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Articles for Small Animal Lovers category

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Welcome to Pet Smarts, where we share expert insights and tips on caring for dogs, cats, small animals, birds, horses, reptiles, fish and more.

Pet Smarts Blog

Walks around the block are great – but there’s a whole world of enrichment waiting outside your front door.

Who Let the Dogs Out? 7 Ways to Boost Outdoor Enrichment This Spring

Keeping up with your dog's flea and worm treatments is an important part of responsible pet ownership. 

Everything You Need to Know About Treating Your Dog Against Fleas

It is important to ensure you keep your pet’s flea and tick treatment up to date. Learn about the symptoms, prevention and treatment of fleas and ticks for your pet.

How to Get Rid of and Prevent Fleas and Ticks on Pets

Dr Natalia Li shares everything you need to know about how to treat and get rid of fleas on your cat.

How to Treat and Get Rid of Fleas on Your Cat

Fleas on kittens occur from other pets and the environment. Petstock is here to help with the signs of fleas, treatment to get rid of them and prevention.

Kitten Flea Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

It’s highly likely that one or all of your pets come in to contact with other animals regularly, all of which may be carrying at least one flea!...

Tips for Cat Flea Treatment & Prevention

How do cats get worms? How do I tell if my cat has worms? These questions and more answered!

Cat Worming: Types, Symptoms & Wormer Treatments

Empower yourself with knowledge on dog worms – their symptoms and treatments, with PETstock's comprehensive guide. Learn to recognize signs of worm infestation, explore effective treatment options, and discover preventive measures for your canine companion's health. Trust our expert insights to keep your dog happy and healthy. Visit now for essential information on maintaining a worm-free and thriving furry friend!

Dog Worms: Symptoms & Treatments

Do you keep up to date with your dog’s worming treatment? If your dog is not regularly wormed, they could get seriously ill. Here’s everything you need to know about tapeworms in dogs, including detection, symptoms and treatment.

Tapeworms in Dogs: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Got a new kitten? Here’s everything you need to know about kitten worms, worming and treatment. Discover all the details, and get all the smarts.

Worming Kittens: Symptoms & Treatment For Worms

Ensure your puppy's health with a proper worming schedule. Learn the key age milestones for treating worms in puppies, from liquid wormers to tablets, and keep your furry friend happy and healthy.

Worming Puppies: When Your Puppy Has Worms

Ticks can pose a serious health risk to cats, particularly paralysis ticks.

Ticks on Cats: Signs, Removal, Prevention and Treatment

Would you know if your dog or cat contracted a tick? In consultation with expert vet Dr Alison Kemp, here’s everything you need to know about tick prevention and treatment for pets, along with the different species of ticks.

Ticks on Dogs: Types, Prevention, and Treatment

Explore the North Island's diverse landscapes with your four-legged friend! This guide offers a curated list of scenic trails where dogs are welcome. Whether you're looking for a casual stroll or a vigorous hike, you'll find plenty of options to enjoy the great outdoors together with your dog.

Top Dog-Friendly Walks: New Zealand North Island

Discover the best dog-friendly walks in Auckland! Our guide features scenic trails and parks where you and your furry friend can explore and enjoy the great outdoors together.

Dog Walks in Auckland

Spring Advice

We’ve got all the teeth cleaning basics covered, with helpful tips and insights from Petstock vet, Dr Natalia Li.

How to Keep Your Dog's Teeth Clean

Around two-thirds of cats inherit the sensitivity to catnip, while others won’t react at all. 

What Is Catnip? How Does It Affect Your Cat?

A lonely dog will bark for different reasons than a protective one, and the solutions aren’t always the same.

How to Stop Your Dog Barking

There’s no better time than winter to make sure your pup has the perfect place to snuggle.

How to Choose the Perfect Dog Bed

Mixed feeding gives your dog the best of both: crunchy kibble and moisture-rich wet food.

Wet or Dry Food? Mixed Feeding Tips for Dogs

Here’s a simple list of foods that are ‘nos’ and foods that are ‘gos’ for your cat.

