Police Dogs
After that tragic story of the 2 GSDs who died yesterday, something heart-warming.
It is about a police sniffer dog with arthritis, who was given a set of wheels to help him get along!
The video is on the BBC News site, so is safe to watch.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7733880.stm
Great story isn't it!
Friday, 3 July 2009
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Dogs DIE In Hot Cars ~ 2 GSDs Die In A Police Vehicle!
Today's news (July 2nd) - Two German Shepherd police dogs died in a police car yesterday afternoon!
The poor dogs were found dead at Nottinghamshire Police HQ at 2.15 pm.
They were left in the vehicle by their HANDLER! To say that the handler should have known better is an understatement.
It is a dreadful way to die. I can barely believe it happened.
I can only describe it as GROSS negligence and incompetence.
The RSPCA are investigating.
You can read the Press Association story here :
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090702/tuk-police-dogs-die-in-hot-parked-car-6323e80.html
So what do we do with our dogs in hot weather?
The obvious answer is NOT to leave them in a vehicle.
IF you have to then :
The poor dogs were found dead at Nottinghamshire Police HQ at 2.15 pm.
They were left in the vehicle by their HANDLER! To say that the handler should have known better is an understatement.
Temperature's outside reached 29.4C. Inside the car it would have been like an oven.
It is a dreadful way to die. I can barely believe it happened.
I can only describe it as GROSS negligence and incompetence.
The RSPCA are investigating.
You can read the Press Association story here :
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090702/tuk-police-dogs-die-in-hot-parked-car-6323e80.html
So what do we do with our dogs in hot weather?
The obvious answer is NOT to leave them in a vehicle.
IF you have to then :
- Leave ALL the windows and the sunroof open. At least 4 inches - wider if you can. (Security has to be considered).
- Park IN THE SHADE (the temperature will rocket in the sun even with the windows open)
- Have water available to drink
- Check them regularly
- Leave them for the least time possible
- If they do suffer heat exhaustion get them out of the car at once and throw water over them - LOTS of water - bucketfuls of it
We only leave our dogs on their own IF we can park in the shade. If we can't then one of us stays with them.
I'd rather suffer inconvenience than the death of my dogs.
When I heard the story about the police dogs on the radio I was shocked - then I read it on the news site and it brought tears to my eyes. Writing this has done the same thing, so I'll sign off for now.
I was going to write a cheerful piece about a lost dog which was found, but I'll do that another time.
Bye for now.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Dogs and Cows ~ Is it Safe to Walk Through Fields of Cows With Your Dog?
Is it safe to walk your dog through fields of cows?
Recently there have been some dreadful reports in the news about dog walkers being attacked by cows.
One incident was of a vet walking her dog, and was trampled to death by a herd of cows.
The key thing to look for is : Are there CALVES in the field? If so, do NOT walk your dog through the field.
Personally, I avoid any fields that have cows. I NEVER go in with my dogs if there are calves present.
It is possible that the cows are out of sight, so I always look for signs like cowpats and hoof prints, or ask anybody that I see.
A cow can weigh upto 1 ton - that's a big animal, and so can inflict a lot of damage.
Farming Today, early morning on Radio 4, have recently discussed the problem, and have given some excellent advice.
KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES - do not let dogs run loose where there are cows present.
If you are approached by cows:
Once they have smelt you and your dog they will realise that you are strangers and so a potential threat to their calves. Stay quiet and calm.
What if you are surrounded by cows or hemmed in at a field boundary?
STAND STILL and let them sniff you. They will go away, but it can take time (up to 30 minutes!)
The key things are : Don't run, don't scream or shout. Keep calm. Keep your dog on a lead.
If there is bull in the field there is a legal requirement for a notice "BULL IN FIELD". Never go in!
Rams can also be a problem - avoid.
Recently there have been some dreadful reports in the news about dog walkers being attacked by cows.
One incident was of a vet walking her dog, and was trampled to death by a herd of cows.
