Dogmatix

14/05/2024

Hi everyone

It's holiday season! A time when we love to take our dogs with us for a stroll along the beach.........what could be better!

So, without wanting to be a kill joy I just wanted to make you aware of the dangers associated with the ingestion of too much sea water in dogs.

Extract from Kennel Club:
Dogs Drinking Salt Water
Dogs love the beach, but playing games of fetch, chasing waves, and swimming can all lead to a thirsty dog who consumes salt water. In most cases, a few mouthfuls of salt water may only cause diarrhoea. Consuming large amounts of salt water, however, can be fatal.

When a dog ingests salt water, the excess salt draws water from the blood into the intestines, leading to diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration. Salt water also disrupts the fluid balance in your dog. Dogs with toxic levels of sodium in their systems have a mortality rate higher than 50 percent, regardless of treatment.

When too much salt builds up in a dog’s body, their cells release their water content to try and balance out the sodium disparity. This, in turn, causes a litany of serious health effects. It can cause seizures, a loss of brain cells, injury to the kidneys, and severe dehydration. If a dog with saltwater poisoning isn’t treated medically, the condition can easily lead to death.

Treating Saltwater Poisoning in Dogs
If you suspect that your dog has consumed a toxic amount of salt water, your best bet is to get them to the veterinarian as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for saltwater poisoning in dogs.

Your veterinarian will attempt to restore your dog’s water and electrolyte balance to normal levels. Lowering sodium levels too quickly, however, can be dangerous, increasing the likelihood of cerebral oedema (fluid on the brain). A veterinarian will administer IV fluids to try and flush the excess salt out of your dog’s body. Your vet will also monitor your dog’s electrolytes, provide treatment for brain swelling, control seizures, and offer supportive care.

In ideal cases, the water and electrolyte balance will be restored over a period of 2-3 days. This usually involves hospitalization. Further supportive care and medications may be given, depending on your dog’s condition.

Just something to be aware of when holidaying near the coast!

Have lots of sunny summer fun!

12/03/2024

Just for info - a recent post from Willow Veterinary Centre regarding a canine intestinal bug that seems to be doing the rounds.

🚑💩🚑 PLEASE SHARE - DIARRHOEA CASES ON THE UP - LONG POST ALERT!!! 🚑💩🚑

We are seeing a lot of cases of diarrhoea in dogs at both surgeries at the moment and so we are going to put some measures in place to ensure that if there is a bug doing the rounds, we don't end up transmitting anything between our patients entering the surgery. If your pet needs a vet appointment because they are unwell and showing signs of diarrhoea and/or vomiting, we will ask you to WAIT IN YOUR CAR with your pet on arrival at the surgery and call us to let us know you are here - you will be marked on our computer system as 'arrived' as normal. When your vet is ready to see you they will give you a call or pop out to the carpark to collect you and bring you and your pet in through the side door (known as door 2 during covid!!) at the Newport surgery and either straight in to the consult room through the waiting room or guide you through the garden and in via the garden entrance to the vet consultation room at Olney. PLEASE DO NOT FEEL LIKE A PARIAH!!! This is purely to keep everyone safe and ensure any potentially infectious animals have minimal contact with other pets while at Willow Vets.

