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

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Summer’s here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy New Zealand’s stunning scenery with your dog. 

Best Dog-Friendly Activities in New Zealand

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.

We’ve compiled a complete bushfire preparation checklist to help you, your horse, and your property stay safe when it matters most.

Bushfire Season: Are You and Your Horse Ready?

With the help of our expert vets, we’re investigating parasite prevention for dogs – from what parasites you need to watch out for to how to prevent parasites and treat infestations, Pet Smarts has the lowdown on all your parasite prevention needs.

Dog Parasite Prevention Guide

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

As the temperature rises, ensuring your horse stays safe, comfortable, and healthy in the heat is a must. 

Hot Weather Horse Care: A Practical 'How-To' Guide

Latest Posts

Discover the risks associated with hot pavements for pets and get some essential tips to prevent burnt paws. A must-read for responsible pet owners!

How to Protect Paws from Burns This Summer

How can you tell if your cat is dehydrated? Here’s some of the key signs of dehydration and how you can prevent it. Learn more.

Dehydration in Cats: Signs and Symptoms

Ensure a safe and enjoyable beach experience for your canine companion with Petstock's guide to dog safety at the beach. Discover expert tips on keeping your dog secure, happy, and healthy while enjoying the sun, sand, and surf. From water safety to beach etiquette, empower yourself with essential knowledge for a worry-free beach day with your furry friend. Visit now for a comprehensive guide to creating memorable beach moments with your dog!

Dog Safety At The Beach

Explore essential tips for keeping rabbits comfortable year-round.

Keeping Rabbits Warm in Winter & Cool in Summer

Warning: dogs can get heatstroke too! From signs and symptoms to watch out for, to how to treat heatstroke in dogs, to what causes heatstroke and how to best avoid it – we’re breaking down this medical emergency and giving you the information you need.

Heatstroke in Dogs

Summer Safety

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

Explore the essentials of horse ownership in 'My First Horse'. Learn about the commitment, care, and joy of equine companionship, from space and exercise needs to feeding and health tips, perfect for new horse owners.

My First Horse

Reptiles are increasing in popularity largely because of reduced space requirements and they are relatively inexpensive to keep (although initial purchase costs can be high).

My First Reptile

Before bringing your fur baby home, read through our rabbit checklist to ensure your rabbit’s living space is set up and you have everything you need for when your new buddy arrives.

Bringing a Rabbit Home: Tips for a New Bunny

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

Bringing Your New Chickens Home

First Time Pet Owners

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

Explore essential puppy feeding guidelines, including age-appropriate diets, the advantages of super premium foods, and tips for a healthy transition. Learn about safe and harmful foods for puppies, and how to ensure their dental health and overall wellbeing through proper nutrition.

Feeding Puppies: What to Feed Them?

Discover everything you need to know about selecting the perfect kitten food. From nutritional requirements to types of food, find tips, advice, and recommendations for providing a healthy diet to your growing kitten.

What To Feed Kittens: What Do Kittens Eat?

Diet and Nutrition

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!

Pet Smarts Blog

January 2025

January 2025

Latest Posts

January 2023

Summer Safety

January 2023

First Time Pet Owners

January 2023

Diet and Nutrition

January 2023