Trialled at Angell Pets

Here at Angell Pets we are always looking at ways of helping the environment and helping fellow local businesses wtih new ideas. We were pleased to trial out a new product that was presented to us by a local recycling company, although when it was presented we were still closed for the recent relocation and refurbishment. Since then we have trialled the product with our own animals in store and are happy to report excellent results.

The product is going to be branded as “Nest” bedding. Actually it is so new that the brand name is not finalised but I am asssured this is the front runner. For the time being we are selling it under our own Angell Pets ® brand.

angell pets rat bedding

As part of the teabag manufacturing process, a lot of offcut teabag paper is produced, prior to the final teabag pressing and cutting. This paper is very soft and absorbant and has not been treated with any chemicals (or used in teabag testing, so it is not stained with tannins). A local recycling company has the contract for disposing of this waste and was looking for a novel solution. This is when they approached us for our advice on its suitability as an animal bedding. We thought it a good idea and after investigating the contents agreed to give it a try. We have since used all the material we were given for the trial and it has been a resounding success.

Not only is the product a safe animal bedding, suitable for all small mammals, including rats as it is dust free and absorbant but as it is untreated it is readilly compostable. Not only will you be giving your pet an excellent product but you will be helping to prevent this material ending up in landfil and supporting local businesses. Also it is available in larger bags than contemporary products making it much more cost effective. We are selling 1kg bags for £3.59, compared to the nearest product available, Safebed which is £1.09 for approx 90g or £12.11 per kg! It even compares well with other substrate products used for rats, with their sensitive respiratory tracts.

Angell Pets ® and APL™ are registered trade marks  of Angell Pets Ltd

The Angell Pets Team

Ferret kits now available

We have been breeding ferrets for a number of years and the first of our 2017 ferret kits are now available for sale. PLEASE NOTE THIS POST IS FROM 2017 SO THE FERRET KITS MENTIONED HERE ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE.

Pet shop gloucester ferret

Ferrets make great pets but do have rather particular needs. Before considering buying one please do your research. A good place to start is our own ferret care sheet. It gives all the basics you need to know and some good advice on neutering, which we strongly recommend.

This first litter of ferret kits has a range of colours; albino, polecat and sandy mitt, both hobs and jills.

The Angell Pets Team

Current Livestock

Our livestock list changes daily but every now and then I like to post a current list just to keep everyone up to speed with the types of animals we stock or can get. It is a bit of a double edged sword. If I post everything we can get, we are flooded with requests for animals that are not currently available. If on the other hand I post just what we have in at present, people get the impression that this is all we can get. So we have all our current stock on our web store (although it cannot be ordered from there, you need to come in for livestock) and I post a current list from time to time on here so people can see that it is changing regularly.

Here is the list as of today. Please note that it could well be very different tomorrow.

FIsh

tropical fish

Amphibians

phantasmal dart frog

Reptiles

common boa

Invertebrates

tarantula

Birds

african grey parrot

Small mammals

gerbil

ferret

If you are after something you cannot see, do give us call. We have an extensive list of breeders we can call on.

 

The Angell Pets Team

Ferrets 2017

The first litter of ferret kits this year was born on 24th of April. Allowing seven weeks for growth and weaning and a few days to collect them from the breeding centre and we will have them available for sale in the shop from 24th June.

ferret kits

Previous seasons kits

We have been breeding ferrets for a long time (50 years in my case!) and due to our reputation for quality and customer service, we know we will sell all of this years kits quite quickly. We already have quite a long waiting list for this years litters.

Ferrets will be sold on a first come first served basis (don’t worry if you are on our list, you will get first refusal) and we will not be reserving any until we have them in the shop. This is so the new owners get to see the kits before making a decision to buy and we can satisfy ourselves that you know how you are going to look after them. Also by then we will have had enough time to be sure that all the kits are fit and healthy.

If you have already contacted us to ask about ferrets and left your number we will contact you as soon as we are in a position to confirm we have what you are looking for.

Pet shop Gloucester ferrets

Other colours

Please do not call and ask what gender or colour the ferrets are at the moment. We will not even go into the nest until after three weeks (any earlier and the mother could be induced to kill the litter). From that age they will start to be handled and the colours will start coming through and obviously we can check the gender. Until then all I can say is that some have been born, so it is a waste of everyone’s time to call us and ask questions that cannot be answered. We will contact you as soon as we know.

 

The Angell Pets Team

Giardia In Ferrets

Last week we unfortunately had a serious issue with some of our breeding ferrets, Fatso, The Cow and The Little One – that’s just what they have become known as, what can I say? I just thought I would do a blog so anyone else keeping ferrets can recognise the symptoms and it will hopefully help them get prompt treatment.