Please also bear in mind that the vast majority of dogs with diarrhoea are mildly affected and will recover without a visit to the vets - below follows advice on what to do if your dog has diarrhoea but is otherwise bright and happy in themselves and eating normally -
1) Bland diet - the advice used to be to starve dogs when they had diarrhoea, but this is no longer the case - the intestinal lining cells will heal quicker if they are given some nutrition!! The best thing would be to feed an appropriate formulated bland diet and you are welcome to come into the surgery without an appointment and pick some up. If you are unable to come in, cooked white chicken meat or white fish with cooked white rice is a useful stop gap. Feeding little and often is easiest on the gut so give 3 or 4 small meals a day.
2) Pro/prebiotics - these can be really helpful in rebalancing the gut flora and can really speed up a return to normal motions - again you can come in and pick these up from the surgery without an appointment.
It is useful to note that we almost never give antibiotics for a simple case of diarrhoea - we tend only to use these when a faecal culture has been performed and indicates appropriate antibiotic use. There have been many recent scientific studies which have shown that giving antibiotics has no effect on the length of time if takes for a case of diarrhoea to resolve!!
It is also not unusual to see a small amount of fresh red blood if your dog has had diarrhoea for a few days - this usually comes from the inflamed lining of the colon, so don't panic if you see this but of course feel free to give us a call for advice.
If your dog is also vomiting, seems very quiet or depressed, is refusing food that they would normally eat, if the diarrhoea has been present for a few days and is getting worse rather than better, if the diarrhoea darkens in colour and becomes 'tarry' looking or if your dog starts to pass a large amount of blood it may be that we will need to make an appointment to check things out so do give us a call.

Thanks for reading and please please share to get the message out there!!!

18/12/2023

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a great time......

Before we commence with all the fun and festivities, a timely reminder of all the dangers that could affect our furry friends over the Christmas period, some of which could be very unpleasant and others potentially fatal. Either way, it could mean an untimely and very costly trip to the vets!
Please follow link below for further info:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/christmas-dangers-for-dogs
Let's keep our pets safe!dogs

Many Christmas foods are tasty for us but dangerous for dogs. Keep your dog safe this festive season with our expert advice.

16/10/2023

Autumn is such a lovely season but just a reminder that it's conker season again.
I'm sure you're aware that conkers and acorns are toxic to dogs, causing vomiting and intestinal upset and can occasionally cause an obstruction which can lead to serious complications.
Depending where you walk you can find them littered all over the pathways and grassy areas, making it really difficult to avoid them!
Happy autumn!

We receive lots of enquires at this time of year about dogs eating acorns (the fruit of oak) and conkers (the seed of the horse chestnut). With acorns about a quarter of dogs remain well and with conkers about a third of dogs do not develop any signs. With both acorns and conkers, the most common si...

01/03/2023

It's lambing season again (primarily March-May and it's vital that dog owners keep their dogs under control around livestock at all times.

Under the Animal Act 1971 (section 9) Farmers are entitled to shoot any dog that is perceived to be worrying their sheep.

Please always remember to walk your dog responsibly by:
* keeping your dog on lead
* keeping to the designated pathways

Let's keep our dogs ..... and sheep ......safe!

09/12/2022

A heads up - just in case you have some in your cupboard....

The prescription dog food label was placed on non-prescription dog food.

07/10/2022

The firework season is fast approaching and we all need to be thinking about steps we can take to prepare for the event and help keep your dog calm when the "fun" begins!

Things to think about:

Walk your dog during daylight hours to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off.
Start now to create that safe haven that your dog becomes familiar with before the fireworks start. Don't forget to provide toys and other things to the area that they enjoy.
Make sure not to leave your dog alone if possible.
Close windows and curtains to help minimise the sounds and muffle the sound of fireworks.
Blackout your dog's safe haven, so they can't see any flashes outside.
Put on some music or TV to mask the firework sounds.
Ignore the firework noises yourself. Play with a toy to see if your dog wants to join in, but don't force them to play, just be mindful that they may just prefer to be left alone.
Check out Dogs Trust - they have sound therapy videos available which are free.
Start to prepare your dog for next year by training your dog to have a positive attitude to novelty such as fireworks.
Keep our dogs safe!
You may like to consider pheromone diffusers - your vet will be able to advise.

T

26/09/2022

IT'S CONKER SEASON AGAIN - EVEN EARLIER THAN NORMAL THIS YEAR!
Just a reminder that conkers are toxic to dogs and contain a poison called aesculin, which is found in all parts of the horse chestnut tree, so even the leaves are toxic. Whilst dogs normally need to ingest several to suffer severe poisoning, emergency vets regularly see cases of conker poisoning in dogs at this time of year and whilst serious cases are thankfully uncommon, they do occur!
If you have any concerns that your dog may have ingested some of the seeds or leaves please do seek urgent veterinary advice.

