Pet Owners & Pet Professionals Animal First Aid Courses

21/06/2025

20/06/2025

What happens to a dog’s body when is suffers from heatstroke.

The normal body of a dog is between 37.8-39.2⁰C…… Direct hyperthermal injury to internal organs starts when the body temperature reaches 41⁰C, which is not that much higher than a normal reading. Once the body temperature reaches 42.8⁰C the cells begin to die.

There are two forms of heatstroke:

• Exertional: Dogs working in an environment it is not acclimatised to; this could occur when playing with your dog on a hot day. It is rarely seen in working dogs due to their acclimatisation and the owners are more aware of what environments to work in.
• Non-Exertional: Animals who have not got adequate shade and/or water or the environmental temperature and/or humidity is increased.

When the environmental temperature is too high for an animal to maintain a normal body temperature it will try to cool itself down in several ways.

• Panting: Cool air is breathed in rapidly and passes over tiny capillaries in the nasal area, this cools the blood in the capillaries which is then circulated around the body. Evaporation from the gums also occurs during panting which further aids cooling.
• Re-direction of blood flow: The blood vessels constrict and push the blood to the smaller vessels just below the animals’ skin, this allows the blood to cool and then be circulated around the body to continue to try to reduce body temperature. This will cause the gums to become a darker pink.
• Increased heart rate: The heart pumps at a faster rate to force more blood to the blood vessels closer to the skin.

The consequences on the body if the animals’ environment remains too hot will be:

• Dehydration
• The amount of circulating blood is reduced due to dehydration.
• Blood thickens and microthrombi are formed (blood clots).
• Internal organs such as liver, kidneys, brain, lungs, and heart are damaged.
• Cells start to die because they are not receiving enough oxygen.
• Toxins are released into the blood stream from damaged cells and organs.
• Internal organs will eventually stop working and the animal will die.

Animals at a higher risk:

 Brachycephalic shaped skulls such as Persian cats, Bulldogs and Pugs. Their noses are small therefore the body’s first response to reduce the body temperature (panting) will not be very effective.
 Older animals and those with heart problems will not cope with the increased heart rate for long.
 Obese animals cannot regulate temperature as effectively due to the extra fat layers.

One study has shown a dog will not survive more than 48 minutes in a car where the temperature is 29⁰C and humidity is 90%. In the dogs attempt to escape it suffers from exertional and non-exertional heatstroke.

These are the fact of what happens to animals during heatstroke, all animals can be affected but it is usually dogs that are presented to the veterinary surgery because they have been taken for walks, left in cars, and generally not allowed to roam freely like cats.

18/06/2025

In cases of heatstroke the first aid provided can mean the difference between life and death; YOU need to start the cooling process immediately!

* Remove the animal from the hot environment immediately.
* Place the animal in the shade and if possible on a cool surface like grass. Concrete and bitumen retain heat so will be warmer.
* Bathe/shower in cool/cold water (any water that is cooler than the dog is better than nothing).
* Use cold packs wrapped in cloth on the animal.
* Put air con on/ place animal in front of a fan.
* • Phone your vet and arrange an urgent appointment, all animals who have overheated are at risk of internal organ damage.

17/06/2025

17/06/2025

17/06/2025

Course Dates for the accredited, certified animal (cat & dog) first aid course written and delivered by an experienced qualified, registered Veterinary Nurse with a certificate in Emergency & Critical care.

Gillingham Golf Club, Gillingham, Kent:
Wednesday 23rd July
Wednesday 22nd October
Wednesday 3rd December

Please contact Pet Owners First aid directly (details below) for price and special offers for courses at Gillingham Golf Club.

Hosted Events:
The courses below are organised by independent businesses/groups, Pet Owners First Aid travels to the venues to deliver the course. Contact the host directly for more information, cost and to book.

Newbury, Hampshire:
Aquatic Canine Therapy-ACT Now
Saturday 19th July
Contact: [email protected]

Deal, Kent:
Enve Canine Services LTD
Sunday 17th August
Contact: [email protected]
//www.envecanineservices.co.uk/canine-first-aid-training/

Minster, Thanet, Kent:
Enve Canine Services LTD
Sunday 28th September.
Contact: [email protected]
//www.envecanineservices.co.uk/canine-first-aid-training/

Newbury, Hampshire:
Aquatic Canine Therapy-ACT Now
Saturday 18th October
Contact: [email protected]

Course Information:

Pet Owners and Pet professional animal first aid courses are certified with CPD UK, accredited with AMTRA (14 points) and CHA (refresher), meets NARCH requirements and ICH CPD criteria.

For more information about any of the courses contact me via
Phone: 07395 834735
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.petownersfirstaid.co.uk
Kerry Stubbs RVN CertVNECC MBVNA

15/06/2025

13/06/2025

We tend to see a peak in enquiries about slug baits during the summer months. The most common ingredient in slug bait is ferric phosphate, but we do also receive enquiries regarding metaldehyde and methiocarb-based products.

Ferric phosphate is a relatively insoluble iron salt and is available in slug baits in 1% (amateur products) and 3% (professional products). The remainder comprises filler such as bran and wheat. As a result iron poisoning is not common from ingestion of ferric phosphate slug baits but gastrointestinal signs occur.

As of April 1st 2022, metaldehyde was banned in the United Kingdom due to the risk that it poses to wildlife and the environment. Despite this ban, many owners still have domestic products containing it in their homes that were purchased before the ban was implemented. Metaldehyde is usually found as blue-green pellets but sometimes may be found in liquid preparations. Clinical signs are usually very rapid in onset after exposure and may initially start as gastrointestinal signs before progressing to more complicated and severe neurological signs including prolonged seizure activity.

Methiocarb, is a carbamate and causes rapid onset signs with diarrhoea, bronchial hyper-secretion, constricted pupils, vomiting, twitching, tremors and in severe cases, bradycardia (slow heart rate), seizures, respiratory depression and coma.

If you are concerned that your pet has ingested slug bait, owners can call our Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509 000. Vets can call us for treatment advice on 02073 055 055

13/06/2025

We are aware of a few videos circulating social media at the moment regarding ibuprofen ingestion in dogs.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is commonly used in people for the relief of pain and inflammation associated with aches and pains, headache, cramps and for the relief of mild fever.

Ibuprofen is a very widely available over-the-counter painkiller. Although well tolerated in people, dogs are very sensitive to ibuprofen and ingestion of even a relatively low dose can cause adverse effects on the gut and the kidneys. A very large overdose can even cause very rapid onset features including convulsions.

☎️Owners can call Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 if they are concerned about their pet.

We do not recommend the administration of any human medications without prior consultation with your veterinary surgeon.

13/06/2025

The new addition to the Pet Owners First Aid family (Vinnie) and I made it onto the Vet Times page. 😁

12/06/2025

Day 1 at BVA Live and a new addition to the Pet Owners First Aid family.