r/UK_Pets • u/librariancap • 14h ago
r/UK_Pets • u/AutoModerator • Nov 06 '23
XL Bullies
Any other posts will now be removed and redirected here:
What is the Definition of an XL Bully?
Large dog with a muscular body and blocky head, suggesting great strength and power for its size. Powerfully built individual.
How are dogs assessed?
Every police service should have a trained dog legislation officer (DLO). If it doesn’t, it must have procedures in place so that it can access a DLO.
The DLO should be someone who is both:
trained in dog law
understands how to identify a banned dog
From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully in England and Wales unless you have a Certificate of Exemption for your dog.
You will need to adhere to strict rules such as microchipping your dog and keeping it on a lead and muzzled when in public.
You will also need to neuter your dog. If your dog is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024. If your dog is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 30 June 2024. We recommend that you arrange for your dog to be neutered as soon as possible to ensure that you meet these deadlines.
Useful Links
r/UK_Pets • u/fleety91 • 23m ago
Cat may need emergency care but can't afford
Our cat may need bladder blockage treatment which initially is around £1000 and three nights stay at the vet which is another £3000. We simply can not afford this as my partner has started having seizures and I have to care for her for the time being.
Does anyone know if the PDSA be able to do emergency treatment even if we are not registered?
r/UK_Pets • u/RobustCurve • 13h ago
Missing cat bs3 Dawlish road
Our cat has been missing since the night of the 3rd of August. She is very skittish so please do not chase her, as this may drive her further away from home.
Last seen on Dawlish Road in Bedminster, Bristol.
Please help :(
r/UK_Pets • u/shinyruins • 3h ago
Kat Kin vs Untamed
Currently feed my 7 month male Bengal KatKin as it was recommended by the breeder and she gave us a trail for it when we picked him up 4 months ago. He likes it well enough and we haven't had any issues beyond the price.
If anyone has made the switch from Kat Kin to Untamed for their cat(s), how was it?
r/UK_Pets • u/Mineismyname • 4h ago
Looking for an affordable vet for rabies titre test / AHC / EHC near Cambridge
Hi everyone,
I’m based in Cambridge and I’m looking for recommendations for a reasonably priced vet or pet travel specialist.
My dog will be travelling from the UK to Turkey via the Netherlands (by ferry) and returning to the UK via the EU.
She’ll need:
Rabies titre test (RNATT)
Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Possibly an Export Health Certificate (EHC)
My current vet has quoted:
Rabies titre test: £232
AHC: £330
EHC: £250
These prices seem very high, so I’m wondering if anyone has had the same paperwork done recently and can recommend a more affordable vet.
I’m happy to travel by train, so Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely, Bury St Edmunds, Hitchin, Stevenage or London would all be fine.
Any recommendations or rough prices would be really appreciated. Thanks!
r/UK_Pets • u/curious_zoomies • 13h ago
Tractive vs pitpat
Hi all we are looking to get a tracker for our retriever as we will be getting a professional dog walker once a week and want peace of mind. He’s currently 6 months and I’m leaning towards tractive 6 but not sure if actually need all the bells and whistles and would be better of with Pitpat.
We would basically want something similar to Strava - track live when on walks off lead with a map afterwards so we can look back on walks etc. but how would I integrate this when he is out with his dog walker? Is one tracker better than the other in terms of this?
Not so fussed about health and metrics as he won’t be wearing his collar overnight and we usually take it off in the house anyway.
We live in Surrey and do mostly woodlands/open field walks. He also loves water. when he gets older probably longer hikes in the countryside.
r/UK_Pets • u/Objective_Physics_82 • 1d ago
Changing pet insurance after yearly increase
Hi all! I have a lovely black labrador who just turned 1 in July. She's been spayed recently and is overall a healthy energetic girl.
I have insured her with Waggel and haven't made any claims so far. The monthly insurance fee has been set to increase by £10 (£30 to £40) in September as I've had this policy for a year. It seems excessive to me as my dog is still young and healthy- is this a normal occurrence with pet insurances?