The main infection turned out to be Giardia. Giardia is a protozoan parasite that can infect the gut of most mammals. The symptoms are quite severe and include violent and often bloody diarrhoea, excessive gas and bloating, painful stomach and abdominal cramps and nausea. The infection also causes the villi in the gut (microscopic “finger” projections that significantly increase the surface area of the nutrient absorbing gut lining) leading to poor nutrient uptake and lactose intolerance (although that’s not relevant in our case as ferrets should not be fed milk anyway). Without treatment of the symptoms, after infection and recovery, the parasite can remain in the gut and the animal can become a carrier. Some symptoms, such as lactose intolerance, can persist.

The symptoms of Giardia infection are quite severe and as we found out last week, can have a very sudden onset. I went out to our ferret compound on Saturday to feed and water them and to check on their bedding status as they have a tendency to empty it out all over the exercise area and they were fine; trying to escape as I refreshed the food as usual, tucking into it straight away etc. On Sunday they were still asleep when I went out in the morning (not unusual) so I didn’t see them. On Monday Albert went to clean them out and it was like a scene from a horror film. Three very sick ferrets, out in the open, barely able to lift their heads (one was better than the others but even she was obviously in a bad way) and covered in blood and faeces and only barely able to drag themselves along without the use of their back legs. When I saw them I honestly thought I was going to lose all three.

Albert cleaned them up and gave them a bath (they were filthy) and dried them and I booked them straight into the vets. A sample was taken from each of them, they received rehydration treatment (intravenously) and an immediate course of antibiotics was started as a precaution, whilst we waited for the test results. I brought them to the shop, to keep a closer eye on them in our isolation area upstairs. The first day they were not capable of eating or drinking (no energy at all) and again I thought they would not make it (I later found out the vet thought the same). The only upside was that it was easy to administer an oral medicine to them that, I subsequently found out, they really did not like.

The next day the vet called me with preliminary results. They had two gut infections Clostridium (a bacterial infection, often carried in low numbers in the gut with no symptoms) and Giardia. The vet supposed the Clostridium to be secondary to the Giardia infection. Luckily I was able to report that the antibiotics had begun to work almost straight away and there was a marked improvement (although they were still very ill). They were at least now drinking unaided. We suspect this was due to the reduction in Clostridium numbers from the anti biotics. The vet prescribed an alternative medication (metronidazole) now that we knew Giadia was involved and this was started immediately.

giardia in ferrets

Fatso, still feeling sorry for himself but recovering well

They have been receiving treatment for a week now and have pretty much fully recovered. We have to complete the course for another week. After another fortnight we will take a stool sample and have it tested. If Giardia is still present then it’s another two week course of treatment. I hope this is not necessary because they don’t like the taste of the medicine and now they are back to their normal selves it’s  difficult to administer (I am covered in splashes of medicine as I type, where they have all shaken their heads to try to spit it out ).

Of course, an important factor with Giardia is that it infects humans as well (zoonotic). Hygiene and bio security is very important at all times whilst keeping any animal but particularly when they are sick. We always wash our hands and F10 everything (including our clothing) every time we handle them. I have had salmonella (which has similar symptoms) and I don’t want to go through something like that again.

This just leaves how they caught the infection in the first place. Our ferrets are well looked after and kept very clean. I have had these ones for a few years without any issues so it is unlikely one of them was a carrier. The likely culprit is probably either a mouse (we have had them come in the garden after wild bird seed) or a rat (not seen one of these around the garden before but it is a possibility). I am afraid if little Jerry or Roland is the culprit, he is going to get his just desserts. The thought of one (or both) of the dogs getting explosive, bloody diarrhoea just does not bear thinking about!

The Angell Pets Team

Up to date livestock list

Our extensive list of livestock changes daily so I don’t usually have time to post up to date lists. However once in a while I do post what we currently have in stock by way of a marker. Here is our current list. However by tomorrow this could well have changed. See our website for some of what we stock and contact me to find out if we have what you are looking for. Please note we have access to far more than we have on our website or on this current list and that ALL our animals are captive bred – no wild caught.

