Category Archives: The Pet Professionals

The Pet Professionals

Food toys for dogs

Food toys are some of the best toys for dogs, and it’s easy to understand why! They combine all the advantages of treat-motivated training sessions with stimulating physical and mental exercises that will keep your pet thoroughly entertained.

Puzzle feeders can be given to any dog, but they are also excellent aids in the management of various health problems such as behaviour issues, digestive problems or obesity.

But there’s such a vast selection of treat toys that you might be asking yourself: What is the best one for my dog?

If you’re not sure where to start, here are our top tips on how to choose one that your dog will enjoy.

#1 Start simple and then increase the difficulty

The pet market is full of all manner of puzzle toys with varying complexity. They range from simple spiral bowls that increase eating time to hard challenges where your dog needs to move, touch or interact with things in the correct order to be given their treat.

For animals that are not used to this kind of challenge, it’s best to start with more straightforward puzzles and then gradually progress to the more complicated ones.

#2 Choose the right toy for your dog’s needs

There are puzzles to meet a variety of needs such as staving off boredom, increasing activity level, helping slow down voracious eaters, and even delaying ‘doggy dementia’ in old age.

Do some research and see which type of toys are best suited for your furry friend’s issues, as they are not all the same!

#3 Consider having more than one toy so you can swap them around

Dogs are curious and intelligent animals that love a good challenge, especially if there are some tasty treats at the end. However, they might grow a bit bored of doing the same thing over and over again.

To help avoid this, consider having multiple puzzler feeders so that you can rotate these and keep mealtimes fresh and interesting for your pet.

While it might take a couple of tries until you find a toy that really gets your pet’s attention, once you do, it can bring a whole new dimension to your dog’s mealtimes!

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

Canine courses

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Dog training

Dogs are intelligent animals, and mental stimulation is essential for them to lead a happy, and healthy life.

With the kids being back at school and the family spending less time at home, why not invest some time in teaching your dog a new trick?

Learning is a great way to stimulate your dog’s cognitive abilities and it can be a wonderful bonding experience between you and your pet.

That said, we leave you with our top five tips to help you train your dog!

 

#1: Setting up

Before you start:

Choose a quiet place to train your dog where you won’t be interrupted and where there are little or no distractions.

Gather all the materials needed for your training session (treats, objects, clicker, etc.).

Make sure that you’re relaxed and that you have time. If you are annoyed for some reason, if your mind is wandering, or if you’re in a rush, this can create a negative experience for your dog. If this is the case, it may be best to skip the training session.

Now that you have everything prepared, you can get your dog!

 

#2: Start small

You may want to teach your dog to navigate an obstacle course, but if you have never trained your dog before, make sure to start with more simple commands (such as sit, for example), which are easier to learn. This way, your dog will familiarise themselves with the process, and it will be easier to move on to more difficult tricks.

Another thing that helps is to keep training sessions short so that neither you nor your dog becomes tired or frustrated if the progress is not happening as fast as you were expecting.

 

#3: Break it down

Let’s go back to the obstacle course idea. Imagine that the course is comprised of three obstacles: a tunnel, a ramp and 10 weave poles, and that you want your dog to go through these in a set order. For your dog to complete these three obstacles in succession, they first need to learn to go through them individually and then you can build up from there.

 

#4: Imitation

Did you know that dogs are great copycats? If your dog is struggling to learn something, seeing another dog complete the same exercise may help them understand what is expected better.

 

#5: Rewards

Rewards are key in the process of learning, as rewarding a behaviour makes it more likely to be repeated. Rewards can take many forms depending on your dog’s personality – they can be food treats, praise or even toys. Make sure that you know which one your dog prefers to keep them motivated.

If your dog is doing something that was not intended, do not punish or yell at them. They can associate training with a negative experience, which will have a detrimental impact on results. Instead, ignore what they are doing and try again another time.

 

We hope you have fun teaching your dog something new these coming days! If you feel that they are struggling to learn something new, take a step back and try to figure out how you can break the task down into more manageable stages.

Be patient and good luck!

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

Canine courses

 

Cats, Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Improving mealtimes for older pets

As our pets grow older, they go through a significant number of changes. They may not enjoy moving as much, they may lose some sharpness to their senses, and they may suffer from chronic conditions such as kidney disease, osteoarthritis or diabetes.

Keeping an eye out for these changes is very important as our pets can have a dip in their quality of life as time goes on. However, there are some things we can do to enhance their comfort at home, one of which is improving their eating experience.

Eating is one of the most important daily activities, and senior animals often find themselves not enjoying their mealtimes as much. This can lead to a significant decrease in their calorie intake, causing them to lose weight.

Here are some tips on how to ensure your golden oldies have a five-star gourmet experience every day:

Switch to a diet appropriate for their age

Usually, cats are considered seniors at around ten years of age, while dogs vary between seven for larger breeds and nine for smaller breeds. At these ages, consider changing their food to a special senior formulation.

There are plenty of options made specifically for senior pets, and therapeutic diets that help with a number of health problems. These formulations contain all the nutrients that they need to support age-related conditions such as lowered immune systems, achy joints, and kidney disease. They also have the right texture and shape for pets who can no longer smell or chew so well.

Improve palatability

Improving palatability may take a little trial and error, but it can be very rewarding for you and your pets.

Try to offer novel food textures such as soft wet food, which can help if your pet has pain chewing, or change the brand and flavour of their meals.

Offering smaller portions throughout the day and introducing exciting food puzzles are also quick changes you can implement to great effect.

Pouring a little water or salt-free broth on dry kibble and gently heating it in the microwave improves aroma, which can compensate for any loss of smell.

Be mindful of their limitations

Osteoarthritis, muscular weakness or painful chronic conditions all make bending down harder. If you spot your pets struggling to reach their food, place the bowl a little higher so that eating is more comfortable for them.

Golden oldies who no longer hear or see very well may also feel disoriented in busy spaces and may struggle to find their food. Keeping their bowls in an easily accessible, comfortable and quiet room can do wonders for them!

Ask your vet for help

Every pet is different, and sometimes it can be pretty challenging to get an older pet, especially one with concurrent health conditions, to eat what they need to stay healthy.

If you find yourself struggling with this or have any questions on how to improve your furry friend’s quality of life, do not hesitate to contact your vet.

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Environmental enrichment for cats

Last Sunday was International Cat Day, a day created to celebrate our feline friends.

At The Pet Professionals, we believe all days should be ‘cat days’, so we’re keeping the celebration going, and we’re going to share with you our three top tips to help you enrich your cat’s life.

 

#1 – Meeting basic needs

If you are the proud owner of a purring friend, this is where to start. 

Make sure that your cat has access to all the resources that they require to satisfy their most basic needs, such as eating, drinking, sleeping and going to the toilet.

Here is some useful information that you might not be yet aware of. Did you know that…

  • Eating and drinking bowls should not be near each other
  • Cats tend to prefer wide and shallow dishes
  • Having multiple sources of water around the house is helpful to encourage drinking
  • The litter tray should be away from the eating, drinking and resting areas
  • If you have more than one cat, it is recommended to have one litter tray per cat plus an additional one
  • Cats tend to prefer open trays and unscented litter
  • Some cats will not use the litter tray if it’s dirty, and will find elsewhere to eliminate

Basic needs – not so basic that we should ignore them!

 

#2 – Providing opportunities to display natural behaviour

For cats to be happy, they need to be able to display their natural behaviour. This includes:

Hunting

If your cat does not have outdoor access, it’s very important to provide them with hunting opportunities at home. Fortunately, there are several toys that you can purchase or make to mimic hunting. 

Also, playing is great for physical and mental stimulation and can be a bonding experience if using interactive toys. However, keep in mind to never play with your cats with your hands and fingers as this could direct predatory behaviour towards you or other family members.

Even though they’re likely to have a favourite, rotate your cat’s toys every once in a while, to keep things fun!

Scratching

Please do not try to discourage your cat’s scratching behaviour, even if they’re trying to create a ‘new texture’ for your furniture. Scratching is something that comes naturally to cats and that allows them to communicate and keep their nails sharp.

If your cat is scratching on something that they shouldn’t, such as the couch or curtains, for example, provide them with an appropriate surface to scratch on and make sure to place it somewhere that your cat will use it. Sometimes, moving the cat scratching post from the corner of the room to near a problem area will prevent your cat from scratching where you don’t want them to.

Scouting 

In the wild, cats are mighty predators, and a key component of the prowl is patient observation. High places, such as shelves or the top of the refrigerator, are usually greatly appreciated by cats, as it provides them access to a large visual field and a position of advantage. Providing your cat with vertical territory allows them to feel safe and contented.

Hiding

However, as great as hunting as cats are, cats can also be a prey target, making it twice as important to be observant, and to have a place to retreat to if needed. Having hiding places around the house can be a great source of comfort and safety.

If your cat is hiding, try to avoid disturbing them and let them come out on their own when they feel ready.

