It’s Halloween tomorrow! This means it’s very nearly fireworks time with many official events planned for this and next weekend.
Fireworks displays can be a terrifying time for pets with unpredictable loud bangs and flashes. Here are a few tips to help our pets feel less anxious on the night:
Walk dogs early and time evening toilet trips carefully to avoid getting caught out. Before fireworks start, bring your dog into a room in the house which acts as a place of safety for them. Somewhere calm and nowhere too busy. Their bed should be there as a safe, familiar resting place and also provides comforting smells. Bring their toys and a chew or some treats for distraction. Make sure windows and curtains are closed to muffle sound and light and pop the tv or some music on too. Stay with your dog for reassuring company. You can offer them a toy to see if they will engage in play but don’t force them. Keep calm and avoid reacting to the fireworks as dogs can pick up on owner anxiety. It’s important to be patient if your dog exhibits unwanted behaviours such as whining or pacing. Telling them off will only add to their distress.
Cats:
Keep cats in on fireworks evening, make sure cat flaps are locked shut and that you have a couple of clean litter trays positioned by the cat flap or in their normal toileting area. Cats are very good at taking themselves off to hide when frightened so make sure they have open access to potential hiding spots like under the bed, behind the sofa or even in cupboards or under the duvet! Leave them be rather than trying to coax them out. They will come back out when they are ready.
Small furries:
If housing outdoors, can you bring your pets’ hutch into the garage or a outside shed to act as a natural barrier? Nowhere too warm though as this can be detrimental to their health when you return the hutch outside. Consider putting carpeting or blankets over the hutch, with a gap to see out, to muffle sound and light. Make sure bedding is extra deep so that your small furries can burrow down and hide. Providing distraction toys is also a great idea.
Please do give us a ring on 01922 411755 if in need of any further advice on minimising pet stress at this time.
Wishing you and your pets a safe bonfire and fireworks night
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.
With Halloween at the end of this month (and, dare we say it, shops getting ready for Christmas!), chocolates are currently on sale in even more abundance! If you are buying in for trick or treating, please be sure to keep chocolatey treats well away from inquisitive canines. Milk and dark chocolates are made with cocoa solids which contain theobromine, a substance toxic to dogs. And the darker the chocolate, the higher the concentration of theobromine. The severity of chocolate poisoning depends on how much chocolate your dog has eaten, how big your dog is and the concentration of cocoa solids.
We strongly advise contacting your vet for advice if you know your dog has eaten chocolate. It’s really helpful if you have the wrapper with the ingredients list to hand. Here are Rolo and Mars who were in to see us recently for this very reason. We were able to act quickly and make them sick to prevent the toxins from taking effect. Even though they are fabulously named, no chocolate-eating allowed!
Use our poisons checker on our 387 Vets’ Advice 24/7 page for guidance on chocolate poisoning and a whole range of other toxins too.
And don’t forget, registered clients can use our VidiVet service to touch base with a vet for free. Great for concerns out of hours if you are unsure whether your pet needs to be seen as an emergency.
We wish all pets a happy, healthy chocolate-free Halloween!
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.
We’re most used to seeing dogs and cats for microchipping, now that all cats in England should be microchipped before 20 weeks old with their owner’s details registered, as well as dogs over 8 weeks of age. So Harri was more of an unusual microchip request for us! The 28 year old tortoise is emigrating abroad with his owners and his two cat pals. We loved seeing you in practice and wish you all the best on your travels Harri. We hope you and your familylove your new home!
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.
We are super excited to announce that 387 Veterinary Centre is now an accredited Dog Friendly Clinic! The scheme, run by The Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association, was set up to help vet practices better care for the emotional and behavioural needs of dogs on vet visits. It encourages practices to work on minimising canine stress and maximising canine wellbeing, not just in the waiting room but also in consults rooms and other clinical areas.
