Petster Magazine Issue 3

PETSTER THE MALAYSIAN NO.1 FREE PET LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE WWW.PETSTERMAGAZINE.COM Take Me Home FREE! - 20,000 Copies Scattered Around Town! Mother’s Day Special Getting your 1st baby ... 03 magazine MAY 2008 PP15646/01/2009(021043) PETS 4 LIFE! snake. BITES & SNACKS ASK OUR VET MalaysiaFauna at Batu Caves - An unforgettable reptile meeting that you’d just missed ... Let Dr. Vijay teach you how to pamper your pet! PET CLASSIFIEDS PAW PADS Many ! more N RM2,000.00 WI featured articles inside! If you think you need a companion badly, it’s time to refer here ... More interesting places to visit! See What The PETSHOPBOYS Are Up To Lately ... See pg. 4 > Valid Till 3 1s tM ay 20 0 Scales ‘N’ Tails 8! AD Editor’s Note Content features BITES & SNACKS ------------------------------------------ 06 Animal news from around town! CREATURE FEATURE ----------------------------------- 08 Want a baby? Try a baby snake ... ASK OUR VET ----------------------------------------------- 09 Wow! Here we are on our 3rd issue! And what a roller coaster ride it has been these few months. Problems after problems keep creeping up day by day but when we finally see the first copy of the newly printed magazine, fresh out of the printer’s doors - it is all worth it. I would also like to announce that we will be holding a second Home A Pet 2008 back in IKANO Power Centre this school holidays. If you have missed out on the first do remember to drop by and pay us a visit at this upcoming one! On just a note: It will be running for 3 whole weeks this time. Crazy, but I guess we can manage. So sit back and enjoy the 3rd installment of Petster Magazine. Do remember that we are only around because of your support. Without you, this magazine won’t be able run; and we won’t be able to eat our favourite chicken rice anymore. =( Always hungry, Joshua Boey This publication is not advice on your pet. It is intended to inform and illustrate. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without first seeking appropriate professional advice that takes into account their own particular circumstances. The publishers and editors give no representation and make no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, currency or reliability of any of the material contained in this publication. The publishers and editors expressly disclaim all responsibility for any errors in or omissions from the information contained in this publication, including all liability for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person or animal as a result of or arising out of that person placing any reliance, whether whole or partial, upon the whole or any part of the contents of this publication. No correspondence will be entered into in relation to this publication by the publishers, editors or authors. The publishers do not endorse any company, organisation, person, strategy or technique mentioned in this publication unless expressly stated otherwise. The publishers do not endorse any advertisements or special advertising features in this publication, nor does the publisher endorse any advertiser(s) or their products / services unless expressly states to the contrary. Articles are published in reliance upon the representations and warranties of the authors of the articles and without our knowledge of any infringement of any third party copyright. The publishers and editors do not authorise, sanction, approve or countenance any copyright infringement. Stumped on what’s wrong with your furry/finned/feathered friend? Our shrink might be some help ... (Dr. Vijay) Pet products from all over. Pets need toys too, you know! PET SHOPPERS -------------------------------------------- 10 regular roams Many places to go this month! Articles on all thats meow! Nobody to talk to? Fish doctors? PAW PADS -------------------------------------------------- 11 CHIT CHAT CAT ------------------------------------------ 18 BIRDIE TALK ------------------------------------------------ 20 TANK RESIDENTS --------------------------------------- 21 where to look Our guide to products and services. PET CLASSIFIEDS ----------------------------------------- 22 If you decide that a pet would be in your life, try taking a look here first to find your perfect companion! THE PET INDEX ------------------------------------------- 23 Fancy being part of the PetShopBoys? Send in your resume to petstermagazine@gmail.com now!!! Da’ PetShopBoys William Tan Joshua Boey Mike Cheng J-Ye Loh Joseph Kibbles Kira Joshua Boey - 019 336 2403 editor@petstermagazine.com Mike Cheng - 017 366 2658 J-Ye Loh - 012 212 8303 sales@petstermagazine.com Editor Managing Editor ‘BOSS’ William Tan - 012 333 3626 managing_editor@petstermagazine.com Hendry Tan, Vivienne Wong & Yung petstermagazine@gmail.com www.petstermagazine.com JWWT Advertising (001587053-A) Events & Promotions Pamela Lai & Zoe Ng creative_designer@petstermagazine.com Creative Designers Advertising Sales Interpet Publisher 04 JWWT Advertising (001587053-A) distribution@petstermagazine.com Distribution Radiant Works 22A, Jln SS25/28, Tmn.Mayang, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor D.E. Colour Separator A-107, Jalan Tuanku 2, Taman Salak Selatan, 57100 Wilayah Persekutuan. Tel: (03) 7981 1033 / Fax: (03) 7980 1033 Production Den No. 1A, Jalan Balam, Taman Milion, Batu 3, Jalan Ipoh, 51100, K.L. Tel: (03) 4042 5976 / Fax: (03) 4045 7663 Main Kennel Percetakan Lai Sdn Bhd No1, Persiaran 2/118C, Kawasan Perindustrian Desa Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000, K.L. LCM Events Sdn. Bhd. www.leisurevents.com Printer Associates Bites & Snacks MalaysiaFauna Gathering @ Batu Caves, KL Close encounters of the scaly kind! by: Uncle Herp If you have interest in reptiles and other kinds of exotic animals, you’d be thrilled to attend the gathering organized by members of a reputable forum on reptiles and exotic animals in Malaysia known as Malaysiafauna.com. The gathering is a frequent affair amongst members and acts as a platform to acquire knowledge and experiences. In these gatherings, members who are “experts’ in their own field of knowledge would share their first hand experiences in the husbandry and problem management of particular species of reptiles. This is an excellent place if you are looking for advice to your reptile and exotic pet problems. Recently, the group held gathering at the newly opened Reptile Cave @ Cave Villa in Batu Caves. The mini reptile zoo is the brainchild of fellow members who go by the nickname “Moe” and “Sarablitzzz” (nicknames used in the forum). They also acted as host to the gathering. Members were treated to a wide collection of snakes, turtles and tortoises, lizards and amphibians. Some members also brought their reptile pets which are showcased at the gathering for other members to see and appreciate. Occasionally at these gatherings, fellow members are assisted to sex their snake which isn’t an easy task to perform. Instruments called “sexing probes” are used in the sexing of member’s snakes. “Scales” (again a nickname in the forum) provides this service free of charge to members. He is also the founder and administrator of the forum. If you are interested to know more about the group or the Reptile Cave @ Cave Villa, please log on to www. malaysiafauna.com or contact the writer. With a wide range of reptiles on display, the mini zoo is set to become one of the icon at the Batu Caves temple ground and also in Malaysia. Scores of local and foreign visitors would flock the mini zoo not only on weekends but also on weekdays. For any further information, please contact: Mohammad Nazri Hassan Basri (Uncle Herp) Mobile No : 012-6888051 E-mail : uncleherp @yahoo.com Webpage: uncleherp.webs.com News and info bits from around town and the world! Dog Day @ Bandar Botanic, Klang Another day out for the doggies! Bandar Botanic, a serene faraway place in the land of Klang recently organised a Dog Day for all dog lovers in the Klang Valley to participate in. This event was run by the good people at puppy.com.my who also ran the recent K9 day back in January 2008 at 1 Utama’s Central Park. This event serves as a great opportunity for dog lovers (and their pets) to socialise and mingle around with each other whilst enjoying the sun, games and contests. If you have missed this great event, do note that there will be an upcoming event just like this on the 29th of June 2008. For more information on the upcoming doggie event, do log on to www.puppy.com.my Be sure to not missed the next one! 06 Bites & Snacks PaperBark Writers Extracted from ‘Silent Cries’: THE FINAL GOODBYE – MAX My name is Max. I am a 12-year-old Labrador retriever dog. I used to be a champion dog winning contest after contest. My owners, David and Stacy, are proud of me because I keep bringing trophies home. Without their love and care, I wouldn’t have emerged a champion. I remembered David mentioning to me before that winning is in my blood. I have inherited my talents from my parents, who are also champion dogs. I was given away to David and Stacy when I was two months old. One fine day, if I remembered it clearly, I was at a prestigious competition together with David. It was organized by Pedigree. As usual, whenever I walked pass by the crowd, people would be cheering at me. I would walk elegantly and carry each step with much grace and poise to ensure that I made no mistake. I know just what to do to impress the judges. David was very impressed with me. During one of the routines, I am required to show my obedient skills to the judges. As David gave his commands to me, suddenly I felt light headed and dizzy. Once in a while, my visions blurred. me that he was extremely unhappy with my performance. I knew we lost the competition. This was my first time though. I have never failed David before and now I felt like I am a big failure. David did not say much. He usually rubbed my head, patted and stroked my back after each competition. Today, he did not. I hate to see him sad or disappointed. As we reached home, I immediately jumped out of the car right after David switched off the car engine and opened the car door. I headed straight for the house. Suddenly I heard David sternly call out my name. David ordered me to stay out tonight. This meant that I would have to sleep in my kennel. David locked me out of the house for the very first time in my life. I sighed and walked helplessly to the car porch, sat and rested my chin on my paws. Back inside the house, I could hear Stacy and David arguing about me. I could hear clearly how Stacy snapped back at David on his attitude. “Together again…” Some 40 minutes later, Stacy opened the door and sneaked me into the house. Walking with my head down, I carefully scanned for David’s presence. For a moment, I felt relieved. I am still not sure what happened after their argument. I saw David sitting at the sofa reading the newspaper. Upon seeing me, he quickly put his newspaper down and called me. Obediently, I walked towards him. He patted my back and head, and then Not to fail David’s expectation towards me, I did what I was commanded he apologized. Well, I don’t really mind though. I know they love me very to do. But the dizziness got worst and I became disoriented. It came all much. I love them very much too! I gathered that he probably had a rough of a sudden. I have never had this problem before. I was confused as to week and that’s why he got upset so easily. Losing the competition was like rubbing salt into an already infected wound. how would this happen. “He stopped talking to me…” On our way home that day, right after the competition, once in a while I glanced at David. He was driving the car and my instinct told That night, during dinner I overheard Stacy suggesting to David to bring me to the vet tomorrow for a check-up. David agreed. To Be Continued In The Next Issue.... Malaysia’s ONLY known ‘Love-marked’ Chihuahua! A small cutesy Chihuahua going by the name of Kokoro, is Malaysia’s only known Chihuahua that possesses a marking on its coat in the shape of a ‘heart’ or ‘love’. What makes Kokoro special too is that there are twin markings! So far there are only 2 reported Chihuahuas in the Asian region that has these markings. One is Heart-Kun, residing all the way in the land of the rising sun, Japan. The other is little Kokoro all the way here in Malaysia. She was imported in to Malaysia by Amigo Pets House before she was picked up and now calls a house filled with many other Malteses home. Now if you would want to see this one-of-a-kind Chihuahua, or you would want any further information regarding Kokoro, do visit www.homeapet.com and join in their friendly pet forum! Creature FEATURE Your First Scaly Baby - A Beginners Reptile By: Mohammad Nazi Hassan Basri a.k.a Uncle Herp Tel : 012-6888051 Web : uncleherp.webs.com If you remember reading my first article, I wrote briefly about the hobby of reptile keeping and their suitability as pets. Now that you have a brief idea of what you are getting yourself into, now let’s look at a deeper aspect of reptile keeping. I have no doubt of your excitement to take the plunge to purchase your new reptilian pet. However, please do not take this lightly as I do not want your first experience with a reptile to become a nightmare. This first experience will greatly affect your outlook on reptiles in the future. What I will do is to slowly introduce a few species that is considered as “beginner’s reptiles” by most reptile keepers. Take note though that no reptile is truly a pet for a child without an adult’s supervision. “Beginner’s reptiles” are considered as such due to these few factors: 1. Husbandry – easy to maintain and hardy. 