Muddy Mutts

23/12/2024

We are here to offer some words of wisdom ahead of what might be a busy week or so in your home 💛

Want to learn more about teaching your dog 'leave it'? Click here: https://bit.ly/4iGL7Pz

[Image description: This is an infographic with advice as to how to make your gathering dog-friendly. Keep human treats out of sight, reach and smell. Never force your dog to get involved and ask your guests to respect that too. If your dog seeks comfort, reassure them. Teach the important 'leave it' lesson. If you're outside, make sure your dog has plenty of water and shade all day. Ensure your dog has their own quiet space to retreat and let them hide away if they want.]

20/12/2024

🐾DO YOU KNOW YOUR PAWS? 🐾

The dog paw has five basic parts:
• The Claws
• The Digital Pads
• The Metacarpal Pad (on the front paws) and Metatarsal Pad (on the rear paws)
• The Dew Claw
• The Carpal Pad

The metacarpal, metatarsal, and digital pads function as the load-bearing, shock-absorbing pads to protect the joints and bones in your dog’s paws. They’re covered in thick skin that also helps with skid and traction on a slope or while stopping.

The claws provide traction and help a dog dig. The purpose of the dew claw remains a mystery, though it is believed to have been more useful historically in certain dog breeds for extra grip or for keeping something they are chewing in place.

Not all dogs have dew claws. For most, they will be on the front legs. Less commonly, some dogs will have them on the rear legs.

20/12/2024

🥹

Dion Leonard, a marathon runner from Edinburgh, Scotland, was running a tough 155-mile race in the Gobi Desert when a stray dog, which he later named Gobi, began following him. Gobi ran alongside Dion for nearly 80 miles through extreme heat and challenging conditions, even sleeping next to him during the nights.

At one point during the race, Dion had to help Gobi cross a hazardous river, which made him realize how deeply he cared for the dog. After the race, Dion wanted to bring Gobi home to Scotland, but the dog went missing. Dion flew back to China to search for her and, after much effort, was reunited with her.

Gobi now lives with Dion, his wife, and their cat in Edinburgh, where she enjoys hiking and traveling, though she no longer runs long distances. Dion even wrote a book, Finding Gobi, about their extraordinary journey together.

Their story highlights the unexpected bond that can form between humans and animals, showing how love and dedication can lead to incredible outcomes.

16/12/2024

Lucky for some, certain dog breeds have naturally long and well insulated coats that help keep them warm when the weather gets tough. Unfortunately, lots of other types of dog are more vulnerable. During winter, small breeds with short coats and toy breeds will struggle to keep warm. However, larger breeds can also get chilly despite their size due to their thin coats.

🐾 Small and short coated dog breeds 🐾
Jack Russels
Poodles
Whippets
Dachshunds
Chihuahuas
Basset Hounds
Yorkshire Terriers

🐾 Large and short coated dog breeds 🐾
Dalmations
Staffies
Greyhounds
Doberman Pinschers

All these breeds are more susceptible to the cold however, any dog will get cold if left in the cold or wet for too long

12/12/2024

🍫CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE 🍫

Chocolate poisoning is particularly common at this time of year, especially with the various amounts of Christmas chocolate that may be around your home.

It’s essential to take proactive steps to ensure your dog’s safety around chocolate:

1️⃣ Keep all chocolate out of reach: Make sure that all chocolate products are securely stored in places where your dog cannot access them

2️⃣ Avoid leaving chocolate gifts under your Christmas tree which you dog can get to. And be aware of chocolate decorations you may be using on the tree itself

3️⃣ Resist the temptation to share chocolate with your dog: Despite their pleading eyes, refrain from feeding your dog any chocolate, as it can be harmful to their health. Make sure you also supervise children when eating around your dogs.

4️⃣ Consider homemade dog treats: Treat your dog to homemade treats using safe ingredients.

Dogs with chocolate poisoning may initially be sick, have stomach pain or an upset stomach. If enough chocolate is eaten then the effects can be severe or even fatal.

Additionally, be mindful of chocolate foil wrappers, as they can cause obstructions if ingested. Signs of obstruction may include vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, constipation, or difficulty passing stool.

⚠️If you notice any of these symptoms, seek veterinary attention promptly to ensure your dog’s well-being⚠️

11/12/2024

08/12/2024

It's that time of year when you fill your home with Christmas trees and festive plants 🎄

Please remember not all are pet-friendly. Share our tips to help others keep their pets happy and healthy this festive season.