 

#3 – Making your cat’s space their own

Every cat is different, and each has their own personality and quirks. Make sure to make adjustments as needed to best suit your cat’s character so that they can lead happy lives.

 

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

Feline courses

 

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Summer safety

Summer’s here! For most of us, this means that it’s time for a break and we can enjoy a few days of relaxing with the family.

If you’re planning to stay local this year, this is the perfect opportunity to organise activities that include your four-legged friends.

With this in mind, keep reading our advice to keep your dog safe this summer!

Dog theft

Many of us have decided to adopt or buy a pet during the pandemic. Unfortunately, there are people who are keen to take advantage of the current high demand for pets to make a profit, and these criminals are looking to steal dogs and sell them at inflated prices. 

If you have a dog, before leaving the house, make sure that:

  • Their microchip details are up to date, 
  • They are wearing a collar or harness with an id tag, 
  • You never leave them unattended outside of a shop, in a garden, etc.

If you are looking to buy a dog, please thoroughly research the seller before making any decision. So take up references and make sure that everything checks out.

Preventive care

If you are planning to take your dog to a pet-friendly park or outdoor space where they will be in contact with other dogs or animals, make sure that their parasite treatments and vaccinations are up to date.

Kennel cough is a highly contagious disease that can easily be caught if your dog spends time with an infected animal. Also, there have been recent reports of parvovirus outbreaks in some areas in the UK. Vaccinations are available for both of these diseases.

If your pet enjoys lying in the sun for a nap, don’t forget to apply pet-safe sunscreen to sensitive areas (such as the tip of the nose and ears) to avoid sunburn.

Heatstroke

Our pets do not have the same ability to cool down as we do, making it harder for them to cope with high temperatures.

If you are planning to include your dog on a hike or a trip to the beach, make sure to avoid the hottest hours of the day, take plenty of water (for both of you) and ensure that you can provide them with a shaded area to rest.

If you notice any breathing difficulties, excessive panting, agitation, or lethargy, and if your dog seems wobbly or collapses, they are likely to be suffering from heatstroke and will need to be seen by a vet immediately. Before you head out, make sure that you have the contact information of a nearby vet in case this or any other emergency happens.

Accidents and potential problems

Accidents can happen, so if possible, take a first aid kit with you when you’re out and about and, again, keep the contact details of a nearby vet at hand.

If your dog gets stung by a bee, they may develop an allergic reaction that can compromise their breathing. If this happens, they need to be seen without delay.

Also common during summer are grass seed-related incidents. Due to their arrow-like shape, grass seeds can get stuck on your pet’s hair and penetrate their skin, leading to nasty infections. They can also get into their eyes, nose and mouth, with a similar outcome.

After walks, make sure that you always check your dog’s hair for grass seeds and, while you’re at it, ticks as well.

Near water

If you find a stream or a pond and your dog is keen to go in for a swim, have a look around for any warning signs of blue-green algae. These are collections of bacteria that produce toxins that are very harmful to your pets, so do not let them in if you suspect the water may be contaminated.

Keep in mind that your dog may not know how to swim, so consider getting them a floating harness, and make sure that they are always within your reach and that you can safely get to them if you find them in distress.

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

Canine courses

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Can you recognise resource guarding in your dog?

Has your dog ever growled at you for picking up their favourite toy?

Several situations and even medical conditions can cause a dog to be aggressive. Today, we’ll be going over one of them, called resource guarding. 

 

What sort of things may trigger resource guarding?  

Some of the most common examples of items associated with possessive guarding behaviour include:

  • Food in your pet’s bowl;  
  • Food that was dropped or stolen;  
  • Treats;  
  • Toys; 
  • Bedding or space in beds/sofas. 

However, your dog might try to control access to anything he or she deems valuable. 

 

What is the root cause of this type of issues? 

There’s a very important period in puppies’ development, between three weeks and three months of age approximately, when they learn a number of important behaviours from their mum, littermates as well as interacting with their environment. 

During this period, young dogs are prone to some degree of possessive and attention-seeking behaviours as they grow and explore their boundaries and the world around them. 

As they reach adulthood and mature, however, they learn that there are better ways to play and get attention from their family. 

When this learning process is not encouraged, resource guarding has the chance to become highly disruptive. 

Usually, dog owners can easily identify aggressive behaviours related to highly valued items, such as growling, snapping or lunging.

However, recognising more subtle signs is just as important to try and avoid the development of overt conflict.  

Learning to recognise possessive behaviour in all forms, even the milder ones, will also help you decide if veterinary assistance is needed.