10/07/2022

Hi everyone

It looks like we're heading for a period of scorching weather and it's crucial to keep your dog cool during these times to avoid the dangers of heatstroke.

Heatstroke is a very serious condition that can progress very quickly, and in severe cases, cause seizures, organ damage and death. Dogs are not very efficient at regulating their body temperature effectively and can overheat quite quickly.

Cases of heatstroke in dogs don't just occur during exercise and can also be caused by being trapped somewhere hot, or in some circumstances, even just sitting somewhere warm.

If your dog is showing signs of heatstroke, immediately start first aid and contact your vet. pop your dog on a wet towel - but make sure not cover the dog with the towel as this will make them even hotter. The quicker your dog is cooled down and treated by a vet, the better their chance of a full recovery but please make sure that you do this slowly not using icy water. Give them an opportunity to drink.

It’s important to take precautions to keep your dog safe on warm days - please take time to read the attached.

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/heatstroke-in-dogs/

As temperatures rise on warm spring days or during hot summer heatwaves your dog is more at risk of developing heatstroke (also known as heat-related illness, heat exhaustion, sunstroke or hyperthermia), but what causes it, how can you prevent it and what can you do to help treat an overheated dog?

06/07/2022

02/05/2022

Bluebell woods are so pretty, however just a timely reminder that amongst many other plants and bulbs, our lovely bluebell woods can also carry dangers of toxicity for dogs.

Symptoms of poisoning from plants can include sickness, diarrhoea, excessive drooling, lethargy and difficulty swallowing - and owners should contact their vet if they think their dog has ingested a toxic plant

13/04/2022

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

With Easter just around the corner this may be a good time for a timely reminder about the dangers of chocolate for dogs.

As little at 30g of chocolate can be enough to poison a dog of 20kg.

If you're concerned that your dog may may have ingested chocolate, time is of the essence - getting to a vet within 2 hrs so that they are able to induce vomiting could save your pets' life.

Have a great Easter - and please THINK DOG!

24/02/2022

This is a WARNING for anyone who walks their dogs at Irchester Country Park. Apparently snares have been found there and one owner actually discovered his dog with one caught around its neck! Please keep your dogs in close proximity whilst walking in this area and please do report any findings to the local Park Ranger immediately.

17/02/2022

Hello everyone! Time to buckle up in preparation for the latest storm forecast. So just a reminder to make sure and check that your fences are secure and gates are fastened to keep your dogs safe. Be sure to check the area thoroughly before letting your pet/s out during these high winds and gales. A dog's sense of smell can be affected by these conditions, meaning that they could lose their sense of direction.

Always walk your pet on the lead in these conditions as dogs can become agitated and this can be exacerbated by of the risk of flying debris.

If you haven't done so already please check with your microchip registration service to ensure that the correct details are logged. There have been many instances in the past where the vet or breeder hasn't changed the ownership details to that of the current owner.

Let's keep our pets safe!

02/11/2021

Hello everyone
Well.......it's that time of year again and at the risk of sounding like a squeaky wheel........I really hope you've been preparing your dog for the firework season!

It's always advisable to prepare for the situation and begin to desensitise them to sudden loud bangs well beforehand, rather than trying to manage it on the night. Preparation is absolute key.

If you haven't managed to do this, or you have a new puppy, then the attached post from the RSPCA gives some really valuable advice. You'll also find some suggestions on the DogsTrust site for videos and white noise to mask the scary noises.

Let's keep them all safe and calm!

Many animals find fireworks scary, however there are things you can do to help. Read our tips on how you can make fireworks less frightening for your pet.