What Foods Can Cats Eat? Toxic and Safe Human Foods for Cats

Skin allergies affect dogs just like they do humans, and knowing the signs and symptoms is crucial to treatment. Find out the types of dog skin allergies and treatments today.

Does My Dog Have Skin Allergies?

Is your fish looking unwell? We've got tips on identifying a sick fish, how to prevent disease, and what treatment is available.

Caring for a Sick Fish: Diagnosis and Treatment

At Petstock Puppy School, we’re passionate about shaping well-rounded pups, one paw at a time.

Considering Puppy School? Here’s What You Need to Know.

Ensure your dog's safety during fireworks with expert tips and advice. Learn how to calm and protect your furry friend from the stress of fireworks displays. Discover essential tips at Petstock NZ for a worry-free celebration.

How to Keep Your Dog Calm During Fireworks

With so many pet foods claiming to be the best, finding the right one for your dog can feel like a daunting task. Throw in the need to manage allergies, sensitivities or weight, and the choices can quickly become overwhelming.

When Less Is More: All About Single Protein Dog Food

More and more pet owners are reaching for salmon-based dog food – and it’s easy to see why.

Why Salmon Deserves a Spot in Your Dog’s Bowl 

Latest Posts

Sometimes changing your pet’s diet is necessary, but it’s important to transition your pet to new food slowly so their stomach isn’t overwhelmed. In this guide we'll cover the best way to transition your pet to a new food and avoid upset stomachs.

How To Transition Your Pet to a New Food

If you’re thinking about raw food diets for dogs, here’s the basics you need to know. Including research, raw food types, costs and more.

Raw Food Diet for Dogs: The Theory and the Basics

What should you be feeding your dog? There’s lots of options out there, and this article helps break down the options available to you and your pooch. Raw, mixed feeding, grain free and more.

What Do Dogs Eat? Food Diets and Types

There are many different bird seeds and pellets available that suit particular species of birds. Below is a guide to small a variety of birds and their main dietary requirements. Your local PETstock team can help you find a variety of food suitable for your bird’s breed.

What Do Birds Eat? Tips for Feeding Your Bird

Sometimes, owners feel like the best type of food for their cat is the one they will eat! Cats have a reputation of being fussy eaters; on the other hand, many suffer from weight problems because they’ll eat everything in sight!  Just like us though our cats are what they eat and we should always strive to feed them a nutritionally balanced diet.

What Do Cats Eat? Tips for Feeding Your Cat

As a pet owner, you want to give your little companion the right start in life, and a healthy diet plays a big role.

Feeding Basics: How to Choose the Right Food for Your Puppy

Proper nutrition is essential for kittens to ensure healthy growth. 

What to Feed Kittens: What Do Kittens Eat?

Diet and Nutrition

So, you’re ready for a furry addition to your family? Adopting a dog in need of a loving home is a great first step, but have you considered what you might need to keep your canine companion feeling safe, stimulated, and comfortable in their new home?

First Dog Checklist

Prepare for a seamless transition when bringing a new kitten home with Petstock's essential guide. Explore expert tips on creating a welcoming environment, introducing your kitten to its new surroundings, and building a strong bond from day one. Navigate the exciting journey of adding a new feline family member with confidence. Visit now for practical advice on ensuring a smooth and joyful experience for both you and your new kitten!

What To Do When Bringing A New Kitten Home

Reptiles are increasing in popularity largely because of reduced space requirements and they are relatively inexpensive to keep.

My First Reptile: A Guide

These tips should help you settle your new feathery friends in with ease!

Bringing Your New Chickens Home

Ensure you have everything you need for your new pet turtle with this handy checklist. Don't overlook important items with our expert guide.

New Turtle Checklist

Get ready to welcome your pet mouse with our new mouse checklist. Prepare for their arrival and a smooth introduction with our expert tips

New Mouse Checklist: Preparing for the Introduction of Your Pet Mouse

First Time Pet Owners

Get expert tips on dogs, cats, small animals, birds, horses, reptiles, and fish. Our pet blog covers nutrition, behaviour and more. Browse our blog for more info!

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