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6 Edited, Printed, Published & Owned by Linda Brady Hawke Published from L.B. Associates (Pvt) Ltd H-108, Sector 63, Noida Dist. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. Delhi NCR, India Tel: Fax: info@creature-companions.com Websites: Printed at US Printographics E-53, Sector-7, Noida GB Nagar UP, India Editor-at-Large Alankar Srivastava Editor Renu Baliyan Contributing Editor Aamir H Kaki Guest Writers Pooja Advani Paramjeet Singh Dhesi Dr R Selvakumar Ashish Sharma R K Yogi K S Rehpade S K Badasara Rutaksha Rawat A S Godara Karthik Rajan Pooja Advani Debottama Ghosh Bhuvaneshwari Gupta Rashi Sanon Narang Neeraj Santosh Shekhar Radhiya Hemchandra Dr Anton C Beynen Director - Business Development Binoy Sahee Marketing Yash Malhotra yash@creature-companions.com Tel: Circulation Rahul rahul@lbassociates.com Tel: Mob: Design Atul Kumar Anil Kumar Webmaster: Uday N Jha DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in Creature Companion are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publisher. Although all efforts have be en made to ensure the complete accuracy of text, neither the editors nor publisher can accept responsibility for consequences arising from errors or omissions or any opinions or advice given. Publisher s Note Dear Readers, Welcome to our February edition of Creature Companion! It gives me immense pleasure to introduce you to our annual Fair Special edition. India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF) was launched with the aim to give impetus to pet industry in India and increase awareness about responsible pet ownership and parenting. Now in its eighth edition, IIPTF is South Asia s only pet trade fair and India s largest pet event. India has emerged as a booming world pet market and the commercial pet food market is expanding like never before. Our cover story Chinafree Pet Food in Demand! This is India s Chance talks about the impressive growth that the Indian pet market has registered. It is the best time for Indian companies to tap into the growing global pet market. Most Indian companies are exporting pet products overseas. As the global market is growing dramatically with a number of countries witnessing higher than ever pet ownership and spending, Indian companies manufacturing and producing pet products are opening up to the world in a big way. Grooming your Dog for a Show in Groomer s Corner Section highlights grooming tips for pet shows. Preparing for the show can often cause a lot of stress and also a lot of excitement for the groomer and the pet. Forming your idea as a groomer and using your knowledge and understanding of the pet should make it easier for you to get a clear picture of what outcome you want to achieve. Eventually you must realise all your ability as a groomer and plan accordingly. Our regular pet nutritionist, Dr Anton Beynen shares his views on Vegetarian Pet Foods in his exclusive column Pet Nutrition. The Emerging Trends Section highlights the advancements in veterinary technology, veterinary diagnostics and medications. The animal healthcare segment of the pharmaceutical industry of India has huge growth prospects in the coming years. The strategic decisions of manufacturers in the Indian environment are expected to positively impact growth in the animal healthcare segment. The Book Review Section features The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide. It follows the lives of two people who live together, eat together and sleep together, but don t have much left to say to each other. The cat at this couple s doorstep will change their lives, making their days brighter and full of joy. There s plenty more spread over the hundred pages. Happy Reading! Linda Brady Hawke linda@lbassociates.com also find us on 6Creature Companion February 2014

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8 February 2015 News & Events 10 Pet of the Month Sultan 18 Interview Price Power is the theme for Designer Pet Products 20 Book Review The Guest Cat 24 Cover Story China-free Pet Food in Demand! This is India s Chance 26 Health & Wellness Tips to keep your Pet Healthy during Winters 32 Your Pet & You Respect Your Pet s Freedom 36 Feline Nutritional Management of Feline Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 38 Breed Profile Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Gentle Hulk from The Alps 42 Exotic Dog Airedale Terrier: An Excellent Watchdog 46 Veterinary Services These are Exciting Times in Companion Animal Healthcare 50 Groomer s Corner Grooming your Dog for a Show 54 School for Pet Winter Exercise Tips for your Dog 58 NGOs Role of NGOs in Improving Life of Stray Dogs 60 Make Sure your Animals Stay Safe and Happy While you re Away 63 Pet Nutrition Vegetarian Pet Foods 64 e-retailing A Rapidly Growing Universe: Online Pet Care Retail in India 66 Emerging Trends Doorstep Pet Care Business in India: The Next Big Thing 68 Pet Taxi Services: Now, a Comfortable Ride for Pets 86 8

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10 News Train Without Pain It s important that our dogs obey basic requests such as come, sit and stay, for this ensures their own safety and makes it easy to navigate public spaces with them. However, training a dog by using cruel and abusive methods is both counterproductive and illegal. While some professional trainers beat dogs, others may cause fear and pain by using choke collars (that can cause blindness or even death). As a rule, never allow a trainer to take your pet out of sight, as this makes them vulnerable to ill-treatment. Training your pet yourself, using reward-based methods is ideal. And when they are going through a naughty phase, or when they re teething or being toilet-trained, a patient and compassionate approach is important. Nivedita Kumar, canine behaviour consultant and founder of Confident Dogs believes that most actions performed by dogs are normal behaviour. She believes punishment is never the answer, and that the only way to train your four-legged friend is through reward-based methods. Reward-based methods are effective in the long run. It means any method that uses food, toys, play or petting to motivate a dog to perform a desirable action, she says. The best way to teach a dog a desirable action is to start associating positive after-effects for that action. For example, if we would like her to sit and wait for food rather than jump and push, we have to make her realise that every time she sits, the food is handed to her. Nivedita concludes that the biggest advantage of reward-based training is that it s a great way to bond with your dog the results are reliable, and you are assured that the relationship between you and your pet is built on trust and love. Woman Wills Million- Dollar Fortune to Pet A 60-year-old woman in the US has willed a million-dollar fortune consisting of jewellery, a trust fund and vacation home to her pet dog. Rose Ann Bolasny from New York decided to leave all this to her pet Maltese terrier named Bella Mia. We decided that we had given her such a lavish life that we wanted to make sure she d still have what she was accustomed to when I was gone, Bolasny was quoted by the New York Post. Yes, we pamper her, but Bella Mia has really donated and volunteered more than her time in her short three years of living that most people have done in a lifetime, she said. And her two sons Louis, 38, and Robert, 32 do not have a problem at all with their mother giving her dog a mountain of wealth along with a home in Port St Lucie. Rescue Dog Saved Owner s Life Sniffing Out Aggressive Tumour A rescue dog saved its owner s life after sniffing out an aggressive tumour in her breast. Josie Conlon, 46, of Stockton-on- Tees was unaware she had breast cancer until her two-year-old collie Ted began to Josie Conlon and her Border Collie Ted (NNP) 10 cry, paw and nuzzle her chest. But the grade three tumour was caught in time and removed, and now Mrs Conlon has been given the all-clear by her doctor. When I got the results from the hospital and was told the cancer had not spread the relief I felt was incredible and it is all down to Ted, she said. It was also at this point that I was told that the tumour I had was particularly aggressive and had been growing very quickly. If I d left it any later before going to the doctor the consequences do not bear thinking about. Ted was a rescue dog and so was rarely affectionate with Mrs Conlon. Mrs Conlon had the lump removed in the middle of December was given the news that the cancer had not spread this week. I think a lot of people would probably just push a dog away if it started clawing at their chest, but dog owners should take notice, because Ted really did save my life, she added.

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12 News Patting Pets It is observed that there is an increasing trend wherein a dog becomes part of a family, before a baby comes along. Here are some handy tips to help your dog adjust to the happy addition in the family: Dogs love routine. The arrival of a baby may mean you cannot spend the required time with your pet. Make sure your partner or someone at home takes charge of the walks, the food and exercise. The arrival of a baby could also imply a change in the sleeping location of your pet. Make these changes well before the baby arrives. It is important that your dog does not have any reason to get distracted with these changes and the arrival of the baby. Give your dog some time to get used to these changes. Spend extra time to reward good behaviour like sit, stay, drop it and go to mat. And if your dog has the habit of jumping, that needs to be rectified immediately by using positive training methods. Before the arrival of the baby at home, it is important that your pet gets to smell the clothes worn by the baby in the hospital. After the pet smells the cloth, reassure him that he is equally wanted by stroking him. Make sure that before the first meeting with the baby, your pet is well exercised. Have him on leash when he approaches the baby. Expose the baby s feet and let your dog smell the feet first. Praise him if he is demonstrating appropriate behaviour. Never force a dog if he is not interested in meeting the baby. In that case, seek professional help. Even if your dog is well trained you have to take all precautions and not leave him alone with the baby. As a responsible pet owner and parent, help your dog adjust to your baby, make the environment safe, and nurture the relationship between your child and dog. Cat Survives 36 Days in a Box When the day finally came for Ashley Barth and her family to make the big move to the Hawaiian island of Maui, they were heartbroken. Their family cat, Mee Moowe, had gone missing. Mee Moowe, Barth told WAVY- TV, must have run away the day the movers came to pack up their Virginia home. Trusting the movers, New World International, could handle the move without her there, she left them alone in the house so she could take her baby to a doctor s appointment, according to local 12 news site Hawaii News Now. Hoping that their cat would return, the family extended their trip three days. They waited in the empty house, but Mee Moowe never showed up. Eventually, on September 12, the Barths had to leave. She s such an important part of our family. She sleeps with my daughter every night, Barth told Hawaii News Now. So it was devastating when we were unable to find her. Thirty-six days later, the family s belongings finally arrived on Maui. As the movers began unloading the boxes, they heard a faint and muffled meow. The guy goes, What was that sound? and my heart just kind of sunk for a minute, Barth told WAVY-TV. And I thought, No, no way. And then we heard it again. And the guy said, Was that a cat? Immediately, Barth realised it was Mee Moowe, and everybody started crying, she told local news station KHON2. Her 10-year-old daughter helped free the cat from the box. Man s Own Dog Helps Police Bust Him On Drug Charge Police in central Alabama say a man s own dog helped officers bust him on a drug charge. Prattville Police spokeswoman Paula Barlow says the pooch named Bo followed his fleeing master, who was being pursued by officers. When the dog stopped and wagged his tail in tall grass, she says, officers found and arrested Edwin Henderson. Barlow says the chase began when two drug officers arrived with a search warrant and Henderson took off running. After an investigator pointed at Henderson and told the dog go get him, that s what Bo did. Barlow says Henderson is charged with failure to obey police, manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. It s unclear if he has an attorney, and there s no word on who s taking care of Bo.

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14 News Dog Swims 1.5 Miles to Reunite With Owner After a Storm In an almost miraculous tale of survival, a dog that got caught 1.5 miles offshore on a sinking boat during a storm in California saved itself by swimming all the way back to land, then sought safety at a church only to be reunited with its owner who feared she had drowned. Steve Alioto, the owner of the dog, Daisy, told CBS San Francisco that he d anchored his boat because he couldn t afford to dock. He said he left Daisy on the boat while he went to help out a friend, but when he returned the only thing he saw of the boat was the mast sticking out of the water. He was devastated. What Steve didn t know, however, was that Daisy had braved the stormtroubled waters of the Sausalito Bay, swam 1.5 miles back to shore and found refuge in a church where she and her owner had sometimes gone for food. My neighbour told me there was a soaking wet, shivering dog crouched in the church doorway, the Rev Paul Mowry of the Sausalito Presbyterian Church told Marin News. Initially, I thought she was just a lost dog. Mowry said they were able to locate Steve at a dinner at The Open Door Ministries. I walked over and said to Steve, We have your dog. He said, Are you kidding me? I told him the dog showed up at the church. He started sobbing and threw his arms around me. The following day, Daisy and her owner were reunited at the Humane Society. Steve said to me, The things I lost are just things. They can be replaced. But you can t be replaced, and I can t be replaced, and Daisy can t be replaced, Mowry said. That dog is his companion. She s his everything. Russian Cat Saves Baby Abandoned in the Cold A friendly neighbourhood cat has saved the life of a baby boy abandoned by his parents in a freezing Russian city. The long-haired feline, affectionately named Masha by the block s residents, discovered the baby boy inside a cardboard box in apartment block in the Russian city of Obninsk after hearing his cries in the cold. Masha apparently climbed inside the box and wrapped herself around the abandoned child, believed to be less than 12 weeks old, to keep him warm. Hearing Masha s loud meows, resident Irina Lavrova rushed to rescue the cat believing she was injured instead she discovered her curled around 14 the now quiet baby. You can imagine my shock when I saw her lying in a box next to a baby, she told RT. The baby was rushed to hospital, with Masha attempting to follow the car, and was found to be healthy, despite his outdoors stay. She was so worried about where we were taking the baby, paramedic Vera Ivanina told REN TV. A search has now been launched to try and locate the child s parents. He was discovered with clean clothes, extra nappies and some baby food. Since the discovery of the baby, Masha has reportedly been spoilt by local residents who have given her extra food. Monkey Refuses to Give Up on Electrocuted Friend, Revives Him There is much to learn from the animal kingdom and we might as well begin from this extraordinary tale of a monkey who refused to give up on his friend. For the record: everyone ought to have a friend like this. While romping over live wires at a train station in Kanpur, one of the monkeys was electrocuted and lost consciousness thereafter. Proving himself to be an excellent friend, the other monkey in the vicinity scratched, bit and dunked his unconscious buddy into sewer water to revive him. The monkey refused to give up on his mate and his desperate efforts finally brought him back to consciousness. After a lot of biting, scratching and a lot of dunking in stinky sewer water, the other monkey finally began to show signs of revival. Finally, the monkey gained full consciousness and sat beside his friend.

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18 Pet of The Month Pet of the Month February 2015 Sultan Disposition: Rottweiler is a powerful breed with well-developed genetic herding and guarding instincts. A well-bred Rottweiler is calm and confident. He s typically aloof toward strangers, but never timid or fearful. Rottweilers exhibit a wait-and-see attitude when confronted with new people and situations. The Rottweiler is a natural guard dog with a mellow disposition and is successful not only in police, military, and customs work, but also as a family friend and protector. Rottweilers have a natural instinct to protect their families and can be ferocious in their defence. It s essential to channel their power and protectiveness by providing early socialisation, firm, fair, consistent training and leadership, and a regular job to perform. A Rottweiler s temperament is a fascinating combination of strength and good nature, of power and selfcontrol, of devotion and courage. Potentially dangerous behaviour in the Rottweiler usually results from irresponsible ownership, abuse, neglect, or lack of socialisation and training. This is a dog that is loyal to his people and wants to be with them. If you give him the guidance and structure he needs, you ll be rewarded with one of the finest companions in the world. The Rottweiler loves their owners and may behave in a clownish manner toward family members and 18 Name : Sultan Breed : Rottweiler Age : 5 years Gender : Male Human Paramjeet Singh Dhesi Resident : Sarabha Nagar Ludhiana, Punjab friends, but they are also protective of their territory and do not welcome strangers until properly introduced. Obedience training and socialisation skills are required. Eccentricities/Adorable Habits: Sultan loves water; he jumps right in the tub and lets me bathe him. While getting a bath, he thinks its play time and he will start playing with the water, says Paramjeet, adding, Sultan gets really excited when he sees me grab the leash because he knows it s time to go outside. He will walk over to the door and stare at me until I put his leash on his collar and open the door. He is such a character. Sultan s Description: A member of family who is loyal, playful, athletic, fearless, great with kids and family. When it comes to protection, this breed is always aware of what s happening and will use its athleticism to protect its family, making it a great choice for families looking for a reliable watchdog. His Favourite Pastime: Sultan can t get enough of fetching the ball or running around. After that he likes lounging under the shade of the beautiful trees or wherever he can find shade. His Fears: None Advice: Socialisation, leadership, structure, consistency and patience. Prepare yourself for the best experience of your life. It breaks my heart to hear people describe the breed as dangerous etc says Paramjeet. If bred well, trained well and loved they are the best dogs ever.

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20 Interview Price Power is the theme for Designer Pet Products Zorba International came into existence in the year It is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of handcrafted, leather-jewelled accessories. The company offers leather dog collars, dog leashes, cat safety collars, horse bridles and halters. Speaking to Creature Companion s editor, Renu Baliyan, the founder of the company, Mr Subhash Gupta speaks about designer pet products, leather products and the scope of this industry. q Tell our readers about Zorba International. Zorba came into existence in the year I am an animal lover and also own a dog. We design exclusive range of leather-jewelled collars, leashes and accessories. We export our products to USA, Europe, Australia and UK. We are also custom manufacturer of various leading global brands. qwhat are the factors that you consider while designing leather accessories for pets? We always keep comfort in mind while designing accessories for pets. Pet products should be made in such a way that they a provide feel good factor. The second important factor is security and we ensure that all products are duly secured. Thirdly, colour of the product is also important and we follow those colours which are in trend. Our approach is that our products should satisfy the requirements of pet parents who check each and every detail of the products before buying. q What is the market size for designer pet products in India? The market size for designer pet products is expanding continuously. The Indian market is dominated by traditional pet shops that own almost all the major brands. There is only one way to enter the market for products that Zorba offers through E.Com. Dog lovers will get the right products at the right price direct from our factory. The total market size of the pet grooming industry was estimated at `132 crore ($21,220,200) in 2007 which grew to `299 crore ($48,066,900) by qtell us the scope of designer pet products industry in India? Price power is the theme for designer pet products. Our products should be designed in such a way that they should be made for the masses not for a particular class. We have to think whenever we are designing any product that it is designed for a child. The question is whether I can buy for my child? If it is YES, then the market is huge and people should enter into this segment. qhow is the India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF) helping pet the industry to grow? What are your suggestions for enlarging the IIPTF platform? IIPTF is the only platform which represents Indian Pet Industries. We are very happy to be associated with them. Going to Pune and now Banaglore is a good strategic decision. Just a wild idea; can we involve kids (schools and other institutions)? qwhat are the factors that you consider before pricing your products? Raw material cost, ornaments cost, hardware cost, time taken to make the particular product, new development, long-term selling or short term selling, and currency fluctuation are some of the key factors which we consider before pricing the products. qwho are your leading competitors? Our main competitors come from China, Taiwan and Thailand. The pet industry has developed immensely in these countries. qwhat advice would you give to young Indian entrepreneurs? There are more experienced people in the pet Industry. We are just learning from them; however there is a need for a more organised approach. They should focus on our Prime Minister Narendra Modi s main slogan during this year i.e. Make in India. So, let us make it rather than import it. qwhat are your plans for 2015? We are going in a big way with our export activities in We are planning to create a small warehouse for finished products especially leather-jewelled collars and sell them through the E.com format in India at a right price. qhow was the year 2014 for the pet industry? The year remained slow for the pet industry. q As an entrepreneur, what advice would you like to give to start-ups? Yes, there are lot of opportunities to start pet businesses. Please do not invest on big shops or malls. Just start from your clean garage, invest in product procurement from different manufacturers and follow each and every dog owner of your city area. Start small and be focussed with an honest approach. Listen to the problem of every dog owner. Truly speaking you will love your work. Do not push for sales just help people to buy your products.

