Animal Shaped Buildings? I like 'em!

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Is it just me, or are these buildings shaped like animals so kitch that they are actually cool?

A recent news article I was reading referred to a beagle shaped hotel in Idaho.

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VetShop at the Nambour Dog Show

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Recently VetShop was invited to be part of the inaugural Nambour Dog Show. Nambour is a little town situated in west of Sunshine Coast, very close to the Hinterland. It is also the birth place of the current Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd.


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Supporting our Farming Families

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We were recently invited to participate in a farm field day raising funds for men's depression support group Beyond Blue.

Having grown up on a farm, we are very aware of the unique pressures that farming families are under. Drought, flood, fire and other factors outside human control cause enormous stress on farming families and of course, farms are businesses with all the pressures that entails.

 DSCF2530-smaller.JPGFarming men in particular, can find it hard to reach out for help in tough times, and so Beyond Blue has a number of initiatives targeting men in rural communities.

The field day was held in the country town of Kingaroy  about 2 and ½ hours drive from our head office on the sunshine coast.

Is it getting harder to control fleas?

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Many readers would agree with the view that it seems to be getting harder to control fleas in dogs and cats than it used to.

There are many pet owners reporting that leading products like Frontline Plus, Revolution, Advantage, Advocate (Advantage Multi) and Advantix just don't work like they used to.

So are fleas getting resistant to the products currently available on the market? Are these tough little so and so's developing in to super fleas resistant to Fipronil (Frontline), Selamectin (Revolution) and the other active ingredients in leading products?

Go Team VetShop

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Last Monday, four hardy VetShopOnline.com team members participated in the annual "Race the Rattler" competition in our home town of Gympie, Queensland.

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As the world most populated country, China is laying down some rules on dog ownership. On its trial run in a small pocket of the city of Shanghai,  any resident who wish to own a dog (as a pet that is), must obtain a license that requires consensus from a minimum of five other neighbours.

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Too cute not share..

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Does your cat has any talent? Can your cat top this David Copperfield act? Riding a bike perhaps? or do Beyonce's dance moves in Single Ladies? If you have any video, send them over so we can match Susan Boyle!. I am gobsmacked to watch what this feline can do. Check it out.


How clever is your dog?

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The relative performance of dogs in intelligence tests can be quite subjective. I have heard many reports that "such and such" a breed is the most clever. Here is one list I encountered recently prepared in accordance with criteria developed by American psychologist Stanley Coren. The two main criteria of this method are the understanding of new commands (the top 10 respond to fewer than five repetitions) and obedience upon first command (the top 10 obey on first command 95 per cent of the time or better).

For those who are interested in these sorts of things, the list of top 10 clever dog breeds using Coren's criteria is:

Sheri's pups leave home

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The time has come for Sheri's beautiful puppies to leave home. It is a sad day for all of us here as we have seen them grow from cute little bundles to each one having its own individual personality.

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Sheri's puppies recently visited VetShopOnline's headquarters for their first lot of shots and their microchipping. Dr Mark and the staff had fun with the eight pups while they visited. We were all able to give them a farewell kiss and cuddle. Above is "East Aussie Trail Blazer". She behaves as though she has been around for much longer than her mere six weeks as nothing bothers her. She loves to go off exploring on her own. Her tough nature reflects the typical Cattle Dog trait. We'll all be anxious for the next litter of puppies to visit VetShopOnline.

In Every Field of Endeavor

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A recent newspaper article got me thinking about how much animals do for we humans in every field of endeavor.

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The article was about a new memorial for all the brave animals who have served with our armed forces in overseas wars, past and present.

The memorial honors guard dogs and cavalry horses of course, but also the other types of animals that have helped man in foreign wars.

What Car Does a Dog Want to Drive?

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Ok, dogs might never drive cars, but car manufacturers do now  understand that dog lovers do think about their dogs' needs when deciding which car to buy.

element 4.JPGOne of the best examples of this is the recently announced 2009 Honda Element with optional Pet Friendly Features. The US built Honda Element will soon be available with canine specific enhancements to make it one of the most dog friendly vehicles available, according to a recent announcement by Honda Motor Co at the New York International Auto Show.