 

Beyond snapping and growling, you should also pay attention to: 

  1. Grabbing the high-value item, running away and evading contact when chased; 
  2. Being overly vigilant or fearful when there are movements if your pet is in possession of the item; 
  3. Freezing, standing over or blocking the item from whoever tries to approach it; 
  4. Eating stolen food very quickly to avoid anyone having the chance to intervene. 

These behaviours may be more difficult to recognise but should always be addressed as they can evolve into serious problems such as generalised anxiety or aggression.

If you are concerned about your dog or are struggling to manage unwanted behaviours, speak to your vet. They will see if there is an underlying disease that might be causing aggression and will work with you to solve this problem!

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

Canine courses


 

Cats, Dogs, The Pet Professionals

The dangers of heatstroke

Sun, relaxation and plenty of adventures are the biggest draws of the season!

But with all the nice experiences we can enjoy during the warmer weather, there are some concerns that pet owners need to keep in mind.

One of the most important ones is heatstroke and how it can be dangerous, even deadly, to your pets!

Read on for an overview of how heatstroke can happen and what to look out for.

 

What is heatstroke? 

Simply put, heatstroke happens when a pet overheats without being able to regulate his or her body temperature back to safe levels.

Dogs and cats lose heat differently than humans do, as they produce very little sweat and mainly lose heat by panting. The evaporation of moisture in the oral cavity is critical for heat loss, but this can’t happen if the outside temperature is too high.

Common situations where overheating is likely to happen include:

  • Pets trapped in hot cars, regardless if they are in the direct sunlight or not or with windows open;
  • Days where it’s very damp and mildly hot, as humidity makes temperature regulation harder even when it doesn’t seem too warm;
  • Pets playing outside when the temperature is high and not having the chance to cool down;
  • Pets without access to any cool, shaded places or water.

 

How can you tell if your pet is suffering from heatstroke?

Incoordination, weakness, excessive panting and drooling are the first signs of heatstroke. These should never be ignored as they can quickly progress to sudden collapse, seizures and even death if the pet’s body temperature fails to normalise.

Please note that elderly pets and pets with certain health conditions like narrow airways, obesity or diabetes, are at a higher risk as they have more difficulty regulating their body temperature.

 

What to do when my pet is suffering from heatstroke? 

If it’s warm and you spot that your pet is in distress, move them to a shaded area immediately and cover them with towels soaked in cool (but not cold) water to help dissipate heat. Offer them sips of water to drink if they’re able to do so, and contact your vet as soon as possible.

Heatstroke is an emergency, and veterinary assistance should be sought without delay!

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Wounds in horses

Like any other animal, including ourselves, horses can suffer from a multitude of injuries that may result in open wounds.

Today, we’re covering three important aspects to consider when facing wounds in horses that can help you be prepared for an unexpected situation.

 

#1 – Vet contact information

This had to be top on our list! Always have your vet’s contact information near you in case of an emergency so that you can seek professional advice quickly.

Wounds in horses can look very dramatic with torn, dangling skin, showing muscles and tissues underneath, but often wounds that are small in size and not as gory in appearance may be the ones that will need attention and treatment more promptly.

 

#2 – Blood everywhere

If your horse is wounded, it probably means that there’s blood, and sometimes even a lot of blood! Don’t panic – horses are large animals, which means they also have a large volume of circulating blood. Putting it in perspective, a haemorrhage that would be fatal for a person is not likely to cause noticeable problems for a horse!

That said, instead of focussing on the amount of blood you are seeing, focus on locating the source of the bleeding and how the bleeding looks. If you see blood dripping, it is likely to be coming from a vein, which is easier to manage. However, if the blood is shooting, it’s probably coming from an artery, which comes straight from the heart with high pressure, and this situation needs immediate attention.

In either case, grab something you have at hand (if you have a first aid kit, grab a sterile dressing, if you’re out hacking in the woods, a piece of clean clothing will do) and apply firm pressure to the wound for a while to stop the bleeding.

 

#3 – Wound location and type

Wounds affecting the lower limbs should always be assessed by a vet. As the limbs consist mostly of bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels, there is not much support from muscles or other tissues in case of trauma.

This also means that a wound on a limb is more likely to affect a joint or tendon sheath, which can quickly compromise the horse’s overall health.

Head wounds and wounds affecting the eyes should also receive prompt veterinary attention, as there are many superficial and delicate vessels and nerves on the face.

As for the type of wound, appearance can be deceiving, and the smallest wounds can actually be the worst.

Puncture wounds are extremely dangerous as it’s not possible to assess their depth just by observing them. Puncture wounds on the limbs can easily affect joint structures, and when located on the body, they can cause internal organ damage and infections.