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24 Book Review Author: Takashi Hiraide Pages 136 The Guest Cat Some books make unlikely bestsellers. This is a gentle, thoughtful and subtly profound work, utterly without pretension by a Japanese poet in his 60s. The Guest Cat has been a runaway success in France and America; it s also been catching on in the UK. Could its success be something to do with cats? The Japanese, after all, are not the only people who are very fond of felines. The cat of the title is one of those with which many of us are familiar: the cat that actually belongs to someone else, but comes to our place for more food and to take a few extra naps. In these situations an ambiguity arises: to whom does the cat really belong, or is there a gradation of ownership? The story is set in the late 1980s, and we are given every reason to believe that it is autobiographical. Yet this does not diminish or compromise the delicate artistry of its telling. One day, a cat wanders into the house, and lives, of a 30-something couple. The husband and wife, both writers, do not have kids and their marriage has grown stale as they lose themselves in their work. They coax the cat into staying, and came to know that his name is Chibi. Chibi is aloof and temperamental as only the very best cats can be, but his presence gradually draws them away from their desks and into the garden, where, for a time, all is well. The cat s sudden presence in his house and marriage illuminates the Sisyphean for him, as he convinces his wife that they should both quit their more workaday jobs to pursue dreams of writing -- the act of writing, he waxes, also crosses borders indiscriminately, recalling Chibi s nomadic wanderings. The feline s appearances also act as emotional defence for the couple as they adjust to a less financially reliable life. And at the end, you find yourself confronted with a mystery; a small mystery, perhaps, but one that certainly gives you pause to think. You will want to read The Guest Cat more than once, so you notice more details seeing as you can t do this with life. Sourced and edited from:

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26 Cover Story China-free Pet Food in Demand! This is India s Chance By Alankar Srivastava Although not as popular as Western countries, the increasing number of urban households, rise in nuclear families and disposable incomes have led to a higher pet ownership in India. There has been an awareness of branded products among pet owners, which has led to an impressive growth of the Indian pet care industry. Lately, India has emerged as a booming world pet market. The commercial pet food market is expanding. According to Londonbased market research firm Euromonitor International, India is likely to grow at percent annual rate in the coming years, and will eventually become a leading supplier of pet products across the world. The global pet care market has reached a whopping $73 billion, of which 50 percent comes through pet food sales. The pet care industry in the US is highly regulated. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) are legal bodies that control the industry. China and Thailand are the largest exporters of pet food and treats to the US. However, there has been considerable pressure from the US consumers against Chinese pet foods and treats. Many dogs and cats have died or become very sick as a result of consuming these treats. To allay the concerns of pet owners, companies have started making China-free claims in pet foods and treats. There are tremendous opportunities to export to the US, and India could be a potential contract manufacturer of pet treats. With strategic planning and professional approach, India could replace China in the US and European markets. 26

27 It is the best time for the Indian companies to tap into the growing global pet market. Most of the Indian companies are exporting pet products overseas. Catering mainly to global clientele, Indian companies are manufacturing products like pet food, toys, fancy collars, grooming and training products, steel bowls, garments, etc. As the global market is growing dramatically with a number of countries witnessing higher than ever pet ownership and spending, Indian companies manufacturing and producing pet products are opening up to the world in a big way. Avinash Kumar Gautam, Managing Director, Real International Saddlery, is quite upbeat about Europe and Australian markets. The company has been manufacturing and exporting all types of pet products like dog collars, dog harnesses, dog leashes, dog muzzles and dog clothing apart from all types of harness and saddlery items since We get massive demand for our pet products, mainly from Europe and Australia. Indian pet products companies involved in exporting are likely to witness strong growth in the coming years as the pet care industry overseas registered a big boom in recent years despite recession. Indian pet products companies must exploit this growth in the pet care industry overseas by foraying into global markets, said Avinash Kumar Gautam. The Indian pet market is in a transition phase. It is moving from being completely unorganised to the early stages of getting organised. Thanks to the plethora of advantages that India has, many international players want to enter Indian markets. Come, Make in India Ahead of his US visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his Make in India campaign urging foreign companies to invest in India. The initiative will boost the economy as more and more global companies will invest in the Indian market. Henceforth, the international manufacturing and business companies will enjoy easy access to the Indian market, which will automatically create job opportunities and improve the financial condition of India. The aggressive pitch for Make in India couldn t have come at a better time for the Indian companies dealing in various pet products. There has been a significant surge in demand for the pet products manufactured in India. Shri Krishna International has emerged as the leading manufacturer and exporter of standard feeding bowl, non skid bowls, belly non skid bowls, pyramid non skid bowls, non tip cocker bowls, birds coop cups, puppy flying saucer, puppy dish and cat dish. We have come out with quality pet products to cater to an ever The aggressive pitch for Make in India couldn t have come at a better time for the Indian companies dealing in various pet products. There has been a significant surge in demand for the pet products manufactured in India 27

28 Cover Story expanding vast pet products market. The major part of steel pet bowls is exported from Indian companies. The pet care industry has grown significantly in the recent years. We get huge demand for our products mainly from the US and UK apart from other countries, Mayank Satija, Managing Director, Shri Krishna International said. With the ever changing trends and fashion, even the pet bowls are modified. We are also focussing on the utility products for the growing pet industry. Many customers and clients overseas are now looking to buy pet products from Indian companies. The graph of these export companies have registered an upward trend and rising constantly. While pricing our products, we keep various factors under considerations such as quality, consumer demand, cost and inputs, uniqueness of products, etc, added Mr Satija. Avanti Overseas Private Limited, incorporated in 1974, is a leading exporter of stainless steel products for pets in India. It has been involved in the export of pet products since Today, the products are available at many leading pet stores and large retail chains across the US, Europe and Asia. In order to provide the very best in pet care products and solutions for millions of pet lovers, Avanti Overseas launched PetSetGo in Brands available through PetSetGo in India include: Karlie, Flexi and Cats Best from Germany Kong, Isle of Dogs and Pethead from USA Durapet and Chomp from India India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF): Opening up India to the World The India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF) organised by India s leading magazine on pet care Creature Companion is South Asia s only pet trade fair. It is the biggest pet event in India. Partly a B2B (Business-to-Business) and partly a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) event, IIPTF showcases a wide range of pet products. The fair is spreading awareness of the Indian pet market s potential amongst global industry players. Several Indian manufacturers of pet products have benefitted from the fair. IIPTF has helped Indian exporters develop bonds with foreign companies. Even during recession, pets remain a priority as owners continue to spend. The worldwide sales of pet related products and services reached $81 billion in 2010, despite the global recession. It seems people tend to get more attached to their pets when the going gets tough. From fashion to nutrition, pet owners want the best for their trusted and lovable companions. Across the world, pet humanisation is driving demand for higher quality pet products and improved veterinary care. The journey has begun and it s just a matter of time before India positions itself as the pet capital of the world. 28

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32 Health & Wellness Tips to keep your Pet Healthy during Winters By Dr R Selvakumar The ending and the beginning of year make us happy with celebration of festive occasions along with a chilled climate. We should make such occasions memorable and joyful for our pets by providing special care during winter months. Pets need our support to make them warm during this climate. During winters the outdoor temperature is always higher than the closed indoor environment and therefore pets should be kept inside. It s a common belief that dogs and cats are more resistant than people to cold weather because of their fur, but it s untrue. Like people, cats and dogs are susceptible to harsh cold and you should not let them spend too much time outside. Longer-haired and thick-coated dog breeds, such as huskies and other dogs bred for colder climates, are more tolerant of cold weather; but no pet should be left outside for long periods of time in belowfreezing weather. Just like people, pet s cold tolerance can vary from pet to pet based on their coat, body fat stores, activity level, and health. You should be aware of your pet s tolerance for cold weather, and adjust accordingly. You may need to shorten your dog s walks in very cold weather to protect you both from weather-associated health risks. Arthritic and elderly pets may have more difficulty walking. Long-haired or thickcoated dogs tend to be more cold-tolerant, but are still at risk in cold weather. Shorthaired pets feel the cold faster because they have less protection, and short-legged pets may feel cold faster because their bellies and bodies are more likely to come into contact with the ground. Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances (such as Cushing s disease) may have a harder time regulating their body temperature, and may be more susceptible to problems from temperature extremes. The same goes for very young and very old pets. If you need help determining your pet s temperature limits, seek your veterinarian s advice. Just like you, pets prefer comfortable sleeping places and may change their 32 location based on their need for more or less warmth. Give them some safe options to allow them to vary their sleeping place to adjust to their needs. Care must be taken to make their shelters dry and warm during winter months. The chillness from the floors will negatively affect them. So, the floor should be carpeted during the winter months. Newborn pups are more prone to the adverse effect of spine chilling cold. And, they require extra care during winter months. Provision of sufficient warm bedding materials will make the pup feel better. The whelping room should also be provided with comfortable and dry bedding arrangements. For older pets in particular, provide appropriate bedding that s raised above the ground, off the cold floor. You may also provide some artificial heat sources to make the whelping room Care must be taken to make their shelters dry and warm during winter months. The chillness from the floors will negatively affect them warm. Additional heat sources during chilled nights will make the living place for your pet comfortable. Equal care should be taken while offering additional heat sources. Regular grooming during winter months will keep the animal warm and improve the blood circulation. A clean and wellgroomed coat will keep the dog properly insulated and make the animal free from skin diseases. Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm during the winter. Feed your pet a little bit of extra food during the cold weather and make sure plenty of water is available to keep him/her well-hydrated and prevent skin dryness. You may also add rich ingredients to your pet s diet. Remove the remaining food from the kennel and instead you must offer fresh food to your pet because during winters food gets cold easily. You should seek your veterinarian s advice if you notice something suspicious. Cold weather may worsen some medical conditions such as arthritis. Your pet should be examined by a vet at least once a year, and it s as good a time as any to get him/her checked out to make sure (s)he is ready and as healthy as possible for cold weather. Dr R Selvakumar is an Assistant Professor at Instructional Livestock Farm Complex Veterinary College and Research Institute in Tamil Nadu. He may be reached at rskmrps@gmail.com.

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36 Your Pet & You Respect Your Pet s Freedom I am a traveller. Now, you must be wondering what s new in it? Everyone on earth travels in one way or the other. I completely agree to this philosophy, so does my beagle (Olive) female dog (bitch sounds offensive to me). Now you must be wondering what s the connection between travelling and my pet Olive? I am a mariner and most of my time is spent away from home. I am very close to my pet Olive and whenever I am away from home, I make sure to carry maximum videos and photos of her in my tablet. Olive is equally fond of travelling and as evening approaches, she wants someone to take her for a walk. Whenever I return home from work, Olive is always found at the door, wagging her tail and making Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing pose in yoga). Yes, I am a yoga freak and Olive has intelligently copied some of my yoga poses. return the stick to you easily and you have to coax her hard for it. I still remember a beautiful and unforgettable incidence with Olive which I cherish till date. I was blessed with a baby boy and advised by the doctor to remain careful when Olive was around. We planned that we would take the advice of our Vet before introducing Olive to the new born. The day we returned from hospital along with the baby who was wrapped in a towel, Olive tried all her tricks to catch a glimpse of the baby. Olive was growing impatient each passing day as she could smell a different odour from the room where the baby was kept. Our efforts of not allowing Olive to meet the new born remained successful for one week. One fine day, Olive finally secured entry to that room and her long wait came to an end. After all, it was also not in our control as well to restrict the entry of Olive from the infant s room as well. By Ashish Sharma This shows her unconditional love and affection which is seldom found in humans. Just because of this quality, dogs are called man s best friend. I take my pet to the park nearby where we play various games during weekends. Olive is very fond of playing in the park especially on the green grass. Though rules do not permit the entry of pets in parks, the child in me feels happy and satisfied in breaking the unfriendly rules. We run together in the park when we play fetch to which mostly it s me who is fetching the ball or the stick. At times Olive is not even interested in returning the ball or the stick. She wants you to chase her and get the ball or the stick from her mouth. Interestingly, she does not 36 The sight of the Olive s first meeting with the baby can never be forgotten. She swiftly jumped onto the bed where the baby was sleeping. For a moment, everyone got scared, but the thing that happened next was the most beautiful moment I ever witnessed. My pet did not touch the baby; she just sniffed and sat beside him just like a guardian. It left everyone in the room awestruck. Olive can melt anybody s heart and the biggest proof is my mother who always detested the idea of bringing home a pet. Now, she adores her the most and her view towards pets has completely changed. If she finds Olive hungry, we bear the brunt of her anger. She has become the cynosure of everyone s eyes in the home. Olive can melt anybody s heart and the biggest proof is my mother who always detested the idea of bringing home a pet. Now, she adores her the most and her view towards pets has completely changed

37 Her long ears add to her cuteness and when she runs hither and thither, they become a sight to watch. They move up and down just like the wings of a bird. There is a saying in our society that a dog s tail never straightens up but in Olive s case it holds no ground. Her tail is as straight as a metal bar. Olive becomes very demanding when it comes to massaging her and she will never let you stop from massaging her. She can lie down on her back the whole day and will appreciate a gentle massage all over her chest and neck area. When it comes to eating, Olive has a great appetite and loves to gorge on food. She will never say a no to anything. The moment she spots some food packet, you will find her sitting next you and looking at you impatiently. Her lovely expression makes it very difficult for us to say no. We make sure she dines first before the rest of the family members. But, as I said earlier about her insatiable appetite, she will be found again by your side even after her dinner and waiting for more food. Her resolve is so strong that one of the family members will give up at least a bite or two and offer it to her as it becomes very tough to follow the rule of not offering extra. Olive has got such wonderful facial expressions which can melt anyone within seconds. However, we take all precautions in offering her food and give her only diets which are recommended by her vet. Mahatama Gandhi once said, the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. We should derive lessons from it and treat our animals in the best way possible by not snatching their freedom. Today, animals are suffering due to our insensitive nature towards them. I usually keep Olive unleashed and let her live life with freedom because it is meant for everyone. Happy Petting! Ashish Sharma is a professional photographer. He has also served in the Merchant Navy as a deck officer. He may br reached at iashish.marine@gmail.com FB Page link: 37

38 Feline Introduction Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are a common problem in cats. Clinical signs associated with these diseases like vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, or weight loss, are some of the most common complaints of the owner of the cats taken to veterinary clinics. There are many causes for GI disease in cats and there is an equally diverse number of approaches for management of GI disease. However, management of any GI disease is not complete without the concurrent addition of appropriate dietary therapy. The therapy may be completely curative in some instances (e.g. dietary allergy), but even in cases where diet is not the cause of the GI problem, appropriate dietary therapy is essential for the long-term management of GI disease. Whether that is a highly digestible diet to improve digestion of foods by a diseased GI tract (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease or lymphoma) or a high-fiber diet to improve colonic function in cats with colitis, the role of diet in management of disorders of the GI tract cannot be ignored. Cats are obligate carnivores and evolved consuming a diet of prey that was high in protein, had a low to moderate fat content, and contained a minimal amount of carbohydrate (CHO) that was consumed in small quantities many times per day, and as such, they are metabolically and functionally adapted for diets quite different from what they are given. Furthermore, feeding a highprotein, low-cho diet is in opposition to the generally accepted idea that feeding a bland diet or inducing gastrointestinal (GI) rest is the best method of managing GI disease. The classic bland diet that most clinicians are familiar with contains a small to moderate amount of highly digestible protein, low amounts of fat, and moderate to large amounts of a highly digestible CHO source such as white rice. Although cats can quite efficiently digest and use CHO as a 38 Nutritional Management of Feline Inflammatory Bowel Diseases By RK Yogi, KS Rehpade, SK Badasara and AS Godara

