Meadow Farm Canine Hydrotherapy & Rehabilitation

30/09/2024

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03/08/2024

Sound advice on how to treat heat stroke in animals.

Is it true that if we use cold water on heat stroke pets they will go into shock?

One of the most common things we still hear is that we can only use tepid water on a pet with heat stroke, incase they get some complications like hypothermic overshoot, peripheral vasoconstriction hindering a cooling response, and cardiogenic shock...

We have heard not to use cold water in case it causes shock... this rarely happens!

But guess what? In a recent study over 26% of dogs presented with heat stroke died, with flat faced breeds making up nearly half of heat stroke cases seen in the study.

You should:

💧Get someone to call the local veterinary practice and tell them you're going to travel down with a heat stroke patient
💧Pour, hose or if possible immerse the pet in very cold water (this should obviously be done under constant supervision, ensuring the head is fully above water and immersion should not be attempted if the animal is too large, or you are unable to do so without hurting yourself)
💧NB: If using a hose pipe, make sure it has run through until cold, as they can often contain water that is extremely hot in the tubing initially
💧Do not drape in towels and leave them in situ. Keep the cold water flowing.
💧Move to a cool, shaded area
💧Prepare to transport to vets in a cold, air conditioned car

In studies they found that:

🌅International consensus from sports medicine organisations supports treating EHS with early rapid cooling by immersing the casualty in cold water.
🌅Ice-water immersion has been shown to be highly effective in exertional heat stroke, with a zero fatality rate in large case series of younger, fit patients.
🌅Hyperthermic individuals were cooled twice as fast by Cold Water Immersion as by passive recovery.
🌅No complications occurred during the treatment of three older patients with severe heat stroke were treated with cold‐water immersion.
🌅Cold water immersion (CWI) is the preferred cooling modality in EHS guidelines and the optimal method applicable to UK Service Personnel
🌅Studies suggest using either ice-water or cold-water immersion

The best intervention is PREVENTION, but if you find yourself with an animal with heat stroke, using cold water either by pouring, hosing or ideally (if safe) immersion then this may help reduce their temperature to safe levels while you transport to a veterinary practice.

Read more below:

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/cool-icy-cold-or-tepid

23/07/2024

This is everything we base our practice on at Meadow Farm, quality holistic pain management!!! For all ages and issues.

It’s never ever too early to treat pain and ethically we have a duty to do so, as owners and therapists.

The options are various so whatever your thoughts and beliefs, however subtle the changes please contact us for an assessment so that we can help your animals (not just dogs) to live long, comfortable and fulfilling lives.

It's not OK to leave a pet in pain.
Pain can be difficult to recognise. Some pets, especially cats and small pets, hide their pain well. Even dogs may be in significant pain but try to carry on as normal.
Subtle symptoms of painful conditions include moving less or more slowly, changes in how obstacles are tackled, behaviour changes, appetite increasing or decreasing, weight gain or loss, altered sleeping patterns, over or undergrooming... the list is really long!
Pain management is a huge part of the work of Four Seasons Holistic Veterinary Care, both in our acupuncture patients, but also our behaviour cases.
It is vital to treat pain when we find or suspect it. And we have many options available. Some pain may be alleviated by surgical management, and many cases require conventional medicines in the short or long term. Surgery and medications have risks and costs as well as benefits, and we are happy to discuss these. We also offer non-drug options, including acupuncture and herbal medicines. We strongly suggest consulting a vet before starting any herbs or supplements as these may not be suitable or useful in all cases.
Other therapies that can be useful to control pain include physiotherapy, massage, hydrotherapy, TENS, PEMF, and therapeutic laser!
Don't assume there is nothing vets can do for pain or that medications are to be avoided until the last minute. The earlier we deal with pain, the better we can control it.

16/07/2024

For those of you considering pet steps for your sofa and beds, now discounted.

Amazon Basics offers everyday items for your home, office, garden and more. With a selection that continues to grow, the Amazon Basics brand is set to become a part of your daily convenience for electronics products and lifestyle.

05/07/2024

24/06/2024

It's the silly season for posts about things that will kill your dog. A frozen treat won't kill your dog!
Whilst we don't recommend giving an overheated dog iced water, there is no harm at all in a normal dog getting a frozen treat.
Ideas for cooling dog treat ingredients include frozen dog drinks (this paw is frozen Furr Boost), ice with fruit in, goats milk and dog treats, and frosty grated vegetables.

31/12/2023

We wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year.

24/12/2023

We wish all our four footed clients and their families a very Merry Christmas. Have a lovely festive holiday and we look forward to seeing you all again in January.