Best Paw Forward Ltd

17/04/2025

Don’t forget we are closed for Easter so today is your last day to get dog food and make appointments!

14/04/2025

Don’t forget your dog food before Friday!!
Closed from Friday to Tuesday for Easter!

07/04/2025

05/04/2025

I am a 21st century dog….
-I'm a Malinois.
Overskilled among dogs, I excel in all disciplines and I'm always ready to work: I NEED to work.
But nowadays I get asked to chill on the couch all day everyday.

-I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were selected for fighting bears.
Today I get asked to be tolerant and I get scolded for my reactivity when another approaches me.

-I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters could follow.
Today they put an electric collar on me to shut up, and you make me come back to you - no running - with a snap of your fingers.

-I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
I was a terrifying rat hunter in English mines.
Today they think I can't use my legs and they always hold me in their arms.

-I'm a Labrador Retriever.
My vision of happiness is a dive into a pond to bring back the duck he shot to my master.
Today you forget I'm a walking, running, swimming dog; as a result I'm fat, made to stay indoors, and to babysit.

-I am a Jack Russell.
I can take on a fox, a mean badger, and a rat bigger than me in his den.
Today I get scolded for my character and high energy, and forced to turn into a quiet living room dog.

-I am a Siberian Husky.
Experienced the great, wide open spaces of Northern Europe, where I could drag sleds for long distances at impressive speeds.
Today I only have the walls of the house or small garden as a horizon, and the holes I dig in the ground just to release energy and frustration, trying to stay sane.

-I am a border collie
I was made to work hours a day in partnershipwith my master, and I am an unmistakable artist of working with the herd.
Today they are mad at me because, for lack of sheep, I try to check bikes, cars, children in the house and everything in motion.
I am ...
I am a 21st century dog.

I'm pretty, I'm alert, I'm obedient, I stay in a bag...but I'm also an individual who, from centuries of training, needs to express my instincts, and I am *not* suited for the sedentary life you'd want me to lead.

Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or in the garden - with no work and no one to play or run with, seeing you for a short time in the evening when you get home, and only getting a small toilet walk will make me deeply unhappy.

I'll express it by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, doing my needs indoors, being unmanageable the rare times I'll find myself outside, and sometimes spending my days sunk, sad, lonely, and depressed, on my pillow.

You may think that I should be happy to be able to enjoy all this comfort while you go to work, but actually I’ll be exhausted and frustrated, because this is absolutely NOT what I'm meant to do, or what I need to be doing.
If you love me, if you've always dreamed of me, if my beautiful blue eyes or my athletic look make you want me, but you can't give me a real dog's life, a life that's really worth living according to my breed, and if you can't offer me the job that my genes are asking, DO NOT buy or adopt me!

If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament, gifts, and traits derived from long genetic selection, and you think you can change them with only your good will, then DO NOT BUY OR ADOPT ME.

I’m a dog from the 21st century, yes, but deep inside me, the one who fought, the one who hunted, the one who pulled sleds, the one who guided and protected a herd still lives within.

So think **very** carefully before you choose your dog. And think about getting two, rather than one, so I won't be so very lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours is just a workday to you, but it's an eternity for me to be alone.

Written by *unknown*

05/04/2025

DO YOU KNOW WHAT SIGNS OF HARMFUL REACTIONS😿🚑 TO WATCH FOR WHEN USING FLEA & TICK CHEMICALS ON YOUR PET?💊💦

As warmer weather approaches,☀️ it’s time to start thinking about protecting your pet from fleas, ticks, and even heartworm.🦟 When pet owners reach for those flea and tick treatments—whether chewables, spot-ons, or other parasiticide products—many don’t realize that adverse reactions can occur.

That’s why it’s crucial to know the signs and symptoms to look for so you can report any concerns to your veterinarian promptly.
The challenge is that different flea and tick treatments use various chemicals, each with its own potential side effects. For example, isoxazoline, a common insecticide, is highly lipophilic and easily absorbed by the body. It’s been known to cause a range of reactions, including seizures, behavior changes, gastrointestinal issues, and more.

