Monthly Archives: June 2022

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Help your cat be comfortable with children

Cats are very particular animals that enjoy the stability of their routines and can be pretty picky with the people they interact with.

As a parent or someone who frequently has kids visiting, you might be worried that your feline friend will not be too keen on having small, often loud and energetic humans in the house.

The unknown person factor and the potential for uncomfortable stimuli can be daunting, but it’s possible to prepare your kids and your cat for this to go as smoothly as possible!

First impressions are important

Whether you are bringing a new cat into a home with children or letting children meet an established cat, it’s important to remember to meet your pets’ needs first and foremost and let them lead the first interaction.

Terrible first impressions aren’t impossible to fix, but if your cat has a significant negative experience, especially during their first days with you, it can impact their stress levels.

This is why it’s important to choose a moment where your pet is calm and relaxed, and your kids have been adequately coached on the dos and don’ts of interacting with your feline best friend.

If your cat looks like he or she is no longer enjoying the interaction, gently remove him or her from the situation and provide a treat reward.

Teach your kids about boundaries

Depending on their age, it might be the first time they interact directly with a pet, but even older kids might need a little refresher on the particular needs of cats.

It’s best to start educating them on this as early as possible and always be ready to intervene until your children understand the ‘rules’. Respecting your pets’ comfort boundaries is extremely important as they might not always be in a position to flee, which can result in reactive aggression and a bad experience for everyone.

Keep these things in mind:

  • Teach them to be gentle and show tem how to touch a pet without hurting;
  • Be firm when it comes to behaviours such as tugging on ears, legs or tails, as these are never acceptable;
  • Be patient and always keep calm to avoid increasing tension and stress for both your kids and your cats;
  • Until your children reach a certain age, never leave your pets and kids with each other unsupervised. Even the most well-behaved and gentle cat is very likely to react badly if provoked or harmed, even if by accident!

Make sure your cats have quiet spots to hide in

Life with kids is not for the faint of heart! Always allow your cats to opt-out of interacting with little humans whenever they see fit and ensure that they have a room or space where they will not be disturbed.

All animals have different personalities, and some take to children better than others, but it’s vital they are allowed to choose when and where to get attention.

With time and patience, it’s possible to build beautiful lifelong friendships between your kids and your cats!

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

Feline courses

 

  

Horses, The Pet Professionals

4 common health problems in horses during summer

Summer provides lots of opportunities to enjoy the warm weather with your horse, but it can also bring some health issues.

Here are some of the most common problems that horse owners might encounter this season and what to do when faced with them.

Dehydration

Dehydration can happen when a horse loses more water (for example, through sweat) than he or she takes in. This is why it’s so important to have fresh water permanently available to your horse, especially during warm days.

Signs of dehydration include:

  • Dark urine/reduced urination;
  • Lethargy;
  • Dull eyes;
  • Dry mouth and skin.

But sweat is not composed of water alone, so electrolyte supplementation may be necessary for some horses, especially if they exercise a lot.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is caused by an excessive increase in a horse’s body temperature and it can be a life-threatening condition.

It often happens when exercising in a hot environment, as it’s harder for horses to lose the excess heat, especially if they are dehydrated.

Signs include:

  • Panting;
  • Nostril flaring;
  • Increased rectal temperature;
  • Irregular heartbeat;
  • Reduced performance and delayed recovery after exercise;
  • Muscle spasms.

Keep in mind that heat exhaustion is a medical emergency! Contact your vet immediately if your horse is showing any of the signs described! Until help arrives, please move your horse to a shaded area and start to cool them by applying tepid water to their skin.

Sunburn

Sun exposure can be as damaging to horses as it is to us, with areas of pink skin and little or no hair being the most vulnerable to sunburn, such as the skin around the muzzle. Sunburnt skin typically looks red, swollen and can be painful.

You can prevent sunburn by protecting vulnerable areas of skin with sun cream or sun-blocking gear, such as a UV filtering face mask.

If your horse gets sunburnt, it’s essential to keep him or her in the shade and apply a soothing cream to the affected area to help the skin heal. Speak to your vet if the skin doesn’t improve within a few days or if you’re concerned about the severity of the burn.