2. Size – most maintain a moderately small size. 3. Temperament – Docile and manageable. 4. Feeding Appetite – Not a finicky eater. 5. Price – Not too expensive and affordable. There are basically 3 main groups of beginner’s reptiles that I would recommend to the first timer reptile enthusiast. They are: 1. Snakes – restrict yourself to the colubrid family. 2. Lizards – try agamid and geckos. 3. Turtles and Tortoises – land ones are “easier” in care than aquatic species. Snakes too much attention from its owner and can be Snakes rarely demands considered a low maintenance animal. Most are not finicky eaters and will readily take on rodents (mice and rats) as food. Please note that some species will require license from the Wildlife Department or risk your animal being confiscated. License is not expensive at all. License for a Ball Python for instance is only RM10.00 a year. So, if snakes are your cup of tea, look for corn snakes or ball pythons. These snakes are commonly available in Malaysia through pet stores and local breeders. Their price ranges from RM350 up to RM800 depending on the specimen though some may go up to a few thousand ringgits. Do go for the lower price range at first. These are usually the normal morph which means they exist in the actual colors and marking for the species. Corn snakes (Elaphe guttatta) are widely available in Malaysia’s pet trade. Most are captive bred specimens. These snakes remain relatively small. They rarely exceed 5 feet in length and come in a variety of color morphs. They are good feeders, mainly rodents (mice and juvenile rats) and can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Corn snakes are also more docile and tolerate handling far more than any other snake. For those who wish to go a step further, corn snakes can easily breed (this however takes a bit of specialization though!). Rat snake species like the corn snake can be quite fast if seldom handled. With regular handling though, they will usually calm down. Ball pythons (Python regius) or sometimes referred to as Royal Pythons are amongst the smaller species of the python family. It also has a good temperament and almost never bites and does not show signs of aggression. Ball pythons grow to about 5-7 feet, the longer individuals being females and have a very stocky body shape. They readily take on mice but larger ones will love to feed on adult rats. Whatever snakes that you decide from the various species available in the market, please make sure you buy them from a reputable pet store or breeder. They usually stock up captive bred animal that has conditioned themselves to living in captivity. These animals will adapt better to its new environment. Lizards most of those I have spoken to will opt for the green When I mention lizards, iguanas (Iguana iguana). Well, iguanas are cute and adorable when they are young but remember that they will grow to about 6 – 7 feet in length when full grown and can be quite aggressive, especially males in heat. They also require large enclosure at later stages in their life. The best lizard family that I would recommend for the beginner pet reptile enthusiast is the Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius). These cute and colourful geckos are small and will live comfortably in a 2 ft terrarium. The personality and temperament of leopard geckos are really commendable. These geckos are available locally in various color morph. The normal morph would cost around RM150 (juvenile) and up to RM4,000 for the rare color morph. These geckos are nocturnal as such you do not need to invest in the more expensive lighting setup with UV lamps. They are also terrestrial which means you need not have elaborate climbing branches set-up in the enclosure. Furthermore, the climate in Malaysia is such that you can do away with heat lamps too. A word of caution though, NEVER put 2 male leopard geckos together. They will fight and may kill each other. As such it is best to house them singly if you are not sure of its gender. For those more inclined towards a more menacing looking and larger lizard, go for Bearded Dragons ( Pogona vitticeps). Beardies as they are commonly called are not as large and has better temperament than the iguanas. However, the setup for its enclosure is a bit more advanced and if you do not let it out to sun, you’d need to invest in specialized UV lighting and heat lamps. Don’t let this deter you though as these creatures are adorable despite their dinosaurs like appearance. Beardies costs around RM 400-600. A pair of beardies can reproduce! Turtles and Tortoises By degree of difficulty, the turtles being aquatic in nature have a more difficult husbandry Turtles are mostly aquatic creatures while tortoises are land animals. practice. The main thing that you’d have to consider is maintaining the water quality. Turtles make a great mess especially during feeding. If not well cared for the water can become foul smelling. On the other hand, tortoises does not require aquatic habitat. They do well on a dry substrate. Some tortoises and turtles will live a long time (provided they are well cared for) and will grow to a reasonably large size. This means your aquatic setup or the land area allocated for tortoises should be large as well. However this doesn’t mean that these animals are not for the beginners. Take into consideration their requirements and they will do well. Red Eared Sliders ( Trachemys scripta elegans) are cheap as juveniles ranging from RM6.50 to RM8 each. Although juvenile Red-Eared Sliders are widely sold in almost every aquarium shops, their care is not simple. They grow quite fast, so be sure to get a suitable sized aquarium for them with proper basking area, heat lamps and UV lightings. If you are up for the challenge though, these slider turtles are great to have as pets. Children would need guidance from adults to maintain these turtles so if you have bought them for your child, please ensure that you give them a hand in its care. On the other hand, tortoises are not as cheap as the Red-Eared Slider turtles. This is due to the fact, most tortoises in our pet market is not a local species. Most are imported from overseas. Tortoises that you may find in Malaysia include the Star Tortoise (they come from India….Be forewarned that you need license to keep these now!), Sulcata and Leopard tortoises. Their prices range from RM100-800 each which varies with species and size. Again I must elaborate that keeping turtles and tortoises may require set-ups that would cost a sum. Be sure of what you’re getting yourself into before getting these as a pet. Last but not least, reptiles are “easy-to-care-for” pets but do bear in mind of their demands in terms of environmental and dietary requirements are more specialized as compared to cats and dogs. As such, it is advised that before getting a reptile as a pet, please take your time to actually research and read about your choice reptile and I truly hope that your new experience would be a wonderful one! 08 Questions to Dr. Vijay Ask Our VetO Healing Rooms Veterinary Clinic Lot 29, Ground Floor, Wisma Dicor Jalan SS17/1A, Subang Jaya, 47500 Selangor D.E. Tel: 03-5637 6166 Fax: 03-5637 3166 Q. My dog recently ate a small plastic sweet wrapper, does my dog need to operate? A. How small is the wrapper and how big is your dog? Generally small plastic pieces (like sweet wrappers) tend to pass through without any hazzard to the pet. You should monitor for vomition, defecation and appetite. If any abnormalities to the above patterns are noted, seeking advice from a vet will be wise. If the pet is alright - as it usually would be, do not worry. Q. I have heard of people actually cleaning dog’s teeth with toothbrushes and specially made cleaning treats, but how do I upkeep my cat’s dental hygiene? A. I believe there is no absolute one method that will work for all pets (cats or dogs). I have clients who brush their cat’s teeth too. Depending on the natural conformation of the cat’s teeth, chewing patterns, diet and individual reactiveness of the pet, some need very little care while others look bad despite a lot of effort. The manner of care should be catered to the pet’s nature/tolerance, owner’s ability, response and as well other factors like cost and affordability. The easiest manner will be correct feeding. Generally, pellets tend to be better than canned food; some brands cater better for dental hygiene. There are some additives into food and drinking water that may help. Mouth washes are available but are more difficult to apply. To be safe, one should try to get reputable pet care products rather than products meant for human use. These options can be discussed with your vet and petshops to see which manner will be ideal for your pet; you may need to try a few methods before you find the right one. Q. My dog seems to actively seek out for grass to munch on, is anything wrong with him? A. I always look at the pet to evaluate if anything is suspicious. If he or she is alright (i.e. good appetite, good body condition and healthy bowel movements), one generally should not worry. Deworming your pet regularly will be a good idea though. Also, note if any pesticides, manure or weed killers have been used recently. There are many theories (many of which are sound) suggesting why a pet does that but I believe to answer with certainty would be incorrect. If you suspect anything is wrong with your pet, get a vet to look at him. Pet $hoppers Hammy TV Fancy a TV for you to watch your hamster? Small and cute, this TV comes with a 4 inch plasma screen, porthole on the rear for easy access and 2 antennas for better reception. Does not include hamster. Find it @ PLC Pet Safari (KL) Sdn. Bhd. S1, IKANO Power Centre, No. 2, Jalan PJU 7-2, (Level 2), Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya Tel: +603-7724 1578 Silent Cries by Angeline S. Chin Every pet lover should own a copy of this book. Controversial and inspiring, the book does not fail to bring one’s emotions to a boil. Stories are compiled from many different contributors, illustrating what really goes on behind closed doors in the deep, dark corner of the pet industry and culture. Don’t expect cute photos and happy endings in this book. Find it @ Any local MPH, Borders or Times book stores Paw Pads Kuan Pet Salon says: “Grooming is more than just taking your doggie for a snip and bath. “ It’s no longer just enough to bring your dogs for a simple bath, cut and snip, but owners should also consider the myriad of health related aspects that play a big role in your dog’s well-being. Grooming alone does not solve all skin and fur related problems. It is the upkeep and maintenance that an owner gives to the dog that maintains it. Grooming salons like Kuan Pet Salon, stress heavily on pre-grooming consultancy. Why is this for? Isn’t the groomer supposed to know what to do with my dog, no matter what dog it is? Well no actually. Groomers need to pin-point the exact condition of your dog in order to customise a session which will bring out the best results; and groomers can’t do that without your help. They will select the best possible approach according to the dog’s size, fur and skin condition. Stanley and Kuan, the owners of Kuan Pet Salon, also mentioned that just focusing on the dog’s physique won’t be enough either. The health of a dog also relies on its food intake, environment it lives in, and it’s emotional state. Different dogs just like their human counterparts, possess allergies and differences in food preference. Some dogs can not take certain types of dog foods, no matter whether the brand states that it is A-OK for all dogs. A wrong selection in diet can lead to excess shedding, itchy or inflamed skin and other ailments. Do pay attention to their internal well-being by preparing a healthy diet, and also providing dog specific vitamins and supplements. As we all know, our environment heavily affects the way we look; and this goes exactly the same for your dog. A dirty, greasy, dusty and wet living quarters will highly affect the condition of your dog’s fur and skin. Aside from external factors, a happy, well-fed and attention-filled dog is a much healthier one too; inside and outside. At Kuan Pet Salon, customising grooming sessions according to season is also common practice rather than just repeating the previous sessions like before. For example: In Malaysia where the hot seasons yield humid weather, comes the excess breeding of ticks and fleas. Sessions are prepared before the coming season to contain anti-flea and tick shampoos. Prevention is better than trying hard to find a cure. If you ever find it hard to maintain your dog’s physical outlook no matter what you do, and your pooch is in dire need of some tendering to; do drop by Kuan Pet Salon for a throughout clean up and also some very helpful tips to maintaining your dog. Kuan Pet Salon is a full-service salon, specialising in clipping, bathing and therapeutic treatments for all dogs. Grooming sessions coupled with good home maintainence keeps a much happier, healthy dog; and also a satisfied and proud groomer. Kuan Pet Salon Your Professional Pets Grooming Centre, 42A, Jalan Kuchai Maju 6, Kuchai Lama, 58200 KL. Tel: +603-7981 1226 Operating Hours • 10am - 8pm Closed on Mondays. 11 Paw Pads Pet Lovers Centre: More than 30 years of pet care service! Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) has been serving pet owners all over the land of our neighbours down south for over 30 years. Starting from a small, humble pet store in Shaw Centre, PLC then started a new shopping concept called ‘The Pet Safari’ at Eastpoint Mall in Simei, which is Singapore’s first retail outlet where owners can shop together with their beloved pets. The Pet Safari realizes a dream of having a one-stop shop for all pet needs. The Pet Safari is actually a combination of a large pet store and retail outlets featuring 12 tenants. PLC grew substantially since the business was passed down to the founder’s second generation in 1998. Mr. Ng Whye Hoe took over his father’s business and turned it into a thriving franchise. Along with the massive growth, PLC also made suitable enhancements to their services and offerings, bringing even better attractions to their outlets. PLC’s mission statement is: “PLC Group is Asia Pacific’s Leader in pet care services. We translate the love and passion for pets into highly rewarding, loving and fun experiences. We offer our customers quality care, lifestyle enhancement, excellent accessibility and no nonsense value.” With a planned 24 outlets by end of 2008 spread all over Singapore, PLC soon noticed that it would be great to expand their concept over to their neighbours up north and give the Malaysian public a different kind of shopping experience. Arrangements were made and their first base of operations was opened by the end of 2003 over in IKANO Power Centre, a brand spanking new shopping mall located in the newly developed area of Mutiara Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. This new ‘The Pet Safari’ in Kuala Lumpur also features the same diversity of retail outlets spanning from pet boarding, veterinary services, a dog training centre and pet specialists such as reptiles, dogs, cats, exotics and fish. The 1st ever “The Pet Saf ari” outlet located in EastPoint Mall, Simei Stre et, Singapore Centre outlet in The very first Pet Lovers d, Singapore Shaw Centre, Scotts Roa The Pet Safari in IKANO Power Centre, Mutiara Damansara, Kuala Lumpur Besides being the largest pet retail outlet in Malaysia, The Pet Safari also benefits from the their current location. IKANO Power Centre, is by far the only ‘pet friendly’ shopping mall in Malaysia, and attracts pet lovers from all over to experience shopping with their pets. This has allowed PLC to secure an easier route for pet owners to bring their pets over to their Malaysian outlet. If it were anywhere else, their concept would be hard to carry out as most malls in Malaysia do not allow pets on their premises. PLC aims to educate pet owners on how to care for and be responsible for their pets. At each ‘The Pet Safari’ outlet, the management ensures that each and every shop attendant is knowledgable and is expected to help and consult potential pet buyers to find out the most suitable product or pet for them. Now with the ever increasing number of pet owners and massive demand for quality pet food and products, Pet Lovers Centre is seeking out pet lovers all over Singapore, Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region to join their growing franchise network. 12 Paw Pads New treatments Available at Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow Ahh..the itch is driving me up the wall! The most common medical conditions that dogs suffer from is usually skin and coat ailments. These conditions range from poor fur texture, skin blemishes, flaky skin, rashes or excessive shedding of the coat, causing your dog to itch and start chewing or gnawing away at the inflamed spots, worsening the condition. Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow looks into this problem with the usage of natural ingredients straight from mother nature. The mix is applied straight on the skin of your pet, wrapped up like a sushi roll, and then placed in a soaking tub to let the mixture seep into the skin. This treatment can cure most skin problems like for instance - fungus. This treatment can be done on both cats and dogs with minimal fuss (unless your pet hates getting wet). They need to be soaked, massaged, steamed and rinsed for several times in a session, and one session will take a minimum of 3 hours. For most cases, your pet would also have to go for sessions between intervals of 4 - 7 days to ensure that the skin is fully cured. No doubt it takes awhile, but it is highly satisfying. The Doc is in the house: Skin and dental treatments available now I know I look silly... don’t ask me why I’m here... don’t ask us either... Its a bit awkward but its comfy alright... wrapped up with all natural goodness my, my... what dirty teeth you have... Doc, I think I have something stuck in between my teeth... Mel, Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow’s resident Pet Health Consultant says that besides the skin, one must not over look the dental health of their pet too. Your pet’s dental health relies on two factors: their diet, and how much attention their owners give to their dogs. Dogs and cats living mainly on wet foods (canned meat, fresh meat - cooked of course, and other sort of unprocessed foods) without any dental management at all will suffer from some form of dental problems later on in their life. Problem that they would face are bad breath, excessive plaque buildup, receeding gums, etc. Dogs and cats whom primarily consume dry food products like biscuits and processed meats generally are at a lower risk of facing dental problems. Dry foods provide a means of keeping the teeth clean by providing a ‘crunch’ to collect away excess plaque and will not get stuck between teeth as easily compared to wet foods. Pets that have their teeth brushed or wiped with a specially designed veterinary toothpaste are also at an even lower risk. Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow dental treatments are conducted with a pre and post consultation session to know the temperament and condition of your pet and also the results after that. They will also provide useful tips on maintaining the sparklywhite teeth at home. The tools used too are specially designed to not hurt your pet’s gums or teeth in anyway. Yes, it is perfectly safe and don’t worry, they won’t sedate your pet for the treatment. In fact, proper handling and lots of encouragement to your pet during the treatment is highly needed as it will be much easier in future sessions for your pet does not possess the element of fear. Skin problems? Ugly yellow teeth? No worries! Come drop by Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow and see what their resident doc can do! 14 hardened tartar...whoa.. gimme the snacks you Yay, that didn’t hurt at all! Now promised! Wow-Wow@Meow-Meow Pet Saloon Sdn Bhd No. 512 & 514, Jalan Pudu, 55100, KL Tel: +603-9223 1009 Fax: +603-9222 1009 Paw Pads Blackwood Pet Products Pet food that keeps your pets moving! ® Keeping dogs at their peak. Pet food product have come a long way in terms of development and research. From the old usual way of just feeding our dogs table scraps, pet owners today have realised the importance of managing a good diet for their pet. This keeps them running at their utmost optimum performance. This goes by the saying, “you are what you eat”, and this works true and true no matter what type of animal your pet may be. All Blackwood products are prepared at a higher cooking rate of the carbohydrates (95% versus the industry standard of 83% - 86%), which improves the nutrient availability. “Low temperature cooking” as how Blackwood puts it, employs the usage of slow, crockpot-style cooking methods which eliminates heat damage to the vitamins and minerals. All cooking ingredients are all naturally blended with a “Holistic” method of treatment which is to enhance better nutrient intake in your pet’s diet. To improve skin and coat quality, Blackwood also contains ingredients like Omega 3, Omega 6, Brewer Yeast and Garlic. Garlic also improves your dog’s cardiovascular system and contain the properties of a minor flea repellent. Blackwood is produced without ingredients such as soy products, wheat products, chemical preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, fillers, or by-product meals which can contain feathers, beaks and feet. This is to ensure the incomparable quality and performance of a diet. With ‘Yucca Schidigera Extract’, your pet benefits from having Blackwood as its main diet because of it lowers urine and stool odor plus freshening the breath of your pet. We at Petster Magazine recommend you to try these products out, give it a try today! I for one feed my dog, a 10 year old English Cocker Spaniel a strict (but not so strict, I still give her lots and lots of other treats) diet of Blackwood and I definitely see the difference! - Josh For more information on the goodness of Blackwood, give them a ring at 03-9074 0255 15 Paw Pads Why is Regal Better? Regal firmly believes that we offer superior pet food products. Here are just a few reasons why we excel in the market: Only The Best Is Given, Straight From Mother Nature Regal foods are all natural. No chemicals or additives. All Regal dog diets contain pre-biotics and pro-biotics which help your pet better digest the pet food, which means you feed less and get a better result. Six Regal diets do not contain corn, wheat or soy. (Puppy Lamb Bites, Lamb Bites, Sensi-Bites, Venison Bites, Active Bites, and our Holistic Salmon Bites.) All Regal dog foods contain Glucosamine and Chondrotin to help with joint health. Sensi-Bites is known around the world as an excellent food for your dogs with allergies or digestive problems. Sensi-Bites is high in linoleic acid for better skin and coat. Regal uses a slow cook which helps digestion, so you can feed less. Regal meat meals are classifed (molecular air separated) which improves digestibile protein and fat levels. Regal offers foods for all canine life stages - Puppy, Active, Adult, Lite-Senior. Regal offers a veriety of diets including Turkey, Lamb, Venison and our new Holistic Salmon and Sweet Potato. REGAL IS NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST. All grain products used in Regal formulas are purchased in the USA. Regal is approved for EU shipping. This means that Regal’s plant and all regal suppliers are inspected and approved by the USDA inspectors yearly to make certain that only the highest quality ingredients are in our formulas. 16 Kitty Welfare 101 by: Alicia Horsley @ Pet Epicure contact: +6012 3313318 ChitChat Cat This month we’ve got tips to improve your cat’s life, whether he’s a free spirit who comes and goes as he pleases or a totally indoor cat. Minimising the risks for your outdoor cat Neuter your cat. This makes him less like to roam far reducing the risk of becoming lost. He will also suffer fewer injuries as he be less inclined to fight for a mate as well as contract disease from other cats (while fighting and mating). Adequate identification is critical. Make sure you cat is wearing a collar with your name and contact details on it. Use a metal canister attached to his collar AND cellotape a piece of paper with the relevant details to the inside of the collar in case the metal canister is lost. Microchip your cat so you are more likely to find you cat if he goes missing. The Feline Society of Malaysia is in the process of coming up with a microchip database so you can register the details of your cat’s microchip with them. In the event of your cat being found by someone else, they’ll be able to trace your cat back to you. Use a breakaway or elasticated collar so your cat doesn’t become entangled of stuck by accident. A reflective collar is also useful if your cat is allowed outdoor at night. Follow a regular vaccination, worming and anti-parasite treatment regime. Ensure you are up to date with the necessary vaccinations so your cat is protected from disease. Deworm your cat according to your vet’s schedule and apply flea and parasite treatments if necessary. Also, Try to keep your cat indoors at night so it is less likely to be hit by a vehicle. There are also more wild animals at night which may harm your cat. If you live near a busy road, then it may be better to confine your cat when then is a lot of traffic. He may be more willing to come if you feed him during these times. Teaching your cat to come when he is called can make this easier. U stolez mua gerfren! Zomg! Xbox yo! very facinating... Kittens find it absolutely facinating outdoors. But they need constant supervision. Enriching your cat’s environment Why? For optimum physical, emotional and mental health. How? Giving them the chance to exercise natural behaviours like hunting and hiding. Safety - While you don’t have to be paranoid, do exercise some common sense. Keep poisonous substances under lock and key. Teach you cat where kettles and stoves are so they don’t jump onto them by accident. Make sure you cat cannot fall out of high windows by accident. Food foraging – Make your cat work for his food. Hide small stashes in secret locations. Vary the places so it doesn’t become routine. Place some in a small container with holes in it so he has to bat it to make the food fall out. This kind of toy can also be suspended from a chair or shelf for variety. Throw his food along the floor and make him chase after each piece. Cat grass - They love it and it helps with hairballs. Try growing your of cat nip or wheatgrass. It’s easy. Hiding places – Cat’s should have access to hiding places and must not be disturbed. Boxes, the top of cupboards and under sofas are acceptable. 18 Water – Place a cat water fountain, a water feature and a few small bowls of water places in different locations throughout your house. Cats in the great outdoors rarely drink while eating, preferring instead to hunt for food and water in separate locations. Try to ensure there is at least one water container per cat. Scratching posts – Some cats prefer horizontal surfaces while others love vertical ones. Just remember that more is better and the vertical ones need to be tall enough so your cat has to stretch to his full height to use it. Social contact – Most cats prefer to have the company of at least another cat, especially if you are at work all day. However, the amount of space you have will certainly affect the number you chose to keep. Human contact should always be initiated by the cat and remember that your cat’s personality is the ultimate deciding factor. Scent stimulation – Three out of four cats love catnip particularly the dried leaves. Cats also love valerian and it has the added benefit of calming and soothing them. You can get dried valerian from valerian teabags, just remember to remove staples and string first. Fresh air – There is nothing like a healthy dose of fresh! Plus it will carry ever changing scents from the outside which will stimulate your house cat to a certain degree. Participating NGOs : I WANT TO Subscribe! Like to subscribe to Petster Magazine and help the animals? If you are interested, please fill out this form and mail it over to us @ Petster Magazine Main Kennel, No. 1A, Jalan Balam, Taman Milion, Batu 3, Jalan Ipoh, 51100 K.L. or just email us your contacts and subscription duration to sales@petstermagazine. com. We will contact you about the payment terms as soon as we receive this form or your email. Fee covers postage and handling. Subscribe for 6 months of postage (RM10.00) RM1.00 WILL BE DONATED TO NGOs. Subscribe for 12 months of postage (RM20.00) RM2.00 WILL BE DONATED TO NGOs AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE PETSTER NETWORK! Name (Mr/ Mrs/ Ms) : ___________________ _____________________________________ Address : _____________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ Postcode : ____________________________ Mobile / Tel. : _________________________ E-mail : ______________________________ Signature : ___________________________ Date: ________________________________ PETSTER THE MALAYSIAN NO.1 PET LIFESTYLE NETWORK WWW.PETSTERMAGAZINE.COM network Birdie T alk Teaching pet birds how to talk! From “Squawk!”, to “Good morning! Coffee or Tea?” Everyone whom owns a pet bird would want to do one thing: teach it how to talk. Yes it is true that most pet birds can be taught to mimic human blabber, but it takes a whole lot of patience and dedication. Though it is thought that all birds like canaries, parrots, magpies or finches would likely pick up the words you repeat over and over again; but it all boils down to the personality of the bird itself. Some will pick it up quickly and show off their vocal skills, others might learn slowly and would be shy to say anything at all. Parrots however, are the most likely breed of bird to learn the fastest, provided you give them enough training. Lesson 1: Familiarity Your bird is going to only learn from you once it trusts you so when you bring back a new pet bird, do make sure it is given ample enough time to adjust to its surroundings and routine. Regular feeds and time spent with it will cause it to bond easily with you as it knows you are not trouble. Untamed and unbonded birds are very difficult students (something like our human kids whom don’t see their parents very often due to work and so; the child usually would not listen to the parents - no pun intended). Lesson 2: Sessions Your pet bird should be removed from its enclosure and taken to a quieter area of your home whenever you want to start its vocal lessons. This is to ensure it pays more attention to your voice and instructions without being distracted by the bars and food in the cage, and the usual ambience of the surroundings it is used to. These sessions should be done consistently for at least 15 minutes each session. Morning sessions are the best as your pet bird would The actual reason why birds mimic human be most alert at that time and a second sounds goes wth the saying, “birds of a feather, session can be done later in the evening or flock together”. You the owner are part of their just before your day ends. ‘flock’, therefore being the odd one out, they start