The key thing to look for is : Are there CALVES in the field? If so, do NOT walk your dog through the field.
Personally, I avoid any fields that have cows. I NEVER go in with my dogs if there are calves present.
It is possible that the cows are out of sight, so I always look for signs like cowpats and hoof prints, or ask anybody that I see.
A cow can weigh upto 1 ton - that's a big animal, and so can inflict a lot of damage.
Farming Today, early morning on Radio 4, have recently discussed the problem, and have given some excellent advice.
KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES - do not let dogs run loose where there are cows present.
If you are approached by cows:
- STAY CALM
- DO NOT SHOUT OR SCREAM - this will make things a lot worse
- DO NOT RUN - THIS COULD TRIGGER AN ATTACK
- WALK AWAY CALMLY & QUIETLY TO AN EXIT OR TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD
Once they have smelt you and your dog they will realise that you are strangers and so a potential threat to their calves. Stay quiet and calm.
What if you are surrounded by cows or hemmed in at a field boundary?
STAND STILL and let them sniff you. They will go away, but it can take time (up to 30 minutes!)
The key things are : Don't run, don't scream or shout. Keep calm. Keep your dog on a lead.
If there is bull in the field there is a legal requirement for a notice "BULL IN FIELD". Never go in!
Rams can also be a problem - avoid.
Friday, 19 June 2009
Credit Crunch Dogs - Vet Bills Go Up, So Does Dog Food!
The Credit Crunch hits everyone - including our pets!
My vet bills keep going up. This is largely due to the constant price increases of medication for my old girl - now costing about £150 each month! (But she is worth every penny, of course).
The price of dog food keeps going up as well.
So what can we do? The obvious answer is "shop around"!
That is what I did for dog food.
I was buying a 15Kg bag of Arden Grange Lamb & Rice. At a large national chain of petstores I was paying around £35. At my small local pet shop I am now paying £25.50! I use a bag every 3 weeks, so a useful saving.
The same was true for Winalot Shapes (small dog biscuits). My local pet shop is nearly half the price of the nationwide store!
You could make your own dog treats (and know excactly what has gone into them!).
For some FREE no obligation recipes you can download them from this site:
http://doglinks.synthasite.com/ (It is safe site and no personal information is collected.)
What about Vet Bills?
You could compare charges of the vets in your area. (ask other pet owners). But you do need to consider travel costs, and the vet's reputation.
It is possible to buy dog medication online.
Choose a good supplier like VetUK. (I have used them - it was set up by a vet so they do know their stuff). There are others of course.
Non-prescription medication & treatments, e.g. joint supplements, wormers, flea treatments, will probably be cheaper online.
Prescription medicines (marked POM) can be purchased online BUT you must have a prescription from your vet. This used to be free, but vets are now allowed to charge up to £15 for this 'service'. Ask your vet what they charge and check online prices. You could still save money.
If anyone has any good ideas please leave a comment. Thanks.
On a sadder and more serious note, many pet owners are abandoning their animals.
Some act responsibly and find a new owner, or find a place at a rescue centre.
But there are a lot who are just dumped on the streets.
Rescue centres do their best, but are being overwhelmed with unwanted animals.
My vet bills keep going up. This is largely due to the constant price increases of medication for my old girl - now costing about £150 each month! (But she is worth every penny, of course).
The price of dog food keeps going up as well.
So what can we do? The obvious answer is "shop around"!
That is what I did for dog food.
I was buying a 15Kg bag of Arden Grange Lamb & Rice. At a large national chain of petstores I was paying around £35. At my small local pet shop I am now paying £25.50! I use a bag every 3 weeks, so a useful saving.
The same was true for Winalot Shapes (small dog biscuits). My local pet shop is nearly half the price of the nationwide store!
You could make your own dog treats (and know excactly what has gone into them!).
For some FREE no obligation recipes you can download them from this site:
http://doglinks.synthasite.com/ (It is safe site and no personal information is collected.)
What about Vet Bills?
