Dog First Aid Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire

12/01/2025

My little winter boy - all wrapped up, I do not think I could love my Opie any more than I do - he completely fills my heart with pride and joy xx

12/01/2025

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

11/01/2025

KEEP YOUR MEDICINES OUT OF YOUR DOGS REACH 💊

With colds (and viruses!) rife at this time of the year, many of us may have medications on hand to help with the symptoms. Tablets, capsules, drops, sachets, sprays and syrups are readily available to us, but these may contain several active constituents that can harm our dogs if they were to ingest the wrong dosage.

Always consult your vet if you are thinking about giving your dog any medications.

10/01/2025

❄️ WHAT IS FROSTBITE? ❄️

Frostbite is damage caused to the skin and other tissues as a result of prolonged exposure to extreme cold.


❄️ WHO IS AT RISK OF FROSTBITE? ❄️

Any pet who spends a prolonged period exposed to extremely cold weather has the potential to be affected by frostbite. However, there are some factors which may heighten the risk of your dog getting frostbite:

• Medical conditions that affect blood flow
• Wet fur
• Short hair
• Small in size
• Illness
• Old age

❄️ HOW DOES FROSTBITE OCCUR? ❄️

Prolonged contact with cold temperatures causes the body to close blood vessels that are near the skin to preserve a stable core body temperature.

Blood vessels start to narrow or constrict. Sometimes, this protective mechanism can reduce blood flow to critically low levels in some areas of the body (particularly the extremities). The combination of cold temperatures and reduced blood flow can allow the tissues to freeze, causing severe tissue injury.

You should immediately contact your vet so that they can give the correct advice for your particular situation.

08/01/2025

Can you relate to this ??

08/01/2025

Please vote for our Essex Retired Police Dog Fund 🐕 ❤️

It is free to vote, simply select choices and WOW what a huge difference this would make 👏

Thank you xx

08/01/2025

KEEP YOUR DOGS WARM THIS WINTER

DOG COATS
Skinny and thin coated dogs can benefit from a warm jacket. Be careful of putting a coat on a fluffy dog though as it can actually stop their fur trapping heat by pushing out the air in their coat that works as natural insolation.

KEEP ACTIVE
Movement will generate body heat so keep your dog active when outside.

ROAD GRIT
Be aware of chemicals such as grit and salt on the roads as it can be an irritant to a dog’s paws and pads, and their noses too when they are sniffing. Ice and snow can also cause irritation.

PAW PROTECTION
There are some brilliant balms on the market to protect paws and pads from cold conditions. Sensitive dogs will benefit from dog-friendly booties to keep their pads protected in the cold weather.

SHORTER WALKS
If your dog is not used to the cold it is important to stick to shorter walks to start off with until they get used to it. Heading outside during the warmer part of the day (11am-3pm) is also a good place to start.

⚠️BE AWARE⚠️
Important signs of cold related illness to watch out for include shivering, whining, reluctance to move, holding paws up, seeking warmth, or acting disoriented. If you see any of these, head home immediately and warm up. If symptoms continue, please contact a vet for guidance.

07/01/2025

Being prepared for flooding will help you get your animals to safety more easily.

Here is some advice on what to do to prepare for floods and how to help keep your animals safe.

If storms are predicted to bring heavy rain and gales to the UK, we urge all animal owners to keep an eye on the weather forecast in their area and plan ahead to make sure their animals are safe

You can call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for information and flood warnings 24 hours a day

03/01/2025

A beautiful Winters day xx

03/01/2025

When considering walking your dog in cold weather, there’s a pretty simple rule to live by – if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.

But like humans, every dog is different. Where some dogs seem to be made for snow and wet weather, others can struggle in even the slightest of chills. The vet experts at Joii have given some guidelines to help you decide if you should brave the elements or stay in the warmth.

Just looking at the temperature on the thermometer (or if you’re like us, on your phone’s weather app) isn’t enough, you also need to take into account wind chill, wet conditions (rain or damp ground) and how sunny the day is. If in doubt, keep your walk short or skip it all together if your dog can toilet in the garden instead.

02/01/2025

For all of my equine friends 🧡

Struggling with thrush in your horse’s hooves? 🐴 Leucillin is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal solution, perfect for treating thrush safely and effectively.

✔️ Suitable for bare hooves, shod hooves, and for use with hoof boots.

Directions for Leucillin on Thrush

1️⃣ Clean the hoof thoroughly, removing debris.
2️⃣ Spray Leucillin directly into the affected area.
3️⃣ Allow it to soak in and air dry and no rinsing required

Repeat twice daily for thrush or as needed as a prevention after hoof picking. Keep your horse’s hooves happy, healthy, and protected!

02/01/2025

My high point of 2024.

I had the greatest pleasure and I felt so proud when approached and asked to train the whole of Essex Police Dog Handlers in Emergency Canine Care.

I have so many wonderful memories and it was so humbling hearing from the Staff and Police Officers of the work they have been involved in with their Police Dogs and hearing about the injuries our hero dogs have suffered whilst on duty.

From my heart THANK YOU for all you do to keep us safe xx

Please follow
Essex Retired Police Dogs Fund (ERPDF)
to find out more about our Retired Police Dogs 🐕.

01/01/2025

Paw in hand, together we leave 2024 and enter a New Year - giving thanks that we have each other and make the most fantastic memories together ❤️ I love you Opie xx

31/12/2024

Happy New Year from the Opie Household, we wish you much health and happiness in 2025, Namaste 🙏 xx
Thank you for your love and support 🐾 ❤️

31/12/2024

January is the month we traditionally reset ourselves, revisit good habits and hope to rid ourselves of the bad ones.

As it’s New Years Eve, why not consider making some new years resolutions that include your pet? There are several pet care tasks that many of us know we should do more regularly. Every bit of extra effort that you put into your pet will be rewarding and will go towards helping to keep them healthy and happy.

If you think you already do all of these things, why not look at doing a Dog First Aid course this year so you can learn more ways to take care of your dogs and be prepared in an emergency if the worst was to happen

HAVE A GREAT 2025 FOR YOU AND YOUR DOGS! 🐶

#2025

19/12/2024

The first of my many 2025 dates .... more to be added as venues are being confirmed !!!!

17/12/2024

REMINDER !!!

Are you still looking for the unique gift or perhaps a secret Santa 🎅

Still time to order your personalised Dog First Aid Herts and Central Beds gift voucher - to a value of your choice.