We mentioned yesterday about clipping claws. I posted a super little article all about how to do it, why we need to, which tools to use etc etc. That said, there are lots of dogs who are not at all keen on having their feet/nails touched (mine included) and so for some its easier to teach […]
So you’re just starting to cook supper and as you take a glass bowl from the fridge, it slips through your fingers and shatters all over your kitchen floor. The glass is broken and splintered into a squillion pieces, each one coated with the juices of your marinated chicken. The smells waft through and quick […]
A lot of “dog folk” are unaware of Xylitol, it’s affects on our furry friends or which products you may find it in – I mean, if you don’t know where it will show up, it’s very difficult to avoid it, right? Those of you who know me, will be aware that I have no […]
These days, most of us travel about by car quite a bit and as such, we need to know that our furry friends are safe too. Long gone are the days when we used to drive our cars without wearing seatbelts now that our awareness of health and safety has grown. The same should now be […]
** IMPORTANT NOTE ** . THIS BLOG HAS BEEN AMENDED TODAY 20/11/18. . EXTRA INFORMATION CAME TO LIGHT WHICH AFFECTED THE ADVICE WITHIN THE BLOG AND THIS HAS NOW BEEN ALTERED TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES. . THANK YOU . Just as with humans, dehydration is very dangerous for your dog. It could be due to […]
Antifreeze is different from De-Icer which is different from screenwash. There are many DIY recipes for making Screenwash, but the following is the one my elderly uncle uses and recommends (I would suggest doing a bit of research and seeing which version suits you best): 1) 1 Tablespoon of dishwashing liquid (Fairy by preference which […]
MDR1 (or Multi-Drug Resistant protein gene) The MDR1 gene protects the brain by ensuring that any harmful chemical are transported AWAY from the brain. In some dogs who are members of the herding varieties such as Collies and Australian Shepherds, a mutation in this gene causes extreme reactions to various drugs including Ivermectin (found in some heart worm […]
You may have heard of something called a pilonidal sinus. This is a problem that humans can experience and some people also refer to dermoid sinus’ in dogs as a pilonidal sinus too. However, a true dermoid sinus is actually a neural defect. As a puppy grows in the mother’s womb, there is a connection between […]
OK, that sounds like a scary medical term, so what exactly are interdigital cysts? In actual fact, the correct term for this problem is Interdigital Furunculosis and you may hear it referred to that way but generally speaking the word cyst is used instead. If we break the term down into its component parts, we […]
What’s Normal? . Temperature can be indicative of an animal’s general health. The average temperature of a dog is 101 degrees F or 38 degrees C. That said, the “normal” temperature for an adult dog can vary from anywhere between 100 and 102.5 degrees F, or 37.8 and 39.2 degrees C. . Sometimes you look […]
Sunburn It’s important to remember that even the most innocent of situations can result in sunburn or burns of one type or another. There are 5 main types you need to be aware of – Hot, Cold, Friction, Electrical and Chemical. When we think of Hot burns, we usually think about fire or may be spilling […]
Head Pressing: Have you ever noticed your dog (or cat) sitting or standing with his head pressed against the wall? Perhaps he presses it against the floor or other solid object and stands/sits still in this very odd position? Don’t confuse the normal “head-butting” that they often do to your shins, that’s just dog stuff; […]
If like me, you will find any excuse to spend time with your dogs, then I’m sure you’ve probably considered taking up dog sports to do with them as a hobby. There are lots to choose from – all brilliant ways to keep fit, improve the bond with your dog and just generally while away the hours with your […]
Head injuries in dogs can be caused in a number of ways from road traffic accidents, falls from a height say from a cliff top, collisions perhaps during normal play or flyball activities or even infections which cause the brain to swell up. As you’d imagine, any head injury should be treated very carefully […]
How and why to introduce Muzzle Acceptance: The first thing to consider in any first aid situation is your own personal safety, be that from road traffic, electricity, fast flowing water, or particularly when dealing with animals, claws and teeth. I always tell our students that if you need to deal with a frightened dog or one […]
There have been a number of occasions where I’ve read on various forums of people (and in some cases as advised by their vets) advocating the use of Tea Tree oil when treating conditions like skin irritation or hot spots for dogs. Tea Tree oil is indeed wonderful stuff but it can, in fact, be […]
Sometimes a bitch may appear to be pregnant, but then not produce any puppies. This can be something that is referred to as a false or “Phantom” pregnancy. As we mentioned yesterday, a bitch’s cycle is split into four parts and a Phantom pregnancy can result after the phase where she ovulates. Hormonal changes occur […]
Bitches, their Cycle and Seasons: When you first get a female puppy, any thoughts of them reaching sexual maturity is way off in the distance but from the age of around 5-7 months of age, a female dog is generally considered to be mature. There is of course considerable variation within the different breeds with […]
I recently received this message from one of our Rhodes 2 Safety followers:- “Hi Kerry, my Greyhound Josie was recently hospitalised with haemorrhagic gastroenteritis – it was awful, we almost lost her. Thankfully she is on the mend but I’d never heard of this condition before, yet since mentioning it to people it seems its […]
Purging & Toxic Plants – so to start with, exactly WHAT IS purging? Well, according to the boffins who write the dictionaries, purging is:- a. To free from impurities; purify. b. To remove (impurities and other elements) by evacuation (of the bowels) or to vomit. . I have looked at purging in another guise in the […]