You could compare charges of the vets in your area. (ask other pet owners). But you do need to consider travel costs, and the vet's reputation.
It is possible to buy dog medication online.
Choose a good supplier like VetUK. (I have used them - it was set up by a vet so they do know their stuff). There are others of course.
Non-prescription medication & treatments, e.g. joint supplements, wormers, flea treatments, will probably be cheaper online.
Prescription medicines (marked POM) can be purchased online BUT you must have a prescription from your vet. This used to be free, but vets are now allowed to charge up to £15 for this 'service'. Ask your vet what they charge and check online prices. You could still save money.
If anyone has any good ideas please leave a comment. Thanks.
On a sadder and more serious note, many pet owners are abandoning their animals.
Some act responsibly and find a new owner, or find a place at a rescue centre.
But there are a lot who are just dumped on the streets.
Rescue centres do their best, but are being overwhelmed with unwanted animals.
Friday, 15 May 2009
One Of My Dogs Kept Biting At His Rear End ~ A Gland Problem!
A couple of weeks ago my male dog kept nibbling his skin near his backside. This can be a sign of a gland problem in the back passage.
There are two sacs which can become full. It causes discomfort and irritation to your dog. If left infection can set in.
Signs of the problem can be biting or nibbling around the rear end or rubbing on a hard surface. There will also be a bad smell around his rear end.
Sometimes the glands will empty themselves, but it often requires human intervention!
Unless you have been trained to do this, it is a job best left to the vet - especially if infection has set in.
A sign of infection is passing blood when defecating (this may be just a few drops of dark liqiud) , blood on bedding, or blood around the back passage. Lift your dog's tail to have a look!
Anyway, back to my lad. His glands emptied themselves - you can tell by the smell!
However, a few days later he started nibbling his backend again. I was going to empty them (I've been trained to do this), but I noticed a couple of drops of dark red liquid on the grass when he went to the toilet.
That meant infection had set in and we went to the vet. There wasn't much in the glands, but one was infected. The vet prescribed a 5-day course of Antirobe - a very good anti-biotic. This cleared up the problem, but he did get a touch of diarrhoea.
I gave him light meals plus some organic live yoghurt. This quickly helped settle his system.
Problem solved!
There are two sacs which can become full. It causes discomfort and irritation to your dog. If left infection can set in.
Signs of the problem can be biting or nibbling around the rear end or rubbing on a hard surface. There will also be a bad smell around his rear end.
Sometimes the glands will empty themselves, but it often requires human intervention!
Unless you have been trained to do this, it is a job best left to the vet - especially if infection has set in.
A sign of infection is passing blood when defecating (this may be just a few drops of dark liqiud) , blood on bedding, or blood around the back passage. Lift your dog's tail to have a look!
Anyway, back to my lad. His glands emptied themselves - you can tell by the smell!
However, a few days later he started nibbling his backend again. I was going to empty them (I've been trained to do this), but I noticed a couple of drops of dark red liquid on the grass when he went to the toilet.
That meant infection had set in and we went to the vet. There wasn't much in the glands, but one was infected. The vet prescribed a 5-day course of Antirobe - a very good anti-biotic. This cleared up the problem, but he did get a touch of diarrhoea.
I gave him light meals plus some organic live yoghurt. This quickly helped settle his system.
Problem solved!
Friday, 20 March 2009
DOGS AND COLD WEATHER - DOGS IN SNOW
Did you see the pictures of my greyhounds in the snow? (Thursday 5th March)
On one walk in the snow we went across a field covered in fresh snow. It was quite deep and hard work for my old dog. This set me thinking about problems for dogs in cold weather.
Frozen ponds, etc. may not bear the weight of your dog.
Falling & slipping can cause soft-tissue damage or a broken bone.
Older and vulnerable dogs may suffer exposure and exhaustion. A coat is a good idea.
Arthritis can be more noticeable. Breathing problems can worsen with cold air.
The heart has to work harder. Exhaustion can set in.
Salt used to treat icy roads can irritate paws.
