Muddy Mutts

10/11/2024

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

09/11/2024

I am really tired of the hurtful comments directed at those who have dogs with a fear of fireworks. There are so many accusing dog guardians of neglecting to socialize and train their dog or they are insinuating it is the guardian's response to the fireworks that makes the dog so afraid. This is despite the fact that dogs (and other animals) across the UK are having heart attacks, seizures and strokes, some of which have been fatal. How can a dog guardian's response to fireworks possibly elicit such an extreme reaction to fireworks?

And if this is the cause of such extreme fear, what accounts for the deaths of wildlife and farm animals? Are there people ‘coddling’ them too? Let's not forget dogs in rescue shelters. If it's our response that creates this fear, then why do rescue dogs show extreme anxiety and try to escape their kennels? They are in there alone most of the time. Such heartless comments are baseless since studies show that there are many factors that contribute to noise sensitivity and a fear of fireworks, as seen below.

Genetics

A study involving over 13,700 dogs in Finland discovered that around 32% of dogs had sound sensitivities and 26% were afraid of fireworks. The scientists in this study also identified a genetic predisposition to a fear of fireworks (Salonen, M. 2020) Blackwell et al. (2013) discovered that twelve breeds or breed types were less likely to show fear responses to noises than cross-breeds and their data suggest that some breeds may be predisposed to fear of loud noises, including fireworks.( Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015.) Thus, your dog may be afraid of fireworks, due to their genetics.

Pain & health conditions

A study showed that dogs that experienced muscle or bone pain were more sensitive to sudden noises, loud noises and different pitches than dogs who were noise-sensitive but didn’t have pain. (Lopes Fagundes 2018) The same study found that the average age of onset for noise sensitivity in dogs differed between groups. In clinical cases (with pain), the average onset of noise sensitivity was 5 years and 7 months.

“Although the average ages of the dogs at presentation were similar, the average age of onset of the problem was nearly 4 years later in the “clinical cases.” This strong theme of an older age of onset suggests that the pain may develop later in life and that owners seek treatment more readily, perhaps because the appearance of the problem is out of character in the subject. The average age of onset within the control population also suggests that the problem does not simply relate to a lack of habituation as a puppy and that other mechanisms need to be considered for many cases.” (Lopes Fagundes 2018)

Other health conditions can also trigger noise phobias. Conditions such as endocrine diseases, cardiopulmonary disease, neurological problems, and cognitive dysfunction, can potentially contribute to or exacerbate behavioural problems including noise fears. (Bowen J. 2008) So both pain and health conditions can cause a fear of fireworks.

Age

Studies show that fearfulness is most common in dogs aged 4-8 years and that noise sensitivity often increases with age., ( Milla Salonen 2020) Another study that supports this shows that the average age of onset of noise phobias developed around 4 years 7 months of age. Dogs progressing through adolescence also go through a second fear period from around 10-12 months of age. At this time of development, dogs can develop new fears and phobias, including noises like fireworks. As a dog reaches their senior years, ill health and conditions such as cognitive dysfunction disorder (dog dementia) can also cause anxiety, fear-related behaviours and noise sensitivities.

Anxiety

Studies show that dogs most fearful of noises also presented with a higher chance of separation-related anxiety and being fearful in novel situations. These dogs also took much longer to decompress after a stressful event compared to dogs less fearful of noises. (Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015.) It makes sense that if your dog is already struggling with anxiety, that they are more likely to develop noise phobias.

Survival Instinct

“An extreme avoidance response to a loud firework going off unexpectedly nearby, given the salience of this event and its unpredictability for the animal, can be interpreted as adaptive (‘rational’), an argument which has also been applied to extreme fear responses in humans”. (Davey, 1995) From a survival point of view, it is logical for dogs and other animals to respond in fear to explosions. Why wouldn't they? They can't reason that it's harmless.

It should be noted that studies have found that dogs that attend training classes are less likely to be afraid of fireworks however, it is unknown why this would be the case, as exposure to fireworks sounds is not usually part of the curriculum.