These type of reactions can even happen in humans if ingested as a 2-year-old boy (12 kg), the son of a veterinarian, ingested two chewable tablets💊 and developed an unsteady gait🫨 approximately 50 minutes later. By 2 hours after ingestion, he had ataxia, tremor, confusion and hallucinations. He was sedated with midazolam, and 10 hours after ingestion was only minimally ataxic.

According to a recent study published in Vet Record, “The true incidence of neurological adverse effects from isoxazolines remains unclear. The delay between the administration and onset of signs can be long, and the association may be missed. A lack of timing information in the summary of product characteristics could also contribute to missed attribution of adverse effects.”

This Sunday on the Inside Scoop, we’re kicking off a Flea & Tick Prevention Series with must-know tips on both chemical and natural prevention options. Whether you’re looking for safer chemical solutions or effective natural remedies, our experts will guide you in making the best choices for your pet’s health. We’re launching this series with a team of veterinarians, herbalists, and scientists who will share everything you need to keep your pet safe and healthy this season.

In this first episode you’ll learn:

🦟 The Best to Worst Chemical Preventives: What works, what to avoid, and the safer options for your pet.
🦟 Favorite Natural Strategies: DIY repellents, essential oils, ultrasonic devices, amber collars, and more.
🦟 Combining Chemicals and Natural Solutions: How to effectively blend both methods when necessary for maximum protection.
🦟 Detoxing After Chemical Use: Supplements and protocols to help prevent and minimize adverse reactions when using chemical preventatives.

This is just the beginning! Over the next several weeks, we’ll continue bringing in expert insights on different aspects of flea and tick prevention.

Be sure to join us Sunday at 12pm EST for expert advice from our panel of veterinarians in California, Florida, Arizona, and New York. Each vet will share region-specific insights, from year-round prevention in Florida to managing tick-heavy areas like New York.🌎

Comment SCOOPERS and we'll message you the link to join Inside Scoop, a Planet Paws monthly subscription group, where all live podcasts are available to watch at any time. Plus, over 5 years of content including: past live podcasts, interviews, ebook downloads, and more!

Get ready for our Flea & Tick Prevention Series & see you this week!

**Edit on image for NexGard Spectra - Adverse reactions 190,802 / Deaths - 5,998

03/04/2025

NEW FIVE-YEAR PROJECT LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE SYRINGOMYELIA IN THE CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

The Kennel Club, in partnership with the British Veterinary Association (BVA), is pleased to announce the launch of the BVA/Kennel Club Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Syringomyelia Project. This ambitious five-year project aims to collect vital data on syringomyelia, a serious neurological condition, to inform breeding strategies and improve the long-term health of Cavaliers.

The project has been made possible through generous funding from The Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue & Welfare, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, demonstrating the community’s commitment to the health of this much-loved breed.

Syringomyelia is caused by fluid-filled cavities developing in the spinal cord, often due to abnormalities in the skull and neck area. Affected dogs may experience symptoms such as neck pain, sensitivity, reluctance to jump, and phantom scratching. In severe cases, the condition can lead to weakness and mobility issues.

British Veterinary Association President, Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, said: “Syringomyelia can be a distressing condition, and improving our understanding of its prevalence and inheritance is essential for improving health outcomes for dogs affected by it. This project will provide valuable insights, ultimately leading to better breeding guidance for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.”

The project aims to screen 500 Cavaliers over five years through MRI scans, with the intention for the data to be used to develop Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). EBVs are a valuable tool for breeders as they consider multiple genetic factors, helping to inform breeders on how to reduce the prevalence of complex inherited conditions.

Michael Levy, Chairman of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, commented: “The Cavalier Club continues to support initiatives that promote the health and wellbeing of our breed. To have a breed-specific project that will give an opportunity to understand the prevalence of syringomyelia, along with breeding guidelines, will aid for healthier outcomes for the breed. We thank The Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Association for introducing this project. The Club’s financial contribution shows the importance and commitment we give to a healthier future for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.”

Participation in the project is by invitation – dogs are selected based on their age and genetic contribution to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel population. To encourage participation, owners of selected dogs will benefit from a significant subsidy towards MRI screening, thanks to the support of the KCCT, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue & Welfare, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. Instead of the typical cost of an MRI, which ranges from £1,100 to £4,500, owners will pay £200 to participate in the project.

