With predictions for a foot of snow in the next 24 hours, here are some great tips from The Dogs Trust for keeping dogs safe when you’re out and about in wintery weather:
In snowy weather, to help prevent injury, keep dogs on a lead to ensure they don’t unwittingly venture onto unsafe ground or stumble into holes hidden by snowfall.
Do up any lead or harness clips before you set out as they are harder to manage with cold hands.
Some dogs get cold more readily than others. Shorter-haired breeds and puppies will benefit from wearing a dog coat to keep them warm.
Don’t let dogs walk on frozen ponds as the ice may not bear their weight. If they do fall in, do not go in after them. Encourage your dog to swim back to you if possible and call the emergency services.
Make sure you and your dog are easily visible to others in poor weather to keep you safe.
After winter walks, wipe your dog’s legs, feet and tummy as grit and dampness can cause irritation.
If it’s too nasty to go outside for any length of time, have some activities to hand to entertain your dog indoors. Long lasting chews, LickiMats® and enrichment toys are great for engagement. Check out our carefully curated range in our waiting room!
Click here for further ideas and support from The Dogs Trust on caring for your canine companion in cold weather.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Every December we run a ‘Give a Pet a Christmas Dinner’ campaign to support dogs and cats in local shelters waiting for their forever homes. We collect wet and dry food and treats, but also welcome pet accessories to provide homeless pets with a little extra festive love. Accessories can include collars, leads, toys, blankets, bedding, bowls – pretty much anything you think would be useful for feline and canine wellbeing and care. We collect throughout the month and donations are then distributed to Birmingham Dogs Home (Coven branch) and various local cat charities early in the new year.
Our collection bins are all set up and ready to receive in our 387 and West Midlands Cat Clinic waiting rooms! If you’d like to donate, we’d be incredibly grateful and we know pets in shelter – and the charities themselves – will be incredibly grateful too.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
This is our student nurse Isabel’s puppy Norman out pumpkin picking! He chose this one himself! We love your selection Norman!
Whilst Halloween is traditionally filled with fun frights and frivolity, it’s important we restrict this to us humans. Unpredictability is not as fun for our pets. Check out these great ‘Howl-oween’ tips from The Dogs Trust for making sure our four-legged friends aren’t too phased by today:
Adapt your routine to miss costumes and fireworks: head out before any festivities and take extra doggy treats with you. If you do spot trick-or-treaters when out, head away from them and reward your dog. This avoids encounters that could scare your dog.
Keep human treats and sweets away from inquisitive noses: some human treats – and especially chocolate – are toxic to dogs so avoid any temptation!
Take care when opening the front door to prevent dogs from accidentally escaping: doorbells, costumes and the extra activity can all cause anxiety. Can you keep your dog in a different room when answering the door? If not, popping your dog on a lead will keep them safe.
Keep dressing up for humans: a new, unfamiliar costume can cause pets to be uncomfortable. Be aware of anything than could cause abrasions, irritation or overheating, or that stops them from exhibiting normal behaviours.
Feed dogs their main meal before trick or treating begins so they can eat at a relaxed time.
Think twice about taking dogs out trick or treating: even dogs who aren’t fazed by all the dressing up and excitement around Halloween may not enjoy it for as long as you do. They may prefer to be at home in their safe, comfy space with their toys and an enrichment activity.
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
Our Registered Veterinary Nurse Paige was a VIP at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Congress dinner on Saturday night. Paige was given complimentary tickets as one of the shortlisted finalists in the Hills Pet Nutrition Support Nurse of the Year Awards. Results were announced at the dinner, and we were very excited to see the video of Paige being called up on stage to receive the Senior Support Nurse of the Year Runner Up trophy. We’re so proud of you!
Paige is incredibly passionate about improving senior pet quality of life. In the last 12 months, she has completed a canine mobility certificate, has launched new canine mobility clinics in practice and has completed the Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance (VOA) Blue Paw Award, which means Paige is officially recognised by the VOA as having sufficient knowledge to improve osteoarthritis care in veterinary practice. Marrying this knowledge with optimum weight and nutrition management strategy helps with pain relief, increased mobility and in giving senior pets a new lease and love of life.
If your senior pet is struggling with their mobility, you know where to come!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
As an accredited Dog Friendly Clinic with Dogs Trust and The British Veterinary Behaviour Association, we’re super keen to help make in-patient visits as stress-minimal as possible. We phone owners ahead of patient admit to go through a care plan which includes questions about pet preferences and behaviours so that we can adapt care in practice accordingly. We ask that pets bring items from home with them for comfort and the familiar smell of home. A favourite blanket and teddy is perfect. We’ll also ask if owners can provide a portion of their dog’s favourite food for post procedure. Whilst we’re happy to provide food, we find pets often prefer what they and their tummy are used to. We have raised water bowls for bigger breeds and older pets.
In kennels, we make sure patient spaces are comfy and cosy. We drape towels over the front half of the kennel door too. Whist no kennel faces any other, this gives patients an extra sense of security if they want to tuck themselves away. We have three walk-in kennels on ward in addition to a host of other kennels to accommodate larger breeds, as well as a completely separate walk-in isolation kennel which we use for especially anxious patients, as well as medical cases warranting separation. We play gentle soothing music on ward and we keep treats and licki mats to hand for encouragement where some form of food is allowed.
We have a secure, enclosed toileting area directly off kennels. We have a patch of astro turf in our run for dogs who prefer to toilet on grass. If dogs like to potter before toileting, no problem. If they like company, that’s no problem too! We have dedicated kennels nurses specifically responsible for in-patient care and comfort.
Here are gorgeous Bez and Jasper beautifully modelling a few of our Dog Friendly Clinic inpatient initiatives. Both brought their teddies who were also given a health check during their stay!
Wellcare World specializes in providing the latest advancements in wellness technology, supplementation, and lifestyle changes that improve health and increase the quality of people's lives.To learn more, visit WellcareWorld.com and begin living a better life today.