Many dogs have been desensitized to fireworks as puppies and have been adequately trained and socialized, and yet they still develop a fear of fireworks. The fact that dogs don’t develop this fear until around the age of 4 proves that often the fear is due to over-exposure, trauma, anxiety or health issues. If it was solely due to a lack of training or due to the dog guardians' response to the fear, we would likely see the phobia developing much earlier in the dog’s life.

Therefore, it is hurtful and completely speculative to blame guardians for a dog’s phobia of fireworks. The real blame rests on the shoulders of those who continue to set off loud fireworks, knowing for well the suffering it causes to dogs, pets, wildlife, and even people. - Holly Leake

Huge thanks to my friends at Canine Principles for their help finding studies on the subject. ❤️🐾

References

Bowen J. Firework Fears and Phobias. UK Vet Companion Anim. 2008;13:59–63. doi: 10.1111/j.2344-3862.2008.tb00529.x. [DOI] [Google Scholar]

Camps T., Amat M., Manteca X. A Review of Medical Conditions and Behavioral Problems in Dogs and Cats. Animals. 2019;9:1133. doi: 10.3390/ani9121133. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar

Lopes Fagundes AL, Hewison L, McPeake KJ, Zulch H, Mills DS. Noise Sensitivities in Dogs: An Exploration of Signs in Dogs with and without Musculoskeletal Pain Using Qualitative Content Analysis. Front Vet Sci. 2018 Feb 13;5:17. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00017. PMID: 29487858; PMCID: PMC5816950.

Linn Mari Storengen, Frode Lingaas 2015. Noise sensitivity in 17 dog breeds: Prevalence, breed risk and correlation with fear in other situations Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Volume 171, October 2015, Pages 152-160 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.08.020

Salonen, M., Sulkama, S., Mikkola, S. et al. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Sci Rep 10, 2962 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59837-z

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03/11/2024

Did you know?
Anytime the temperature reaches 39°F🌡or 4°C ticks are active, searching for a meal.
Ticks DO NOT die in the winter, instead they burrow into the ground and await warmer weather.
Black legged ticks (also called deer ticks) are responsible for spreading Lyme disease in humans/animals.

We use flea/tick prevention all year round at the Ruff Start New Beginnings Rescue Retreat visitors
Please consult your vet for the best prevention for your pet.

30/10/2024

Halloween costumes can be fun for us, but not for our pets. 🎃 Let your furry friend enjoy the celebrations just as they are!

More on dressing up your pet here 👉 https://bit.ly/4eWi5Ji

29/10/2024

❗️RAWHIDE❗️

POSSIBLY THE MOST DANGEROUS DOG TREAT ON THE PLANET!

The chews are made from cattle or horse hides and their journey starts with the hides being soaked in a toxic sodium sulphide to remove the hair and fat. More chemicals are used in order to split the hide into layers which is then washed with hydrogen peroxide to give the white “pure” look and remove the rancid smell. Now comes the pretty festive colours and the glue to form cute shapes.

On testing, these chews have shown traces of arsenic, mercury, chromium and formaldehyde.
If that wasn`t bad enough they regularly cause intestinal blockages, poisoning from chemical residue and choking. The chews go slippery when wet and are near impossible to get hold of to save a choking dog.

Leave them in the shop or if some well meaning person buys them for your dog put them safely away and then dispose in the bin!

27/10/2024

27/10/2024

***** Deadly Pumpkins ***** please share as widely as you can!

Over the next couple of weeks many of us will have pumpkins that need to be discarded. Though kind-hearted the increasingly common practice of leaving them in parks and nature reserves for wildlife poses a very real and often fatal risk to many species including the already threatened hedgehog! At this time of the year hedgehogs are on a desperate search for a last few meals before hibernation and a discarded pumpkin often proves irresistible. Unfortunately hedgehogs, as insectivores, lack a caecum and cannot properly process vegetable matter. Eating pumpkin causes both dehydration and diarrhoea which results in weight loss that can easily lead to hedgehogs entering hibernation with not enough fat stores to survive the winter.