Birds

  • Cockatiels (coloured and grey)
  • Rainbow Budgies (coming Thursday)
  • Zebra Finch
  • Java Sparrow
  • Blue Canary
  • Yellow Canary
  • Red Canary (coming Thursday)
  • Chinese Painted Quail
  • Conure

Small Mammals

  • Syrian Hamster
  • Fancy Mice (female – coming Thursday)
  • Dumbo Rats
  • Rabbits
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Ferret (last one this year)

Amphibians

  • Axolotl
  • Gold Tree Frog
  • Horned Frog

Reptiles

  • Crevice Spiny Lizard
  • Emerald Swift
  • Bosc Monitor
  • Red Iguana
  • Uromastyx
  • Crested Gecko
  • Flame Crested Gecko
  • Leopard Gecko
  • Chinese Cave Gecko
  • Tokay Gecko
  • Bearded Dragon
  • Panther Chameleon
  • Hermanns Tortoise
  • Common Musk Turtle
  • Corn Snake (hypo masque, anery, amel, ghost, sunglow)
  • Milksnake
  • Common Boa
  • Kenyan Sand Boa
  • Spotted Python
  • Royal Pythons
  • Carpet Python
  • Hog Nosed Snake

Invertebrates

  • Assassin Bug
  • Ghost Mantis
  • Miomantis
  • Hercules Beetle Larvae
  • Carpenter Ant Queen
  • Deaths Head Cockroach
  • Madagascan Giant Hissing Cockroach
  • Indian Stick Insect
  • Giant Spiny Stick Insect
  • Giant Prickly Stick Insect
  • Wood Nymph
  • Asian Jungle Scorpion
  • Flat Rock Scorpion
  • Brazilian Red Rump Tarantula juvenile
  • Brazilian Black Tarantula juvenile
  • Giant White Knee Tarantula spiderling (large)
  • Mexican Red Leg Tarantula spiderling
  • Mexican Red Knee Tarantula spiderling
  • Giant Orange Knee Tarantula spiderling (large)
  • Curly Haired spiderling and juvenile
  • Metallic Pink Toe Tarantula spiderling
  • Costa Rican Tiger Rump Taratula adult (M&F)
  • Santa Catalina Big B… Tarantula juvenile
  • Chang Mai Earth Tiger spiderling
  • Malaysian Earth Tiger juvenile
  • Chile Rose Tarantula spiderling, juvenile, sub adult and adult (M)
  • Northern Gold Tarantula sub adult
  • Indian Violet Earth Tiger spiderling (large)
  • Vietnamese Blue Earth Tiger spiderling (large)
  • Sulewesi Black Earth Tiger spiderling (large)
  • Hati Hati Purple Earth Tiger juvenile
  • Red Slate Ornamental juvenile
  • Indian Ornamental adult (F)
  • Venezuelan Suntiger spiderling
  • Bahia Scarlet Birdeater spiderling
  • Columbian Giant Birdeater juvenile
  • Togo Starburst Baboon Spider juvenile
  • Usumbara Red Baboon Spider juvenile
  • Stout Legged Baboon Spider spiderling (large)
  • King Baboon Spider spiderling
  • Feather Legged Baboon Spider spiderling
  • Blue Footed Baboon Spider spiderling (large)

Fish

  • Calico Oranda
  • American Flag Fish
  • Paradise Fish
  • Albino Paradise Fish
  • Leopard Danio
  • Clown Loach
  • Platy
  • Molly
  • Siamese Fighting Fish
  • Guppy (F)
  • Corydoras
  • Flame Tetra
  • Lemon Tetra
  • Cherry Spot Rasbora
  • Norman Lamp Eye
  • Golden Panchax
  • Black Widow Tetra
  • Blind Cave Fish
  • Columbian Tetra
  • Dwarf Blue Coral Gourami

Molluscs

  • Red Onion Snail (aquatic)
  • Yellow Rabbit Snail (aquatic)
  • Giant African Land Snail (terrestrial)

 The Angell Pets Team

Reptile boarding, small animal and bird boarding takes off at Angell Pets

Reptile boarding was one of the few services we were unable to provide our customers from our old Angell Pets shop in Abbeymead. There simply was not enough space in a secure part of the building to accomodate the necessary enclosures and equipment. One thing we are not lacking in our new premises is space. We now have an entire extra upstairs floor that has enabled us to increase stock holding (we never had any storage space before either) and install a range of vivaria, enclosures and bird cages to enable us to offer reptile boarding, small mammal boarding and bird boarding services to our customers.

 

reptile boarding

One Of Our Reptile Boarders Being Fed

We have built up a reputation as Gloucester’s premier pet shop and were constantly being asked by customers if we could provide reptile boarding for their animals as they trusted us with their beloved pets. Not only had they come to know us and recognise the years of experience we have with a wide range of animals, they also knew that our senior team is the most qualified around. All have completed, as a minimum, either an industry recognised apprenticeship or higher level City and Guilds animal management qualification. Two are also educated to honours degree level in biology and animal science.