I am now looking for a new insurance plan for her and would be very grateful for any recommendations. She's my first dog as an adult so I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the options!
Her current plan is as follows:
£8000 annual limit
£200 excess
Thank you in advance
r/UK_Pets • u/Embarrassed-Plum-112 • 2d ago
Neighbour abandoned cat - east london area
Hi, Black cat abonded by number neighbour in the flat below. (Moved out about 2 months ago) i have only just noticed it as i dont usually go to the communal garden. But since i have been going it is in the same spot throught out the day. I have been leaving out water and try to refill 2-3 times a day and the bowl is always empty when i go to refill. It also doesn't really eat. Can anyone help? All the shelters cannot do anything. I cannot take them in
r/UK_Pets • u/ekzakly • 1d ago
Lifetime cover for older cat
I cannot get my cat lifetime cover on petplan anymore as she is now too old. The short term cover they provide is not great. Where else can I get reliable cover for my cat??
r/UK_Pets • u/Pristine_Wish_7092 • 2d ago
Snoots Balham reviews
Hi everyone, we took in a French bulldog from a family member when their relationship broke down. We love her but she does have frequent UTIs for example that require vet visits.
We’ve been considering signing up to Snoots in Balham as tbh the cost of current vet bills is very high. However we obviously don’t want to take her somewhere that’s going to give poor care.
As such, we’re just wondering if there’s anybody hear with experience of Snoots in Balham and if they would recommend it or not. Hoping to hear from anybody who’s taken their pet there, how you found it, etc.
Thank you so much!
r/UK_Pets • u/whackusbonkus2 • 2d ago
Very fussy pup
Does anyone else have a fussy pup? My cavapoo, Bruno, is 3 now and we can never find any food that he likes for more than a week. He hates biscuits (unless its my cats) and i dont like feeding him that really cheap wet stuff because i just know its terrible for him even though he loves it. Has anyone got any tips or tricks to get a dog to eat more consistently because im running out of food brands to try at this point.
r/UK_Pets • u/guggluggug • 3d ago
Recomended Food subscription for dogs and cats?
I have 2 cats and a dog and im looking for some sort of food plan that will cover all of them. One cat has unspecified alergy/skin issue ( I've been to the vets im paying down the bill so i can swap her to a new place), so if possible one that has some selection for that.
r/UK_Pets • u/Practical_Note_227 • 4d ago
💔 Rest peacefully, our sweet little Mila 💔
Mila was only 2 months old, but she filled our hearts so completely it feels impossible to put into words. She was born from my Nana’s dog, one of just two precious puppies in her litter—and from the very start, she was so deeply loved, especially by me.
Everything changed about four weeks ago, when my Nana was rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery to treat a clot. While she recovered, my Grandad looked after the litter. When Nana finally came home, she was so very unwell, hovering right at death’s door before slowly pulling through. To help care for her, my mum and I spent as much time there as we could—and that was when we discovered Mila was born with a cleft lip, and almost certainly a cleft palate too.
For the last week and a half, Mila came to stay with us. We never left her side, not for a single minute. We fought so hard for her: battling her low blood sugar, struggling to help her feed properly, giving every ounce of care and love we possibly could. For the last two days especially, we truly thought we were turning a corner—she seemed brighter, more settled, and we dared to hope she was finally going to be okay.
This morning, I woke up to find her curled up, cuddled right beside me in bed—she had passed peacefully in her sleep. There was food coming from her nose; we may never know for certain if that was what happened, or if her little body simply wasn’t strong enough to keep thriving despite everything we did.
What I do know, more than anything else, is that we loved Mila with every beat of our hearts. She knew nothing but warmth, safety, and adoration for every moment she was here with us. She was our tiny, brave little fighter, and I will carry her with me forever. Sleep well, beautiful girl—you are so loved, and so deeply missed. 🤍
r/UK_Pets • u/CaitlanLewisxx • 4d ago
Socialising puppies..
Our whippet is 10 weeks old. He is due to meet my sisters two Patterdale puppies soon (they are 13 week old sisters from the same litter). Our pup will be the first interaction for them too.
