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.
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Dental health checks are just as important in pets as they are in humans. They can identify existing problems owners may be unaware about that need addressing as pets can be very good at hiding pain. They are also really useful for catching dental and periodontal disease early to prevent continuing deterioration. Did you know that we now run nurse-led dental clinics specifically to assess pet dental and oral health and to give advice on dental home care for happy healthy pet smiles?
At 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic, we have a Tooth Fairy Team who are super passionate about pet dental care. The team includes several Registered Veterinary Nurses, trained to carry out dental scale and polishes to support good pet dental health. This is Alanna carrying out a scale and polish on gorgeous 10 year old cockapoo Sidney who was suffering from early onset gum disease. Plaque and tartar build up is a common cause of this condition (known as gingivitis), where gums become irritated and red, can exhibit swelling and even bleed. Scaling and polishing cleans the teeth and removing the trigger.
If you think your pet would benefit from a dental health check, please give us a ring on 01922 411755.
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.
387 Vets is proud to hold Training Practice status with our governing body, The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and we currently have four student nurses in our team. Training colleges require that each student nurse has a clinical coach in practice. Over half of our 12-strong team of Registered Veterinary Nurses are, or have been, trained clinical coaches. What a fab statistic!
The role of a clinical coach is to help students practise, hone and sign off a wide portfolio of qualification-dictated skills to agree competency, as well as offering ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship with blended learning and assignment queries and logging evidence.
Our RVN Katie is clinical coach to Isobel who is now entering the final stages of her course.
“I became a clinical coach because I wanted to help and inspire a new generation of veterinary nurses. I really enjoy teaching and supporting students as they progress through their course and love watching their confidence and skills grow.”
Three cheers for our clinical coach champions, helping our student nurses to realise their dream!
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 was taken this morning! Happy World Bee Day to all the bees! As a Bee Friendly Practice with the British Bee Veterinary Association (BBVA), we’re particularly passionate about supporting bees and have planted lots of bee-friendly vegetation around our practice site to help sustain them throughout the year. With the disappearance of 97% of wildflower meadows in the UK, mostly through intensive agriculture and the associated use of herbicides and pesticides, any help communities can offer by planting bee and pollinator friendly plants in gardens or in public spaces for valuable nectar and pollen supply is becoming increasingly important. The Royal Horticultural Society have a great resource page on their website for pollinator-friendly planting inspiration!
In case you missed last week’s ‘bee’ post, we’re giving away free sunflower seeds on our reception desks for you to plant at home to help feed the bees and other wildlife. Please pop in to pick up a pack. We’d love to see photos of your success stories once your sunflowers have grown!
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 week, in support of May’s Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, we’re continuing to profile the fab work undertaken by our veterinary nurses at 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic.
This is 13 year old Rocky who has been attending mobility clinics here since February. Rocky was enrolled by his owners as he was becoming weaker and uncomfortable on his back legs and they’d noticed he had been finding it difficult to get up the stairs at home. His owners had stopped taking him out for walks before he came to see us as they were worried about Rocky’s ability to get out and about.
Our mobility clinics are run by Paige who holds a Certificate in Canine Mobility Nursing and has been granted a Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance Blue Paw Award in recognition of her knowledge and ability to improve osteoarthritis care in veterinary practice. Paige recommended certain lifestyle changes that could be implemented at home to support Rocky, as well as adapting his exercise routine and reviewing his diet. Staying in shape is important as excess body fat not only increases pressure placed on the body’s joints, but joints are also at increased risk of inflammatory response.
With careful control of daily calorie intake, joint supplements and a tailored exercise programme, Rocky is back to enjoying dog walks, has lost 1.2kg and seems generally happier and brighter all round. At his latest appointment, Rocky’s owner reported having had to move out of the way at home as Rocky raced past him up the stairs! Paige was so proud of Rocky’s progress and improvement, that she almost cried!
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.
