Kerry Rhodes

First Aid Kits

List of essential items to include in First Aid Kits for dogs, & the uses of each item.  Essential Items   Use of the item  Bandage (small)  * To hold a gauze […]

Treatment for wounds and bleeding

Treatment for wounds and bleeding – before you treat any type of bleed/wound, you should always go through the SEEP checklist, to ensure you take all the right steps in […]

Wounds & Bleeding

Recognising different categories of wounds and bleeding . . Although its not at all important for the average dog owner to know the medical terminology for the various categories of wounds […]

Artificial Respiration

If the dog is NOT breathing but DOES have a pulse, you need to perform artificial respiration.  Artificial respiration is NOT the same as CPR (CPR is compressions on the heart […]

Canine Tip of the Day: CPR

C = Cardio (heart) P = Pulmonary (breathing/lungs) R = Resuscitation (the act of beating the heart and breathing for a third party to revive them)  .  . CPR is ONLY performed […]

Cold Weather Warnings

Cold Weather Warnings – I’ve been asked today to put a few tips together regarding the cold weather and dangers this presents so here’s a few thoughts on the subject: […]

Canine Acne

Canine Acne you say??  Really?? Yes, dogs do get “zits”!!!!! – This condition causes abnormalities in the hair follicles especially around the chin and muzzle.  Larger, short coated breeds are […]

Demodectic Mange

Demodectic Mange is caused by the Demodex Mite that ALL dogs have and lives in the hair follicles in the skin.  These mites are transferred to them as puppies from their mother […]

Nosebleeds – Rhodes 2 Safety

Nosebleeds   When dogs have nosebleeds, they usually occur as a result of trauma while running/playing or can sometimes happen after violent sneezing or even if they have got something lodged up […]

Mange

Sarcoptic Mange (Scabies) As per a request, today’s and tomorrow’s info is about mange (and can I just say that typing this for you all is making me itch like […]

Spinal Trauma Patient

Moving a Canine spinal trauma patient . . A spinal injury can occur in all sorts of ways from a very unfortunate accident during normal play, to an awkward fall […]

Arthritis

Arthritis We use the term a lot, but what exactly is arthritis? Well the first thing to say is that it is not a single disease – it is a term […]

Canine tip of the day – Choking

Choking & the Heimlich procedure If your dog is choking, first try to see if you can sweep the mouth (without getting bitten!) and remove the object. If you can […]

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia Symptoms vary depending on severity – usually in young dogs in which bones are still growing (up to about a year old) or in older dogs which have […]

Strains, Sprains & Fractures

STRAINS & SPRAINS –  As with humans, a strain or sprain (for example as the result of a twisted ankle after a trip or fall, or shoulder muscle strain due […]

Hind Leg Lameness in more than 1 limb

Hind Leg Lameness: To try to ascertain if there is hind leg lameness, the dog should be trotted slowly away from the observer.  The dog favours the sore leg by […]

Front Leg Lameness

Front leg lameness To ascertain if there is lamness in either of the front legs, the dog needs to be trotted towards the observer as lameness is harder to detect […]

Lameness – Rhodes 2 Safety

Lameness Lameness is usually caused by pain but non-painful lameness may also occur. Two examples of non-painful lamenesses are “mechanical lameness” where limb movement is restricted but pain-free, and neurological […]

Giving Liquid Medication

Liquid Medication – Some dogs, no matter how hard you try, just refuse to take their medication in tablet form.  If this is the case, you may be able to […]