HoofBeats Veterinary Therapy

30/11/2024

Congratulations to our super talented patient and her stunning rider. We are so proud of being on your team ❤️❤️

28/02/2024

18/12/2023

That's all, folks! Our #15 Days of Enrichment has come to a close.
We hope you found the information helpful and that you have some fun keeping your dog's life enriched over the holidays.

Our office is closed from today, December 18th, 2023 and we will be back on January 5th, 2024. We wish you and your families the best for the holiday season and a Happy New Year.

We will see you in 2024 for the best training year yet! 🐾

15/12/2023

Welcome to Day 15 of our #15 Days of Enrichment!

Today we will be looking at the relaxation protocol by Dr. Karen Overall. Do you have a dog that is always on the go that doesn’t have an “off button”, a fearful dog that struggles to be calm? The Relaxation protocol is exactly what the Doctor ordered.

What is the relaxation protocol & why is it important?
• The relaxation protocol teaches dogs to relax in various environments such as coffee shops, and your local training grounds to name a few.
• The relaxation protocol consists of a 15-day worksheet, working through various exercises with your dog. (You will the link to Dr. Karen Overall relaxation protocol in the first comment.)
• Great for multi-dog households. (Remember to train each dog separately.)

If you need any information or assistance contact us at [email protected].

12/12/2023

08/12/2023

Welcome to Day 8 of our #15 Days of Enrichment program! Today we will focus on physical exercise with a power walk/hike. A healthy dog needs to exercise an absolute minimum of every three days, every day is better.

Why is physical exercise important for your dog's well-being?
• It keeps your dog's weight in check.
• It helps alleviate arthritis & other degenerative joint disease.
• It elevates your dog’s heart rate, to maintain cardiovascular condition and muscle tone.
• A minimum of 20 minutes is required for the health benefits.
• Bonus you are depositing into the relationship bank account.

Please note if your dog is out of shape, you will need to start slow and build gradually to 20 minutes.

The venue chosen for today's hike is Kloof Rus, https://www.kloofrusdogpark.co.za an on-lead venue. Remember your p**p bags and water for your dog see you there!

06/12/2023

Welcome to Day 6 of our #15 Days of Enrichment program!

Today's focus is on handling your pet 🐶. While many pet owners assume their dogs are comfortable with handling, most dogs are only tolerant. Our goal is to change that by making handling a joyful experience for them.

All dogs need to be handled throughout their lives, whether for healthcare 👩‍⚕️, grooming 💇‍♀️, or first aid 👩‍🔬. However, handling can be invasive and stressful for them, so it's essential to make them comfortable with it.

How to improve your dog’s acceptance of handling:
• For today's enrichment use one of your dog's meals, split it into 8 portions, and add a few of your dog’s favorite treats to the portions.
• Really observe your dog's body language, look for signs are they happy and relaxed or stressed and uncomfortable.
• Do they choose to stay close to you for the handling or do they move away? (If they move away start the process by only calling your dog to you and rewarding them, the distance should reduce with each time you call your dog) It is not our pet’s obligation to stay for handling, they are individuals and have likes and dislikes they are allowed to say no.
• Start in a calm environment with just you and your dog, call them and reward them. Start with an area on your dog's body that they like being touched. For most of my dogs, it’s the collar area behind their ears.
• Move your hand to the collar area and reward, look for any signs of discomfort, if there are no signs, fiddle with your dog collar and reward or stroke them behind the ears and under their chins and reward. Use 1 of the 8 portions for this exercise take a break and give your dog some time to think.
• In about an hour start the process again as per above this time focusing on their backs using one portion per body part, next to their ears, then each paw individually, and their tummies.
• Move over the length of their back stroking them gently, your stroke should begin with a deep breath in and slowly releasing that breath as you move along their back and exhale when you reach the tale reward. Use the 2nd of the 8 portions for this exercise and take a break.

If you need any information or assistance, feel free to contact us at [email protected]. 🐶