Because we know your furry friends are important members of your family, we have dedicated a space in our stores just for them. For your loved and loyal pets we have a huge selection of foods as well as biscuits & treats, brushes, shampoos and toys, in fact all you need for grooming, caring for and entertaining your cute companions.

Useful information for your pets

Neutering your cat (Dr Constantinos Constantinou)

Domestic cats are our pets and very much a part of our daily lives. They are friendly and affectionate and don’t really cause us any problem at all. But they can’t really understand why it is not convenient for their humans to accommodate a large  family of cats 2-3 times a  year. The need to neuter our loving pet is unfortanatey a necessity.

All veterinarians recommend the neutering of cats when they are between 6 and 12 months of age. This usually involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and womb. The benefits are many:

1. We avoid unwanted kittens. Is a cat was allowed to have all her kittens, then she could bear around 30 kittens in 24 months.
2. We avoid all the strain and stress of the gestation period and the subsequent birth that the cat will go through.
3. Cats tend to have mood changes when they are on heat and when they are pregnant. They also tend to get very messy.
4. During the mating season, cats tend to get into accidents and hurt themselves. Neutering helps to avoid this.
5. The main reason for neutering is population control.

Neutering also causes some problems. A neutered cat has low energy levels and an increased appetite. The combination of the two leads to obesity.

An obese cat has 4 times as many chances of developing diabetes, 3 times as many chances of developing osteoarthritis and twice the chance of developing skin allergies. Appropriate treatment and a way to avoid these problems include the gradual intake of a special diet for a week before the operation.

This special diet must take into consideration the cat’s age. Fat and PH levels and the addition of vitamin E are very important factors that should also be considered.

A dog’s dinner (By Dr Constantinos Constantinou)

Canines are carnivores and as such they need a special diet. Feeding your dog on a vegetarian diet alone is definitely not in its best interest because these foods cannot be properly digested.

Three types of food are available for dogs:

Homemade food (HMF), which basically includes our leftovers, canned food, and dry food (DF). Each has its advantages and disadvantages. HMF food is testier but does not address all the dogs nutritional requirements. Canned foods cover a large part of the nutritional requirements but are little more expensive.  Finally, dry food comes in third as far as taste goes but has the best nutritional value for the dog.

Dogs have different nutritional needs at different ages. A puppy’s needs are not the same as those of an adult or elderly dog. Breed and size are also determining factors.

There are hundreds of dry foods on the market that have all the necessary ingredients to ensure a balanced diet for your dog.

Dry foods cover all nutritional needs and also have the following advantages:

1. Faecal amount is condensed and has a minimum odour.
2. No extra supplements, such as vitamins, are necessary.
3. They are more economical a even the most expensive brand costs less than €1 per day.
4. Stomach and intestinal problems are usually avoided.

When feeding your dog, do not be tempted to give it more than the amount recommended for its size by the food manufacturer, make sure it always has a plentiful supply of fresh water, and last but not means least, make sure it gets plenty of exercise.

Remember, a healthy dog is a happy dog.

Pretty pets (Tips by Dog Splash, Dog Grooming & Bathing , Nicosia)

Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes your pet look better, but contributes to its physiological and psychological health.

Coat

Brush your pet thoroughly every day. This helps keep its coat in good condition by removing dirt, spreading the natural oils throughout the hair, preventing tangles from forming and keeping the skin clean and free from irritation.

It is best to start brushing your pet at an early age, but do not despair  is he or she is an older animal. It is slowly, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun!

Nails

Nail trimming is one of the most important grooming elements for dogs. This is because long nails on a dog can cause them to have trouble walking and can eventually lead to infection in their paws. Trim your pet’s nail about once a month.

Ears

Ear care is an important part of grooming. Ear infections are not only painful, but can lead to permanent hearing loss. The signs of a problem of our animal’s ears include redness, constant scratching, head shaking and odor.

Grooming (Tips by Dog Splash, Dog Grooming & Bathing , Nicosia)

The one thing that most dog owners don’t like is grooming their dogs. Some dogs require very little grooming, while other dog breeds require frequent bathing or nail clipping.

It’s very important to know that frequent bathing can dry out the dog’s skin and lead to itching, bacterial skin infections and skin rashes. More importand is to brush your dog regularly. You can bath your dog every 2 weeks, but no more than that.

Loang coats: need brushing several times each week. Dogs with this type of coat are German Shepherd, Newfounland or Golden Retriever.

Non-shedding coats: needs clipping on a regular basis, to keep your dog coat and skin healthy. These dogs also need to have their ear hair removed. Some examples are Poodle, Bichon Frise and Shih Tzu.

Silky coats: need a lot of grooming. The dead hair has to be removed to prevent the dog from getting mats. Examples of silky haired dogs are Afghan, Yorkshire Terrier, Spaniel, Setter and Pekingese.

Dogs with wiry coats: like the Wire Haired Dachshund, the Schnauzers and most of the Terrier breeds, need hand stripping, usually twice a year, or clipping regularly.

Smooth coated dogs: are the easiest to groom. A comb is all you need. Boxer, Doberman, Labrador Retriever, Greyhound and Pitbull are all smooth coated dogs.

The owner’s responsibility (tips by Dog splash Dog Grooming and Bathing, Nicosia)

Here are some hints to make a trip to the groomer easier on both you and your dog:

1. Teach the dog to stand on command and to accept the attentions of a stranger without cringing or growling. Obedience classes are wonderful for this. An untruly dog’s attitude towards grooming isn’t much different from that of a small child’s. Toddlers often toddler’s often resent having their faces washed or their hair brushed, but being clean and tidy is necessary part of life. If your child refused to be bathed or threw a tantrum over it, what would you do? Gently, patiently and firmly, you’d teach him to tolerate it. It’s the same for your dog. First the dog needs to learn to tolerate your handling of his body, even the parts that he’d rather you left alone. Some dog’s don’t want their feet touched, with others, it’s their rear ends or tails. You can easily each your dog that this handling feels good and is something to look forward to. 
2. Comb your dog regularly to prevent tangles and matting. Or schedule more frequent visits to the groomer. Matted hair can cause great pain to the dog and to the groomer who gets bitten because your dog is in pain form tangled locks.
3. Crate train your dog so he will sit quietly while waiting for your return.
4. Warn the groomer of any bad habits that could interfere with successful grooming. If in spite of all you do , your dog hates grooming and is likely to bite, tell the groomer so she can take precautions. If your dog has being tranquilise in the past of the session , if it has a heart problem or is subject to seizures, if it has arthritis, or is extremely fearful, tell the groomer so she will be prepared.

A groomer is not a miracle worker and cannot take a poorly maintained dog and turn it into  a show-stopper in one visit. You should maximize your chances of satisfaction by teaching your dog to accept the attentions of strangers and by keeping the coat free of mats and tangles.