39 The inflammatory infiltrates can be quite variable in terms of severity and cell types, with lymphocytes and plasma cells being the most common cell types source of metabolic energy, they have no requirement for them, and their metabolic machinery is not ideally suited to use them in large doses. Although there is no debating the idea that highly digestible nutrients are key to dietary management of both canine and feline GI disorders, the idea that cats should be fed high-cho diets requires further analysis. In contrast to the bland diet approach, the idea that resting the GI tract by not feeding the animal during bouts of GI disease has been shown to be an effective approach for very short-term (less than 24-hour) management of acute GI disturbances, such as dietary indiscretion or acute, self-limiting gastritis. However, it is well understood that nutrients present in chyme (especially glutamine) are essential to the growth and replacement of intestinal epithelial cells, and that normalisation of intestinal flora and motility is best achieved by the presence of food in the lumen (Babineau, 1994). Further, cats that are not eating normally are at a greatly increased risk of development of hepatic lipidosis. Thus, the idea of reducing intake to control GI disease is not an optimal solution and it is potentially dangerous to the well-being of the cat. Diet and its impact on the intestinal flora are increasingly suspected to have a major role in the development of many feline intestinal diseases, most prominently, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Lauren, 2008). 1 What are Common GI Disorders Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affect the oesophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. The most common are inflammatory bowl diseases which include gastritis, enteritis and colitis and some adverse food reactions. These disorder result in common clinical sign as vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and anorexia etc. Inflammatory Bowel Disease The term inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of chronic idiopathic gastrointestinal disorders characterised by inflammatory infiltrates within the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammatory bowel disease encompasses segmental granulomatous enterocolitis, lymphoplasmacytic enteritis, eosinophilic gastroenterocolitis, lymphocytic gastroenterocolitis, suppurative enterocolitis, and histiocytic colitis. The lymphoplasmacytic form is probably the most common type of IBD. These specific types of IBD are characterised based on the type of inflammatory infiltrate found in the lamina propria. The inflammatory infiltrates can be quite variable in terms of severity and cell types, with lymphocytes and plasma cells being the most common cell types. Inflammatory infiltrates may involve the stomach, small bowel, and colon. In cats, for example, the stomach and small bowel are affected most often. In many cases, multiple segments of the bowel are involved and clinical signs may be mixed, reflecting the broad distribution of mucosal lesions. The severity of IBD varies from mild clinical signs to life-threatening proteinlosing enteropathies. Classification of IBD On the basis of principal inflammatory cells infiltrating lamina propria IBD is classified as: Lymphocytic plasmocytic (most common); and, Eosinophillic and suppurative (less common). Etiopathogenesis of IBD In GIT healthy epithelial lining protect the mucosal barrier from the interaction of antigen (pathogen or commensal) with innate and adaptive immunity. The mucosal immune system is normally un-reactive to luminal contents due to oral tolerance. Some pathogen (E coli, Clostridia and Helicobactor) can disrupt the mucosal barrier and leads to cascade of inflammatory reaction. Mucosal Enterobacteriacae spp accounted for 66 percent of the total bacteria in cats with IBD but 0.3 percent in healthy cats. Loss of barrier function and malfunctioning of epithelial receptor results in inappropriate immune response to commensal bacteria and food antigen. Clinical Sign: Vomition, dirrhoea, weight loss, appetite changes, poor hair coat, mucoid feces, frequent defecation, hematochezia and appearance of fresh blood in stool. Diagnosis: Diagnosis of inflammatory diseases only confirmed by full thickness 39

40 Feline The use of high fibre diets in cats with IBD is controversial, but may be indicated if predominantly large intestinal signs are present biopsy as clincal signs is similar with other common GI disorders. Dietary Management: A highly digestible, novel protein or hydrolyzed peptide diet is ideal. The standard dietary recommendation for cats with acute IBD patient is to withhold food for hours, followed by highly digestible diet 3-4 times a day for 3-7 days. Improved absorption results in decreased substrate available to intestinal bacteria, and decreased osmotic potential of lumen and hence prevent the osmotic diarrhoea. Highly digestible enteric diet in IBD The use of high fibre diets in cats with 40 IBD is controversial, but may be indicated if predominantly large intestinal signs are present. Fibres with low solubility (cellulose) increase bulk and bind nonabsorbed fluid regulation of motility. Role of ω-3 PUFA in treatment of IBD Some diets contain added omega-3 fatty acids in an effort to decrease substrate for inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. It has suggested that manipulation of the (n-6) to (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio in the diet can have a major influence on the severity of the inflammatory reaction in allergic skin disease and IBD. Changes in the proportion of (n-6):(n-3) fatty acids Digestibility in Percentage Nutrients Enteric Diet Normal Diet Protein CHO Fat in the diet will change the levels of the same fatty acids in the colonocyte lipid membrane. This effect takes 6 8 weeks to occur after the initiation of a dietary change. Mucin and Amino Acid Requirement Mucin is a glycoprotein which protects the intestinal wall from enzymetic digestion, action HCl and pathogen. Threonine, serine, proline and cysteine are the limiting amino acid for mucin and mucosal protein synthesis, so demand of these limiting amino acid highly increase in IBD. Conclusion Judicious use of nutrients prevents many GI disorders, and help in faster recovery depending on the type and severity of the affections. Diet alone may be sufficient to result in resolution of the disease (e.g., food allergy or intolerance).

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42 Breed Profile WATCHDOG LARGE COMPANION ATHLETE GENTLE HAPPY CONFIDENT GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG GENTLE HULK FROM THE ALPS Belying its intimidating size, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is in fact a gentle soul, with strong affinity with people and children By Rutaksha Rawat The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, also known as the Swissy or GSMD, is a dog breed developed in the Swiss Alps. GSMDs are almost certainly the result of indigenous dogs mating with large Mastiff types brought to Switzerland by foreign settlers. At one time, the breed was believed to have been among the most popular in Switzerland. It was assumed to have almost died out by the late 19th century, since its work was being done by other breeds or machines, but was rediscovered in the early 1900s. This breed is large and heavy boned, with incredible physical strength, but is still agile enough to perform the all-purpose farm duties it was originally bred for. Its breed standard calls for a black, white, and rust-coloured coat. The GSMD is sociable, active, calm, and 42 The early ancestors of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog were employed by farmers, herdsmen and merchants. The breed was bred as a draft dog to pull heavy carts, to guard and navigate dairy cattle, and as a watchdog and family companion dignified, and loves being part of the family. It is relatively healthy for its size and tends to have far fewer problems than more popular breeds in its size range. Among the four Sennenhund or Swiss mountain dogs, this breed is considered the oldest, and is also the largest. Heavier dogs such as the GSMD tend to have shorter life spans than medium and smallsized dogs since longevity is inversely related to breed size. A survey conducted by the US breed club shows a median lifespan of 6.75 years for the breed. History and Origin There are several theories regarding the origin of the four Sennenhund breeds the Bernese Mountain Dog, Appenzeller, Entlebucher Mountain Dog and the Swissy. The most popular theory states the dogs have descended from the Molosser, a large

43 Mastiff-type dog, which accompanied the Roman legions on their invasion of the Alps more than 2,000 years ago. A second theory is that in 1100 BC, the Phoenicians (natives of Phoenicia, an ancient Semitic Canaanite civilisation) brought a large dog breed with them to settlements in Spain. These dogs later migrated eastward and influenced the development of the Spanish Mastiff, Great Pyrenees, Dogue de Bordeaux, and the Sennenhund breeds. A third assumption is that a large dog breed was indigenous to central Europe during the Neolithicperiod, wherein humans grew wild and domestic crops and used domesticated animals. Whether or not a domesticated large breed existed in the Alpine area when the Romans invaded, GSMDs are almost certainly the result of the mating of native farm dogs with large Mastiff-type dogs brought to Switzerland by foreign settlers. The early ancestors of the GSMD were employed by farmers, herdsmen and merchants in central Europe. The breed was bred as a draft dog to pull heavy carts, to guard and navigate dairy cattle, and as a watchdog and family companion. The GSMD was first recognised internationally in 1939, when the Swiss Standard was first made public by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium.In 1968, J Frederick and Patricia Hoffman imported the first GSMDs to the US. With the event of GMSDs arrival in the US, The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America was formed. In 1983, the club held the first Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America (GSMDCA) National Specialty. In 1992, the GSMDCA started to work towards full AKC recognition, and in 1995, the breed was officially granted full recognition in the AKC Working Group category. Appearance The GSMD is large, sturdy and muscular. Its skull is flat and broad, with a slight stop. The back skull and blunt muzzle are about the same length. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The nose and lips are black. The medium-sized, almond shaped eyes vary from hazel to chestnut in colour. The medium-sized ears are triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tip and hang close to the head. The top line is level and the front legs, straight. The feed are round and compact and the chest, deep and broad. The tail is thicker at the base, tapering to a point reaching to the hocks. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The double coat has a dense outer coat of about 1.25 to 2 inches long. The under coat is thick. The tricolour coat has a black base with rust and white specific markings. Symmetrical markings are preferred by breeders. The colour rust appears in a spot over each eye, on the cheeks and on either side of the chest. White appears as a blaze on the muzzle, on the chest, and on the tip of the tail. There may be a white collar or patches of white on the neck. Males range from 25.5 to 28.5 inches at the shoulder and females range from 23.5 to 27 inches. There is no standard for weight in the GSMD; males tend to range between 45 to 64 kg, while females range weigh anywhere from 36 to 52 kg. Body length to height ration is approximately a 10 to nine proportion. This breed tends to be slightly longer than tall. Temperament The Swissy is happy, with an enthusiastic nature and strong affinity with people and children. The breed is sociable, active, calm and dignified. They do need plenty of room to exercise and will not be happy confined to kennel life. They crave attention and physical contact and like to be with their family. Swissies are bold, faithful and willing workers and are eager to please. The GSMD is an intelligent breed and is a quick learner but can be stubborn at times. They can be difficult to housebreak and tend to attempt eating just about anything, edible or not. The activity level in the GSMD is variable. They are capable of being athletic, but usually that activity is in bursts; they are active for short periods of time followed by napping. As a working dog, they like having a job to do and enjoy participating in hiking, carting, obedience trials, herding, weight-pulling and backpacking 43

44 Breed Profile Feeding the Swissy will vary from growth stage to growth stage. In a young puppy, care must be taken to avoid extreme fast growth and one of the best methods of controlling this is to regulate feeding. Weight control is very important. Most owners err by allowing their puppy to be too fat and heavy. It is recommended that you keep a close eye on body conditioning throughout the growth of your puppy. Ribs should be easily felt when your GSMD is a puppy. You should easily be able to feel each bone on the spine. The majority of Swissies do well on a quality kibble diet. Feeding multiple small meals rather than fewer large meals is recommended in order to avoid bloat (read Health). with their owners. Therefore, an outdoorsy family would be the ideal caretaker for this dog. Being alert and vigilant, the GSMD is an excellent watchdog. They tend to notice everything in their surroundings and are quick to sound alarm. Faced with a threat, they will stand their ground and put on a show that will intimidate those unfamiliar with the dog. Discerning dogs, GSMDs are accepting of non-threatening strangers. They are confident and comfortable in unfamiliar locations, and are stable around strange noises and unfamiliar people. They are accepting of other dogs and species, and are generally reluctant to bite. Care The GSMD has a short, easy-to-care-for coat. They are not prone to mats or tangles but do have a heavy double coat that is prone to shedding. They shed through the year, with heavier bouts of shedding in both spring and fall. Regular bathing and brushing helps minimise shedding. Shedding blades, rubber curry combs, and de-shedding blades are the tools of choice for managing shedding. The GSMD does not handle heat well. Care must be taken in hot weather to avoid over exposure, which may lead to heat stroke. On hot days, be sure your Swissy has plenty of shade, has the opportunity to stay out of direct sun, and has access to ample clean water. Most Swissies do much better inside with air conditioning when living in hot climates like in many Indian cities. Avoid exercise during hot days. 44 THE SWISSY AT A GLANCE Training and Exercise Swissies generally respond best to firm but Group: Mastiff, Working Origin: Swiss Alps Height: inches Weight: 36-64kg General Appearance: Large, sturdy and muscular Colours: Tricolour coat comprising black base with rust and white specific markings Activity Level: High to moderate Grooming Level: High Intelligence: High Affinity with Children: High Affinity with other Pets: High Trainability: High but must be trained when young Apartment Living: No! Maintenance Level: Moderate Disposition: Gentle, alert and eager to please Original Purpose: Draft dog Lifespan: 6.75 years (median) Ideal for: An outdoorsy family with a farm or large lawn or yard Important note: This breed is NOT made for hot climates and must be kept within air conditioned compounds during warm weather

45 HEALTH CONCERNS Following are a few ailments that are common in the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog: Urinary Incontinence: Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as involuntary urination, and most often occurs in GSMDs. More than 20 percent females are affected, usually after being spayed. Incontinence is occasionally found in males as well. Eyelash Issues: The two most common eye issues that GSMDs face are Distichiasis and Entropion, with Distichiasis being more common. Distichiasis is the growth of extra eyelashes along the eyelid, leading to irritation in the eye. Treatment varies, with some opting to freeze the affected hair follicles and others choosing electrocautery. Entropion, found in approximately three percent of the breed, is the rolling in of the eyelids. Entropion often requires surgery but once corrected, causes no future issues for the dog. Lick Fit: Lick fit is a term used to describe the frantic licking to which GSMDs can be prone. When in the middle of a lick fit, the dog will lick anything carpets, floors, walls and will eat anything it can find, including grass, leaves, dirt, carpet, and will gulp air and swallow constantly. Many owners are able to prevent lick fits by ensuring the dog never has an empty stomach by frequent, smaller meals and dog biscuits as between-meal snacks. Epilepsy: Idiopathic Epilepsy (IE) is the condition of frequent seizures, with no identifiable cause. Seizures occur when nerve cells in the brain become hyper excited and send rapid fire messages to the body. Treatment of IE depends on the severity of the case and may involve daily administration of anticonvulsant drugs. Bloat: Bloator gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is the greatest killer of the GSMD. Symptoms are distended abdomen, excessive salivating, depression and lethargy. When bloat occurs, it cuts off the oesophagus, and blood supply to the heart is lessened, causing low blood pressure, as well as, other cardiac problems. If not treated, the dog may die. Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD): CHD is the irregular formation of the joint that joins the femur to the hip socket. Early signs of CHD include a reluctance to go up and down stairs or to jump. CHD is among the principal orthopaedic diseases in the Swissy. GSMDs should be fed so they mature more slowly than smaller breeds to help avoid hip and other orthopaedic problems in adulthood. gentle training. Do not push them hard. Use positive reinforcement rather than physical punishment or heavy corrections. Although the breed can be stubborn at times, it is generally willing to please, friendly and responds well to attention and praise. Clicker training or food training usually works well for most Swissies. Train your GSMD like a leader because if you want it to respect you and be obedient. The GSMD requires a moderate level of exercise. As a young puppy, extreme exercise should be avoided, as too much exercise interferes with proper growth of bones and joints. However, all puppies need some form of exercise and the lack of exercise can be just as detrimental as too much exercise. As an adolescent, exercise requirements will increase and increasing the walking schedule will help keep the young, active Swissy under control. At maturity, they do well with as little as a walk once or twice a day, but can also manage a much more rigorous exercise schedule. Walking, hiking, back packing, swimming and carting are all good exercise options for a Swissy. Health The most common health issues in GSMDs are Distichiasis (extra eyelashes) and female urinary incontinence. Mostly, Distichiasis is non-symptomatic, causing no issues for the dog. However, in some dogs it may cause irritation that must be corrected. Allowing a female to have at least one heat cycle before sterilisation has been demonstrated to help prevent urinary incontinence in the breed, though this is not guaranteed to escape the problem entirely. Though less common, the most debilitating disease found in GSMDs is epilepsy. Seizure disorders can range from mild to severely life threatening. Epilepsy is believed to be genetic; however, there are no tests available to enable elimination of the disease. Careful breeders research pedigrees in an attempt to avoid the issue, but unfortunately there are no guarantees. Signs of epilepsy generally first occur between one and five years of age, and symptoms often increase as a dog matures and can be difficult to manage, even with medication. Bloat or Gastric Torsion and Splenic Torsion are two life threatening emergencies observed in the GSMD, with Bloat/Gastric Torsion being the more common of the two. In this condition, the stomach twists and fills with air, cutting off blood supply to the stomach. Dogs affected will go into shock and die very quickly if this occurs. This is an emergency that requires immediate treatment. Splenic torsion involves twisting of the spleen and is also a life threatening emergency. This problem is very rare in most breeds but is not rare in GSMDs. Swissy owners should be familiar with the symptoms of these two conditions and be prepared to seek medical assistance quickly. 45

46 Exotic Dog Airedale Terrier An Excellent Watchdog The Airedale Terrier (often shortened to Airedale ) is a breed of the terrier type that originated along the River Aire, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Dale is derived from the old Viking word for valley, hence Airedale, the name by which the area is commonly known. It is traditionally called the King of Terriers because it is the largest of the terrier breeds. Bred from a Welsh Terrier and an Otterhound and probably some other Terrier Breeds, the breed has also been called the Bingley Terrier and Waterside Terrier. It was bred originally to hunt otters in and around the valleys of the River Aire which runs through Airedale. The dog breed was created to catch otters and rats in the region between the Aire and Wharfe Rivers. An able sporting dog, he became an ideal working dog as well, proving his worth during World War I. Intelligent, outgoing, and confident, the Airedale possesses a wonderful playful streak that delights his owners. 46 Overview During World War I, a robust Airedale Terrier named Jack braved the battlefields to deliver a message to British headquarters. Running through a halfmile of swamp, artillery raining down on him, Jack suffered a shattered leg and broken jaw. Sadly, he passed away soon after he had completed his mission. The message he was carrying saved his battalion and he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for Gallantry in the Field. The bravery and courage exhibited by Jack holds true for today s Airedales. Dogs like Jack were bred as a multipurpose dog that had the keenness of a terrier, but could swim and smell prey. Airedale Terriers have the distinction of being both a sporting and working dog. They enjoy their life the most when there is a job to be done, even if it is simply entertaining children, with whom he gets along splendidly. (Nevertheless, an adult should always supervise interactions between kids and dogs.) Like all terriers, the Airedale has a penchant for digging, chasing, and barking. He is full of energy and makes an excellent jogging companion. Daily walks and romps in the yard are among his favourite activities. You can t talk about the Airedale without discussing his independent streak. This is an intelligent dog that thinks for himself and does not always wait for direction from his owner. If you want a highly obedient dog that awaits your every command, the Airedale Terrier is not the breed for you. However, if you are stimulated by challenge, living with an Airedale may suit you. It s worth mentioning that the Airedale Terrier is unforgiving of any harsh treatment and will hold a grudge against the aggressor. He can be aggressive to other dogs and animals, and has a strong prey drive, which makes him difficult to handle at times. It is said that the Airedale doesn t start fights he finishes them. Consistent positive obedience training is a must.

