The Rusty Spur Farm & Pet

08/22/2025

Do you know the correct way to transition your dog to a new food?

Dogs of any age, size, and breed can be prone to digestive upset if their food is changed too abruptly. This can include changing flavours, changing between brands, or changing the type of food you're giving them,

The recommended way to change your pet's food takes place over several days. If at any time your pet experiences digestive upset such as diarrhea, vomiting, or decreased appetite, return to the previous stage. Each stage should take 2-4 days.

Stage 1: 100% old food

Stage 2: 75% old food, 25% new food

Stage 3: 50% old food, 50% new food

Stage 4: 25% old food, 75% new food

Stage 5: 100% new food

By taking the time to slowly introduce the new food to your dog's diet you will help ensure that they receive the best possible outcomes from their new diet.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/21/2025

Proud to support our local Chamber in Enderby! Whack and Roll peeps! This should be a fun event and thankful for the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce for organizing. Check them out if you're not a member yet! Lots of benefits and they are going toward 100 members soon! #

Our 1st annual Golf Tournament at Mabel Lake Golf & Airpark is only a month away! Big thank you to The Rusty Spur Farm & Pet who is a Title Sponsor! We have a few more sponsorship opportunities available.

08/21/2025

Another excellent reminder infographic from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Puncture wounds of the hoof are a medical emergency due to the vital structures just beneath the sole that may be affected by bacteria or physically damaged by the foreign object.

Leaving the nail in place will allow your veterinary team to determine, usually via x-ray, what structures may be wounded and the best course of action going forward.

You should only remove the nail if instructed to do so by a veterinarian.

The prognosis for this type of wound depends on quick action to determine the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection, and proper aftercare.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/20/2025

Although it may feel like summer is coming to a close, here at Rusty Spur we know that we're still in the midst of the season.

We know that peaches and plums are only just coming ready for harvest and there will be apples right around the corner. We also know that many of you will have planted for autumn veggies.

Whether you're harvesting a few backyard trees, or a whole orchard, come see us at our Vernon location to browse our selection of orchard ladders, apple pouches, books on canning, and more!



www.rustyspur.ca

08/19/2025

We'd like to give you all a friendly reminder that the Labour Day weekend is quickly approaching and with it comes our long weekend schedule.

All three of our locations will follow the schedule below.

Sunday, August 31: CLOSED
Monday, September 1: CLOSED

Thank you for your understanding and we apologize for any inconvenience that this will cause.

We will reopen at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/17/2025

Save the date everyone!

Saturday, September 20th will be our annual store wide sale!

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. you can expect an array of giveaways, draws, and excellent sale prices, in all three of our locations!

Almost everything in store will be on sale! Watch this space over the coming weeks for sneak peeks on the discounts you'll be able to find.

Of course, there's a bit of fine print. Sales prices will apply to in store and in stock items only. That means there will be no rain checks and sale prices will not be applied online. Sale prices will not apply to special ordered items. All sale items are final sale, with no returns or exchanges.

This is always a super fun and busy day so we hope to see you there!



www.rustyspur.ca

08/16/2025

Using liniment offers several benefits for equine health, primarily by providing topical relief for sore muscles and joints, and aiding in recovery from exercise. It can help reduce inflammation, increase circulation, and ease pain and stiffness. Liniments are commonly used as part of a post exercise routine and can be especially helpful for horses who are aged, gaining fitness, or are in high performance disciplines.

Liniments can provide pain relief, reduced inflammation, increased circulation, and muscle relaxation.

We offer equine liniments from trusted brands such as Mane 'N Tail, Absorbine, and Dynamint. All are available in store, or on our website.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/15/2025

Unfortunately, we're likely going to be dealing with flies in our yards, barns, and homes till early autumn.

These pesky creatures are a great nuisance and can contribute to the transmission of parasites and diseases.

There are many strategies when it comes to controlling your fly population. To begin with, it's always a sound idea to focus on cleanliness. Regular removal of manure, standing water, and access to animal feed will reduce breeding areas and feeding opportunities.

