Monthly Archives: June 2014

Dogs, Horses

The Pet Professionals Online Community

dog and horse

Loving pet owners always want the best for their companions and often search online for tips and advice regarding their animal’s health and wellbeing. It can however be difficult to find accurate, independent and reliable information.

This new and exciting online community is dedicated to providing owners with the latest information on how to care for their animal including access to high quality training courses written and presented by independent subject-matter experts covering topics such as:

  • First aid
  • Behaviour
  • Preventative health-care
  • Senior pet-care

So why join The Pet Professionals?

  • ✓ You will learn lots more about pet first aid, behaviour, preventative health and senior pet care which will help you keep your pet happy and healthy
  • ✓ Social networking with like-minded owners using our exclusive social networking app, MyCompanion
  • ✓ You will have access to a library of “How To” videos, seasonal hints and tips  and fact sheets to help keep your pet in tip top condition
  • ✓ Access to a Blog and newsletters for interesting articles on pet care
  • ✓ You can find a local vet in our Vet Practice Directory
  • ✓ We also donate 10% of all membership fees to the Blue Cross animal charity so you know that you will be helping to support a great cause

And more…

Click here to find out more

For our Gold members we will also send a valuable Welcome Pack as well as saving our members money every month on pet related products and services with discounts and special offers on pet-related products and services from high quality and reputable partners.  These discounts are worth over £150 per year to the average owner.

  • Muddy Paws – an online dog products shop specialising in high quality brands
  • Your Dog – Britain’s best-selling monthly dog magazine
  • Agria Pet Insurance – innovative policies to meet owner expectations
  • KBIS British Equestrian Insurance – UK’s leading independent horse insurance specialists
  • Equine Superstore – a premier mail order equestrian retailer
  • Your Horse magazine – celebrating everything about riding and keeping horses
  • EqWest – a specialist Equine Clinic in the South West

The aim of the Pet Professional is simple; it is to keep pets happy and healthy through informed education of responsible owners. So join a community of like-minded pet owners and professionals who want the best for their companions.

Join TODAY for free or as a Gold Member

Click here to join

Would you like to know more about cats and dogs? Check our Feline and Canine Courses:

Feline courses

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Dogs

Summer safety tips for your dog

The Pet Professionals - Summer safety tips for your dog

Summer is finally here and everybody is eager to make the most out of the long, sunny days with fun outdoor activities. To avoid unnecessary accidents, it’s always a good idea to remind dog owners that it’s important to protect their canine companions from the hot weather.

Humans are quite efficient at cooling their bodies because they are capable of sweating. Dogs lose body heat mainly through panting and they only have sweat glands in their foot pads and nose. Unfortunately dogs are less efficient at cooling themselves down and therefore a lot more susceptible to heat stroke.

Please make sure your dog has access to a cool shaded place that allows him or her to get away from the sun and plenty of fresh, clean water to drink at all times. Avoid walking your dog at the hottest time of the day. Not only this will prevent our canine friends from over-heating but it will also protect their paws from burning on hot road surfaces, pavements and sand.

Never leave your pet locked in the car!  A lot of people do not realise that even when it isn’t that hot outside, the temperature inside a car can soar dangerously high in a very short amount of time. A dog can die of heat stroke in just 15 to 20 minutes! Dog owners should never leave their dog alone in the car, even if the windows were left open, even if the vehicle was parked in the shade and even if it’s just for a few minutes. You may be unexpectedly delayed and those preventive measures are just not enough!

It is also important for dog owners to know the signs of heatstroke so they can act quickly: excessive panting or difficulty breathing, drooling, dark red gums, weakness, elevated body temperature, distress and collapse.

If you ever find a dog suffering from heat stroke remove the animal from the sun and try to cool it down. Use cool (but not cold or icy water) or wet cloths, offer small amounts of water at a time and as soon as possible take it to the vet.

Enjoy a wonderful summer with your family, friends and don’t forget your pets!