to behave and learn from the majority. It is an association habit that most animals have. This is also similar to dogs whom start to learn from their human counterparts on how to behave and act in regards to the activity that is happening around them. Lesson 3: Words Single words or short phrases are the best to be taught first. This allows the bird to easily pick up the vocal chords without much confusion. “Hello” or “Good Day” are easy words for your bird to learn and the way you should pronounce the word should be stretched. What stretching the word means you don’t say the word like you normally do but pull your pronounciation of it. From “Hello”, it should be pronounced as “helllllooooooooo”. Yes it may seem rather weird at first but it allows your bird to slowly digest the correct pitch and tone. Speak with a slightly softer tone than normal as your bird will automatically raise the volume. If you start out loud, your pet will be even louder than you. Words should be repeated several times with succesive pauses. Say it. Pause for a moment. Repeat it again. Pause for a moment. Food should not be used to encourage the bird as it will serve as a mere distraction and ruin your teaching session. Some birds especially parrots will start to speak within weeks of consistent training but others might take much, much longer. Sometimes birds learn different words faster than other words so experimenting is a good idea. Be patient with your pet as you go through the sessions day after day. Though sometimes it may seem that it is not getting what you are trying to teach it but to your surprise, it may have been practicing to get the speech just right before actually showing off its new found skill. PET CLASSIFIEDS Maltese, Toy Poodle & Pekingese Puppies from homebreeder. www.suanmin.com Julia 016-3600944 AM/ASIAN & THAI Champion Lineage Golden Retriever pups, 3 w/old, w/MKA & microchip. RM 1500+. Junnie 016-5055076 Maltese puppies, 8 weeks old, male, dewormed and vaccinated, with MKA & microchip. RM1500. Junnie 016-5055076 Pug puppies, 6 weeks old, male and female, dewormed and vaccinated, with MKA and microchip. RM1000. Junnie - 016 5055076 Shih Tzu puppies, 8 weeks old, male, dewormed and vaccinated, with MKA and microchip. RM 850. Junnie - 016 5055076 Baby Ferrets available! Very playful, healthy and makes a super cute companion! Seri Kembangan. Call - Cathy 012-6644124 ONLY RM30.00 NOW TO PUT YOUR PETS FOR SALE!!! Maltese Puppy, 4 months +, Male, Good pigmentation + toilet trained w/MKA, Vaccinated, Microchipped, RM1,500. 017-6288420 Interested in giving your pet a new owner? Advertise with us for only RM30.00 to put your pet up for sale. Do provide some general descriptions which can include: what breed your pet is, what name does it respond to, where are you located, contact info and price. We also provide photography services if you would require any. For those interested, please fill out the form below, attach a photo of your pet (softcopies are welcomed), cut this page out and mail it over to us @ Petster Magazine Main Kennel, No. 1A, Jalan Balam, Taman Milion, Batu 3, Jalan Ipoh, 51100 K.L. or to sales@petstermagazine.com for softcopies. Name : _____________________________________ Address : ____________________________________ ____________________________________________ Mobile / Tel. : ________________________________ Pet Breed : __________________________________ Description : _________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ (Max. 16 words) Payment Method : Cash Cheque Bank Transfer PBB3138040510 If you want us to assist you in taking photos, please tick here Signature : __________________________________ Date : ______________________________________ *You will be contacted for further payment assistance as soon as we receive this form. RM30.00 ONLY! PETSTER THE MALAYSIAN NO.1 FREE PET LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE WWW.PETSTERMAGAZINE.COM magazine The Pet Index Our products & service guide to all in the pet industry. Find what your pet needs right here! Pet Grooming & Clipping Kuan Pet Salon - 42A, Jalan Kuchai Maju 6, Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 012-2581126 IPETS Salon - No. C-G-3, Jalan PJU 1/45, Aman Suria Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-78806119 DeniseDylan Grooming & Pets - E-45-G, Jalan PJU 1/45, Aman Suria Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya. Tel: 03-78039702 Doggie House Sdn. Bhd. - No. 29GF, Plaza Crystalville 1, Jalan 22A/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-62031009 Pet Fashion Trading - No. 1503B, Lower Ground Floor, Jalan Besar, Seri Kembangan, Selangor. Tel: 03-89459318 Wow-Wow @ Meow-Meow Pet Saloon Sdn. Bhd. - 512 & 514, Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-92231009 Pet Food Suppliers Blackwood Trading Sdn. Bhd. - No. 4, Jalan Kasturi 3, Off Jalan Balakong, Batu 11, 43200 Cheras, Selangor. Tel: 03-90740255 DHKS Pet Supplies Sdn. Bhd. - 30, Jalan PJU 3/48, Sunway Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-78047808 Pets Corner Sdn. Bhd. - Wisma Medivet, 8, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 03-40432420 Pet Stores PLC Pet Lovers Centre Sdn. Bhd. - S1, IKANO Power Centre, Level 2, No. 2, Jalan PJU 7-2, Mutiara Damansara, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-77257661 Ocean Life International Sdn. Bhd. - 50, Jalan Kuchai Maju 6, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-79808180 Buddy Pet Wagon - 66, Jalan PJU 3/20C, Damansara Indah, 47410 Petaling Jaya. Tel: 016-2489828 Big Bone Pet Centre - 23, Jalan 21/12, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tel: 03-78745453 Pet Shack - 102, Block A, Mentari Business Park, Jalan PJS 8/2, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-56374536 Qian Hu - The Pet Family - Lot 10991, Jalan SS24/8, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: 03-78052342 Petaboom Pet Supplies - www.healthnshine.com - Tel: 017-6288420 Veterinarians Hand “N” Paws Veterinary Clinic & Pet Centre - C-17G, Jalan PJU 1/45, Aman Suria Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya. Tel: 03-78046539 Hill Park Veterinary Medical Centre - No. 18 & 20, Jalan Anggerik Eria AT 31/AT, Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam. Tel : 03-51228386 Healing Rooms Veterinary Clinic - Lot 29, Ground Floor, Wisma Dicor, Jalan SS17/1A, Subang Jaya, 47500 Selangor. Tel: 03-56376166 Services Dogsworld..net - Cheng See Tel: 012-2584315