Our team have carried out lots of training around recognition and management of canine stress and anxiety. And we’ve introduced lots of new initiatives in practice too. These include mats your canine can rest on in the waiting room; towels you can borrow if your dog has been caught in a downpour on the way in; a canine retail area full of carefully selected toys and accessories for behavioural and emotional enrichment; dog water bowls set at a variety of heights; lots of treats jars; and the use of Lickimats® in consultations to reduce canine anxiety and reinforce positive experience. Check out these gorgeous pups who are loving the Lickimat® experience!
There are lots of things owners can do too to help make vet visits successful, from bringing puppies in to socialisation and habituation appointments, to avoiding your dog having too many sensory experiences on the way to a vet appointment which can make them over-excited or feel overwhelmed. Ask us for a copy of our handout ‘Reducing canine stress on visits to the vets’ when you are next in!
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.
Dogs and other pets are known to possess the remarkable ability to detect earthquakes in advance. This extraordinary capability stems from their highly sensitive senses of hearing and smell, allowing them to perceive subtle environmental changes that occur prior to an earthquake.
Understanding the Sensory Abilities of Dogs
Dogs have the capacity to detect changes in air pressure or detect subtle vibrations in the ground, which humans are unable to perceive. For instance, some dogs have been trained to alert their owners when an earthquake is imminent, providing them with valuable time to evacuate and find safety. However, it’s important to note that not all dogs possess this ability.
Scientific Studies on Dogs’ Behavior during Earthquakes
Several scientific studies have been conducted to investigate dogs’ potential to detect earthquakes. Notably, a pioneering study carried out in Greece during the 1990s revealed that dogs seemed capable of sensing the onset of earthquakes several minutes before they occurred. Subsequent studies have aimed to replicate these findings and determine the scientific basis behind this phenomenon. However, conclusive results are still lacking, and further research is needed to establish the extent to which dogs and other animals can reliably detect earthquakes and identify the signals preceding tremors.
Insights from the US Geological Survey (USGS)
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), abnormal animal behavior observed seconds before an earthquake can be attributed to the disparity between two types of seismic waves: primary (P) waves and secondary (S) waves. P waves are the initial waves emitted by an earthquake, traveling through the Earth’s interior at high speeds. These waves can cause subtle changes in air pressure, temperature, and other physical properties that animals are more attuned to perceive.
Examples of Dogs Detecting Earthquakes
Numerous instances have been documented where dogs have detected earthquakes before they struck and alerted their owners. Notable examples include a dog in Greece during the 1990s that incessantly barked before an earthquake, prompting its owner to evacuate the building. Similarly, a dog in California in 2009 barked and hurried outside just before an earthquake, allowing its owners to safely evacuate their home. In China, a dog refused to enter its kennel prior to a major earthquake in 2010, signaling the need for evacuation. Moreover, in Japan in 2011, a dog’s barking and dash outdoors preceded the devastating earthquake and tsunami, enabling its owners to seek safety. These instances showcase the potential of dogs in providing crucial early warnings.
The Quest for Reliability and Accuracy
While the concept of dogs detecting earthquakes is captivating, it is essential to emphasize the need for further research to ascertain the accuracy and reliability of this phenomenon. Ongoing studies and investigations are necessary to establish a conclusive scientific basis.
USGS Study on Dogs’ Behavior during Earthquakes
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has conducted a study on the behavior of dogs during earthquakes, shedding light on their response to seismic activity.
Dogs’ Remarkable Ability to Detect Earthquakes
Dogs possess an incredible capability to detect earthquakes before they occur and alert their owners. Here are a few compelling examples:
In Greece, a dog repeatedly barked before an earthquake, prompting its owner to evacuate the building.
A California dog barked and ran outside just moments before an earthquake hit, allowing its owners to safely evacuate their home.
In China, a dog refused to enter its kennel before a major earthquake, alerting its owners to evacuate the premises.
In Japan, a dog barked and dashed outside prior to a devastating earthquake and tsunami, enabling its owners to find safety.
While the precise mechanism behind dogs’ earthquake detection remains unclear, their heightened sense of awareness and strong protective instinct are apparent. These qualities make them invaluable companions during emergency situations.
Further research is needed to fully comprehend how dogs perceive earthquakes. Nevertheless, their acute awareness and unwavering dedication to their owners are undeniably remarkable.
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.