Owner Jan Griffith said her family were devastated when their cattle dog, Sophie Tucker, fell off the side of their boat in choppy waters off the Mackay coast in north Queensland in late November. A fortnight ago she was reunited with Griffith family thus completing a touching and wonderful tale about strong bond between man and his best friend.

The dog swam five nautical miles to St Bees Island, where she survived until last week by hunting baby goats.


One very clever and determined Kitty

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Lucy is a female Tonkinese belonging to a friend of mine, Pauline. Pauline couldn't figure out how Lucy and Monster Cat kept escaping after being closed in the house at night, so she decided to set up her video camera to spy on them. This is the result.

Hartz, BioSpot and Others in the Media

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You may have read recent media reports (such as this one on NBC) regarding adverse reactions said to be caused by certain supermarket and pet store brand flea and tick control products such as Hartz, Sergeant's  and Bio Spot. The reports are certainly disturbing with claims that these products have caused seizures, burns, vomiting and even death in dogs and  cats.

Reptile Is Going Strong In Pet Industry

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Although we are focusing a lot on dogs and cats in our products and services, reptiles remain one of our top priorities. In 2007 alone, Reptiles were estimated around 13% of household pets ownership.

Ask A Vet consistently receiving a good number of reptile health relating questions. It is another indication that the demand for good products, reliable service and education material is beckoning

To demonstrate how much we do not know about reptiles. Take a look at this video. I love it!.




So be on the look out for expansion on Reptile range in the near future. 


Be Kind...

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Well, I guess that while everyone here at vetshoponline.com and all our customers would agree that every week should be "Be Kind to Animals Week" we whole heartedly support the "Be Kind to Animals Week" campaign by the Humane Society to promote kindness to animals.

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Too cute not to Share

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Here's a cat that just had dinner.

Are you more of a cat or a dog person? Drop a comment below?

Eight bundles of trouble!

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Sheri, one of the great team members in our dispatch department breeds Australian Cattle Dogs. Gemma, one of her bitches recently gave birth to a litter of eight puppies. These eight little mischievous bundles get into all sorts of trouble.


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And the winner is....

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The American Kennel Club has once again released its annual league table of America's mostlabrador retriever.jpg popular breeds. And the winner is.... the Labrador Retriever! Again!

This is the 18th consecutive year that the Lab has come in as the most popular purebred dog in America as determined by the AKC's 2008 registration statistics.

The statistics show some interesting differences between regions.

Trip to the USA

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Dr Mark and I have just returned from a trip to the USA and Canada.

In the US, we spent time in California, Nevada and Arizona and while we have been to the USDSCF2109 (2).JPG many times before, we continue to be impressed by the helpfulness of the people and the beautiful country side. Watching the dolphins and seals off Venice Beach in LA was as real highlight, as was Hoover Dam and  the deserts of Nevada and Arizona, although much to my disappointment we didn't see a road runner (clearly I spent to much time in front of the TV watching cartoons as a kid!).

Tragic Losses in Victoria Bushfires

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Australia was hit by the worst bushfires in its history, with more than 330,000 hectares destroyed, and more than 700 homes razed to the ground in Victoria. Several towns were affected and the death toll is rising fast as firefighters and aid workers make the most of the recent cooler weather in the affected areas.

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VetShopOnline is constantly on the look out for VetShoppers who are out there making a difference in society and the community. I am pleased to announce that we have spotted one. Recently we interviewed Deborah Albert, long time VetShopOnline customer, as our first VetShopper.

Deborah is a surgeon from Florida with a passion for animals. She is an outgoing,

deborah a-vetshoplab.jpgadventurous person, who loves her pets. At home, Deborah has nine adopted animals plus an elaborate salt water fish aquarium. In her spare time, she volunteers at the Big Cat Animal Sanctuary. She has been shopping with VetShopOnline for a number of years.

This interview resonates with our concern about pets being hit hard by the rough economy. Shelters across the United States are experiencing higher intake rates than normal.

40 Goats for the New Year!

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goat_cat.jpg A couple of years ago, Dr Mark and I were looking for a charity to support each holiday season.

We wanted a charity which allowed us to combine our love of animals with our desire to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

One of our team suggested the Smiles Program from World Vision

Recently we held a small staff Christmas party at the office. Actually, it is the second VetShopOnline Christmas party that we had in a week! The first one, we invited all family members of the staff and retreated into the country side for the day.