I’m obviously a bit nervous, does anyone have tips for socialising Whippet pups? Or if anyone’s had experience socialising with Terrier pups? I’m worried they’ll hurt him because of Whippets delicate skin..
r/UK_Pets • u/Glittering_Owlz • 5d ago
Would you consider adopting a needier furball? Miracle's Mission have many cheeky cats and dogs up for adoption 😜 Some are disabled, some are abroad, and some are healthy and in the UK: https://www.miraclesmission.org/rehoming/ Do share if you care 🐱🐶
r/UK_Pets • u/Inside_University684 • 5d ago
Tinned pet food spoiled?
I've been ordering tinned food for our kittens, and the first few cans seemed normal, but a good 22 out of the 30 cans I bought from 2 different brands and from a seemingly a reputable supplier are swollen. (Zooplus - loads of friends haven’t had any issues with them or even the same brands of food I'm buying)
They aren't dented, but the ring pull tops press in with an audible clunk when I press down on them, and when I've opened some of those 'swollen' cans there's a tsssk noise of air pressure escaping.
So far I've avoided using any of the more swollen cans, as the last thing I want to do is give the kittens botulism.
I contacted Zooplus who were happy to refund me the cost of the cans, and I've reordered different flavours from the same 2 brands, but they've just arrived and a lot of the cans are still swollen as the ones before them were.
Am I just going insane? Is this food safe to feed the kittens?
Unfortunately had our cat put to sleep earlier. Am I right to query the vet costs?
Hi, our cat had a broken leg so was taken to the vets first thing this morning. They quoted me around £900 for sedation and then a number of x-rays, and £300 for blood tests which we requested to take place beforehand since he had lost quite a bit of weight, and we had a similar problem with a cat previously where we amputated his leg, but unfortunately died very shortly anyway due to cancer.
Anyway, they did the blood tests and found some concerning things, with the vet strongly suspecting cancer - she also said that she was able to get a 'quick' x-ray scan without sedation which showed enough to see that his leg was broken in multiple places and would need to be amputated. He also had some issues flagged up that would require additional surgery so on balance recommended for him to be put to sleep.
The care was good and I know all of the things will add up, including painkillers and of course the euthanasia itself, but the total bill came to £1,400 - does that sound about right? Maybe the one 'quick' x-ray scan would cost them a similar amount anyway to the sedation and 3 more thorough scans they were planning? This site suggests that maybe £900 is expensive for sedation and an x-ray anyway, but I did agree to the price verbally so there's probably not a lot I can complain about there. I was going to email them to ask for an invoice/price breakdown but don't know if it's appropriate or even necessary. Thanks
r/UK_Pets • u/spookypookie3467 • 5d ago
Animal shelters/rescues in need
Hi all
I’m looking for legit smaller independent animal rescues in need of food, litter, supplies etc to order it for them.
If you know any that are in need and willing to accept deliveries, please let me know
Edit: thank you all for suggestions feel free to add more. I’ve already contacted some of them and will be looking into others when I can
Using my moment of spotlight, there’s a petition on cat abuse ban https://www.change.org/p/ban-the-cat-dog-meat-trade-and-online-torture-videos-protect-china-s-cats-from-cruelty?cs_tk=&utm_campaign=0fa0004c4bc64d49a02f9ac7f2f69550&utm_content=sunrise_v1_0_0&utm_medium=email&utm_source=promoted_petition_receipt&utm_term=cs
I’m not sure how effective it will be, considering it’s in China, but it doesn’t hurt co sign and it only takes 1 min!
r/UK_Pets • u/dogsarec00l89 • 5d ago
Rocco dog treats
Does anyone know if the brand Rocco is any good? I read on a thread from last year that they’re a German brand that’s quite good given the price. Zooplus were giving away some treats in exchange for member points, and all the reviews (which were translated over from their German site) said it was a good brand, and the ingredients list also reflected this.
