By Nora ParminterMOLE AVON TOWN & COUNTRY STORESMole Avon can cater for all your pet needs

MOLE Avon Town & Country Stores, Crediton stock a huge range of dog and cat food.

From pouches for your cat to big 15kg bags of complete dog food, the store offers a variety of brands including Pedigree, Whiska

The Country UF range of pet food is also available – offering great value for money.

You will also find a wide variety of accessories and health products for your cat and dog including collars and leads, coats and rugs for dogs, toys and flea treatments to name a few.

Feed for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish and wild birds are available too!

At Mole Avon Town & Country Stores in Mill Street you will always find great offers on pet food; in store this week there are offers on big brands such as Whiskas, Beta and Felix.

Mole Avon is pleased to now be stocking Arden Grange dog food.

Arden Grange recipes have been formulated by leading nutritionists to very high standard to provide optimum nutrition for your dog.

All the products in the Arden Grange portfolio contain either fresh chicken or chicken meal, fresh salmon or lamb meal as the primary protein source.

Don’t see the brand you want?

Don’t worry, it may well be in stock and if it isn’t the store has deliveries at least three times a week and can get it for you!

Wendy Stevens, Store Manager and her team look forward to seeing you in store soon.

ST BONIFACE VETSOur pets can also suffer from osteoarthritis

OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) is common in both man and animals, but our pets tend to suffer more from the degenerative “wear and tear” type rather than immune mediated forms such as rheumatoid seen in man.

As far as our pets are concerned it may occur as a progression from a developmental disorder such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or as a result of repetitive trauma or an injury to a joint.

All breeds, sizes and ages of dog may be affected by OA. However, the larger breeds, overweight and elderly dogs are more likely to show clinical signs.

As dogs tend to go out and about with their owners, any change in mobility can be picked up quite quickly.

For many years it was thought that cats did not suffer from OA, but recent studies have shown that they do, but the clinical signs are just more subtle.

The cat is a master of disguise and may just alter its behaviour to disguise its pain.

Does your cat spend more time sleeping and less time grooming or has he or she either stopped jumping onto the windowsill or found an easier route to scaling the garden fence? These could indicate discomfort.

History from the owner and a full clinical examination may lead to a presumptive diagnosis of OA.

Further imaging through radiography or CT, or the use of arthroscopy to look into the affected joint may be recommended.

As yet there is no cure for OA. However advances are being made in the field of regenerative medicine with the use of platelet rich plasma and stem cell therapy so the situation may change.

If OA is recognised early and with appropriate management many pets can remain comfortable and lead happy, active lives.

However, regular check ups are necessary to assess the progression of this condition and to make appropriate alterations to each animal’s management.

There is no “one size fits all.” This is particularly important regarding medication; some pets require lifelong medication after diagnosis whilst others only need it intermittently to control painful flare ups.

Whatever the species, our overall goal for OA is to preserve mobility and thus function so that quality of life is maintained. This may be achieved through a combination of:

1. Pain management – may involve a combination of medication, acupuncture, manual and electrotherapies (eg laser, shockwave, magnetic fields, TENS ). Some animals are very stoic, so careful observation is required to accurately assess the level of pain experienced. Unlike acute pain, which may be protective, chronic pain serves no useful purpose to the animal and will compromise function. If we can preserve mobility and thus function, quality of life is maintained.

2. Weight management – excess weight makes sore joints worse. Actual bodyweight is only part of it, body condition score is a simple but more useful tool for monitoring progress.

3. Controlled exercise – low impact regular exercise is important for joint health. Several short walks are far kinder to our arthritic dogs than lying about all week with a two hour hike at the weekend. Encouraging the elderly cat to amble about and search for food is better than sleeping 23/24 hrs a day.

4. Lifestyle modifications - simple measures, for example raising feed bowls off the floor or providing carpet runners, on slippery floors in the home, can make a huge difference to an arthritic dog. Similarly, a stool as an intermediate level to that sunny windowsill can be a great help to our cats.

5. Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy

If you have any concerns, regarding your pets comfort, please call St Boniface Vets and make an appointment on 01363 772860. Or visit the website:

Jane White

Veterinary Surgeon

TUCKERS COUNTRY STORESVast range of pet products at Tuckers Country Stores

TUCKERS Country Stores has an extensive range of pet products at its Crediton store.

For your dog the products include food, treats and chews, toys, feeding and drinking bowls, bedding, leads and collars, items for grooming, training aids, flea and tick treatments, hygiene products, supplements, cages and transport items.

Products for your cat include food, toys and treats, bowls and mats, hygiene products, bedding, healthcare products, cat litter, items for grooming, flea and tick treatment, leads and collars and supplements

A range of products are also available for small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and rats including feeds and supplements, parasite control, grooming and products for health and hygiene.

A range of feeds for aviary birds and aquarium fish are also available.

Pop into Tuckers Country Stores at Commercial Road, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate, to see the large range of products available for your pets.

For more information visit the website: www.tuckers-countrystores.com .

Jonathan Wood Veterinary Surgery

ALL the staff at Jonathan Wood Veterinary Surgery are focused on preventative healthcare for your pets.

As part of this, Head Veterinary Nurse Shelly Jefferies, explains the veterinary nurses offer a range of nurse clinics, to aid owners with the care and welfare of their pets. The nurse clinics include:

· Free Podgy pet club – many domestic pets are overweight and this can affect their health as well as quality of life. The nurses use their knowledge to modify diet and exercise based on the individual pet’s needs. Their progress is monitored not only with regular weigh-ins, but also using body measurements to gain a body condition score, as sometimes this can be a better indicator of a healthy pet. Did you know giving your pet one ounce of cheese is the same as two and a half cheeseburgers in human calorific equivalent.

· Free Adolescent checks – a check for your growing puppy at six months of age. It is important to monitor growth and development in young dogs, as well as providing a perfect opportunity to discuss any behavioural or training issues.

· Puppy school – early socialisation is crucial for young puppies and the sooner this can start the better. We offer a four-week puppy school to fit in between the puppy vaccination course. It provides a great chance for the puppies to play with other puppies, owners to mix and ask questions and compare notes. Each week covers a different veterinary and behavioural topic.

· Rehabilitation clinic – these are run by our Head Veterinary Nurse, following referral from the veterinary surgeon. We are able to design a suitable plan for your pet depending on the condition, we have the ability to use hydrotherapy with a water treadmill, low level LED light laser therapy - as well as advise on therapeutic exercise plans for your pets.

If you would like any more information on any of our services or would like to book an appointment, please contact the surgery on 01363 772319.GROOMED TO PAWFECTION

Special offer on Alcana at Groomed to Pawfection

LOCAL dog groomers, Groomed to Pawfection, currently has a promotion on Acana dog foods.

Acana, “biologically appropriate” dog foods are available in three classes:

Acana Classic – for every size of dog at every stage of life. Rich in protein and low in carbohydrate and include chicken, eggs, fish and oats.

Acana Regionals – express the heritage and diversity of fresh foods produced across western Canada.

Acana Singles – a “biologically appropriate “single-source protein dog foods for diet sensitive dogs and made from lamb or duck with oats as a hypoallergenic and low-glycemic carbohydrate.

The foods are prepared in Acana’s award-winning kitchen and include flavours such as Duck and Bartlett Pear, Chicken and Burbank Potato and Wild Prairie.

Customers at Groomed to Pawfection, who buy seven bags of Acana can get one free, using the loyalty card (terms and conditions apply).

A collection and delivery service is available for pet grooming.