At the second party, all of the pets were invited.... (to view High Quality click here then click watch in High Quality)

Our Celebrity Pets at VetShopOnline

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Jennifer Love Hewitt and Adam Sandler may think their pooches Mona and Matzoball are "hot dogs" being on the sets of their latest movies they are filming but we think that our pets are the real stars.

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Have a look at Gemma, Matilda, Ellie, Monty and Hendrix and let us know what you think.


Ask a Vet

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Have you been wondering why your cat has been eating your favorite socks? Why your dog has been chasing his tail? Why not ask one of our vets? Dr Mark and staff are on hand to answer these questions. The Ask a Vet section is not there to replace a visit to your vet, but if you'd like another view on your pets health, send in your question. Please keep in mind if your pet has had an accident or is very ill contact your vet immediately. We will try to answer all your questions within a week, however at times when we are inundated with questions, the response time may be a little longer. Click here to submit a question!

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Dog Inherits $12 Million!

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It's no joke!  While most of us could only ever imagine having that much money, that was the headline back in 2007 when Leona Helmsley's left her beloved white Maltese, Trouble, a $12 million trust fund.

Ok, so most of us will not be leaving millions to our pets, but it is necessary to think about what will happen to our pets if something happens to us.  

One_Man_and_His_Dog.jpgIt is important to take the time to ask  yourself questions like:

Attending Steve Irwin Gala Dinner

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On Saturday I was fortunate enough to attend the First Annual Steve Irwin Day Gala Dinner held in Brisbane, Australia.

Irwin Dinner.jpgSteve Irwin Day is commemorated on the 15th of November and Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin and the team at Australia Zoo are using the celebrations to promote Steve's work and the nature conservation work made possible by the Wildlife Warriors organization.

For those of you who don't know, VetShopOnline facility on the Sunshine Coast, Australia is just a few miles up the road from Australia Zoo and the Zoo is a favourite place for our families to visit.

What Dog for the White House?

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I've just been reading the news stories about what sort of dog Barack Obama should buy.  Sure, the President-Elect has some hard decisions coming up, but right now, he needs to deliver on his promise to his two daughters to give them a puppy to reward their support and patience during his campaign for President! It seems that the USA (and the world!) is joining in the speculation on his choice of breed.

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On Friday, Obama spoke about his dilema at a press conference. He is looking for a dog which will not upset his 10 year old's allergies, but he and his wife are also keen to adopt a shelter dog. With good humor, he did say...


A Field Trip to Namammanuca School, Fiji

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Last year during a family holiday, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit a small school in Fiji at Namammanuca. We were amazed to see the great work that the teachers and staff were doing at the school given the very limited resources they had to work with. It was an inspiring experience, for both my wife and I, to see how these amazing people appreciate things that we tend to take for granted.

There are just six teachers to teach over 125 kids (including over 35 boarding students) in very basic classrooms. Children share text books and some of the class rooms don't even have electricity! The pre-school room is a shady area under a Frangipani Tree!

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TV Channel for Pets!

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I already worry whether my kids are watching too much TV, soon I may also have to worry about the pets too!

Dutch animal lovers on Tuesday (September 30) launched a national campaign to establish a public TV channel for animals and their owners. The group are hoping to gather enough support to establish a public TV channel which will screen programs that animals will enjoy.

I suppose if the pets do start spending too many hours a day, sitting on the couch, watching Oprah, wildlife docos and pet food ads, maybe Dr Phil will do a show on how they can take control of their TV watching time!

Introducing - The Lab

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This is the new VetShopOnline Blog - The Lab. Welcome everybody.

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We're excited. The Lab will be a pad where you will find behind-the-scenes views of a fun ecommerce website. It is not just browse, click and buy. We love to showcase VSO's regular involvement in activities such as pet shows, charities, school education and more. We thought it would be a great idea to share these experiences with everyone. Exactly! VetShopOnline is more than just a pet meds website.

You will be a part of wide coverage of important issues that The Lab will be discussing. Issues like animal cruelties, new developments in pet health, legality that revolves around pet ownership and even green initiatives. Here we present an opportunity for all pet owners and any party concerned to participate and leave their view and comment.

So bookmark VetShopLab (Control + d) or click on the RSS feed button to your favorite news portal.


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