47 Not surprisingly, the Airedale is an excellent watchdog. He will protect his family from intruders with fierce and brave loyalty. However, he is friendly to invited guests in his home. The Airedale enjoys the company of his family, and he loves romping and playing, tossing toys, stealing dirty socks, grabbing food off the kitchen counter, and just generally creating mischief. He matures slowly, and is often puppyish well into old age. The Airedale is a fascinating breed. He s courageous and athletic, stylish and silly. Highlights Like all Terriers, Airedales have a natural inclination for digging (usually in the middle of a beautiful flower garden), chasing small animals, and barking; The Airedale Terrier is an active collector of human memorabilia. He will pick up just about anything (socks, underwear, and children s toys) to add to his stash of treasures; Being a high-energy working dog, the Airedale Terrier needs daily exercise. In general, the he remains active and full of energy throughout his life. He is not suited to apartment life, and needs a home with a large, fenced yard; Chewing is another favourite Airedale habit. He will chew anything, and should be left in a crate or secure kennel with sturdy toys when you are away from home; The Airedale is an independent dog, but he enjoys being a member of a family. He is happiest when inside with his owners, and is not meant to be a backyard dog; Airedale Terriers are very good with children and are fondly called reliable babysitters. However, children and dogs should never be left unsupervised; Grooming is necessary, so plan on paying a professional groomer or learn to groom your Airedale yourself; Training and socialisation is essential to teach the Airedale proper canine manners. If he is not used to other dogs and people, he can be quarrelsome; and, 47

48 Exotic Dog To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill, or pet store. Look for a reputable breeder who tests her breeding dogs to make sure they re free of genetic diseases that they might pass onto the puppies, and that they have sound temperaments. Size Males stand 23 inches tall, and weigh about 50 to 65 pounds. Females are slightly shorter, and weigh 40 to 55 pounds. Health Airedale Terriers can suffer from hip dysplasia, a genetic hip deformity that requires costly surgery to repair and can lead to arthritis later in life. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association in 2002, Airedale Terriers are 3.9 times more 48 likely to be at risk of hip dysplasia than all other breeds. Airedale Terriers can also suffer from allergies and are more likely than many breeds to bloat, a condition in which the stomach twists on itself, cutting off blood flow. Bloat and torsion strike very suddenly, and a dog who was fine one minute can be dead a few hours later. Watch for symptoms like restlessness and pacing, drooling, pale gums and lip licking, trying to throw up without bringing anything up, and signs of pain. Bloat requires immediate veterinary surgery, and most dogs that have bloated once will bloat again. That means it s wise to opt for the procedure known as stomach tacking, which will keep the stomach from twisting in the future. This procedure can also be done as a preventive measure. Other disease that may affect the breed includes Hypothyroidism, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Umbilica Hernia, Von Willebrand s Disease, Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, and Cancer. Care The Airedale Terrier is a working dog, and has the energy and stamina that goes with it. He needs regular exercise at least one walk a day, although two is preferable, coupled with a good romp in the The Airedale loves to retrieve, play, swim, and goof around. He is a great jogging companion, and in many cases, will tire out his owner backyard. The Airedale loves to retrieve, play, swim, and goof around. He is a great jogging companion, and in many cases, will tire out his owner. Training and socialisation (the process by which puppies or adults dogs learn how to be friendly and get along with other dogs and people) are essential for the Airedale, beginning with puppy classes. Incorporate socialisation with training by taking your Airedale with you to many different places the pet supply store, outdoor events, long walks in busy parks. Feeding Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. Final Thoughts The fun-loving Airedale makes a good family pet. In some cases, he may even become protective of the children in the home, but his large size and high activity level may prove too intense for extremely young kids. As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. The Airedale gets along well with other dogs in his household, as long as he is properly socialised and trained. He can be aggressive, however, with strange dogs that he perceives as threatening. And given the Airedale s reputation as a hunter, he is very likely to chase animals he perceives as prey, including cats, rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters. Sourced and edited from: Visit for more valuable information on Airedale Terrier s breed profile.

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50 Veterinary Services These are Exciting Times in Companion Animal Healthcare By Karthik Rajan We Have Come a Long Way in Recent Times and we need to go Farther! Protecting, Improving and Preserving Life is the greatest contribution of Science. According to the US-based Foundation of Biomedical Research, animal research has played a vital role in the advancement of every aspect of major medical advances in the last 100 years. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from bypass surgery to chemotherapy, every aspect of the present-day protocol in the management, treatment and cure of diseases is based on knowledge attained through research with laboratory animals. But animal research hasn t benefited humans alone. Animals have also improved healthcare and a longer lifespan. Farm animals, household pets, wild species and endangered species are all benefiting from the research conducted through animals. There are vaccines for rabies, distemper, tetanus, parvo-virus and numerous other illnesses in cats, dogs and countless other domesticated animals. Cats now have a treatment for Feline Leukaemia. It s obvious that animal research benefits all living species and that we are all able to live longer, healthier, happier lives because of it. In fact, 71 of the Nobel Prizes for Medicine won in the last 103 years were awarded to scientists who used animals in their research. Animal testing has also led to advances in our knowledge that may help us develop additional cures people in countries all over the world are being successfully treated (mouse and monkey). Insulin is now able to help control diabetes (dog, fish). There are vaccines for tetanus (horse), rubella (monkey), anthrax (sheep), and rabies (dog, rabbit). Contributions of Animal Research to Science Here are some examples of the benefits yielded from animal research. The animals used follow in brackets (source). The list is far from comprehensive! Smallpox (Cow): The vaccine against smallpox was derived from the cowpox virus used by Edward Jenner following his observation that farm workers who contracted cowpox were protected against smallpox. It has now been eradicated from earth. Polio has been eradicated from North America and 50 Animal testing has also led to advances in our knowledge that may help us develop additional cures, including an understanding of the Malaria lifecycle (pigeon), tuberculosis (cow, sheep), Typhus (guinea pig, rat, mouse), and the function of neurons (cat, dog). Vivisection was also crucial in the discovery of anti-blood-clotting drugs for the treatment of haemophilia (cat), penicillin (mouse), open heart surgery and cardiac pacemakers (dog), lithium (rat, guinea pig), treatment for leprosy (armadillo), organ transplantations (dog, sheep, cow, pig), laparoscopic surgical techniques (pig), and a drug for AIDS

51 treatment (monkey). Indian Companion Animal Healthcare Market The Indian Companion Animal Healthcare market is at a nascent stage, picking up pace in the last five years fuelled by a growth in companion animal ownership. The ownership in India has seen the highest ever jump compared to any other country in the world; increase in disposable income, lifestyle changes, and the emergence of a strong middle class are all factors contributing to this growth. A conservative estimate pegs the dog population in India at about 32 million, one-third of which are strays. The rest of the approximate 12 million pets receive some kind of care through a veterinarian depending on the awareness levels of the pet owners. Apart from this, Indian homes have cats (1 million), birds, mammals, and small reptiles. A 2006 study on rabies in India mentioned that 17 percent of households of India have pets. This would have certainly gone up in the last nine years. The recent developments in the Indian animal health market are an increasing focus towards development of herbal products at reasonable prices. The animal healthcare segment of the pharmaceutical industry of India has huge growth prospects in the coming years. The strategic decisions of manufacturers in the Indian environment are expected to positively impact growth in the animal healthcare segment. Healthcare Providers Companion Animal Healthcare is in the able hands of the competent vets, whose clinics have grown beyond just a A conservative estimate pegs the dog population in India at about 32 million, one-third of which are strays consultation room and a pet shop. Today s clinics have an array of diagnostic facilities like X-ray, ECG, and Ultrasound as well as state-of-the-art operation theatres. An all-under-one-roof service model is fast emerging across the country and there are many who are offering it to their clients. A Healthy pet means a Happy Client is the latest anthem of companion animal healthcare providers. The consultation room for pets is now a cosy place and the waiting room is an experience, where pets have their own space. Breakthroughs in Recent Times All additions in the management, treatment and cure of ailments diagnosed in companion animals are welcome. More so because, companion animal healthcare deals with a patients who cannot talk and complain about their problems and a pet owner who may or may not be observant to signs and symptoms of diseases. Hence, most of the medications have been or are being borrowed from human healthcare and adapted into treating companion animals. This is fast changing. We have started recognising the importance of veterinaryspecific drugs and dosages and veterinary diagnostics as well. This will help to make a significant impact in the well-being of companion animals in the future. Advancements in Medications: Oral chewable anti-tick and anti-flea medications have hit the market. Fluralaner and Spinosad are available today adding convenience and improving compliance. Pimobendan a drug recently made available in India is one which is exclusively used for the management of Congestive 51

52 Veterinary Services Heart Failure in dogs. This drug has a unique mode of action, which helps the dogs heart not only to pump blood with more force but also dilates the otherwise constricted blood vessels. There are certainly many others that are being made available keeping in mind the requirements of the woofing and meowing pet. Medications to treat chronic diseases like phosphate binders for Chronic Kidney Disease help to extend lives, anti-anxiety agents, probiotics, immune-boosters, cardio-protective agents have all been added to the armamentarium of vets today. Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) are now treatable. There are many more drugs in the pipeline from treating skin infections to treatment of immune-mediated atopic dermatitis Advancements in Veterinary Technology From MRIs and Ultrasounds, there are many new technologies that are giving veterinarians greater ability to diagnose and ultimately save sick animals. Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRI technology has been extremely influential in the progression of human neuroscience. Vets are now using the imaging technology to look into the brains of pets and other animals. However, the powerful technology is not limited to brain scans. MRIs are also very effective for getting scans of In order to get an accurate image, the animal must remain completely still, thus anaesthetics are required orthopedic and soft tissue structures prior to surgery. By being able to see what is going on inside the animal before going in for surgery, a vet is able to reduce the chance that anything will go wrong during the procedure. Ultrasounds: As powerful as MRIs certainly are, they are also very expensive. In order to get an accurate image, the animal must remain completely still, thus anaesthetics are required. The high cost and need for anaesthesia makes it difficult for MRI procedures to be widely adopted. Ultrasound imaging technology, however, is much cheaper and has the potential to become universally adopted by vets. The ultrasound is the preferred method of creating images of foetuses as they develop inside the mother. However, they are now being used to take 3-D and even 4-D images of patients hearts by cardiovascular specialists. Ultrasounds have the advantage of not requiring anaesthesia and being relatively cheap to perform. Laparoscopy: Laparoscopic procedures use a small camera and light source that can be inserted into the abdominal or thoracic cavity to see inside the body. This is yet another example of a human medicine technology being adapted to the animal kingdom. These procedures are less invasive than most surgical operations and produce a clear image. The first widely reported laparoscopic procedure was in 2011 when the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland used it to remove diseased gallbladders from moon bears. 3-D Printing: The ability to print three-dimensional objects is one of the most often-discussed topics in technology today. This rapid-prototyping process has been applied to veterinary practice to create animal bone models from the information gathered from computed tomography scans. Doing so enables vets and surgeons to have a solid grasp of a patient s internal bone or muscle structure before going in to operate. In addition, the models help educate pet owners about the anatomy and physiology of their pets. 52 Recombinant DNA: Recombinant DNA (rdna) has laid the groundwork for a whole host of biotechnological advances. Before its discovery, protein drugs such as insulin, somatotropin and prolactin were somewhat difficult to produce. rdna not only allows for cheaper and more efficient drug production, it also opens up the possibility of gene therapy. Such a procedure allows vets to replace missing or broken genes in animals to treat a range of different maladies. However, they have been met with a range of ethical concerns as experts debate the possible effects of altering animal genomes. While the discussion rages on, rdna technology continues to become more advanced,

53 to the point where scientists are now discussing the ability to bioengineer not only animals, but their feed as well. Advancements in Veterinary Diagnostics There are several reasons for veterinarians to run diagnostics on patients. Most commonly, diagnostics is used to determine the cause of illness in sick patients. Often, diagnostics is run to determine a patient s health status before administering anesthesia. Diagnostic profiles may also be performed on the ADR or Ain t Doing Right patient as well as to rule out certain diseases in patients that may appear healthy but are described by their owners as not doing right. There is also another reason for diagnostic testing diagnostic testing to establish a baseline for healthy animals. These diagnostics are critical for any successful preventive health care programme. There is also another reason for diagnostic testing diagnostic testing to establish a baseline for healthy animals testing, allergy tests and histopathologies. The Bottlenecks The major challenges being faced by the industry today are: Lack of Indian-Data of Drugs in Clinical Practice: With an explosion of medications, there is a need to generate and report data for monitoring of efficacy and safety of drugs. Need for Specialisation: Already there are trends in clinical practice, but in the coming years this will be crucial to provide better care based on patient s individual needs. Low Awareness Levels: An increase in awareness will mean better understanding of pets needs. Shades of changes are already visible, but the community has to go forward. Unavailability of Pet Insurance: Life is a precious thing and with Pet Insurance, if made available, the pet parent will be able to go all out to save the life of his companion. Industry Partnership with Veterinarian Community The industry should engage continuously with the entire community of Veterinarians, Pet parents, Animal Welfare NGOs and the community-at-large and work with long-term focus on improving, protecting and extending lives of Companion Animals. Normal reference intervals vary across your patient population and the only way to get an individual patient s normal values is to test them while they re healthy. The question is how many pet parents have the will to approve this. A dentistry procedure, a pre-surgery workup and even an annual preventive care workup may help to understand the healthy pet s baseline. The best reference interval for a pet is its own reference interval when it s healthy. An animal is in a good state of welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition and humane handling. And, these are certainly exciting times in Companion Animal Healthcare. Most pet parents support the health and well-being of their four-legged family members by engaging in and paying for veterinary care. Clients seek value in the services provided by evaluating the quality and cost of their pets health care. Veterinary Diagnostics has come a long way; many veterinary clinics today are equipped with fully-equipped laboratories and provide for hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, ELISA serologic tests and faecal parasite testing. They also liaise with commercial veterinary laboratories for specialised diagnostic Karthik Rajan leads Marketing initiatives at SAVAVET, which is committed to redefine Companion Animal Healthcare in India with unique product offerings. SAVAVET is based out of Pune and has stateof-art research and manufacturing facilities. 53

54 Groomer s Corner Grooming your Dog for a Show By Radhiya Hemchandra Preparing for the big day can often cause a lot of stress and also a lot of excitement. Entering a competition is a big deal. Feeling nervous is completely natural especially when you know you are being watched. Every move you make decides how good a groomer you are and what aspects of grooming you take into consideration while grooming a pet. Ever notice sometimes that we tend to forget a lot of things while preparing for the big event. It is easy to have things slip from your mind when you are busy trying to achieve the bigger picture. Most often it is the little things that end up and add up to the importance of the final result. Here are a few pointers for you to keep you the groomer and your pet as the groomed one well prepared for the competition and will help you set your mind at ease. Tips for the Groomer To start with as a groomer you must read all instructions pertaining to the competition carefully. Rules and regulations change between different competitions, so it s important to be well informed of the do s and don ts. It s easy to overlook certain points in the hurry of getting to the end of that long list of what 54 needs to be done, but it is always better to know that you have read and understood the requirements. Deciding what category you will take part in depends on your capability, practice and experience you ve had as a groomer. It is very essential for you to realise what you can and cannot work on in the time frame provided to you during the competition. Making the right choice can give you the upper hand and making the wrong one can be your greatest down fall, so it is up to you to decide what you can handle. Forming your idea as a groomer and using your knowledge and understanding of the pet should make it easier for you to get a clear picture of what outcome you want to achieve. Eventually you must realise all your ability as a groomer and plan accordingly. Getting the tools to carry along with you should consist only of what is necessary for the competition. Carrying too many things can become a cause of burden which will ultimately stress you out. So it is best for you to decide what is important and what you require pertaining to the pet. Make sure your tools are what you are familiar with and are clean and disinfected. While taking your shears you must ensure that they are user-friendly and you are comfortable with them.

