Regular check-ups and screenings help keep their hearts strong and happy.
This World Heart Day, show your pet some love by prioritising their heart health.
#WorldHeartDay ❤️🩹
🌞 Summer days are here, and it's important to keep our furry friends hydrated!
Whether it's a trip to the park or a garden play session, make sure your pup has access to plenty of fresh water to beat the heat.
Remember, a hydrated dog is a happy dog! 🩵💦
TREATS AND FORAGE 🍓
Treats are a great way to bond with your rabbits. Treats are often high in sugar so should be fed in moderation (couple of times per week). Things like strawberries or carrot are fine in moderation but no more than 1cm of carrot per rabbit- only Bugs Bunny can eat the whole thing!).
Rabbits are natural foragers and love things that ware their teeth down. Offer them things found in the wild such as apple or willow branches, brambles or dandelion roots. A easy and free way to keep your rabbits healthy! Penny and Benny love apple branches 🍎 #rabbitawarenessweek
Nuggets 💚
Good quality pellets should make up only 10% of your rabbits diet. Use pellets instead of muesli to prevent selective feeding. As an approximate amount, your rabbit should get an egg cup per kilo of weight (usually 2 egg cups per day for an average sized rabbit). Rabbits are nature foragers so why not make breakfast time a fun game for them? Penny and Benny get their pellets sprinkled in a forage box and as you can see, they dig right in to get them out! (Please only use cardboard/ paper if you know your rabbit won’t eat it. Cardboard can cause blockages if your rabbit eats it.)
#rabbitawarenessweek
Fresh food 🌱
Rabbits need a small amount of fresh greens in their daily diet. Fresh greens should only make up around 10% of your rabbits diet. Herbs are a good healthy option- Penny and Benny love basil and mint! You should avoid rich greens like kale and spring greens on a daily basis as they can cause tummy upsets. Check out the Rabbit Awareness website for more information on fresh greens. https://rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/rabbit-welfare/diet/
Hay!
Did you know your rabbits diet should be 85-90% hay or grass? Hay is extremely high in fibre which vital for dental and gut health. The action of eating hay helps grind down rabbits teeth, which are constantly growing. Not enough hay in your rabbits diet can lead to potentially fatal problems. Choose hay that is long stemmed and green, such as Timothy Hay. If you find your rabbit doesn’t like a certain type of hay, try something different as all rabbits will have a preference!
Penny and Benny love their hay so much, they can’t even wait for Amy to get it out the box when it arrives!!
#rabbitawarenessweek
🐾 True or False? 🐾
🐶"Wait until they're 6 months old before leaving a puppy alone." 🚫
🌟Fact Check: Early independence training is key! Here's the scoop:
1️⃣Start Young, Start Gradual: Waiting until 6 months can make this training more difficult. Begin teaching your puppy to stay alone early to prevent separation anxiety down the road. Gradually build up the time.
2️⃣Short and Sweet Sessions: Leave them alone for short periods initially. It can be as simple as stepping into another room for a few minutes. Gradual exposure is the key.
3️⃣Chews and Comfort: Provide distractions like chews or toys to keep your pup occupied. Make the experience positive, associating alone time with enjoyable activities.
4️⃣Listen to Cues: If your puppy is distressed, start with very short intervals, even as brief as 10 seconds. Gradually increase as they become more comfortable.
5️⃣Seek Professional Help: If leaving your puppy is a challenge, don't
hesitate to reach out to an accredited dog trainer or behaviourist for personalised guidance.
🐾Building independence early fosters a confident, well-adjusted pup!
🐾 True or False? 🐾
"Old dogs can't learn new tricks; it's too late to teach them!" 🚫
🌟Fact Check: Age is just a number when it comes to dog learning! That said, learned behaviours like reactivity can be challenging to extinguish but they can always be improved.
Here's the truth:
1️⃣Brain Plasticity Persists: While brain plasticity (ability of the brain to change) decreases with age, it doesn't mean dogs can't learn. They may just need a bit more patience and positive reinforcement.
2️⃣Teaching is Possible: If your adult dog is pulling on the lead, teaching them to walk nicely is absolutely possible! Engage in various exercises and games to make the learning process enjoyable for both of you.
3️⃣Patience and Positive Reinforcement: Older dogs can benefit from patient and positive training methods. Use treats, praise, and consistency to encourage the desired behaviour.
4️⃣Tailored Exercises: Tailor your training to suit your dog's needs. Mix up exercises and games to keep it interesting and engaging.
Remember, it's never too late to enrich your dog's life with new skills and behaviours. Age is just a number; the joy of learning is timeless!
🐾 True or False? 🐾
"That guilty dog look means my pup knows they did something wrong!"
🌟Fact Check: The 'guilty dog look' is often misunderstood! It's not guilt; it's stress signals. Here's the scoop:
1️⃣Dogs are master readers of body language. They pick up on cues that signal our reactions. That 'guilty look' may just be their way of anticipating our response and trying to avoid a strong reaction.
2️⃣Dogs don't experience guilt; it's a higher-order emotion. They can't
discern right from wrong. Instead, they've learned that certain behaviours lead to a less severe response when they display stress signals.
3️⃣When your dog counter surfs, it's not thievery but a natural scavenging instinct. Understanding their behaviour helps foster a positive relationship.
📚 Interested in delving deeper? Check out this paper on how dogs perceive humans and the ethical aspects of their treatment: Frontiers | How Dogs Perceive Humans and How Humans Should Treat Their Pet Dogs: Linking Cognition With Ethics (frontiersin.org)
🤝Let's replace guilt with understanding and build a positive connection with our furry friends!
The first and last face you see when you visit.
From booking in pets for a routine vaccination to dealing with an emergency arrival. Our receptionists have one of the most demanding and critical roles.
We’d like to say a massive thank you to all of our Garden Vets receptionists for their amazing efforts every single day.
We 🩵 You! #VeterinaryReceptionistWeek
🐾True or False? 🐾
"Your dog needs to play with dogs when they are young to prevent them from being reactive."
Fact Check: While letting your puppy interact with other dogs is crucial, it's not just about quantity, but QUALITY!
Socialisation goes beyond playdates – it's about introducing them to a wide variety of safe dogs and to new experiences like novel objects, sounds, smells, and surfaces.
So why not just endless play with furry friends? Socialisation is a well-rounded approach and many older dogs will not want to play with them. Controlled and positive interactions with dogs, humans, and diverse environments are key. Remember, it's about setting the stage and putting in the time for a well-adjusted, friendly companion.
📍Pro Tip: When seeking socialisation opportunities, look for trainers and vets promoting controlled and positive based learning in their classes. Your pup will learn how to focus and thrive in various situations.