06/12/2024

05/12/2024

Christmas can be an expensive time of year for many, but what if you're struggling even to feed your beloved pet? We're here to help. 💙

As well as our own pet food banks, we collect items for partner food banks, meaning you can find pet food freely available at over 500 pick-up points across the UK. Like Vincent and his dog, Tika, we're here to keep people and their pets together this . Find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/49pm1AR

05/12/2024

The size of this paw print!! I wonder which dinosaur made this? 🤔 😂

04/12/2024

🚫CHRISTMAS TREE WARNING 🚫

🌲PINE NEEDLES🌲
Although needles from trees such as fir, pine, and spruce are thankfully non-toxic to dogs, they can get embedded in paws and cause mouth irritations. If too many needles are ingested then your dog may end up suffering a nasty stomach upset. With this in mind, think about opting for a fake tree or investing in a protective barricade to prevent your dog from being harmed.

⛄️ ARTIFICIAL SNOW ⛄️
Have you got a snow-covered artificial tree? Unfortunately, artificial snow can contain ingredients that could be toxic to pets and should really be avoided at all costs in favour of ones with snowless branches if you have a curious dog who likes to inspect the tree.

🍫 CHOCOLATE 🍫
You do need to be a bit more careful if you use chocolate decorations especially if you’ve got a pet that will try to sneak one, as dogs should never be allowed chocolate. It is advised to hang any edible decorations right up at the top of your tree, where even the most mischievous of pets can’t reach them.

🌿NATURAL DECORATIONS🌿
Pet owners should be aware that certain festive plants and natural decorations could be harmful to your pet. Be careful with certain festive plants – poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, and ivy can cause varying degrees of stomach upset if eaten by a curious dog.

🎁EDIBLE GIFTS🎁
It is wise to avoid leaving anything edible under your tree, even if it is wrapped. Dogs may rummage through the gifts looking for anything they can eat. Most commonly chocolate gifts which could prove fatal, but also any food gifts could be found by your dog and consumed, so be extra careful this year and keep them out of reach from your curious pets.

🎄SMASHED DECORATIONS🎄
As pretty as glass baubles may be, they can be very dangerous indeed for your dog if they end up smashing. Cuts to the mouth and paws could be very serious, while ingesting broken pieces could even result in lacerations to the throat or internal organs.

03/12/2024

We can sometimes get a bit carried away with the festivities and forget about the Xmas pud on the table and the chocolates scattered around. Or maybe there are some foods you didn’t know are toxic for your dog. So here’s a helpful little reminder. 🙂

🚫TOXIC CHRISTMAS FOODS FOR DOGS 🚫

🍫 CHOCOLATE 🍫
The most common clinical signs of ingesting chocolate are vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, and racing heart rate. In severe cases, symptoms can include muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure.

🦴 COOKED BONES 🦴
Be wary of feeding them cooked turkey, goose and chicken bones as they can easily splinter, causing an obstruction and possibly even piercing your dog’s tummy

🥧 CHRISTMAS CAKE, MINCE PIES & CHRISTMAS PUDDING 🥧
All contain dried fruits such as raisins, currants or sultanas which are toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure.

🌰 MACADAMIA NUTS 🌰
Even a small amount ingested can lead to vomiting, hyperthermia and muscle weakness

🧀 BLUE CHEESE 🧀 can cause vomiting, high temperatures, diarrhoea and even seizures.

🧄🧅 ONIONS, LEEKS, GARLIC, CHIVES & SHALLOTS 🧅🧄
Can cause anaemia, look out for signs of lethargy, weakness, pale gums, fainting, reddish urine and decreased appetite.

🍾 ALCOHOL 🍾
Can cause lethargy, respiratory depression, and dangerously low body temperature in dogs.

REMEMBER your Christmas dinner involves a large amount of dangerous foods for your dog, either through being toxic, too salty or too fatty, so please be safe when trying to include your dog on Christmas Day.

If you think your dog may have eaten something that they shouldn’t or they have symptoms including sickness and diarrhoea, speak to your vet straight away.

01/12/2024

❗️ANTIFREEZE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DOGS❗️

If your dog comes into contact with antifreeze, it can damage their kidneys and cause death, even after only a small amount has been licked. It smells and tastes sweet, so may be irresistible to some dogs.

Dogs will most often come across it after it’s leaked from a car radiator, or been spilt after refilling screen wash.

If you notice any liquids by your car, keep your dog away and clean it up immediately. If they’ve walked through any, then wash their paws with soap and water straight away.

If you think your dog has licked, drank or been in contact with antifreeze, contact your vet immediately.

❗️THE QUICKER YOUR DOG IS TREATED THE BETTER❗️