01/09/2021

Hi everyone - I feel sure most of you will be aware of the necessity to make sure your dog is "buckled up" when in a vehicle, however, you may not be aware of the dangers posed to dogs by allowing them to travel in the front passenger seat. The deployment of an air bag is so strong could cause critical injury or death to a dog and the force is such that it can even crush a dog crate. If there is no alternative then make sure you disable the airbag. If this isn't possible then don't risk your dog's life by letting them ride 'shotgun'!

Happy travelling!

While it’s second nature for humans to wear a seatbelt when entering a car, many drivers are breaking the law when it comes to traveling with pets – and it could land you a huge penalty fine

30/07/2021

Something to be aware of! This guy was one lucky little terrier and was rescued after 7 hours underground in a badger sett and having gained a puncture wound and several fleas, presumable a gift from the owner of the sett!
Badgers are known to kill when protecting their territory.

We highly recommend keeping dogs on leads or under very close control when in areas that animals live. This dog was lucky to get out alive. At the wrong time of year a badger could kill a dog in a flash.



Dog disappears in Sheffield badger sett for SEVEN hours

A dog spent seven hours down a badger sett in Sheffield after disappearing on a walk with his owner.

Plug the terrier was out walking with his owner in Mosborough last Saturday morning when he vanished at around 8am.

Animal charity RSPCA inspector Sandra Dransfield said Plug's owner could hear him down a hole next to a field of crops, but couldn't see him.

She said: “We suspected it was a badger sett which is legally protected. He called us for assistance and we advised him to keep calling and use some smelly, tasty treats to try to encourage the little terror out.

A dog was stuck underground for seven hours after disappearing down a badger sett
A dog was stuck underground for seven hours after disappearing down a badger sett
“I went to the scene to establish whether the hole was an active badger sett, which it clearly was, and explained that there are rules around interfering with setts.

“His owner briefly left the scene to return home and get some more treats and while I was chatting to a colleague and fellow wildlife officer about the situation, a nose popped out of the hole!”

By this point, Plug had been underground for seven hours and Sandra was keen to get him back above ground.

“He disappeared again but, with lots of calling and yummy treats, he thankfully came back to the surface and the cheeky little terrier poked his head out,” she said.

“I managed to grab him and check him over. He was very dirty and had a puncture wound to his muzzle as well as a few fleas but, luckily, he was otherwise fine.

“I called his owner and he immediately returned and was thrilled to have Plug back safe and sound. He was very relieved and took him to the vets for treatment for the wound.”

Badgers are protected and so are the setts where they live, as stated under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Prison sentences of six months and unlimited fines can be issued if anyone is found guilty of offences including intentionally capturing, killing or injuring a badger, or damaging, destroying or blocking access to their setts.

It is also illegal to deliberately send or intentionally allow a dog into a sett.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/dog-disappears-in-sheffield-badger-sett-for-seven-hours-3324869

22/07/2021

I’m sure you’ll all be aware but still thought it was well worth posting - especially during this hot spell! Water intoxication is rare but when it happens the symptoms can escalate very rapidly so always best to monitor.

Ice may not be a summer danger to our dogs but Water Intoxication can be!

Water Intoxication is a rare but very serious problem that can develop in dogs who play in water a lot, especially during warm weather.

It is caused by dogs drinking far too much, often because they are chasing balls in and out of lakes all day or they have been playing for hours in paddling pools, bobbing for treats or with hoses.

Basically the excessive water intake really dilutes their system and causes their natural salt levels to drop so low that they collapse and can start to fit.

Water IS a great way to help dogs stay cool in hot weather and keeping their coats damp, encouraging them to lie in paddling pools and keeping them hydrated is very important but take care to limit any games that might cause them to gulp down lots of water by accident.

Please don't panic and stop your dog enjoying a splash about in the sunshine, just make sure they aren't doing excessive exercise, especially with balls that they have to grab out of the water and, as always, during the very hottest times of day, make them rest calmly in the cool shade.

If you think your dog might be developing water intoxication they can become very poorly, very quickly. They can become lethargic, wobbly and collapse and start to fit. If you are at all concerned you must ring your local vet immediately and get your dog to them for testing and treatment.