Hounds Hooves Paws

30/06/2025

MYTH: A little extra weight on my dog isn’t a big deal.

✅ Fact:
Even a small amount of excess weight puts significant extra stress on your dog’s joints, especially if they have arthritis.

Carrying too much weight can worsen pain, speed up joint damage, and reduce mobility. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, ways to manage arthritis and improve their quality of life.

If you're interested in tailored advice for your dog, our Teleguidance service is for you!
https://caninearthritisteleguidance.co.uk

23/06/2025

MYTH: Dogs with arthritis will always cry or limp if they’re in pain.

✅ Fact:
Many dogs with arthritis don’t cry out or limp, and that can be misleading.
Instead, they often show much subtler signs of pain, like hesitating to go for walks, struggling to get up after resting, avoiding stairs, or simply seeming "not themselves."

You might notice they’re less playful, more withdrawn, or sleeping more than usual. These changes are easy to dismiss as “just getting older,” but they’re often quiet signals that your dog is in pain and needs help.

Recognising these signs early is key to improving their comfort and quality of life.

If you're interested in tailored advice for your dog, our Teleguidance service is for you!
https://caninearthritisteleguidance.co.uk

20/06/2025

With more mini heatwaves occurring in recent years, this advice is more important to follow than ever…

☀️HEATSTROKE WARNING☀️

Today is set to be very warm so please take care of your pets in this weather!

- Don’t walk dogs during the heat of the day (it is already too hot for a lot of dogs to be out walking!)
- Consider keeping outdoor cats inside or provide them with good shaded areas in your garden so they can avoid the heat.
- Small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs should be brought inside and consider giving them access to safe cool packs that they can cool down on.
- Make sure animals have access to fresh cool water at all times.

Please remember brachycephalic breeds such as pugs and bulldogs are more susceptible to heatstroke.

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke:
- “WET THEN VET”
- The most important thing is to cool them quickly, if they are small and it is safe to do so they should be submerged in cool water.
- If this is not possible then cold water should be poured offer them until they are soaking wet. If using a hose make sure it has been ran through first to ensure there is no warm water in the pipe.
- Get them in the car with the air conditioning on and call to let your vet know you are on the way with a possible heatstroke.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:
- History of being outside in the heat or in a car
- Collapse
- Lethargy or restlessness
- Panting excessively
- Vomiting
- Seizures

This a photo of our head nurses puppy Alby enjoying some safe time in the sun!

19/06/2025

Please be aware that our dogs (and other pets) don’t cope as well in higher temperatures - limit exercise to a minimum early morning and later in the evening, keep your pet cool & well.

10/06/2025

Important if you leave your pet in somebody else’s care!

(That’s why it’s part of Hounds Hooves Paws’ client agreement)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12L8qCSx2zE/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Summer is creeping up on us and so are the weekend getaways and vacations. This advice is great for those who might be looking after your pet but ALSO for your Vet Clinic. There is nothing worse than having a pet come in for an emergency and having no permissions to treat the animal on the file because the owners are unreachable and the pet sitter doesn't know what the decision might be for CPR or other treatments. Plan for the unexpected and enjoy your time away.

03/06/2025

When is safe and convenient to so, it’s nice to let our dogs get as smelly and dirty as they like.

Letting them practice natural behaviours at appropriate times gives them the outlets they need.

26/05/2025

Body language all depends on the dog and the context. Licks, jumping, belly rubs can be ways to both increase and decrease distance, your dog inviting you for more contact.

With our own dogs, we can stay curious and experiment. Only we know them best. For dogs that don’t know us as well, we can take note and move with more caution.

Often bites happen during these confusing signals, when dogs are misread. It doesn’t mean your dogs love means go away but that we can gain the knowledge to open up conversations with every furry friend.

Still confused? My body language bundle is just $1 and includes breakdowns of these more confusing behaviours. Comment 🐶 and I’ll DM you the link.