Sweet itch

The saliva of the midge (Culicoides) and the black fly (Simulium) can cause an allergic reaction in some horses, resulting in a condition known as sweet itch (or Equine Insect Bite Hypersensitivity).

This illness usually affects the base of the mane, base of the tail and the face, but also the back, belly and rump. Signs include:

  • Intense itchiness that can lead the horse to scratch on posts and trees;
  • Tail swishing to keep the flies away;
  • Excessive grooming from other horses;
  • Scratching that can result in hair loss as well as skin inflammation, potentially leading to infection and thickening of the skin;
  • Lethargy or becoming agitated/restless.

Regarding prevention, keeping your horses inside during the day and out at night and using fly sheets plus face masks can reduce the exposure to midges. Many fly repellents can be used to deter flies from biting, and removing droppings frequently from the stable will help avoid attracting flies.

Though horses often find the hot weather uncomfortable, there is plenty we can do to reduce the risk of these heat-related problems. Don’t hesitate to contact your vet if you’re struggling to keep your animals safe this summer.

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

Equine courses

 

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Protect your dog from the sun

As the sunny days of high summer are getting closer, we would like to take some time to talk about the damage the sun can do to our dogs.

Sunburn and skin cancer are just as significant in our pets as in people! Even if you and your dogs aren’t often out on lengthy outdoors adventures, it’s vital to protect them during sunny days, even if just from the light coming in through the windows.

Keep reading to find out more about avoiding sun-related skin problems this summer.

Can dogs get sunburnt?

The answer is absolutely yes! The sun affects our pets’ skin and can cause burns of varying severity. These are quite bothersome and, in some cases, can be extensive enough to need a trip to the vet.

Dogs love to be outside for long periods or nap in sunny places, putting them at risk of getting burnt. It’s important to remember that they won’t necessarily move away from the sun before they are burnt, so you need to make sure that they do.

Red, tender and flaky skin are sure signs that your pet has a burn! Smaller burns can usually be treated at home with the proper ointments, but more extensive or severe burns require appropriate veterinary treatment.

What are the risks of skin cancer in pets?

Not only is the sun responsible for burns and other skin problems, it can also put your pet at risk of developing severe diseases like skin cancer (malignant melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas or mast cell tumours).

While there are many factors involved in the development of skin cancer, we know that UV damage from the sun plays a part, and too much exposure to this harmful radiation will definitely increase the risk of your dog developing cancer.

These types of cancer can be highly damaging and difficult to treat! The sooner they are spotted, the better the chances of treating them successfully, so always keep a keen eye on your dog’s skin.

If you spot areas with colours that weren’t there before (darker, lighter or red coloured skin), or you see bumps and/or ulcers developing for no reason, do not hesitate to contact your vet.

How can I prevent harm from UV rays?

The best way to reduce the risk of sunburns and skin cancers induced by harmful rays is to limit sun exposure and take the proper measures to avoid putting your dogs in a situation where they can’t escape being out in direct sunlight.

Here are some of the main ways to avoid sun damage:

  • Choose the best sunscreen for your dog – There are plenty of sunscreens out there but it’s important to choose one without zinc oxide or aminobenzoic acid as they are toxic if ingested. Consider one that is also waterproof and unscented if your pooch loves a good swim.
  • Protect your dogs while out on walks or hikes – If you’re fond of outdoor adventures, you might also want to consider protective clothing that’s made to be cool enough for a hot day but also protecting from the hot sun. This way you only need to apply sunscreen to the exposed areas.
  • Keep their home safe from overexposure to the sun – Make sure that your dog has the chance to be out of the sun in case he or she wants to, for instance, with shaded spots out in the garden or with permanent access indoors. If you notice that they have been out for too long, call them in before they suffer a burn.

Even with all of these precautions, it’s important that you avoid the hottest hours of the day to be outside. Not only are the UV rays at their most dangerous, but excessive heat can harm their sensitive paws and might cause heatstroke!

 

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

Canine courses