Next, consider utilizing bait or sticky traps. Sticky traps should be hung in areas like doorways to trap flies, while keeping in mind that they should be hung out of the way of animals and people. If you've ever had a sticky fly trap in your hair you'll know why. Bait traps can also be very effective and can be used in places where sticky traps may be a hazard, such as areas frequented by small birds or bats that may become stuck.

Lastly, consider the use of repellents such as fly sprays, sheets, and masks. We stock fly sheets and masks for almost all sizes of horses, from minis to drafts!

We're also fully stocked up on a wide variety of sticky and bait traps to help you keep your areas free from pesky flies for the rest of the summer!



www.rustyspur.ca

08/14/2025

It's time to start keeping an eye out for bot fly eggs on our horses.

Bot flies have an unusual life cycle and rely on laying their eggs on a horse's coat, usually on the inner legs or shoulders. The positioning of these eggs on the horse’s body means they’re within reach on your horse’s mouth if they rub or bite the area with their mouth. After seven to ten days, the eggs will hatch, and the fly larvae will emerge.

Once the bot fly larvae have found their way in or near a horse’s mouth, they crawl their way in and bury themselves into your horse’s tongue, gums, or cheeks. They’ll remain there for around a month, before moving into the horse’s stomach, where they continue to grow for the next 9-12 months by hooking themselves into the lining of your horse’s stomach, before eventually detaching and passing out in manure and emerging as adult flies. This whole process not only sounds awful for your horse, but can also lead to ulceration of the stomach, loss of appetite, or in extreme cases even colic.

To prevent this we recommend that you remove bot fly eggs as soon as you notice them. We stock Slick 'N Easy blocks, or the Palm Grip Bot & Groom Stone, both of which easily remove bot fly eggs.

Horses who are suspected to have a bot fly infestation may benefit from being dewormed against bot flies, although this is usually recommended in the autumn, when the risk of your horse becoming affected again in the same season will have passed with the warm weather.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/13/2025

Today we were thrilled to welcome two shy girls.

Foxy was recently adopted by her forever family. Since they discovered that Foxy loves being in the water they are beginning the process of teaching her to go paddle boarding with them. When she first came in the store to try on life jackets she was reserved, but was still keen to take treats, and she warmed up from there. She left the store, with her new life jacket, feeling much more confident and comfortable.

Ladybug, wearing her ladybug sticker, has been coming into the Lumby store over the last few months. In that time the Lumby staff have witnessed her go from being too reserved to take treats to a cautious, but willing, girl who comes out of her shell more and more.

We love meeting all your dogs, but we have a special soft spot for those shy ones.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/12/2025

A frequently asked question we receive is if we carry minerals for sheep and goats?

Yes! We regularly stock minerals for both sheep and goats!

Sheep and goats are different animals who have specific dietary needs and our supplies reflect that.

For minerals we carry Shur-Gain 20KG loose minerals, or Agri-Block 2.5KG mini blocks, to ensure that you have practical options, no matter your flock size.



www.rustyspur.ca

08/10/2025

Did you know that our cat friends need dental care too?

Thorough dental care and regular cleaning can prevent tooth decay, keep problems at bay or identify them early on. Not only can regular dental care reduce the risk of problems it can significantly improve your cat’s quality of life.

Determining if your cat has a dental problem isn’t always easy because they’re good at masking discomfort. There are signs though that they’re in pain and if you spot them it’s best to take them to your vet for a check up.

-Bad breath
-Difficulty eating or dropping food
-Pawing at their mouth or face
-Swollen, red and bleeding gums
-Excessive drooling
-Tooth discolouration or visible tartar
-Reduced grooming
-Behavioural changes such as increased irritability or decreased playfulness

Just like with us, good dental health starts at home. Brushing your cat’s teeth with cat friendly toothpaste is the best place to start. This can be easier than you think and lots of cats are receptive to a toothbrush. Still, if you’ve never done it before a gentle approach is best. Take it slowly and get them used to having their teeth touched. Start with your finger before graduating to a cat toothbrush and reward them with tasty treats after each time.

Come on down and visit us either online or in store to browse our range of cat dental care products and treats!



www.rustyspur.ca