Anti-freeze and de-icers are toxic.
And don't forget short-legged dogs (like daschunds)who will find deep snow hard work. They can also get cold stomachs!
Keeping a towel in your vehicle is a good idea, so your dog can have a rub-down after the walk.
Washing paws if you've walked on treated roads is a good idea.
Paw wax applied before the walk can help prevent slipping and also protect the pads.
And don't forget to keeep chemicals well out of doggie reach!
So that's a few ideas on dogs and cold weather and some problems for dogs in snow.
It's all common sense really - you will probably think of other things to add to the list!
Its getting warmer now and will soon be time to put the clocks forward - but my local weather forecast is for frost overnight!
On one walk in the snow we went across a field covered in fresh snow. It was quite deep and hard work for my old dog. This set me thinking about problems for dogs in cold weather.
- Hidden dangers, e.g. holes, broken glass, etc.
- Slipping and Falling
- Frozen ponds, lakes, rivers
- Hypothermia (exposure to cold)
- Health problems exacerbated by cold
- Exhaustion
- Chemicals
Frozen ponds, etc. may not bear the weight of your dog.
Falling & slipping can cause soft-tissue damage or a broken bone.
Older and vulnerable dogs may suffer exposure and exhaustion. A coat is a good idea.
Arthritis can be more noticeable. Breathing problems can worsen with cold air.
The heart has to work harder. Exhaustion can set in.
Salt used to treat icy roads can irritate paws.
Anti-freeze and de-icers are toxic.
And don't forget short-legged dogs (like daschunds)who will find deep snow hard work. They can also get cold stomachs!
Keeping a towel in your vehicle is a good idea, so your dog can have a rub-down after the walk.
Washing paws if you've walked on treated roads is a good idea.
Paw wax applied before the walk can help prevent slipping and also protect the pads.
And don't forget to keeep chemicals well out of doggie reach!
So that's a few ideas on dogs and cold weather and some problems for dogs in snow.
It's all common sense really - you will probably think of other things to add to the list!
Its getting warmer now and will soon be time to put the clocks forward - but my local weather forecast is for frost overnight!
Sunday, 15 March 2009
DOG TREAT RECIPES ~ Healthy & Tasty Recipes for Free
I've created a site that has some very good dog treat recipes. They are free for you to use. Just copy and paste into Word.
There is an appeal on the site - Olive, our old dog, is now costing us over £200 a month for medication. We are struggling to pay the bills.
What I'm hoping is that, in return for the recipes, you will make a VOLUNTARY donation towards Olive's medical fund. There is a 'Donate' button which takes you to Paypal secure payments.
I feel unsure and a bit ashamed about doing this and still feel that I am begging. But you are getting something worth having. I could create a booklet and try to sell it cheaply on eBay, but the fees would eat-up the money! So I thought that I would give this open and honest appeal a try.
There are no catches and nothing to sign up to. The dog treat recipes are free and without obligation. So go and get them! But please do consider the appeal.
The cost of dog medication has gone up several times in the last year.
Just go to this site : http://doglinks.synthasite.com
Thank you.
PS. The website I created was free for me to create. The hosting is also free!
There is an appeal on the site - Olive, our old dog, is now costing us over £200 a month for medication. We are struggling to pay the bills.
What I'm hoping is that, in return for the recipes, you will make a VOLUNTARY donation towards Olive's medical fund. There is a 'Donate' button which takes you to Paypal secure payments.
I feel unsure and a bit ashamed about doing this and still feel that I am begging. But you are getting something worth having. I could create a booklet and try to sell it cheaply on eBay, but the fees would eat-up the money! So I thought that I would give this open and honest appeal a try.
There are no catches and nothing to sign up to. The dog treat recipes are free and without obligation. So go and get them! But please do consider the appeal.
The cost of dog medication has gone up several times in the last year.
Just go to this site : http://doglinks.synthasite.com
Thank you.
PS. The website I created was free for me to create. The hosting is also free!
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