We have now completed fitting out  a reptile boarding facility upstairs along with enclosures for other animals and birds and have already taken bookings. We have our first visitor with us at the moment. All reptile boarding facilities are secure and complete with temperature, humidty, lighting and control equipment relevant to the reptile requiring looking after. We are also equiped to take small mammals, inverts and birds. You can use our enclosures or bring your own to reduce the stress on more nervous animals (subject to disinfection upon arrival).

We take bio security very seriously and all enclosures in our reptile boarding facility are scrupulously clean and are disinfected (using F10 and anti mite treatment) between uses (and during longer stays) and staff are trained in ensuring no cross contamination occurs during feeding and cleaning times. No animals are admitted to the facility that show signs of disease or infestation.

All animals in our reptile boarding and other animal boarding facilities are checked at least twice a day and fed, watered or cleaned as appropriate. We have a high level of knowledge of most animals and have the back up of one of the best reptile vets in the county.

Reptile boarding or boarding of other animals is arranged by telephone or visiting the shop, although you can see prices etc. on our webstore

Reptile Boarding (single animal)

Reptile Boarding (multiple animals)

Small Mammal Boarding 

Rabbit, Guinea Pig and Ferret Boarding

Bird Boarding

So, if you are lucky enough to be going on holiday or if you need to have a stay in hospital or are going to be working away and you need a reptile boarding service or boarding for other animals please give us a call. You know your animal is going to be looked after by the best professionals around.

Angell Pets Reptile Boarding in particular is booking up fast so please don’t leave it too late. We do have some capacity to expand the service further but it takes time to get all the equipment in place.

 

FREE local delivery area widened to include Cheltenham

FREE local delivery with any order has been on offer from us at Angell Pets for quite some time.

We are now able to extend this FREE service to Cheltenham and the surrounding areas. Delivery of any item in the GL1,2,3,4,50,51,52 and 53 areas is now FREE.

Orders can be placed over the phone or from our on line web store. Orders on line are by card but COD is available for telephone orders.

free local delivery

This also means we are now able to offer livestock deliveries to these areas, as all FREE local delivery runs are with our own vehicles (we do not post or courier animals). Simply choose from our stock on line and call to arrange payment and delivery. This gives us the opportunity for us to check you have thought through your purchase and for you to check us out and be sure of what you are buying.

If you need to arrange FREE local delivery at a specific time, call us at the shop and order over the telephone and we will try to arrange delivery at a time that suits you. Unless it is really busy we can usually accomodate. Please note we do not usually deliver at weekends. I work seven days a week and do FREE local delivery in the evenings during the week. My wife insists I have some time off!

So sign up on our on line store to receive FREE LOCAL DELIVERY of all your animals needs.

The Angell Pets Team

Ferret kits now available

Image

Ferrets have a defined breeding season, so kits are only available at certain times of year. We only sell our own ferrets in the shop and this means that they are only in stock for short periods of time each year.

PLEASE NOTE THIS POST IS FROM 2014 SO THE FERRET KITS MENTIONED HERE ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE.

The first of this years kits from our breeding group are now available for sale and can be veiwed in store from today. We have a variety of colours available, both Hobs and Jills. We have over 40 years of breeding experience and all our ferrets are hand tame even before they get to the shop. You can view avaiability and price online but please note we do not sell animals online. You will need to visit the shop to view the animal before you buy and for us to ensure you have considered everything first and so are ready to take one away.

ferret kits

Ferrets have been used for centuries for hunting and are intelligent, inquisitive animals that can make excellent pets. Before considering a ferret as a pet though please read our ferret basic care sheet. This outlines several issues to take into consideration first. They will need a lot of stimulation, a good sized enclosure and have important health requirements so you need to include vaccinations and neutering in your plans.

If you do all this you will get years of fun and interaction from your new pet ferret and we will be there for any further advice and assistance you will need.

The Angell Pets Team

James Wellbeloved 10% off as well now.

James Wellbeloved dog cat and ferret food is now 10% off in store and on line. This is and extension of the 10% discount on Royal Canin and runs until the end of April.

James Wellbeloved cat

This offer is for ALL James Wellbeloved dog food and ALL James Wellbeloved cat food in the range as well as James Wellbeloved ferret food. If you cannot see your breed size or particular product listed just call us and ask. We can still order it in for you at this discounted rate.

james wellbeloved dog

 

Don’t forget that local deliveries are completley FREE and online orders to further afield are FREE for orders over £100. As well as the James Wellbeloved dog, cat and ferret food we currrently list nearly 8000 lines of food, equipment and accessories for all sorts of pets so you can do all your shopping in one place. This range is also growing on a daily basis so keep your eye out for new deals.

james wellbeloved ferret

 SO GRAB YOUR 10% OFF BAG OF James Wellbeloved Pet FOOD WHILST IT IS AT THIS GREAT PRICE.