks do not have heads, it is also true that unless removed carefully with the correct tools, their mouthparts can be left behind, causing an infection risk. Using your fingers to twist or pull a tick off your pet, or smothering it in petroleum jelly to suffocate it, can also do more harm than good, as the tick may regurgitate saliva back into its host, again posing an infection risk.

There are only two ways to safely remove a tick: using either fine-tipped tweezers or a special tick-removing tool such as the O’Tom Tick Twister.

1. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull upwards
2. Do not twist or jerk the tick as this may leave its mouth parts embedded
3. Do not squeeze or crush the body of the tick (hence why flat-ended tweezers are unsuitable)
4. Do not handle the tick with bare hands, and avoid touching your eyes, nostrils or mouth
5. Disinfect the bite site with an antiseptic wipe or wound wash and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Of course, your veterinary practice will be very happy to help you out if the whole prospect of tick removal makes you feel queasy!

Much more information on ticks and the diseases they carry can be found HERE.

Consult your vet practice for advice and guidance on preventing and treating tick infestation.

Until next time, very best wishes.

Shailen

The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Making the decision to leave your beloved cat or dog behind when you go away on holiday can be hard. However, as well as the option to use a friend, family member or professional pet sitter, there are many excellent catteries and kennels available where your pet will be very well taken care of.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with your choice, and therefore it’s always a good idea to ask around – have friends and family used anywhere local that they would recommend? Go and visit a couple of places so that you can compare the options on your shortlist – reputable businesses will happily accommodate your request for a tour and answer any questions you may have.

Here are some practical considerations you may wish to think about when deciding which cattery or kennel to choose:

• Are the pens clean, draught-free, safe and secure?
• Is there a covered outside run where your pet can exercise and get some fresh air and sit in the sun?
• Avoid any establishment that features a communal exercise area – these are almost guaranteed to spread diseases and parasites
• Reputable catteries and kennels will ask to see your up-to-date vaccination certificate. It’s always advisable that your pet is protected by the vaccinations recommended by your vet, and this is never more important that when they are in the company of unfamiliar animals
• Equally, you should ensure that your pet’s flea and worm protection is up to date prior to leaving him or her
• Cats can find the presence of unfamiliar dogs stressful, and therefore cat owners may wish to choose a cattery rather than a boarding kennel which looks after both cats and dogs
• Are you able to specify that your pet is fed the diet that he or she is used to, and be treated by your own vet in the unlikely event of an emergency whilst you are away? Good catteries and kennels will always accommodate your requests, assuring you of maximum peace of mind
• Do the cats and dogs that are boarding at the time of your visit look relaxed and happy?
• Ask to see valid insurance certificates and operating licences

Catteries and kennels are inspected by the local authority in order to be granted a licence – your local council should therefore be able to give you details of approved businesses in your area.

Helpful UK sites for cat owners:

• International Cat Care has plenty of advice, not only on this topic, but on a wide range of feline health and welfare issues
• British Catteries
• Your Cat

Helpful UK sites for dog owners:

• Boarding Kennels
• The Woof Book
• RSPCA

Until next time, very best wishes.

Shailen

The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.