Charlotte McNamara, Head of Health and Breeder Development at The Kennel Club, added: “This project is a major step forward in our efforts to reduce the prevalence of syringomyelia in Cavaliers. By gathering robust data, with the potential of developing EBVs, we can support breeders in making informed decisions to protect future generations of this breed. We are incredibly grateful to The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue & Welfare for their support and commitment.”

Selected dog owners will receive an invitation from The Kennel Club, with the first invitations sent in March 2025. They can book MRI appointments at participating centres, and the expert panel will review the results. DNA samples will also be collected during MRI appointments to support genetic research into syringomyelia.

Full details on the project, including eligibility and participating centres, is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/SMproject or by contacting [email protected].

The Kennel Club takes insights from its health data and feeds them into its Breed Health and Conservation plans, so that it can work with breeders to give information and guidance about how to ensure the future health of pedigree breeds. These plans, which enable The Kennel Club to track progress and make meaningful changes to breed health, have been developed as a result of reviewing more than 4,000 research papers, making the project the most comprehensive review of pedigree health data anywhere in the world. More information about what the organisation does for dog health is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/health.

31/03/2025

Landline handset is damaged awaiting a replacement please use the mobile 07376050037

03/03/2025

Thinking about getting a Doodle, Cockapoo or any Poodle mix? Have you been told they "don't need grooming until 1yrs old" or "coat maintenance is easy"?

*PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING piece written by a groomer..in the pic that's known as a pelted coat /Pelting. A dog’s fur gets so matted & tangled it will come off in one piece. It's outs tension on the skin, can damage the skin causing horrible infections and sometimes renders the dog helpless,unable to move and it can then cause fatality
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Poodle crosses (cockapoos, doodles, maltipoos etc.) are not "easy breeds" to maintain. The photo attached (shared from another groomer) shows how matting forms at the skin. By looking at this dog's top coat, you may not see the knots and you may not feel them as you would a knot on the ends of the fur but under that fluffy top layer this is going on. Once it starts its very difficult/ impossible to brush out... and even if you could it would be cruel to put the dog through it. Maintenance at home has to be more than a quick once over for these dogs if you want to keep them in that fluffy coat which was probably one of the reasons you chose a poodle cross in the first place. You really need to sit down with a brush and then a metal comb and make sure you can get it through the entire body at least 2 to 3 times a week.

I often feel like owners don't believe groomers when they say their dog has to be clipped very short. I always hear "I know he/she is matted, but leave as much as you can". You cannot clip through matting, you can only clip under it. As this photo shows, clipping under the matting means taking the coat back to the skin.
I promise you, your groomer really doesn't want to do this but they won't hurt your dog by putting it through dematting, they also don't want to hurt their reputation when the clients go around complaining about how the last groomer "scalped" their dog but there really is not any alternative. Instead of being angry with your groomer if they clip your dog very short please respect their commitment to do what is in your dog's best interest, accept responsibility for not having brushed your dog properly at home, and work with your groomer because, together, you can prevent this happening again. All groomers will be very happy to demonstrate a technique called line brushing which will help make your grooming at home more effective. Just ask! We all want owners to know how to do this

Poodle crosses are easily one of the highest maintenance dogs in reference to their coats. The combination of the soft coat they are mixing poodles with these days is a coat that is extremely prone to matting.

If you like a fluffy pup, you probably need to consider no more than 3-5 week intervals between grooming and set aside time for regular brushing AND combing at home.

Please know, if you bathe your poodle cross you really need to blow dry and brush out right after. Moisture, be it a bath, rain, swimming, snow etc are all going to make matting worse. If you know your dog is already matted-- bathing is only going to make it worse! Brush out before the bath.

Lastly "breeders" who say these dogs can't or shouldnt be clipped and not to give them a hair cut until they are one year old are misleading potential owners in order to sell$$$$ puppies and setting them up for a sad day when they finally take their pup to the groomer!!!

If this hasn't put you off buying one please schedule your puppy's first groom immediately after they've had their vaccinations and then be prepared to do the maintenance at home between regular professional grooms.

28/02/2025