Monthly Archives: August 2020

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Dog owners beware! Bloom of toxic blue-green algae

The summer sun brings serious summer fun! Our countryside walks are back in full swing, with all due distancing and safety precautions of course, and there is nothing better than taking our doggy friends for a day out near the lake or jog around the forest ponds.

However, before all of this awesome fun can start, it’s important to remember that there are several dangerous situations that lurk around lakes, ponds and any spots where water remains stagnated for a long time.

 

Not your friendly sea algae!

Blooming blue-green algae are a frequent presence on still water when the days start warming up, and this year is no exception. If you’ve ever noticed green or brown scum floating on the surface of the water, you were likely looking right at blue-green algae!

Their name is misleading though, as they are not in fact algae, but are instead a type of bacteria. They are cyanobacteria, and they produce toxins that can be fatal to pets if ingested, even in small quantities.

A recent report by the British Veterinary Association indicates that these bacteria are back in full force, with one lethal case this year already so it’s definitely something owners should be aware of!

 

Signs of intoxication

Dogs, in their boundless curiosity, usually contact the bacteria by drinking some contaminated water, licking them off their fur after a refreshing dip, or just because they found the pond scum absolutely impossible to resist consuming.

Signs can show up within minutes to hours after exposure, and they can include:

  • Vomiting,
  • Drooling,
  • Diarrhoea,
  • Trouble walking,
  • Difficulty breathing,
  • Seizures.

 

If you spot any of these after a great day out, don’t delay! Veterinary treatment must be administered promptly as toxins will target the liver, causing irreversible and possibly lethal damage.

 

Avoiding dangerous encounters

Fortunately, not all blue-green algae are toxic, but it’s not possible to tell just by looking at them on lakes or rivers.

The best way to make sure there are no accidents is to always keep your dogs on a lead near lakes, ponds or rivers that have been confirmed or are suspected of having toxic blooms. Warning signs from the local council or the Environment Agency will often let you know if the site is safe for a swim or you can check their online notices.

Dogs that have been swimming outside should be washed with clean water to make sure there is no residue on the coat or limbs.

 

If you think your dog might have contacted blue-green algae, this is an emergency situation and time is of the essence! Cyanobacteria intoxication has no specific antidote, and the sooner treatment starts, the better the chances of a full recovery.

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

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Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Canine nutrition Q&A – Part I

We are what we eat, and the same is true for our four-legged friends.

We can’t stress enough how much a balanced diet is important for your pet’s health, so we’ve prepared a Q&A for you with common questions dog owners have regarding their pet’s nutritional needs!

 

#1: What should I feed my dog?

With the growing number of commercial diets available, choosing the best one to feed your dog can be challenging! On top of that, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration, such as life stage, lifestyle and breed/size, for example.

Puppies, pregnant or lactating bitches, and golden oldies all have different energy requirements. Take puppies, for example. As growing animals, puppies tend to have bigger nutritional needs than adult dogs, but keep in mind that this does not translate to a greater quantity of food on their plate! The daily amount of food needs to be calculated based on the puppies’ size and age, and puppy diets are already formulated to be higher in calories.

As for his lifestyle, is your dog sedentary, or does he regularly accompany you on your outdoor adventures? What’s his overall activity level? The number of calories your pet burns during the day is also a factor to take into account, and there are diets specifically formulated for active dogs, which are higher in calories.

Regarding breed, small breed dogs can have difficulties eating and even choke on regular-sized kibble. Puppy kibble is smaller in size but, as we have discussed, higher in calories, so it will not be appropriate for an adult dog! There are diets specially formulated for small breed dogs, which have smaller kibble and balanced nutritional value. As for large breed dogs, they may benefit from a diet that includes some kind of joint support supplement.

If you’re not sure what’s the best option for your pet, don’t hesitate to ask your vet for advice.

 

#2: How much should I give my dog to eat?

The factors we’ve just covered above will influence the amount of food your dog needs to eat every day as well.

After calculating his daily nutritional requirements, you’ll probably want to have part of those calories allocated as a treat allowance, which can be up to 10% of your dog’s total energy needs. This way, you can give your pet treats without exceeding the daily requirements and make sure your dog stays at a healthy weight!

For instance, if your pet needs 1000 kcal per day, up to 100 kcal can be treats. The remaining 900 kcal should consist of your dog’s regular food and should be divided into the number of meals you intend to give your dog during the day. If you’re planning on giving him food twice a day, each meal would consist of 450 kcal. If you’d like to feed him more often, three meals of 300 kcal each would be an option.

Your vet can help you make these calculations and find the equivalent weight or volume of food, so you won’t have to worry about counting calories every time you feed your dog!

 

#3: Should I opt for a homecooked diet instead?

Homecooked diets can be valuable in a number of situations, especially if your pet is sick. However, as a long-term option, it is not easy to create a balanced diet from everyday food, and you’ll probably need  to include mineral and vitamin supplements. Make sure to always check with your vet first as an unbalanced diet will harm your dog’s health.

 

By now, you’ve probably realised that nutrition is not a black and white subject, so stay tuned for part II and, if you have any questions, make sure you discuss them with your vet!

You can find the 2nd part of this article on this link

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Avoiding horse overheating during exercise

The heat is back on, summer is in full swing and horse owners are faced with a difficult challenge.

How do you keep up with exercise and work needs in this hot weather?

During this time, heat stress is a significant concern for all owners, and it’s vital to keep monitoring your horse’s hydration status and workload. There are several factors to consider when evaluating if and when you should ride out with your horses to avoid dehydration and overheating.

 

Temperature and humidity

High temperatures by themselves are already something to be cautious about, but when mixed in with high humidity, the combination can get truly dangerous, fast.

Damp heat makes it harder for a horse to regulate its body temperature by evaporating sweat, and so, this puts the animal at risk of heat stress.

 

Hydration 

If you’ve ever wondered why the phrase “sweat like a horse” exists, then this section will clear it right up.

Like us (and unlike dogs or cats), the primary method of losing heat is through sweating. Because of their size, they can lose around 10 to 12 litres of water every hour just by sweating. This means that dehydration through continued losses from sweat can and will happen if you’re not careful.

Something else that might happen is that, due to the chemical nature of their sweat, horses might not feel thirsty after sweating. In practical terms, your animals could be dehydrated, but they will not seek out water to drink.

 

So… back to our first issue!

How can I help my horses exercise without harmful heat stress?

  • Consider skipping a training day if the weather is overly hot or damp;
  • If work is necessary, try to ride during the cooler hours of the day;
  • Make sure that your horse is drinking and always has available water sources;
  • Running cool water over the body after exercising is a great way to help lose heat but make sure to keep a good flow so there’s always cooler water on them;
  • Avoid overly cold water as it might cause the blood vessels to constrict, making heat loss less efficient;
  • Shaded, well-ventilated areas are great spaces to help your animals cool down, especially if there are fans near them;
  • Check if your transportation unit is adequate for hot temperature travel and, if it’s not, travel during the cooler hours.

 

These are some of the quick, practical things you can implement during this time of the year but, if you need any help or feel there is something wrong, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.