55 hair plucking if necessary. Clip nails and grind or file them. Do the required coat treatments, de-matting or de-shedding and give them a good bath and blow dry. Make sure their sanitary clipping is done as well. No other clipper work or scissor work is necessary until the competition. Ensure the pet you take is healthy, has had enough rest and is well fed, and walked so it is easier to handle him while grooming. The dog should not be restless and unhappy or else the pet could bark incessantly and can cause disturbance to other groomers and their pets. A happy pet will be more cooperative for grooming. Taking the right products is essential, whether it is grooming equipment or products, powders, after conditioners, or finishing sprays etc. Make sure you have just enough of everything you need. It is very important for you to showcase your work to the utmost perfection. Wearing comfortable clothing is essential as you need comfort while grooming a pet. Wearing uncomfortable clothing will only lead you to be more distracted and will not let you concentrate on your work. Avoid the use of excessive perfume or deodorant as pets get confused and irritated with pungent smells. Now that you are ready its time to get the pet ready as well. Tips for the Pet Make sure the pet that you choose is familiar with you and has been groomed before. Take extra care while deciding what products you use depending on whether you have to do any clipping or scissoring. A basic hygiene grooming is essential to bring the pet to a good condition. So make sure the eyes are clean and have no tear stains. Clean ears and do the ear Before considering the pet for grooming you must be aware of its body structure, coat texture and skin condition Before considering the pet for grooming you must be aware of its body structure, coat texture and skin condition. Only then will you realise and understand how to groom the pet, in what fashion and style so that it would showcase your talent and capability as a groomer. This will help you achieve your goal more effectively. Your pet should not have tangles, knots or matted hair before a competition, if it s a long haired pet. If it is a short or smooth coated breed you have to make sure there is no shedding problem or else it would make the pet seem un-groomed and untidy. And that is not a good impression for you as a groomer or for the pet you work on. As you prepare your pet for the competition, make sure that there are no cuts or bruises either before or after you ve groomed the pet. You must understand that the neatness, cleanliness and care you take as a groomer sums up to the presentation of the pet in a competition. Being a good groomer also means you need to be responsible for the pet you are grooming. Handling and caring for the pet while grooming may not be as easy as it sounds but is very necessary. 55

56 Groomer s Corner This not only puts you at an advantage but also determines the quality of your work and you as a groomer. It is easy to get flustered with the pressure you might face, but remember to keep calm and work with concentration. The Event There are usually different categories in a grooming competition. Participating in the right category or multiple categories is a decision you must make based on your ability as a groomer. Planning ahead will only give you an upper hand and make your experience less tense. All hygiene grooming must be done before the main event. Breed Standard In the category of breed standard grooming, it is essential that the pet is groomed according to the breed style. There are many books from which you may learn about different breeds and how they look. Do the necessary research based on the breed you choose to groom for the competition. You must be aware of its body structure, the type of coat it has and what sort of clipping work or scissoring work it requires. Remember, for some breeds it is not permitted to change and alter its appearance. You must only concentrate on what is required of the breed as per its standard. It is not permissible to use scissors or clippers on certain breeds. There is a big range of products available to change and texturise different types of coats, of different breeds. You must understand the coat type and texture before you decide on the course of grooming. Do not use products that you have not tried and tested for yourself especially before the show. Products can make or break the appearance of the pet. It is only your decision as a groomer that will show how good you are and can be. You must adhere closest to its required, original look. 56 For some breeds only trimming will be required. It is essential to make the pet look its best by bringing it into shape. Pets that have been groomed regularly will not need much trimming work. Remember never to over cut or shorten too much as these breeds require their coat in full length. Use the right kind of shears and scissors for the shaping depending on the pets coat texture. Some breeds might require straightening. Use good products and not harsh products. It is important to achieve the look you desire but ensure that it is without damaging the coat and its natural flow. For breeds that require clipping, remember not to over clip, especially at a competition. Remember to carry extra blades in case of any breakages. Don t forget to carry along the blade coolant in case of excessive clipper work, to keep the blade cool and not harmful to the pet. You must understand clipper marks and over clipping in areas will not be in your favour. The look must be closest to what is required of the breed. Breeds that require scissor work are usually the hardest and also the best test to your ability as a groomer. It is important to know the length to cut to achieve the best look. Using the right shears will be deciding factor for you. Do not use shears that you have not used before as you may not be used to them. Use shears that you understand and are comfortable with. The shears should be sharp, so that you do not strain yourself by trying to cut over and over. Scissor work for these breeds can be tricky, so it s important you know in your mind what you want to achieve before you commence work on the pet. For pets that require hand stripping, make sure you are aware of the pattern you want to create. The pet should be accustomed to hand stripping. You must not take a pet that has not been stripped before; this can cause a lot of problems for you at the competition. You must be aware of the time that is required for

57 hand stripping and the time allotted to complete the grooming. If the coat is curly and wirey, shaping will play a very important role in grooming. For all breeds the finishing and presentation is most important. Keeping the pet in a stacking position will allow you to get a proper idea of how the coat flows or stands against its body. If the pet has tear stains, make sure you cover them using the right tear stain concealer or stain remover. Make sure they are well combed and set for the presentation using the necessary setting products and finishing sprays. You must ensure that the pet is happy and comfortable for presentation. Creative Grooming In the category of creative grooming, your grooming creativity has no bounds. You may clip, scissor, shave and colour in a pattern you decide upon. But keep in mind that you chose to groom in an ethical manner. The pet might be a great canvas for the creativity of an artistic groomer but it is also very much alive. You will need to have its safety in mind. For this category a groomer may choose any breed or mixed breed to showcase his or her capability and artistry. All creative For all breeds the finishing and presentation is most important. Keeping the pet in a stacking position will allow you to get a proper idea of how the coat flows or stands against its body work must be done at the completion. For creating shapes and patterns on the pet you must know your basic idea of what you want the pet to look like at the end of the competition. If you choose to colour your pet with permanent hair colour, you may do that a day prior and only do the shaping and finishing at the competition. For those who choose to use temporary hair sprays, pastes and colours, you may use them directly at the competition. Once you have decided what you are going to create, you must understand that sometimes mistakes might occur and you must be prepared. Make sure you have colour remover, extra cotton, wet wipes etc, just to be on the safer side. The use of nail colour is also permitted. So if you can manage time well and if the pet cooperates, it s great to be able to showcase this quality by doing nail art as well. You may use hair sprays, setting sprays, gels and accessories. Keep in mind that they all must be non-toxic and pet-safe. The pet s safety should be your main priority during the show. With accessories make sure they are not lying around so that the pet does not accidentally swallow something. Once you have finished the creative grooming make sure you are ready for the presentation and the dog looks neat. You may follow whatever pattern of presentation you are please with but you must be able to explain the concept and base for your creativity in order to be judged correctly. At all times make sure all cut and clipped hair is brushed off from the table. The Judging While being judged, all aspects of your behaviour and the style of grooming you posses will be taken into consideration. The quality of your work and use of tools will be noted. The manner you approach the pet and the course of grooming you choose will be a factor in deciding your experience as a groomer. Make sure you remove all hair, equipment and products from the grooming table after you have finished grooming your pet. Place a comb on the table for the judges to use during judging. You should always stack your pet to present it to the judges. Mistakes may happen but do not beat yourself up about it; we are after all humans. Instead learn from them and remember we are all winners. Whether you take home the prize or not, do everything to the best of your ability and the process will make you learn and grow as an individual. Enjoy your experience and allow the pet to enjoy it also. This will not only be a platform for you to grow as a groomer but also a prestigious association to refer to yourself as a part of India s growing grooming industry. Radhiya Hemchandra, India s finest Pet Stylist, Groomer and Instructor, owns and manages Fuzzy Wuzzy Pet Styling Studio and Spa, an exclusive state of the art grooming parlour and school of grooming for pets in Bangalore. She is the first Indian to participate in an International Professional Grooming Competition where she came in 3rd place in the intermediate class of pure breeds at Supergroom held in Las Vegas in July,

58 School for Pet Winter Exercise Tips for Your By Pooja Advani Dogs As temperature plummets, taking your dog outside for a walk or exercise becomes an uphill task. However, harsh winters should not become an excuse to skip exercising your dog as they require physical activity every day. We all know that the number of daylight hours is short during winter, and your dog does not hibernate, so it becomes all the more important that your dog gets the daily exercise. Dogs need physical activity every day, or else he/she is at risk of becoming stressed, under-stimulated and overweight. You should seek your veterinarian s advice before introducing the work-out schedule of your pet. Your dog s age, general health and characteristics of its physiology, and the number of hours for a work-out should be taken into consideration. Like people, dogs can also get cabin fever during winter and if they don t exercise regularly it may lead to behavioural problems such as excessive barking or destructive chewing. The following are some ways to exercise your dog during winter: Stair Climbing: A simple way to exercise is to utilise the stairways in your home. Put your dog on a leash and walk up and down the stairs or throw a ball and make him fetch it back. Just be careful not to overdo the exercise. Dogs with hip dysplasia and arthritis should avoid this form of exercise. Indoor Games: Play with your dog indoors using a toy or by hiding small treats or dog food around the house. Most dogs love playing hide and seek. It is an ideal way to get your dog up and moving and it will also keep him mentally engaged. This game can really tire your pet out as she/he will be rushing around searching, and it s a good way for reinforcing the come command. 58 Work up that Nose: Dogs have a natural strong sense of smell. Make him hunt for his meals in the house by hiding his food. One can also start by placing food in places where he will easily find it and he gets better with this, you can increase A simple way to exercise is to utilise the stairways in your home. Put your dog on a leash and walk up and down the stairs or throw a ball and make him fetch it back the difficulty level and make it more challenging for him. Treadmills: Dogs and human treadmills work well to exercise your dog during spine chilling cold. You can also find specially designed treadmills in the market. Keep the speed of treadmill low in the beginning unless the dog gets used to this pattern of exercising. The moment you are sure that your pet has adapted himself to this mode of training you may go for a higher speed. To keep your pet motivated, you can offer him treats. Obstacle Course: Setting up an obstacle for your pet is a great way to challenge him mentally and physically. There are plenty of items and toys you can use around the house to build one: cushions, blankets, chairs, etc. Reward your dog with a treat to encourage him. Swimming: Especially if you have a dog that loves water, then this is a best form of exercise. This is a good exercise for

59 dogs with joint problems. Generally the dog pools are heated up, and this helps in muscle relaxation for your dog and assists blood flow. Swimming can help release pent-up energy in dogs. Interval Walk: Interval training is pushed for boosting metabolism, so instead of just strolling opt for interval walking during winters. For example, one minute walk, 20 second run or one minute walk, 20 seconds of running or fetching. Food Dispensing Balls and Food-Puzzle Toys: You need a food dispensing ball or a food-puzzle toy to create two new great games for your dog. You may add treats into the toys and make your dog work hard to get them out. Not only will make your pet work hard but it will also keep him mentally occupied as well. Tug-of-War and Fetch: This is a fun game to keep your dog engaged. Throw your pet his favourite toy or ball and race with your pet to get it instead of sitting there and watching him chase for it. This way both of you can have fun together. Tug-of-war is a fun game to play. There is no equipment required besides a rope or a piece of cloth. It is a great form of mental and physical exercise for your dog. Make sure the tug of war does not turn into an angry or rough game between you and your dog. Play Date: Organise a play date for your dog during winters. Invite a friend s pet over and have them hang out together for a couple of hours. Also you can give them a couple of toys to play with. Doggie s Daycare: Doggie daycare is a good option if your dog gets along with other dogs easily. It will also help him stay fit during winter. Doga: You may go for an obedience or training class with your dog or try indoor agility, flyball or doga (Yoga with your dog). Doga or dog yoga can be a right way to connect with your dog and keep him active. It can be exciting for your dog to get out of the home and help him socialise. Try teaching your dog some new tricks if he already knows the basic tricks, for example, picking up toys and putting them in a basket. It s a great way to bond and a great workout as well for your dog. Pooja Advani is the Founder and Owner of It s a Doggiie Dog World, a leading one stop pet wellness destination at Andheri in Mumbai. She is a certified Groomer, Dog Trainer, K9 Behaviourist, Hydro Therapist and Quantum Touch Practitioner.

60 NGOs We not only have a huge number of people but also animals in India. And though most people manage to fend for themselves, it is the animals that have a hard time in the ever growing urban jungle. Stray dogs, big or small, are plagued with various problems from the growing populace to ill treatment, bad health, lack of shelter and much more. While some people pity their condition, most people turn a blind eye. And then there are those who have devoted their lives for the welfare and betterment of animals of all kinds. The NGOs working for stray dogs primarily rely on donations from wellwishers and volunteers who can help them further their cause. They have also been silently working to make India a safe and happy place for animals. Most free-roaming dogs belong to an ancient canine race known as the Pariah Dog, which has existed all over Asia and Africa ever since human beings started living in settlements. They are, and have always been, scavengers that is, they live on garbage created by humans. In India the breed has existed for perhaps 14,000 years or more. In addition to scavenging, they are widely kept as pets by rural and urban households. Much of the urban stray population consists of mongrels or mix-breeds descended from pure-breed dogs who have been allowed by their owners to interbreed with pariahs. The size of stray dog population always corresponds to the size of the human population of an area. Urban India has two features which create and sustain stray dog population: Large amounts of exposed garbage; A huge population of slum and streetdwellers who often keep the dogs as free-roaming pets. 60 Role of NGOs in Improving Life of Stray Dogs By Debottama Ghosh Mumbai has over 12 million human residents, of whom over half are slumdwellers. At least 500 tonnes of garbage remain uncollected daily. In developing countries such as India, where exposed garbage and slums encourage the existence of strays, their population has been on the rise and methods to control it remained ineffective. When strays are removed from a place to control rabies they get easily replaced. Here is what happens when dogs are taken away: Their territories become vacant and dogs from neighbouring areas move in to occupy them; The dogs who escape the catching squads also continue to multiply, so the territorial vacuums are soon filled again; Dog fights increase, since every time a new dog enters a territory he is attacked by the dogs already in the neighbourhood; Dog fights continue to take place over mating; Dog bites also increase; Rabies continues to spread because the dog-catchers are reluctant to pick up a rabid dog. As long as exposed garbage and slums continue to exist, the population of stray dogs can not be controlled. It creates an unstable, constantly changing, rapidly multiplying and rabies-carrying dog population. Killing or relocating of community dogs is not only barbaric but also illegal. In exercise of the powers conferred

61 then replaced in their own areas. They are also vaccinated against rabies. It helps in the following way: by the sub-sections (1) (2) of section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960), the Central Government has made the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, Rule 3 mandates that the street dogs shall be sterilised and immunized by participation of animal welfare organisations, private individuals and the local authority. The animal birth control rules obligate the local authority to conduct sterilisation and immunisation as a method to control street dogs. The following are the ways to control the population of street dogs: Proper and phased implementations of Humane Stray Dog Population Management through planned spay/ neuter of dogs; Shutting down of unlicensed meat shops and slaughterhouses and setting up of Carcass Utilisation Centres; Stop breeding of dogs for profit or by animal guardians; Encourage people to adopt dogs from animal shelters; Every newborn puppy purchased from a breeder leaves one fewer home for a dog or cat who is desperately waiting in a shelter or roaming the streets; For people who have the time, money, love, and patience to make a life-long commitment to an animal, NGOs strongly encourage adoption from shelters or rescue groups rather than buying from pet stores or breeders. For decades various NGOs along with Municipal Corporations carried out mass sterilisation and immunisation program for stray dogs. Under this programme, stray dogs are surgically neutered and For decades various NGOs along with Municipal Corporations carried out mass sterilization and immunisation programme for stray dogs Since territories are not left vacant, new dogs cannot enter; Mating and breeding also cease to take place; With no mating or crossing of territories, dog fights reduce dramatically; As fighting reduces, bites to humans also become rare; The dogs are immunised, so they do not spread rabies; Dogs die natural deaths which helps in bringing down the population of stray dogs. Role of NGOs in Educating And Sensitising Pet Owners The main activities of NGOs include sterilising, rescuing, providing shelter and treatment. They work towards creating awareness and sensitising pet owners. They hold camps to treat and sterilise animals and have a veterinarian available 24X7. They have been working on to eradicate rabies, promote stray dog adoption and educate people about the issues of stray dogs. NGOs have been carrying out mass sterilisation programmes for stray dogs/pets. They carry out extensive programmes in slums, schools and various other areas to teach people about dog care, rabies prevention and so on. Their endeavour is to get every family to include an animal member amongst them. They also foster animals and help them find new homes by facilitating adoption. Their main activities include: Providing medical assistance to injured and distressed animals, especially strays; Providing an animal ambulance service; Offering sterilisation and inoculation against rabies for stray dogs; 61

62 NGOs programmes for pets/stray dogs efficiently and effectively. They should provide infrastructure to house the sick, abandoned and diseased strays. Organising vaccination camps for stray animals; Conducting awareness and education programmes in schools and housing societies to sensitise people to the plight of animals and the treatment meted out to them. Role of NGOs in Reducing Population of Street Dogs Animal Birth Control or ABC is performed by specific NGOs which have been assigned by the government. These NGOs, with the help of local municipal bodies, carry out mass sterilisation programmes in towns and cities all across India to control population of stray dogs. The ABC programme does indeed work and is the only rational and humane solution to address population of stray dogs and rabies. However, active participation of stakeholders is essential for the successful implementation of the rabies eradication programme and stray dogs sterilisation programme. Unless we are able to carry out mass immunisation of the pet/stray dogs against rabies, and also their mass sterilisation in an intensive manner, human beings and animals in India may continue to suffer from this dreaded disease. Various NGOs have been involved in 62 educating people on how important it is to get the strays neutered at the correct age to avoid health issues and unwanted birth. What Bottlenecks are NGOs Facing and What Support they Expect from the Government? Most of the time NGOs are willing to take-up sterilisation programmes but municipal corporations and media hardly give any importance to it. Instead they choose easy ways to control population either by mass culling or by abandoning them which only exaggerates the existing problem. The government must provide required funds, infrastructure and vaccines to NGOs so that they can carry out mass sterilisation and vaccination The ABC programme does indeed work and is the only rational and humane solution to address population of stray dogs and rabies Strays infected with rabies need quarantine facilities so that they will not spread infection to other dogs and people around. The facilities for the surveillance and diagnosis of animal rabies must be improved in quality and offer wider coverage and rabies must be made a mandatory reportable disease. Most of the municipal councils and corporations do not even have vets on their payroll. State governments and local authorities should look into this. Are NGOs Getting Support From Pet Companies? NGOs receive support from various companies such as Wags and Wiggles, PetStepin, Tails Love Gifts Too, dogspot.in, dogmycat.com and various others. They provide NGOs food donations, clothes and funds for construction of shelters. They have played a key role in improving the life of strays. Pet food companies and online stores share posts on their sites seeking donations from users. Pet friendly restaurants like Yogisthan, Green Theory and pet boarding service provider, PetstepIn help NGOs host various adoption events. Conclusion NGOs spread awareness to change the opinion of people about neglected, mostly misunderstood and occasionally hated strays. They seek to bring this discussion out into the public forums and slowly but surely change how people look at these canines that have had the misfortune of having to live without a roof for shelter on the streets. They seek to win respect for them and get rid of the indifference to their plight. Debottama Ghosh is one of the founder trustees at Precious Paws Foundation. PPF is an NGO working towards the rescue and welfare of Indian breeds and abandoned dogs in Bangalore.

