Top Tips Archives

When your dog’s favourite run becomes a stiff walk, getting up from the comfy bed is now accompanied by a groan and a growl and running up the stairs is just too big of a mountain to climb. These will all be familiar scenarios for senior dog owners. You want nothing more then to be able to take away the pain and see your canine companion bound around once again. Whilst there is no miracle cure for aging or arthritic joints, there are few things you can do to relieve some of the discomfort your dog may feel.

It’s important to take regular trips to the vets and to maintain any treatment plan your vet puts in place. Whilst speaking with your vet ask if your dog would be a suitable candidate for hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy is the use of water to exercise and mobilise joints, proven to relieve and even halt the symptoms of arthritis. Also, it’s worth discussing the prescription of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to help if you feel your dog is in pain.

Glucosamine assists your dogs body to produce cartilage in the joints. As dogs get older their body breaks down cartilage quicker than it can be produced. Loss of cartilage is what leads to arthritis and joint pain. You can buy glucosamine supplements from most pet health stores. Lastly, making sure your dog maintains a healthy weight relieves the pressure on the joints, this can offer an instant pain relief, also allowing them to increase their mobility. If you have worries your dog is significantly over weight, for effective weight loss, speak to your veterinary surgery. Most practices run free weight clinics to support owners with pet obesity.

Vetfleece tips for keeping your pet cool

It’s hard to believe that it’s that time of year again, but it looks like the temperatures are still rising. I know that we can’t always rely on a hot British summer, but on the days that are above average temperature we need to be aware that our furry friends need a little extra TLC.
You might be surprised to hear that dogs can also suffer from heatstroke, which can have worse symptoms and more fatalities than the human kind. But unlike us, dogs aren’t able to sweat through their skin, so they release heat through their paw pads and nose to regulate their body temperature and keep themselves cool. If you suspect your dog is suffering from heatstroke, you need to look out for these signs, excessive panting, dribbling, a bright red tongue, increased heart rate and in more serious cases collapse. If any the above signs are present in your dog, immediately move them to a cool, shaded area (preferably with a breeze), spray them with cool but not freezing water and call your vet.

Here are a few tips for keeping your dog cool and hopefully preventing heatstroke during the warmer months of the year.

Ice cubes

Last summer we found that the best way to keep our dog hydrated also turned into a fun game that kept him entertained for ages. We froze several different treats in normal ice cube trays and popped them in his water several times a day. Please be aware that aggressive chewers could break teeth.

Paddling pool

We found a small children’s paddling pool in our local Poundland and set this up in the garden. It wasn’t an Olympic sized pool and he couldn’t swim in it, but it was big enough for him to sit in. We also put some of his plastic toys in and he had great fun splashing around trying to get them out.

Carry water on your walks

You can buy dog water bottles with integrated bowls to carry in your bag whilst having a walk. This way you are able to take regular stops to make sure your dog keeps cool and regulates his body temperature. It is always a good idea to carry an extra bottle of clean drinking water as you may be out walking longer than you originally though.

Constant supply of water

Make sure that you have a bowl of water available for your pet at all times. Having a bowl in the house and in a shaded area outside means that even lazy dogs have access to a refreshing drink whenever they need it.

Shade in the garden

At certain times during in summer our garden doesn’t have any areas that are shaded, so if our dog has to go out at these times, we make sure that our patio umbrella is up so he can go under if he wants to.

Ticks

On a side note, please remember to keep an eye on your dog and check for ticks after a walk in woodland, grassland and heath’s. It’s during the hotter months of the year that these disease carrying creatures make an appearance, and not only will they attach themselves to your dog, but they are also fond of humans too. It’s advisable to carry a tick remover like out Tick-Off.me with you at all times. Our tick remover can easily fit in a purse or wallet and it comes in 3 different sizes to remove even the biggest ticks.

Category: Top Tips

Caring For An Arthritic Pet

How To Keep Your Dog Cool During Summer