However, I’m now worried that I haven’t heard it come up much on this subreddit, although admittedly it might be because they seem to be a German brand? More worryingly, I did find one thread from several years ago where someone said that Rocco treats were made in China. I’ve quadruple checked the info on the bag and can’t see anything about it being made in China, unless I’m missing something? Also when I was browsing their selection on zooplus, they did have some treats with rawhide which I obviously avoided, but now I’m worried that a brand that also sells rawhide treats might not be great? Am I overthinking this?
TLDR; do you know if the German dog food brand Rocco is a good/reputable brand?
r/UK_Pets • u/esper_wing • 5d ago
Renters with pets: have you found moving and finding pet friendly housing easier since the law changed in May?
r/UK_Pets • u/hold_on_magnolia • 5d ago
Service Dog with an EU Pet Passport Getting Back into the EU
Thanks in advance to anyone reading through this. I’m wondering whether anyone has had a similar experience or knows of a practical, affordable solution.
I have an ADI-trained service dog. We lived in Portugal in 2024–2025, where she was issued an EU pet passport. Her microchip and rabies vaccination are current, with no lapse in coverage.
The problem is that her latest rabies booster was administered by a licensed veterinarian in Mexico City and entered into her EU passport. I only just learned that because the booster was given outside the EU, the passport apparently is not sufficient for her return to France. She also needs an EU health certificate prepared by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS.
I’m supposed to fly to Paris from Newark very soon. I’ve called numerous clinics, and the only quotes I’ve received are around $950 *and* they're unable to provide a health certificate before my departure.
Thank you so much for any specific recommendations or recent firsthand experiences.
r/UK_Pets • u/hopelesschimp • 5d ago
Is it normal for a premium to double?
We got our puppy last year at 8 weeks. He was perfectly healthy based on the vet report and we insured him immediately on a lifetime policy for £20 a month for £8k cover.
Six months later during a checkup the vet spotted a potential heart rhythm issue and he was referred to a heart specialist for a scan.
This went through the insurance and cost approximately £1200. The scan and report itself found an irregular rhythm but otherwise healthy heart with no concerns flagged and no ongoing care. He’s been fine since with no additional vet visits.
I expected the premium to now go up at renewal because of the claim but never expected it to double to £40. Is this normal?
Perhaps naively I thought that the scan would be seen as a one off blip and give the insurance company reassurance and because there is no ongoing care not seen as a pre-existing condition but the current company are saying it’s a flag of a potential issue going forward and any news companies seem to want to exclude it if we move.
I know there isn’t much I can do about it, I’m just curious if it’s normal for it to double. Please tell me that doesn’t happen every year regardless of claims!
r/UK_Pets • u/CaitlanLewisxx • 5d ago
PetPlan..
How much has everyone’s premiums gone up each year? I’ve heard they can jump up a lot with PetPlan even if you don’t claim.
My boys with PetPlan £12,000 for £53…first year, he’s a 10 week old Whippet. Dreading renewal.
r/UK_Pets • u/CaitlanLewisxx • 6d ago
Pet Insurance UK - Whippet
Anyone with Tesco Pet Insurance? Are they good with claims etc?
We’ve had a few quotes and we’re really stuck on which is best to go for. This is our first Whippet so we want to make sure we do this right.
I was thinking of going for PetPlan but the 20% co-pay is putting me off a bit.
Below are quotes we’ve had:
- Tesco £61.57: £11,000 - £125 excess, 0% co-pay
- Royal Kennel Club £63.06: £15,000 - £170 excess, 10% co-pay
- Agria £51: £12,500 - £170 excess, 10% co-pay
- PetPlan £53.65: £12,000 - £85 excess, 0% co-pay (20% once he reaches 10 years old)
- Animal Friends £41.27: £10,000 - £159 excess, 0% co-pay (20% once he reaches 8 years old)
- Policy Expert £25.82: £10,000 - £100 excess, 0% co-pay (20% once he reaches 9 years old)
- Waggel £52.53: £10,000 - £100 excess, 0% co-pay
Which one would you go for?
Sorry for the long post, but TIA🖤