 

Remember, the way a wound heals is often influenced by the initial first aid applied, so don’t hesitate to contact your vet to help you! Also, always approach your horse with caution and be attentive to subtle signs, as pain can lead to aggression.

And if you’re interested in knowing what you can do in an emergency situation before professional advice and treatment can be obtained, have a look at our equine first aid course on The Pet Professionals’ site.

 

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

Equine courses

 

 

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Taking your pet to the ophthalmologist

Throughout the years, there have been several developments in veterinary medicine, and with these, specialisation in different areas of clinical practice.
Just like human medical doctors, veterinary surgeons can choose an area of expertise that they’re keen on and pursue further education and training on the subject. For instance, did you know that there are vets specialised in eye health?
And that is what we are going to address today – veterinary ophthalmology.

Veterinary ophthalmology

Vets can collect valuable information from conducting a thorough eye exam, which is not limited to the eye itself.
Systemic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, infectious diseases and others, can manifest through ocular signs, emphasising the importance of a meticulous physical examination, even when the problem seems to be localised.
And given that ocular signs can have multiple causes, from something as harmless as a speck of dust getting caught in the eye to something as severe as life-threatening hypertension, eye problems should never be overlooked.

So, as a pet owner, how can you recognise signs of ocular disease?

Common signs of eye disease include:
• Excessive tear production and tear staining
• Dry eye
• Eye discharge
• Excessive blinking
• Inflammation (red eye)
• Asymmetric eyes (different sized pupils, bulging, swelling, drooping eyelids, …)
But there are more subtle indicators that there might be problems with your pets’ eyes or vision, such as:
• Pawing at the face and other signs of ocular pain or discomfort
• Avoiding being touched on the head
• Avoiding bright places (increased sensitivity to light)
• Pain-related behaviours (aggression, hiding, …)
• Being startled when touched or bumping into furniture and other obstacles if there is vision loss.

Ocular problems and when to seek help

There are many eye-related conditions that can affect our pets, such as conjunctivitis and eye infections, which are common in kittens and unvaccinated cats (cat flu), cataracts, glaucoma, and cherry eye, to name a few.
A common ocular problem affecting dogs during spring and summer is foreign bodies (e.g. grass seeds). Foreign bodies are any kind of object that enters the eye and gets stuck on the eyeball surface.
Tear flow and blinking are sure to follow as these are normal mechanisms that protect the eye, aiding in removing these foreign materials. However, these may be insufficient, so if persisting, you should seek veterinary assistance to have the foreign body removed before complications (such as eye infections) develop.
These and other simple eye issues can usually be addressed by your regular vet, but if it’s something more complicated, your pet may need to be referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist.

If you have any concerns about your pets’ eyes or vision, don’t hesitate to contact your vet. As with most other health issues, the sooner the problem is addressed, the better!

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Hypothyroidism in dogs

Have you noticed that your dog has been gaining weight despite eating the same amount of food, is less energetic, and his or her hair is thinning?

These are common signs of hypothyroidism, an endocrine disease of the thyroid gland that can affect dogs, especially after a certain age.

 

The thyroid gland

The thyroid is located in the neck, and it produces hormones that participate in many normal bodily functions, including (but not limited to):

  • Energy production;
  • Regulating body temperature;
  • Bone and cell growth.

As it has such an important role in everyday bodily functions, problems that affect the thyroid gland can have severe health consequences.

 

What happens when the thyroid gland isn’t working as it should?

Thyroid gland disease can cause an abnormal hormone production, either because it is:

  • Increased, which we call hyperthyroidism;
  • Or decreased, which we call hypothyroidism.

Dogs predominantly suffer from hypothyroidism, which is caused chiefly by immune-mediated destruction of the thyroid gland. However, we haven’t managed to figure out why exactly this happens.

Because circulating thyroid hormones are too low, you’re likely to see:

  • Weight gain without increased appetite;
  • Loss of hair all over the body but especially the trunk and limbs;
  • Decreased interest in playing and less energy generally;
  • Darkening and drying of the skin;
  • Higher chance of skin and ear infections.

 

Treatment and outcome

Even though hypothyroidism is a chronic condition, it can be managed through daily supplementation with the missing hormones.

Regular monitoring is essential to check if hormone levels are where they should be and make necessary therapeutic adjustments when needed.

With treatment, your canine companion can still live a long and happy life!

 

If you’ve spotted any of the signs mentioned above, schedule an appointment with your vet. If it is hypothyroidism, treatment should be started as soon as possible to avoid complications associated with this disease.

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

Canine courses