63 Make Sure your Animals Stay Safe and Happy While you re Away By Bhuvaneshwari Gupta facility that just keeps them in small cages all day except for a quick potty break. Travelling is an exciting thing for us, but for animal companions who are left behind, it can be confusing, stressful, lonely or even deadly. Cats and dogs are usually safest and most comfortable staying in their own homes with a trusted, qualified caretaker such as a friend or family member who knows and likes the animal while you are away. If an in-home caretaker isn t an option and your animal is unable to join you on your trip (or would be uncomfortable travelling), be sure to complete your homework before dropping off your best friend at a boarding centre. Countless animals fall sick, disappear or face abuse after being left in the hands of cruel or incompetent people while their guardians are travelling. Here are a few tips on how to make sure that your loved ones are in safe hands while you re away. You can initiate the process by visiting the boarding centre unannounced beforehand; while there s still time to find another if it doesn t appear to have a safe and friendly environment. Take a tour of the boarding centre to check if the facility is clean, air-conditioned/warm and if the staff members are gentle and kind. Carefully inspect the facility for the following things: Are the dog runs made of cement? (If so, will your dog be comfortable urinating and defecating there? If you have a cat, make sure the cat condos are spacious enough to move around freely, with different levels to climb and sit on. Also, find out how many times a day the litter boxes are cleaned. While on your tour, address any concerns with the staff and ask questions. How many times in a day do animals get fresh water and food? Will the staff give your dog or cat his or her daily medicine? Are dogs taken for walks? What about emergency veterinary care? How many times in a day are dogs permitted to relieve themselves outdoors? Do they have someone at the facility 24 hours a day to look after your pet? You should never allow your cat or dog to go to a Find out about all the boarding centre s services so you feel comfortable leaving your animal companion there. For a small added fee, some boarding centres offer one-on-one TLC (Tender Loving Care) sessions, doggie day care or deluxe suites with beds, couches and cat trees. They may even you a photo of your four-legged family member while you re away to let you know that all is well. The goal is to select a boarding centre that offers lots of space, stimulation such as wildlife documentaries on TV screens, safe toys, supervised play groups for socialised dogs and, most importantly, and caring to make your animal s stay as comfortable as possible. Our cats and dogs count on us to care for them, so do the legwork to find a safe, friendly place for your animal companion while you re away. You ll travel in peace knowing that your best friend is being looked after by responsible, dedicated professionals. Bhuvaneshwari Gupta works with PETA India as campaigns advisor 63

64 Pet Nutrition Vegetarian Pet Foods Dr Anton C Beynen is affiliated with Vobra Special Petfoods. In the period of , he was professor of veterinary nutrition at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. 64 Quite a few people maintain their pets on vegetarian diets. Most of these caregivers follow a vegetarian lifestyle for religious, ethical or health reasons and decided to feed their pets in a similar fashion. Vegetarian-fed dogs and cats receive homemade diets without or with supplements, table scraps, commercially prepared foods and/or combinations. The nature of these various rations can be flexitarian, lacto-ovovegetarian, lacto-vegetarian or vegan. Vegetarian canine diets must contain adequate amounts of added vitamins D and B12 as they are missing in most plant products and synthesised marginally or not, respectively, by the dog s body. Apart from the vitamins D and B12, cats also require dietary vitamin A, taurine, arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which all are insufficiently produced by the cat s metabolism and principally present in animal feedstuffs only. Thus, vegetarian feline diets must be supplemented with preparations containing the six nutrients. Feeding a veggie diet to dogs and cats requires special attention. The basic nutrient profile of homemade, meatless foods should be appropriate and topped up with the lacking nutrients. The adequacy of commercially prepared vegetarian foods should be verified. Pets fed on vegetarian diets should be monitored continuously for any abnormalities that might occur. This care, of course, is not reserved for vegetarian diets only.

65 Pet Owners The general founding belief of vegetarianism, as rooted in religion or ethical concern, is not killing or causing harm to other living beings. People may also go vegetarian to acquire healthy nutrition and/or to counter the ecounfriendly meat production. By feeding their pets a diet free of animal products, owners transfer their attitudes about food and distance themselves further from animal consumption. Vegetarians giving their pets conventional food may do so because of convenience, health benefits or their animals preference. Non-vegetarian fanciers may keep their pets on vegetarian food because of presumed meat-induced allergies or intolerance. Critical Nutrients Self-prepared and commercial vegetarian diets can be designed to provide adequate nutrition, but the critical nutrients must be considered. Recommended allowances (National Research Council, 2006) for dry food (1.5 MJ/100 g) fed to adult cats are as follows: vitamin D3, 250 IU/kg; vitamin B12, 20 µg/kg; vitamin A, 3,000 IU/kg; AA, 55 mg/kg; EPA + DHA, 90 mg/kg, taurine, 360 mg/kg. Dry dog foods are recommended to contain 495 IU vitamin D3/kg and 30 µg vitamin B12/kg. For wet foods (0.5 MJ/100 g), the allowances are about one third. Vegetarian canine and feline diets may be enriched with vitamin D3 using egg yolk as carrier or a chemically synthesised preparation. Vitamin D3 may be replaced by vitamin D2, but then the allowance is about 50 percent higher. Vitamin B12 can be added as a component of milk and/ or some yeast products or in purified form. Cats should also ingest pre-formed vitamin A with egg yolk or as industrially produced compound. Taurine must be administered as chemical. In addition to EPA, cats might need docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Specific algae can serve as a source of EPA, DHA and/or AA. Cats can synthesise AA from gamma-linolenic acid in evening primrose or borage oil. Studies in Dogs A controlled experiment has demonstrated that a carefully balanced, meat-free diet sustains excellent physical condition in exercising sled dogs. In practice, day rations may be unbalanced. A German PhD study computed that vegetarian, homemade rations of individual dogs often had nutrient levels far below the recommended allowances. In contrast, none of the animals showed clinical abnormalities related to malnutrition. Recommended allowances include a buffer of safety. Furthermore, each daily ration is not required to be complete and balanced as long as the over-all diet is. Day-to-day variations intercept shortterm insufficient (and excessive) nutrient intakes. The PhD study showed that for 66 adult dogs fed different types of vegetarian rations the average intakes of 32 nutrients, including vitamins D3 and B12, were sufficient. Studies in Cats The PhD study also found that the homeprepared vegetarian diets of six adult cats provided on average 2.5 percent of the recommended allowance for taurine. One cat showed retinal degeneration associated with a very low blood taurine level. Under controlled, experimental conditions, taurine deficiency as the sole dietary variable causes lesions across the retina. US investigators published that two vegan cat diets claimed to be complete actually contained too little taurine and AA. The report involved a canned food, which also fell short of vitamin A, and a homemade ration based on a commercial supplement and the manufacturer s directions. Other investigators documented two years later that cats eating one or both of those diets had adequate blood taurine concentrations. Obviously, the manufacturers had improved their products. When assessing the intake of nutrients by cats, it should be realised that many well-fed pet cats spend time outside their houses and engage in hunting. A conservative estimate puts the number of preys eaten by inside/outside house cats at one item every other day. Consumption of voles, for instance, would meet the cat s taurine requirement. Commercial Foods Before purchasing a complete vegetarian food, the contents of the critical nutrients should be checked. Possibly, all information wanted is not presented in the food label, brochure or website. Then, the manufacturer can be asked for the dietary concentrations of the critical nutrients. True meat allergy is uncommon in dogs and cats. Nevertheless, protection against meat-induced allergies is an important selling point of vegetarian foods. Endorsement comes from some veterinarians prescribing vegetarian, hypoallergenic foods. Vegetarian foods often claim to solve skin, fur, stomach and intestinal problems, fatigue, inappetence and hyperactivity. However, there is no objective evidence that vegetarian foods are healthier than meat-based foods. Dr Beynen will be writing this exclusive column on dog and cat nutrition and nutrition-related items every month. 65

66 e-retailing A Rapidly Growing Universe Online Pet Care Retail in India By Rashi Sanon Narang The growth of the online pet care retail market has gone hand-inhand with India s epoch breaking e-commerce boon in recent times. As per studies conducted by industry giant McKinsey & Co, India will boast of a staggering netizen base hovering between 330 and 370 million by 2015, making it second only to China as far as the highest user numbers in the world are concerned. E-commerce is only expected to grow in India as a natural result of the above statistic and this heralds both newer opportunities and challenges in its wake. As per market statistics, the Indian consumer retail market is likely to touch a whopping $675 billion by 2016 and even $850 billion by 2020 with a CAGR (cumulative annual-growth rate) standing at seven percent. The Indian e-commerce market is currently worth in excess of $14 billion as per estimates with an annual growth rate of 30 percent with regard to active online shoppers. This is in stark contrast to the global average percentage, i.e. between 8-10 percent. Divided into B2B (Businessto-Business) and B2C (Business-toconsumer) segments, Indian e-commerce markets are displaying a CAGR of 57 percent between which is astounding by all means and powers India to the top in the entire Asia-Pacific region according to Forrester. Non-travel online commerce companies collectively comprise around percent of the mainstream B2C segment in India and e-tailing companies represent the fastest growing division amongst the same. Some of the popular categories in this 66 segment include consumer electronics, mobile phones, apparel, books and computer hardware whereas a steady market expansion has been witnessed of late, covering categories like furniture, cosmetics, organic food, beauty products, furniture and chiefly, pet care. How Big is Pet Care in the Present Context? Pet care retail businesses are growing at a steady pace even as other industries bear the brunt of an economy that has its wings clipped. It has been observed that consumers do not compromise on purchases for their pets in spite of cutting back on discretionary spend for themselves. Pet ownership and spending have jointly increased, with a greater number of double income families choosing to adopt pets. According to Euromonitor International, even the Indian pet care industry is worth more than $4.5 billion despite per capita income in India hovering around $1,256. Dogs account for a whopping 80 percent of all pets in the country, followed by cats and fish. As per expert opinions, the domestic pet care market is slated to grow at a rate of around percent annually. According to global research experts, online pet care stores are attaining immense popularity on account of customer convenience and variety. Being one-stop pet care solutions and repositories of premium pet care brands, online pet care retail has finally come of age in a steadily growing market. Demand for Online Pet Products, Trends and More! As per market observations, popular pet care products include pet food and grooming essentials followed closely by luxury pet products and apparel. Global pet care brands are witnessing high levels of demand in the Indian market and Euromonitor International estimates the organised pet care market to touch a staggering `800 crore ($128.5 bn) by 2015 as a result. According to industry watchers, the entry of organised retail through both offline and online channels has facilitated the entry of top notch global brands and sparked increased customer spending in turn. Indians spend mostly on pet food while pet healthcare and grooming follow closely. Analysts forecast a rapid upgrade to specialised and premium pet products in urban areas with further elevation in the status of pets. One of the biggest trends currently revolves around the launch of innovative new products by companies and manufacturers including touch sensitive feeding bowls, cooling coats and beds, GPS tracking collars and more! Hygiene and convenience are expected to be the two biggest growth drivers in India s pet care industry over the next few years with more and more products geared

67 customer loyalty and interest. In addition, ecommerce websites may also look to adapt the look and design of an actual, physical store for providing superior guidance to customers. The advent of more interactive customer support solutions cannot be ruled out either in this regard. Individual visitors will be given more importance by e-commerce sites, keeping an eye on shopping patterns and purchase history towards meeting these needs. In addition, average consumer spend on pets will scale up to a minimum of `2,000 a month ($32) in the next couple of years according to market estimates and developments. The concept of an Omnichannel will influence direct e-tailing in the pet care industry, whereby both physical and online stores will be suitably aligned towards meeting specific requirements of customers. Weaving these channels together will eliminate any possibilities of customer differentiation, and help provide a more comprehensive experience to customers. Customisation and Greater Interactivity Customisation is another trend when it comes to online pet care. Individual visitors will be given more importance by e-commerce sites, keeping an eye on shopping patterns and purchase history. Adapting product portfolios towards the average requirements of regular shoppers will be the key towards maintaining steady Challenges for Online Pet Care Retail in India The primary challenge for pet care e-retail in India lies in overcoming the limitations intrinsically present in a niche market. Being a niche segment in the country, tapping the burgeoning base of prospective customers is possible through constant innovation and unique alignment of products to specific customer needs. Customer understanding holds the key towards cracking this market along with consistency. This segment does not really thrive on volumes and hence scaling up will always be tricky. Even with double digit growth rate, the increasing number of entrants into the online pet care and retail segment translates into enhanced competition. E-commerce sites can only stand out with newer, more innovative categories and offerings, multiple purchase channels, interactive customer solutions and of course, customisation to the farthest extent possible. Another challenge faced is the disorganised Pet Sector. Most suppliers still don t have up to date technology to give estimates on stocks and deliveries, thus making it difficult to source orders on demand for customers. However, it is pertinent to state that with the unlimited growth opportunities in store for online pet care entrepreneurs and websites, the sky is definitely the limit for those who dare to dream big! Rashi Sanon Narang is the founder of online pet store, Heads Up For Tails. Rashi studied Human Resource Management at the London School of Economics and then worked with a multinational bank as well 67

68 Emerging Trends Doorstep Pet Care Business in India The Next Big Thing By Neeraj India, our cherished motherland, is poised for a leap into the future in all industry domains and pet care business is no exception. Catalysed by pro-active governance, massive urbanisation and an increase in purchasing power of the average Indian household in recent times, owning a pet is no longer perceived as luxury or a depiction of one s social status. Man and animal have co-existed since the beginning of human civilisation and there are numerous historical and contemporary evidences to prove that human nature desires a pet (dog, cat, bird, fish or any other). Thus, it is only natural to presume that there is a side to us that promotes the longing for a creature as a pet, as a companion; the choices are plenty but generally dogs and cats are the most preferred worldwide. Relatively speaking, in prosperous civilisations like America, Australia and Europe, almost every second household has a pet, which means that household to pet ownership ratio is between percent. In India, this is only about five percent (urban, semi-urban and rural combined average based on a general estimate), but the pet care industry is pegged at around `2000 crores ($315 mn) already! Now imagine, if and when this increases to even 25 percent, meaning every fourth household will have a pet, then the volume of the pet care industry in India will be a substantial `10,000 crores ($1.6 bn) by current estimates. Considering the fact that awareness for pet care is still very low in our country and accessibility even lower, over a period of time in the near future with increased awareness, easier accessibility and low cost yet high quality services, the Indian pet care industry is sure to take the world by storm. Further, the easy availability of uneducated and underpaid manpower in semi-urban and rural areas, which is willing to learn skills in a new domain and prosper beyond their present means, makes Indian pet care a strong candidate for a success story in the making since the only qualification needed to enter this domain is love for animals! Now going by the phrase opportunity in adversity, let s analyse another significant parameter. Most Indian towns and cities are not well-planned, meaning that driving conditions are bad; not disregarding the administration but purely implying that 68

69 driving and parking constraints, fuel economy and several other factors combined with the struggle to maintain high quality, punctuality and competitive rates etc, this business model currently has very few takers in India. However, things will change slowly but surely and a couple of initiatives can already be seen in the country, which should encourage others to barge into this virgin territory with tremendous potential. things won t change overnight even with best efforts from the government. Also noteworthy is another fact; rapid urbanisation leads to social peer pressure to earn more and spend more, which combined with driving conditions naturally drains one s time and energy. Existing pet owners feel the pinch while potential pet owners are deterred to keep a pet. The deterrence to keeping a pet is also largely due to the lack of either quality pet care facilities in the neighbourhood or limited options or both or any other. This is precisely where the opportunity is for doorstep pet care business in India, and this country needs it the most. Doorstep pet care not only delivers easy accessibility and convenience for pet owners, but also generates curiosity leading to queries that increase awareness, thereby encouraging potential pet owners! The big challenge, however, is to first put the business model with adequate resources in place and then sustain through the tough initial phase while people get used to such a facility moving around their place. Further, due to relatively high investment as compared to brick and mortar (shopbased) businesses, several procedural bottlenecks, multiple operational issues, There are many young boys and girls in urban areas all over the country who provide doorstep pet grooming by way of home visits and carry necessary items First, let s do a reality check of doorstep pet care in the country. We begin with pet grooming, which is the most lucrative offering in the pet care business portfolio and fast gaining popularity in India. Currently, three reputed companies provide doorstep pet grooming services; Petsburgh in some areas of Mumbai, JustDogs in certain parts of Ahmedabad and Clean Cute in the Delhi/Noida region. These well established brands have their own smartly designed mobile pet grooming vans. While Petsburgh and JustDogs offer only mobile grooming services as an extension to their shop-based business, Clean Cute is a dedicated and comprehensive doorstep pet care service. Then there are many young boys and girls in urban areas all over the country who provide doorstep pet grooming by way of home visits and carry necessary items like brushes, tools and shampoos with them. These so called freelancers though not organised professionally with a registered firm or company, are indeed a force to reckon with and yes, they do their job well. Some pet parlours also offer home service by sending their trained groomers with grooming kits, which is also doorstep pet care in all respect. Now let s check out the pet health care segment. Some veterinary doctors in the past have tried their hands in the mobile pet clinic concept by putting necessary equipment in a modified vehicle but somehow couldn t quite manage to sustain, but surely as you read this, many others must be contemplating the thought of launching similar 69

70 Emerging Trends projects and this model can be a huge hit with meticulous planning and smart execution. Then there are those very few doctors who do home visits themselves and some offer doorstep health care by sending their trained workers. A handful of NGOs and a few veterinary hospitals also provide well equipped professional ambulance services and contribute towards doorstep pet care in India. Next is the retail business of pet food, treats, snacks, accessories etc. Most pet shops in the country provide home delivery facilities through their delivery boys, but those with self-owned mobile pet care vans have the edge because they can carry and deliver products with greater ease. On the other hand, online pet shops use e-commerce and courier services to home deliver the products. In this segment, the customer has a wide choice and great deals are always on offer. But what does our country really need? Is doorstep pet care business (similar to those in other countries) really feasible and worth the investment in India? What is the true value proposition for Indian pet owners? What is the market size? What is the growth potential? and most importantly, how does one get the act together? These are some serious questions, which need to be answered in the right perspective. First things first: India will be India; Indians will be Indians; and Indian roads, traffic, driving habits and parking space will be what it is! Let s not even imagine nor expect that this scenario is ever going to change and only then we should analyse the if and how of this business after accepting these constraints as a forever given. Pet ownership is directly proportional to prosperity and needless to say, pet population will continue to rise phenomenally in our country. So logically speaking, the opportunity remains for pet care industry in India, but is it true for doorstep services as well? Yes indeed, read on. 70 Our country essentially needs a dedicated full-fledged doorstep service for pets, which is comprehensive; meaning that door delivering only one type of pet care product or service will never appeal to pet owners and will not sustain in the long run. Let me give you an example. Many veterinary doctors have in-house pet grooming services along with a pet shop in their clinics. Likewise, many pet shops have a pet parlour along with and pet parlours usually have their own pet shop. So, if I as a caring pet owner have to take my car and drive down for any one pet care need, I might as well take my pet along once a month and get everything done at the same time! Delving deeper with some statistical snapshot will clear the picture better. According to an elaborate market research conducted by CLEAN CUTE Pet Care in Delhi/NCR during the year 2011, there were an estimated 3.9 million urban households and about 350,000 pets (dogs and cats) while pan-india, the estimated number of pets in urban households was about 6.8 million. On an average, an urban Indian pet owner spends about Rs 8,000-10,000 ($ ) per year on health care, food, accessories and grooming of one pet. So by simple arithmetic, the business revenue of pet care in urban India should be around Rs 7000 crores ($1.1 bn) but the industry figures are only `2000 crores ($315 mn)! These statistics reveal that most pet owners still largely rely on self grooming, bathing their pets themselves, feeding home cooked meals, walking their dogs themselves, buying non-specialised pet care products, rarely using services of professional dog trainers and shying away from spending on pet boarding facilities. The reasons are many and easy to figure out; lack of awareness, lack of accessibility, lack of availability in the neighbourhood, laziness and carelessness largely due to traffic and parking issues, constraints of time and effort, lack of faith in quality, high cost of products and services etc. Can you now spot the opportunity for doorstep pet care in India? Can you also spot the need for Many veterinary doctors have in-house pet grooming services along with a pet shop in their clinics

71 already sceptical pet owner. Luckily, it s not rocket science to break this code as the likes of CLEAN CUTE have already successfully discovered and can be achieved with carefully sourcing raw talent headhunted from right places, putting them through intensive customised training modules and building specialised business practices to work in while keeping a smile on everybody s faces. high quality, yet low cost products and services? Sounds nice, but not that simple to put in place and operate! The mobile pet grooming service is case in point. Anyone can buy a vehicle of appropriate size, anyone can do the interiors nicely and put designer graphics on a van, anyone can buy the infrastructure and put it in place but from where does one get the skills and trained manpower to deliver a specialised service like dog or cat grooming inside a mobile van? Being a relatively new thing in India, pet groomers are a rare commodity and for those with experience in a shop-based pet parlour, it is extremely difficult to work in the extremely challenging environment of a van and that too after travelling for the whole day on Indian roads! Further, when a pet owner takes his pet for a grooming session at a pet parlour in a marketplace, most likely there are only one or two family members along with the pet and the groomer has the option of restricting the entry of the owner during the session to keep the pet in better control. However, due to extreme curiosity generated by a mobile pet grooming service parked outside one s house in India, how does the groomer work in peace and keep the pet calm when every two minutes one or the other family member, neighbour or curious onlooker will knock or bang on the door? It gets even more difficult when kids with all their hyper energy keep jumping in, out and around the van during the grooming session! Restricting the entry and view is not feasible since it kills the curiosity, which is the uniqueness of this model and also generates doubt in the mind of the Lastly but most importantly, let s take a sneak peek into the financial aspect and value proposition of all stakeholders. Typically, a fully operational and done up mobile pet care van such as the one in service by CLEAN CUTE will cost about `2.5-3 million ($40,000-48,000). With the right pricing, smart logistical planning and highly efficient operational processes, a single van operating at full capacity can easily generate revenues in excess of `3.7 million ($58,000) annually from grooming, health care and retail with annual profit in the range of `2-2.5 million ($31,500-40,000), which is approximately a healthy percent return on investment and that too with highest quality services at rates at par with competing shop-based businesses. And that s not all; pet owners are benefited due to great convenience, comfort, personalised and customised care and huge savings in their time and effort! A win-win situation for all and a business model worth venturing into! So, if you are motivated enough, fish deep into your pocket, buy an appropriate vehicle, make it look nice, put necessary infrastructure aboard, get the right manpower and go around your town offering doorstep pet care services! Pets will be blessed, pet owners will say thank you and you will have plenty to smile about! Good luck. Neeraj is Founder Director, Clean Cute Pet Care. He may be reached at cleancute100@gmail.com 71

72 Industry Giants Speak The pet industry in India has an estimated revenue earning potential of `350 crore ($56,661,810). Out of this around `250 crore ($40,472,721) is contributed by pet foods and the remaining `100 crore comes from grooming and healthcare sector. The industry is growing rapidly in India. O P Singh, CEO, Venky s India The biggest driver of growth is that wellness products for pets will continue to stay front and center in pet stores and in the media. Brad Kriser, Founder and CEO of Kriser s Pets used to be fed dal, roti or pieces of chicken leftover from lunch or dinner before, and that habit still remains the biggest competitor for prepared pet foods. Nitin Kulkarni of Mars India Dog clothing is growing increasingly popular, especially for special occasions. I sold 20 sherwanis for dogs during this wedding season. Rashi Sanon Narang, owner of Heads Up For Tails, a pet accessory store in Delhi While the world pet food market is worth $65.8 billion and registered a 4 percent growth, the Indian pet food market has been showing a rapid growth. As per Euro Monitor, it has a market size of `368 crore ($59,575,846) as of Awral Beri, Founder of Kennel Kitchen, a dog food brand of Gitwako Farms (I) Pvt Limited In terms of brand, Mars is dominating the pet food market in India, accounting for around 70 percent revenue share. However, other brands like Petsetgo, Drools, etc are expected to increase their penetration in India by expanding their production or setting up new manufacturing units across the country over the next five years. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm The pet market is growing and will continue to grow at twice the rate of industry as a whole. Gaurav Malik, Founder, dogspot.in We are witnessing double-digit growth in the petfood category in the past five years. We have also observed a rise in pet adoptions, along with increasing responsible pet ownership amongst pet owners. Pet parents are doing well economically, and are willing to spend more on their pets than ever before. Further, most of the people that can afford pet products are of a certain economic strata, and with the middle class burgeoning year after year-it doesn t take much to see that the petfood industry is growing rapidly, and that better times lie ahead for petfood in the country. Nitin Kulkarni, Director of Corporate Affairs, Mars International India Pvt Ltd 72

73 Now in Bengaluru A New Hub of Pet Lovers India International Pet Trade Fair 8Organised by Creature Companion Magazine GardenScape 2015 The India International Pet Trade Fair (IIPTF), South Asia s largest pet event, has expanded its ambit and now includes AquaScape display, a workshop and a concurrent event, GardenScape on garden and landscape. The IIPTF, scheduled to be held from February 6-8, 2015 at KTPO, Whitefield, Bangalore, will be the 8th edition. Being a trade oriented platform, the fair is crucial in the facilitation and growth of the pet industry in India and the world. IIPTF, partly a B2B (Business-to-Business) and partly a B2C (Business-to-Consumer) event, showcases a wide range of pet products, and pet-pertinent services from across India and overseas. The fair is an exhibition-cum-trade show dedicated to the pet vertical in India. It is a quality-driven event at par with international standards. IIPTF is an ideal platform for all international exhibitors, Indian importers and manufacturers, foreign companies and Indian exporters. GardenScape will be a one-stop-shop for garden, landscape and related ecosystems; indoor and outdoor plants and aquatic décor. Being a B2B and B2C exhibition, GardenScape will be an ideal destination for the entire industry and traders to come together under one roof. Exhibits will include plants, pots, equipments, tools, seeds and many more. Professionals can network and showcase their products and services at the exhibition. The exhibition will host various activities such as landscape display, aquarium display, landscape products and accessories, bird houses and plants and related products display. 73

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79 8th India International Pet Trade Fair Exhibitor's Directory Stall No. B15 Kokua Enterprises, LLC/ Natural Balance Pet Foods 7140, Naakea Street Honululu,HI Tel: Website: Contact: Mr. Gene Shimamura-Sales Representative Activities: Pet Food, Pet Accessories, Pet Medicines/ Food Supplement Products Stall No. D4 Seachem Laboratories, Inc Seachem Drive, Madison GA (USA) Tel: , Website: Contact: Mr. Brian Miller-International Sales Manager Activities: Fish & Fish Related Producrs Stall No. B76 SDC Swedencare AB Medeon Science Park, SE , Malmo, Sweden Tel: Website: Contact: Mr. Andrea Lysander-Export Sales Manager Activities: Pet Medicines/ Food Supplements Products Stall No. B27 Caninnovation 63, Awaruku Road, Torbay, Auckland, New Zealand Tel: , Contact: Mr. Michael Martin-Project Manager Activities: Animal Training Aids Stall No. F1, F2, F4, F5 Sai International, Stalls for JerHigh, Goodies, Phoenix, Thai Union 3-F, 57 A, Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad ( U.P.) Mob: pankaj.khatri1981@gmail.com Website: Contact: Mr. Pankaj Khatri (Director) Activities: Pet Treats 79

80 Stall No. F3 Smartypet Pet Products C-85, Sector-5, Bhavana Industrial Area, New Delhi-39 Mob: Website: Contact: Mr. Ashish Arora-Proprietor Activities: Pet Accessories Stall No. F6 RK Amith Traders No.23, 1st Cross, Krishnappa Blk Pipeline, Malleswaram, Bangalore Mob: , Contact: Mr. Amit Srivastava, Mr. Dharam Srivastava Activities: Pet Products, Saddlery Equipments, Pet Food & Accessories Stall No. B34 Canes Venatici WZ-119, B Block, 3rd Floor, Naraiana, New Delhi-28, Address factory: Plot. No. 24, 1st Floor, Devraj Industrial Park, Piplaj, Ahmedabad Mob: , c.venatici@yahoo.com, Website: Contact: Mr. Akash Sinah-co-founder Activities: Pet Apparels. Stall No. A1 Glenand No. 670,Opposite Metro Pillar No. 89, Indiranagar, Banagalore , Karnataka. Mob: info@glenandgroup.com Website: Contact: Mr. Prithvi Jayakaran-Owner Activities: Importers & Distributors of Pet Products/ Manufacturers of Pet Biscuits, Chain of Retail Pet Stores Stall No. B61 Fuzzy Wuzzy Pet Styling Studio & Spa, Professional Pet Grooming School and International Pet Transportation No. 670, C.M.H Road, Indiranagar, Bangalore , India Mob: , , info@fuzzywuzzy.in Website: info@fuzzywuzzy.in Contact: Mrs. Yashodhara-Director Activities: Pet Styling Studio & Spa, Professional Pet Grooming School, Grooming Products, International Pet Transportation 80 Stall No. B36 Scoobee Pet Foods Pvt. Ltd, HSIIDC Industrial Estate, Rai , Sonepat Mob: , scoobeepetproducts@yahoo.com Website: Contact: Mr. Sam Sethi-Owner Activities: Pet Foods, Pet Accessories, Pet Treats, Groomig Products, Birds & Birds Related Products, Fish & Fish Related Products Stall No. B 1 Shiva Exports-Distributor of Rain Bird USA Gomukhi Point, 102, Sangu Nagar, E.B.Complex Back Side, Collectorate Post, Erode Tamil Nadu Mob: shivaexports3@yahoo.com Website: Contact: Mr. Sadhaasivam Activities: Landscape Irrigation Equipments Stall No. D1 (B) JKD Hortitech 5, Jenab Mahal, Khambatta Lane,Dr. Ambedkar Road, Byculla (E), Mumbai , Maharashtra Tel: Mob: info@jkdhortitech.com, sales@jkdhortitech.com Website: Contact: Ms. Abhilasha Activities: Draincells, Nonwoven Geotextile, Grass Pavers, Turf Pavers, Vertical Garden System - Greenwall Biowall & Ecowall, Garden Edging Stall No. B2 Sharpex Engineering Works Plot No. 1-5, Opp L 110, G I D C Odhav, Ahmedabad Mob: info@sharpex.com & sales@sharpex.com Website: Contact: Mr. Kamalahasan Activities: Lawn Mower & Garden Accessories

81 Stall No. B5 M.M.Agro Products 70/6, Varthur Main Road Gujur (V) Gunjur (P), Bangalore-87 Mob: / Website: Contact: Mr. Arun Kumar-Proprietor Activities: Outdoor Plants, Nursery, Garden Equipments, Lights, Artificial Plants, Stones & Pebbles, Pesticides Stall No. A6 Swastik Industries C-37/1, Wazirpur Industrial Area, New Delhi Tel: Mob: Website: Contact: Mr. Vishal Pandey-Sales Manager Activities: Pet Accessories, Birds & Bird Related Products Stall No. A2 Bharat International Pet Foods Gat No. 47, Opp. Holy Spirit School, Next to BASF, At Post [Datta Nagar], Lonikand, Taluka Haveli, Pune India. Mob: Website: Contact: Mr. Bharat Pittie-Partner Activities: Pet Food, Grooming Products, Birds & Birds Related Products, Cat Litters Stall No. B63 & B 64 ABK Imports Pvt Ltd Office No. 40, Property No. 2/0831, Ground Floor, Pune Trade Centre, Gat No. 2337, Wagholi, Pune Tel: Mob: anand@abkimports.com / info@abkimports.com Website: Contact: Mr. Kushal Pittie--(Director) Activities:, Grooming, Toys, Training & Behavior, Collars & Leashes, Beds & Furniture, Feeding Accessories, Health & Wellness Stall No. D5 Pet En Care C 22/25, Sector-57, Noida, U.P. Mob: ashmeet.aov@gmail.com Website: Contact: Ms. Ashmeet Wadhwa-Senior Merchandiser Activities: Pet Accessories, Pet Treats, Birds & Birds Related Products, Grooming Products Stall No. B17 The Himalaya Drug Company Makali, Bangalore, Karnataka Mob: dr.riteshsood@himalayawellness.com Website: Contact: Dr. Ritesh Sood-Product Manager-Animal Health Division Activities: Pet Medicines Stall No. D6 Vegeco India Pvt. Ltd. Level 2, Kalpataru Synergy, Opp. Grand Hyatt, Santacruz (East), Mumbai Mob: india@vegeco.in Website: Contact: Ms. Sneha Poojary- General Manager Activities: Pet Food Stall No. B62 Vetoquinol India Animal Health Pvt. Ltd. 801, Sigma, Hiranandani Business Park, Technology Street, Powai, Mumbai India Tel: Mob: rohit.bhatia@vetoquinol.com Website: Contact: "Mr. Rohit Bhatia-Sr. Manager - Marketing" Activities: Veterinary Pharma Products 81

82 Stall No. B43 Allflex India Pvt. Ltd 573, 3rd Floor, Main Road, Chirag, New Delhi Tel: , Contact: Mr. Rajan Hemrajani---Senior Manager Activities: Animal Identification Products Stall No. B44 & B45 Aquasstar No.5, West Mada Street, Kolathur, Chennai---99 Mob: Website: Contact: Mr. B. Selvaraj--CEO Activities: Fish & Fish Related Producrs Stall No. D 7 Zorba International H-1-44, Krishnapuram, G. T Road, Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh Mob: zorbapetwear@gmail.com Website: Contact: Mr. Subhash Gupta-Promoter Activities: Dog Apparel, Bedding Stall No. B16 Heads Up For Tails A 56 Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, Basement, New Delhi-20 Mob: rashi@headsupfortails.com, huft08@gmail.com Contact: Ms. Rashi Sanon Narang Activities: Dog Beds, Dog apparel, Dog accessories, Dog Toys, Dog Grooming, Dog collars and Leashes,, Dog Bowls Stall No. A3 Solid Gold Pets Food, USA Solid Gold House, Erumathala P O, Aluva, Kochi, Kerala Mob: contact@solidgoldindia.com Website: Contact: Mr. Rithesh-Senior Manager Activities: Dogs & Cats Dry Food, Canned Food, Treats, Supplements, Hair and Coat Care Stall No. D8 Shifa Enterprises No. 105/382 A, Plot No. 2, Chamanganj, Kanpur , Uttar Pradesh Mob: imran@shifaenterprises.co.in Contact: Mr. Imran Khan Activities: Pet Accessories Stall No. B65 Amazon.in 26/1, World Trade Centre, Brigade Gateway, 8th Floor, Dr. Rajkumar Road Malleshwaram (West) Bangalore Mob: sell@amazon.in Website: Contact: Mr. Amar Deep Singh- Marketing Manager Activities: Online marketplace with 39 departments and 1.9 crore+ products Stall No. B54 & B55 Pets Empire B-21, Wazirpur Industrial Area, New Delhi (India), Tel: Mob: , ms@petsempire.in, order@petsempire.in Website: Contact: Mr. Mayank Satija Activities: All types of pet products and accessories Stall No. B 56 A.V.Enterprises 241, Hari Nagar, Ashram, New Delhi Mob: sharma_vijay2@rediffmail.com Contact: Mr. Vijay Kumar Sharma-Proprietor Activities: Pet Accessories & Pet Garments Stall No. B 70 Aalee India Exports Pvt. Ltd. 563-A, Muir Road, Meerpur Cantts, Near Rail Bazar Ramleela Grounds, Kanpur Mob: , asif@aalee.in Website: Contact: Mr. Syed Asif Ali-Director Activities: Pet Accessories 82

83 Stall No. B 37 Y. K. Industries 13/397, Civil Lines, Kanpur Mob: yash@ykindustries.co.in Website: Contact: Mr. Yash Kapoor-Owner Activities: Pet Accessories Stall No. A 4 Petacom 1/13, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi Mob: info@petacom.in nikhilmohan@petacom.in Website: Contact: Mr. Nikhil Mohan Activities: Neutraceuticals, Grooming Products Stall No. D11 Sanjay Marketings 22, Indira Nagar, Near St. Pauls School, Thadagam Road, Coimbatore Tel: sanjaymkt@gmail.com Website: Contact: Mrs. G. Selvarani-Proprietor Activities: Pet Food, Pet Accessories, Pet Treats, Grooming, Birds & Birds Related Products, Pet Medicines Stall No. D12 Aqua World Shop No. 12/A, Dorabjee Enclave, Salunke Vihar Road, Kondhwa, Pune Mob: aquaworld110@gmail.com Contact: Mr. Ali Reza Khan- Proprietor Activities: Aquarium and Aquarium related products Stall No. B35 Inter Foto India Pvt. Ltd. 92, Infantry Road , Kedia Arcade Bangalore Mob: pet@interfotoindia.com Contact: Mr. Anup Jajodia Activities: Nature's Miracle Stain Odour Removers, Excel Cleansing Products, Perfect Coat Pet Shampoos Stall No. D9 Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd Chinubhai Centre, Off. Nehru Bridge, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad Gujarat Mob: Anand_Kanojia@intaspharma.com Website: Contact: Mr. Anand Kanojia Activities: Livestock and Companion Animal Health Products Stall No. E 2 Ugam Distribution Pvt. Ltd Flat No. 06, Smruti Apartment,212/22, Sadashiv Peth,Rambaug Colony, Pune Mob: r.panse@ugamdistribution.com, ugamdistribution@gmail.com Contact: Mr. Ranjeet Panse --Executive Director Activities: Accessories for Fish, Reptiles, Birds, Dogs, Cat & Small animals Stall No. B46 & B47 DogSpot.in DogSpot.in, Second Floor, S Lal Tower, Sector-20, Dundahera, Gurgaon Mob: ankur@dogspot.in Contact: Mr. Ankur Tandon Activities: Online Pet Portal Website: Stall No. B 24 Cessna Lifeline Veterinary Hospital 148, HCBS, Amarjyothi, Layout, off intermediate ring road, Domlur, Bangalore Tel: , cessnalifeline@gmail.com Website: Contact: Ms. Sanjana Patel-Operation Manager Activities: Vet Hospital 83

84 Stall No. B 67 SAVAVET Lalwani Plaza, B - Wing, Sakorenagar, Off New Airport Road, Viman Nagar, Pune Mob: karthik.rajan@savaglobal.com Website: Contact: Mr Karthik Rajan Activities: Pet Medicine Stall No. B68 Z-Track Trading & Enterprises G-199, Phase -3, Spencer Plaza, Anna Salai, Chennai Mob: ztrackonline@gmail.com Contact: Mr. Salil Panicker-Propertior Activities: Pet Food, Pet Accessories & Pet Treats Stall No. D3 Pets 101 T- 55B, Elliots Beach Road, 6th Avenue, Besant Nagar, Chennai, Mob: pets101india@gmail.com Contact: Mr. Arun Activities: Pet Accessories, Pet Bed, Crates, Shampoos, Conditioners, Oral Care, Pet Snacks, Suppliments Stall No. B 30 TRADEINDIA.COM Infocom Network Limited, A-86, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-2, New Delhi Tel: biswal@tradeindia.com Website: Contact: Mr. G.H.Biswal-Manger (Business Promotion) Activities: Online B2B Portal Stall No. D1 (A) Lapis Stone 2, Sairam Duplex, Krishna Colony, Opp. Swati Society, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad Mob: lapisstoneindia@gmail.com Website: Contact: Mr. Jigar Contractor Activities: Garden Stones, Pebbles Stones and Stone Sculpture Stall No. B-69 Canine Pet Products Alif Stores, 7/559, Crawford Market, OPP Sadanand Hotel, Mumbai Mob: canineproducts@hotmail.com Website: Contact: Mr. Abdulla Mandviwala Activities: Pet treats & Pet Accessories Stall No. B 6 Precision Agritech Pvt. Ltd. Sr. No. 44/2, Theur, Near Navlakha farm, Naigoan Road, haveli, Pune Mob: vijayshinde5757@gmail.com Website: Contact: Mr. Vijay Shinde (MD) Activities: Seasonal Flowers, Vegetable Seedlings 84

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86 Emerging Trends Pet Taxi Services Now, a Comfortable Ride for Pets By Santosh Shekhar If you are a pet owner, this scenario may be familiar to you. You are logging extra hours at the workplace this week and you need somebody to run your dog to the vet or maybe take him to the groomer. If you find you are in a bind and your pet needs a ride to his veterinarian or groomer, there is a relatively new business of pet taxi services in India, offering pets a comfortable ride. Pet Taxi Services provide customised vehicles for comfortable transit of pets round the clock. The service covers all kind of transit needs ranging from trip to the vet or groomers to pick/drop to the kennel, airport or railway station, medical emergencies, even pet cemetery and out of station trips! The cabs are generally equipped with first aid kits, leashes and cleaning equipment such as mops, brushes etc as well as chew sticks and rubber balls to make pets ride fun. The parent can travel along with the pet. From dog parks to pet resorts, pet fashion accessories, pet-friendly restaurants, pet bakeries, home delivered meals, and pet cabs, a pet s life is surely getting interesting. These initiatives also come as a huge relief to pet parents who have to often leave their pets home alone or sacrifice their outings as their pets can t accompany them everywhere. With eating out being a regular feature in our lifestyle, it is great to see restaurants allowing pets, though mostly in their outdoor areas, thus giving you an opportunity to have your pets joining you on outings. Pet industry players estimate that average spending on pets is expected to cross over `8000 per month ($130), which includes daily hygiene, care, lavish meals, diet, vaccination, spa and other services like pet transport. The pet owners are happier spending it even if it is heavier on their pockets. The research also indicates that with pet ownership on the rise, there will be a greater demand for pet care products. Consumers may trade up to premium products or specialised products, as they gain a better understanding of their pets needs. As pets become more important, demand for pet care is expected to become more sophisticated, with pet owners buying not just pet food, and pet products but also focussing on pet s health care, diet for their pets, grooming, safe travel and leisure. Demand for pet taxi services is growing in India. It s a wonderful feeling that you get while you travel along with your dog. Nowadays, even more and more people prefer travelling with their pets than ever before due to the easy availability of cabs specially designed for pets. Taking your dog or cat on a vacation trip with you could be a wonderful experience. As a matter of fact, it can be really fun to travel with your dog on business trips, home or holidays or even for site seeing. Earlier, if pet owners had to relocate, they would sell their pets or give them out for adoption. Now, large logistics companies or pet relocation service companies 86

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88 Emerging Trends support pets to travel with their owners within the country and outside as well. Pet Taxi Services is an untapped market in India and is still in the nascent stage. Not everyone in India is very friendly with pets and the public transport system is not designed to carry pets locally. Pet owners have always found it difficult to ferry pets locally within the city limits from one location to another. Most of the time, auto rickshaws and the city cabs have not been very cooperative with the pet owners and they will either deny a ride with their pets or charge a whopping amount for a small distance. Majority of the cities do not even have a pet ambulance services. There are very few pet ambulance services available in Mumbai. Bangalore with large pet population also offers less pet ambulance services. Public veterinary hospitals, private clinics, hospitals and NGOs have their own vehicles. Considering the busy schedules, traffic and time constraint, pet owners need support of pet taxi services to manage their daily schedule. The firm Pet Cab tried to alleviate the problem of pet owners when they began offering their services in Bangalore in Pet owners are now open to new pet services and are willing to trust companies hoping that their pets get a better life with all the comfort. The cabs ferry pets from one destination to another on the pet owner s request. It involves hospital, clinic, salon, airport, railway station, pet cemetery or a boarding kennel. Pet Taxi Services function like normal cab service or taxi services, where a pet owner can call them to book a cab for their pets. The Pet Taxi Services ensure safe travel for your pets. Growth Factors India is emerging as one of the top petfriendly nation with more pet friendly resorts, hotels and holiday destinations. Pet humanisation has expanded the world of pet care, and premium products 88 reflecting that trend are having their time in the spotlight. The underlying trend of humanisation will continue to drive launches of culinary and luxury products and other services. Pet Taxi Services, which is a part of pet logistics industry, is a new segment. The sector has an immense potential for growth. Currently, there are very few players in the industry. Latest Trends in Pet Transportation Industry Pet transportation industry has been growing gradually over the years. Leading companies such as Pet Travel (part of Hamilton Packers), Flurry Flyers and Canine Elite have achieved specialisation in pet relocation. They have made it easier for pet owners to relocate their pets with the help of their services. How is it Benefiting Pet Lovers? 1. Pick up and Drop will be done to frequently travelled destination for pets such as vet hospitals, salons, kennel boarding, swimming classes, parks and pet cemetery; 2. Pet owners can travel to airports and railway stations with prior bookings; 3. Advance booking of the pet taxi will help them plan their travel and reduces any hassles; 4. They don t need to worry about their pets littering or spoiling the upholstery of the taxi, the driver will clean up the van after the drop; 5. The van is kept clean before each pick up; 6. Pet cabs save time of pet owners and help them focus on their schedule; 7. Pets can travel alone without the pet owner and the driver will handle the pet from pick up point to drop point; Challenges Faced Pet logistics or pet transportation industry have seen a good growth and will continue to grow with a steady pace. The industry has witnessed multiple challenges as well. The companies involved in the business have to ensure safe travel of pets during the transit. The companies also ensure that the entire process run smoothly from paper work to safe travel with personalised pickup and drop. Cab drivers have to ensure that pets do not remain longer in the cabs as they cannot tolerate heat for a long time. The companies have to ensure that pets travel in such vehicles that are equipped with all safety measures such as first aid kit, leash, mouth cap and a bowl of water. Cab drivers must be well trained in handling unknown pets. If the driver gets friendly with the pets first, then the travel stress will also be reduced immensely. The bigger part of the job is earning the trust of pet owners as they hand over their loved ones to the cab driver and expect safe travel for their pets. They cab drivers have to keep themselves updated about the traffic rules and morning traffic updates to ensure shortest route for pets and meet all scheduled pickups. Awareness of pet transportation in the last two years has increased, but still a large population remains ignorant of such pet services. We hope that pet owners get to know that such services exist and make good use of it. Santosh Shekhar is the founder and CEO of Pet Cab company. The services provided by Pet Cab cover all kind of transit needs ranging from trip to the vet or groomers to pick/drop to the kennel, airport or railway station, medical emergencies, even pet cemetery and out station trips.

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92 Nutrition and the Heart The heart provides several basic functions in the body. It provides a transport mechanism for oxygen & nutrients to other organs & body systems. It also helps transport carbon dioxide & other metabolic wastes to excretory organs. Hormones & other enzymes are moved from one organ to other by the heart to provide for basic functions of the reproductive & thyroid systems. In addition, the heart helps with thermoregulation, keeping the body at a consistent and ideal temperature. The heart is a muscle & muscles do heal! When someone tears a muscle in his or her leg the best medication is rest, that s because your body has the ability to heal it. The heart muscle is more complicated because it s constantly moving. You can t rest the heart because it is the body s motor. Every living beings body has a blue print for how to heal itself, you just have to help it. There are several requirements for normal cardiac function. First there needs to be adaptable coronary circulation. The vessels that supply oxygen & nutrients to the heart must be functional & capable of adapting to meet increased demands when needed. There also must be a flexible response by myocardial contractile cells so that when the animal needs additional cardiac output during stress or exercise, the cells of the heart can provide for a higher heart rate & cardiac output. The valves of the heart must function normally & maintain healthy blood flow. Finally normal peripheral vascular response is needed to maintain normal blood pressure under a variety of physiological states. When any of these functions is impaired the heart begins to undergo a state of imbalance, eventually resulting congestive heart failure, valvular disease, dilated cardiomyopathy & canine heart murmurs. Heart problems in dogs & cats can be very serious & life threatening & often present without our awareness or prior warning. In addition to medical therapy, nutritional modification is an important component of treatment protocols for dogs & cats with cardiac disease. Nutritional modification can support a good quality of life, and in some cases, may ameliorate some of the clinical effects of heart disease. VenCard TM Strength is a formula designed to support cardiovascular health and function. VenCard TM Strength combines the synergistic effects of 9 ingredients that are recommended to support cardiovascular and circulatory health. VenCard TM Strength is designed to support heart muscles, reduce oxidative stress, and support cardiovascular functions. It also contains ingredients to support circulation and better utilization of oxygen. Combines the heart health benefits of : L Carnitine supports the use of fat for energy and oxygen utilization. It supports fat metabolism, which helps balance cholesterol and triglycerides levels, as well as supporting the heart s energy levels. L Taurine supports regular heart beat, minimizes the loss of potassium, supports the proper use of electrolytes, and it provides antioxidant support to help to support the immune system. N, N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) supports circulation and acts as an antioxidant. Vitamin E supports circulation and immune system health, as well as heart muscle strength. Vitamin E helps support tissue repair, normal blood clotting, blood pressure, strengthens capillary walls, and it is a powerful antioxidant. Coenzyme Q10 supports oxygenation of the heart tissue and helps protect against oxidation. Coenzyme Q10 helps strengthen the heart muscle as a lipid soluble antioxidant. Folic acid, which is needed for the formation of red blood cells and, helps support capillary blood flow. Magnesium supports proper functioning of the cardiac muscle. It helps to maintain the integrity of blood vessel walls, normal blood viscosity (thickness), and a strong normal heartbeat. Magnesium helps regulate electrical activity for the heart. Potassium is needed for electrolyte balance, which is important for proper heart rhythm and blood pressure. Selenium provides antioxidant support within the heart muscle. It is a component of glutathione peroxidase and works with vitamin E to maintain a healthy heart. Conclusion: when treating dog & cats with cardiovascular disease, nutritional modification should be considered a primary part of the treatment protocol. Proper nutrition not only helps prolong survival time & enhance the quality of life, but may help reduce the amount of certain medication needed, such as diuretics to reduce the load on the heart & other organs. For more details please contact: Mr. Mohan Nogja (AGM) Dr. Kokane Pandurang (Technical Executive) Venky s Pet (A Div. of BV Bio- Corp Pvt Ltd)

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97 Point of Purchase Point of Purchase Bangalore Contact No Bangalore Pet Hospital Cessna Lifeline Veterinary Hospital Dr. Karthiga Glenands Kim s Place Paws the Pet Store Prince of Tails V Care Pet Polyclinic Point of Purchase Creature Companion Magazine Pickup Your Copy Coonoor Delhi Contact No Pets Worth Contact No Aquatic World Arvind Centre Arya s Pet World Canine Care Doggy World Dogs & Cats Dr. Rita Goyal Dr. Anoop Kumar Gupta Dr. Anuj Synghal Dr. Chodhary Pet Clinic Dr. Jasjeet Josan, Dr. Neelam Josan , Dr. Jayant , Dr. R.T Sharma Fish Aquarium Home Friendicoes Golden Century Hobby Zoo K9 Care Kamal Pet Shop Kdc Enterprises Mahasagar Colour Fish Aquarium Centre Maxvets New Quality Pet Shop , , Niti Bagh Pet Clinic Pet Bytes Pet Centre Pet Land Pet Planet Pet Shop Pet Space Pet Vet Care Pets Friend Puppy Pet Shop Rio Grande Roy Training Centre Sicons N The Pet Safari The Pet Shop Track Shop Varity Pet Vasant Pet Shop Wisdom Pet Kingdom Wisdom the Pet Kingdom Point of Purchase Point of Purchase Point of Purchase Goa Ghaziabad Noida Contact No Hamza Golden Paws & Claws Pet Street Contact No Maya Aqua & Pets Pet - World Tailwaggerz /48 79 The Pet Shop Contact No Ashoka Fish Aqurium Canine Planet Dr. Amar Pet Clinic Indira Puram Pet Clinic L.N. Dog Clinic Pet Dog Clinic S.K Pet Shop Pet Addiction Point of Purchase Mumbai Contact No My Lovely Pet Shop Shoholic Pet Shop / Dr. Siloo Bhatnagar , Dr. Leena Mersy-Veterinary Surgeon Point of Purchase Pune Contact No Gordon For more details Log on to or Contact info@creature-companions.com

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