Yesterday was reported as the hottest day in May on record and today doesn’t feel much cooler! It’s really important we help our pets to stay as cool and comfortable as possible at this time.
Walk dogs first thing in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler. Take water and a water bowl with you and limit exertion. If you’re dog-walking on pavements, it’s a good idea to do a temperature test before you set out – if it’s too hot for the palm of your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s pads.
Around the house, ensure your dog has access to fresh water at all times and can always access shade and cooler rooms. If you’re visiting us in practice today, look out for our extra water bowls dotted around the site! Ice cubes in the bottom of water bowls helps water stay cooler for longer. There are some great products on the market to help pets keep cool, such as cool mats and a doggy paddling pool for the garden which is lots of fun too! Consider an indoor fan. Needless to say, conservatories are a big no-no as they can reach heat extremes incredibly quickly. Likewise, do not leave your dog in the car for any duration in warm or hot weather as cars can become oven-like in minutes.
Cats are more independent and will take themselves off to find shade. Be aware they may choose to take themselves outside, even on the hottest of days! Ensure they have plenty of shady spots and leaf coverage where they can rest. You can make shady spots easily by popping a cardboard box in a choice spot in the garden, by draping a towel or blanket over chairs to form a canopy, or even by putting an open umbrella out on the grass. Again, make sure cats have access to plenty of fresh water to rehydrate. Many cats love running water, so it may be worth investing in a cat fountain to encourage your cat to drink.
Don’t forget that pets with white or very light-coloured hair can be especially susceptible to sunburn, so apply pet-friendly sunscreen to ears and noses!
Remember rabbits too! It’s really important to consider hutch location and how the sun moves around the garden during the day so that hutches and runs aren’t in full sun glare at any point. You can freeze water bottles so that drinking water stays cooler for longer, and it’s worth putting a frozen bottle of water wrapped in a tea towel into the hutch so rabbits can choose to lie against it should they wish. Dampening the tips of their ears with a cool facecloth helps them to feel cooler too. It’s also really important that you protect rabbits’ rear ends from fly strike (an incredibly painful and potentially fatal condition where flies lay eggs in the skin and the maggots hatch and feed on the host’s flesh). Preventative products are available. You should also check your rabbit’s bottom twice daily, and if they have any sore patches of skin, check these too. If you spot fly strike, pleaser seek immediate veterinary support.
If you are concerned that your pet may be suffering from heat stroke (symptoms include excessive panting, noisy panting, drooling, bright red gums, confusion or collapse), move them into shade and seek immediate veterinary advice. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency and fast action is essential.
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.
Did you know that September is Sepsis Awareness Month? Our student nurse Isabel is particularly passionate about promoting awareness about the condition as she very sadly lost her brother to sepsis. If you’re due in for a visit this month, please help yourself to one of UK Sepsis Trust’s leaflets on display in our waiting areas. Knowing the signs of sepsis – an emergency condition – could save a life.
Sepsis is where the immune system overreacts to an infection, and whilst not preventable, it is treatable if caught quickly. Typical signs in adults include slurred speech, extreme shivering, severe breathlessness, mottled skin and passing no urine. In children, signs include fast breathing, convulsions, a mottled rash, being very lethargic and feeling abnormally cold to touch. If you or someone you know exhibit any of these symptoms, seek urgent medical attention and ask, “Could it be sepsis?” You’ll see this slogan on the side of lots of ambulances.
As well as leaflets, Isabel has brought in a limited number of promo giveaways from The UK Sepsis Trust. So, for early birds picking up a leaflet from us this month, you may be lucky enough to pick up a treat 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.
Beautiful Lyra first came to see our Lead Nurse Cody at a nutrition clinic to see if her skin problems were caused by an allergic reaction to something in her food. As part of the process, Cody also discussed Lyra’s body condition score as she was a little overweight and Lyra started on a weight management programme. Last week, Lyra reached her target weight. You can see how well she’s done in the progress chart that mum’s holding up behind her. Brilliant job Lyra. You look fabulous!
As with humans, overweight pets are more at risk of certain diseases and health conditions some of which can be life-shortening. If you are worried your pet may be carrying extra weight, do give us a call on 01922 411755 and book in for a weight check with one of our qualified nursing team. If your pet does need to go onto a weight management programme, you’ll receive 1-1 support with a weight-management trained qualified vet nurse, including a lifestyle review, progressive nutrition, treat and exercise advice, your pet’s own log book and progress chart and photos and measurements at the beginning and end of the programme so you can see the difference!
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.
Summer time is fantastic for long days and lovely dry dog walks but do be mindful that if walking through meadows or other areas with long grass that it’s prime grass seed season. Grass awns are barbed and can easily become lodged in your pet’s fur and painfully hook into their skin. Common problem areas are ears and between the toes, but we’ve removed awns from noses, cheeks and even necks!
This is 8 month old Shih Tzu Milo who managed to get a grass seed very painfully lodged under his third eyelid. You can see the offending awn in poor Milo’s eye. We were able to very gently tease the seed out and have given Milo eye drops to sooth the trauma site. Milo was a very brave boy! See the spikey grass seed below!
It’s worth giving dogs a quick groom on return from summer dogs walks to remove any loose seeds that may subsequently cause issues. This will stop them potentially reseeding in your garden too. As summer is the height of parasite season, it’s also a great opportunity to give your pet a quick once over for any nasty creepy crawlies that may have targeted your pet as a tasty host!
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.
Many of you will have met our new veterinary receptionist Emma Kiejda who started with us this June. No stranger to veterinary practice, Emma has a diverse range of industry-related experience. She started out as a Veterinary Care Assistant at the age of 18, using her VCA qualification to support in-patient care. She later moved into a purely customer-facing role as a veterinary receptionist and, after a two year hiatus as an audit coordinator for a pharmaceutical stock taking company, is back in small animal practice – this time with us! Emma thrives on multi-tasking, loves working with people and pets and has a great understanding of front of house activity as well as a useful knowledge of more clinical elements of practice life. She also comes highly recommended by our nurse Rachael Leonard as they used to work together before coming here! We’re delighted to welcome Emma to the 387 Vets & West Midlands Cat Clinic team!
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.