If you do have left over pumpkins it is far better to leave them raised up on a garden table or bird feeder for a few days to allow birds and squirrels to benefit but always remove them before they go mouldy and please never leave them anywhere within parks and nature reserves such as Sutton Park.

If you come across pumpkins, gourds, or indeed any discarded food items within the park please let the rangers know as we need to remove them as quickly as is possible as they also pose a significant and potentially fatal threat to our Exmoor ponies; thank you.

24/10/2024

🍁AUTUMN DOG ADVICE - CONKERS🍁

On crisp autumn walks your dog may come across conkers that have fallen from a horse chestnut tree, but these shiny seeds are poisonous to dogs!

🔸WHAT IS A CONKER?🔸
A conker is a shiny, round, red-brown seed from a horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum). Conkers are often found on the ground in autumn after dropping from the tree encased in a green or brown spiky fruit.

🔸HOW MANY DOES A DOG HAVE TO EAT?🔸
The amount of toxin in each conker is different, so it’s impossible to know the amount of conkers that your dog would need to eat to make them unwell

Conkers actually taste quite bitter, so it’s unlikely that most dogs will eat enough to make them very ill. But if enough is eaten it can produce more serious effects, and in rare cases can be deadly.

How your dog is affected by this toxin will also depend on their size, when they last ate, how much they chew up the conker and if they have any other health issues.

🔸OTHER RISKS🔸
Poisoning is not the only risk from these seeds. Conkers are large and hard and could cause your dog to choke on them or could block their stomach or gut.

🔸HOW CAN I PREVENT THIS?🔸
If your dog is prone to eating conkers, then keep them on a lead when going for autumn walks (especially in areas where you know there are conker trees). When walking near ‘conker trees’, bring along a ball or a chew toy to help keep their mouths occupied.

🔸WHEN SHOULD I CALL THE VET?🔸
If your dog has eaten conkers, then you should contact your vet for advice. If you’re unsure whether your dog has eaten them, but they’re showing some of the common signs, then you should speak to your vet. Never try to make your dog sick as this can be dangerous and may cause other problems.

07/10/2024

Fireworks season can be particularly stressful for dogs. It's a great idea to get prepared and make fireworks season more manageable and enjoyable for both you and your pooch ❇️👉 https://bit.ly/3NgpGXh

[Image description: An infographic for dog owners to help prepare their dogs for fireworks. It include advice such as; planning ahead and finding out when local displays are happening, adjusting your schedule so you can walk and feed them before any fireworks start, talk to your vet ASAP so they can offer you advice and plan for a cosy night in with a safe space for your dog.]

26/09/2024

Dangers to be aware of this Autumn! 🍂🐾

04/08/2024

*Image used is to emphasise the point of the post, and is in no way an endorsement of such tools.

30/06/2024

Thinking you'd like to be beside the seaside this weekend? Follow our tips to help keep your pooches safe there 🏖️

[Image description: Text reads: Staying safe at the seaside. Carry fresh drinking water for your dog. Provide plenty of shade for your pooch. Check the beach you're visiting allows dogs. Keep your dog on the lead near fast-flowing water or cliffs. Don't let your dog drink seawater. Chech the weather and tide times in advance. If you're dog likes to swim, look for underwater hazards. Worried about your dog? If your dog gets into trouble in water or mud, or goes over a cliff edge, don't go after them Move to a spot they can reach safely and call them to you. Call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.]

25/06/2024

Whilst it may be lovely to finally see some sunshine, please remember to keep your pooches safe ☀️⚠️
Here are 6 signs of heatstroke in dogs:
Heavy panting
Excessive drooling
Vomiting
Drowsy and uncoordinated
Diarrhoea
Collapsing
If your dog is showing any of these signs, contact your vet immediately, move them into the shade, offer them drinking water and start cooling your dog by soaking their body with cold water - avoiding their face.
Here's how to keep them cool 👉 https://bit.ly/4bgImj9

[Image description: Staffordshire Bull Terrier Crossbreed standing in a paddling pool keeping cool outside. She is looking at the camera with her tongue out.]