Grene Trest

18/09/2025

What's your dog's battery like?

I've recently had a few cases where owners have been working really hard on an issue like reactivity to other dogs, being left alone, or simply adding in extra enriching training. And the dogs are rocking it... but also occasionally showing problem behaviour at home like destruction or snapping at their doggy housemates.
It can initially seem confusing... after all, the idea of training is for them to feel better and behave better. But in the early stages of learning a new 'sport' or a new way of acting around dogs and people are tiring mentally and physically. If your dog has used all their brain energy during training, they might not have the energy to cope with their bouncy housemate, or they might just want to rip something up to help them relax.
Once you know how your dog reacts when their batteries are low, and what drains their battery, you can plan better. Maybe give them some alone time to rest and relax, or offer something safe to destroy... whatever they need.
As they practise their new skills they won't drain the battery as fast and will be able to regulate their behaviour at home better too.

19/07/2025

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share—but it's time to rethink the surgical approach. Hysterectomies and vasectomies, which preserve hormonal balance, can safely be performed as early as 8 weeks of age, making dogs sterile without disrupting their natural hormones.

In this study, researchers looked at whether the age at which dogs were spayed or neutered, meaning how long they were exposed to their natural s*x hormones, affected how healthy they were in old age. They studied a group of long-lived pet dogs to learn what helps dogs live longer, healthier lives. Dogs with the fewest age-related health problems were considered the most “robust.”

The results showed that both male and female dogs who kept their hormones longer (i.e., were spayed or neutered later) were 3 to 10 times more likely to be healthy in old age compared to those altered earlier. Once hormone exposure and age were taken into account, there was no difference in old-age health between males and females.

This study highlights how important s*x hormones may be for staying healthy later in life and shows that early-life decisions—like when to spay or neuter—can have long-term effects on health.

20/06/2025

LUNGWORM

Many of our clients want to reduce the frequency that they give worming treatments. This may be to reduce the amount of pharmaceuticals they give their dog, to save money, or to reduce the risks of environmental contamination. But it is essential to ensure your dog gets the protection they need.
Lungworm is prevalent in the South East, and though young dogs are at highest risk, any dog can be affected.
Some dogs have no symptoms, while others may have a soft cough. Most seriously, lungworm can cause clotting defects and can lead to fatal bleeding.

In my part of the world, I can only recommend monthly lungworm treatment or testing every 3 months (monthly for puppies). It simply isn't worth the risk.
If you are worried either about parasites or about how you can reduce your paraciticide use please talk to your vet.
We are happy to book appointments to discuss a holistic approach, including individualised testing recommendations.

19/06/2025

17/06/2025

We are looking into the possibility of launching a Dog Grooming Championship to celebrate the incredible talent and creativity in dog grooming. We would love to hear from dog groomers, competitors, and enthusiasts. Your thoughts will help shape this potential new event, so please take a few minutes to fill out our short survey.

Plus, you will be entered into a prize draw! 🎉

The survey can be accessed via the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/Bhq5vXw44C and the closing date is 6 July 2025.

All responses are anonymous and will only be used for research and planning.

14/06/2025

I love this cartoon!
There is no one correct way to feed a dog. And whether your dog is on a highly processed science based kibble diet for a health issue, you spend ages building a raw prey model feast, or anything in between... your dog will always be a p**p eating scavenger at heart!
At Four Seasons we believe fed is best as will help you find a diet that works for you and your dog.

Credit: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FwpMeE1JD/

22/05/2025

We are pleased to welcome the return of pet passports! ✈️

Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs at The Kennel Club said: “We thoroughly support the reintroduction of the pet passport system, meaning that dogs travelling from the UK will no longer need animal health certificates for every trip – which have proved to be both costly and burdensome for pet owners, and something we have continued to raise concerns about with Government officials in the UK.

“This is a very positive step and we thank all those MPs who have kept pet travel high on the agenda with the EU, and helped to deliver a solution for dog owners.”

Further information about The Kennel Club’s campaign to ensure smooth pet travel post-Brexit is available on the organisation’s website: thekennelclub.org.uk/brexit.

22/04/2025

👍

17/04/2025

💚💚Looking for his forever 🏡.. Black/Tan mini Wirehaired Dachshund, 🌭 Nijinsky is vet health checked 100% clear health, vaccinated, microchip, flea/wormed to date, kc reg, 5 weeks free insurance, extremely well socialised raised in family home, good basic training, happy to use crate, potty training going well, ready now
Lafora & Pra hereditary clear
Parents are of good health & temperament 💕
DM for more information

24/03/2025

04/03/2025

Blogs are back!
My website is the place for longer form blogs that take a deeper dive into pet care. This week I am talking about Pain and Problem Behaviours.

https://holisticvetsuss*x.co.uk/2025/03/04/pain-and-problem-behaviour/