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

Horses

Strangles

Strangles
Strangles is a respiratory infection that can affect horses, ponies and donkeys of all ages. This infectious disease is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi and it’s highly contagious. It spreads between horses by direct contact, contaminated humans, food, water, tack and other items normally present in a horse’s environment.

Clinical signs of this disease vary greatly. Some horses are just symptomless carriers, some may only show a few minor signs and others may become very ill. Affected horses will typically present sudden onset of fever (up to 41°C), depression, lack of appetite, difficulties swallowing due to enlarged lymph nodes, cough and there is usually a thin watery nasal discharge, which soon becomes thick and yellow.

The bacteria involved in this condition affects the lymph nodes causing the formation of abscesses. These tend to rupture either to the outside or into the back of the horse’s throat, discharging thick yellow pus. Occasionally the bacteria will spread systemically throughout the horse’ s body and abscesses form in the lymph nodes of the lungs, intestines and even in the brain. The rupture of these abscesses can be fatal.

Some horses are more susceptible to this disease than others. Younger horses (1-5 years old), older or debilitated horses due to poor condition, parasitic infestation or stress are more at risk. If they frequently come in contact with horses from other groups, they are also more likely to contract strangles.

The key to prevent this disease is good management! New horses should be quarantined and monitored for 2 to 3 weeks. Please remember that isolated horses must have their own grooming kit, tack and no equipment used for the affected horse should be allowed near other horses.

If you think your horse has strangles, it should be immediately isolated and you should call your vet. If the disease is detected and treated at an early stage the recovery rate is usually quite good.

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

Equine courses

Dogs

The changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act affects all owners!

The Pet Professionals - The changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act affects all owners!

Recent amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act meant to tackle irresponsible dog ownership, came into effect on 13 May 2014. All dog owners in England and Wales need to be fully aware that there were many significant changes in the law that concern them, regardless of their dog’s size, breed or temperament.

The provisions of the Dangerous Dogs Act have been extended to apply to private property. This means that dog owners can be prosecuted if their dog attacks a person in their home (which includes your house and both front and back gardens). The purpose of this law is to provide protection to the healthcare, postal and utility professionals who regularly have to visit people’s homes for work.

A question that many dog owners will often ask is: what if my dog attacks someone who breaks into my home? According to the law, your dog attacking a trespasser is an exception. However, this is true only if the attack happens in your house, not covering incidents in your back or front garden. The idea is to try to differentiate between innocently intentioned trespassers, such as a child entering a garden to retrieve a lost ball or a neighbour leaving a parcel for safe keeping, from those with less noble intentions. While the law is yet to be tested, it’s important for dog owners to ensure that unexpected visitors can safely access your front door without encountering your dog.

The maximum sentences for allowing a dog to attack someone have been substantially increased:

  • From two years and up to 14 years, for a fatal dog attack.
  • From two years and up to five years, for injury.
  • Up to three years if an assistance dog is attacked.

The last item is also a new addition. The Dangerous Dogs Act now includes a specific offence to protect assistance dogs (such as guide dogs) from attacks.

Another key aspect of these new amendments is that, from now on, it’s a criminal offence for the person in charge of the dog to allow it to be ‘dangerously out of control’ in a public place. It’s extremely important for dog owners to be aware that they can be prosecuted if their friendly, but overexcited and overenthusiastic dog, knocks someone over and injures that person by accident.

This new legislation also brings new preventative powers for the police and local authorities, including sending owners to dog training classes, repairing fencing to prevent dogs from escaping and requiring dogs to be muzzled in public.

Dog attacks often have devastating consequences for victims and their families. An attack on a guide dog can literally rob someone of their independence and freedom! If you are concerned about your dog’s behaviour, seek advice from an experienced or qualified dog trainer or behaviourist.


https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dangerous-dogs-owners-face-tougher-sentences-for-attacks

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses