Recently in the UK temperatures have risen dramatically as summer appears. The RSPCA have recently given advice to dog owners to prevent their pets becoming too hot.
The most important rule when caring for your dog in high temperatures is you must never leave your dog in the car unsupervised. It has been proven that parts of a car's interior can reach up to and over 40ºC, even when it is only mildly warm.
Chief veterinary advisor Mark Evans commented:
"Every year, we ask pet owners the same thing and remind them of the dangers posed but we still get thousands of calls from people who are concerned about animal welfare in the warm weather."
As well as the RSPCA's campaign, the Scottish SPCA has relaunched the Dogs Die in Hot Cars campaign to also raise awareness of this issue.
If you are worried that your dog is suffering from heatstroke then there are certain steps to take. The first is to immediately contact your veterinarian and make them aware of the problem. After this has been done, cover your dog with tepid water and/or place him next to a fan. However, make sure that you do not lower your dog's temperature so much that he is shivering.
When temperatures are higher than usually, try to take precautions to protect the health of your dog. For example, when caring for your dog do not stay outdoors for a large amount of time with your pet and make sure that he has plenty of water to drink regularly.
Monday 28 June 2010
Saturday 26 June 2010
Different Ways To Exercise Your Dog
Regularly exercising your dog is an essential part of their daily routine. This not only benefits the dog and the owner's health but prevents your dog from being frustrated and behaving badly in your house.
Each dog and breed has different needs that need to be met during exercise. For example, if your dog is a large but low energy dog, they do not need to be exercised as much as a small, high energy dog. Age and weight are important factors to consider when planning how much to exercise your dog as you do not want to overwork a dog with health problems.
Dog owners often think that if you have a small dog or a large garden then it is acceptable to let your dog walk around the garden for 10-20 minutes, then bring him back indoors. This is not enough structured exercise as dogs require stimulation and exercise which they won't find in the garden.
The most common form of exercise is walking your dog. However, unless you have a small dog that has to run to catch up with you, walking is not enough exercise for a dog. It is recommended that you walk to an area where it is safe for your dog to run loose, for example a secured field. This gives them the freedom that they need so they won't be as much trouble at home.
If you don't live near a secure area for your dog to run, or if your pet cannot be trusted off the lead, then an easy way to exercise your dog is to use a skateboard, a bike or rollerskates to move alongside your dog as he runs at a quick enough pace to burn off excess energy that makes him dig up the garden or bark at your neighbours.
Another less common but useful method of exercising your dog is hydrotherapy. Using hydrotherapy is a good way to calm your dog as he swims freely in a pool of warm water. This can also be used as therapy after a dog has had an operation or an older dog who is less agile.
Treadmills are sometimes used to exercise a dog if people have little time to walk their dog far. However, this is not ideal as the only form of exercising your dog because it doesn't give your pet the social benefits of mixing with other dogs. Exercising your dog is part of forming a strong bond between you and your dog as well as keeping them a healthy weight. If your dog is on a treadmill alone then the owner-pet relationship is not growing.
Each dog and breed has different needs that need to be met during exercise. For example, if your dog is a large but low energy dog, they do not need to be exercised as much as a small, high energy dog. Age and weight are important factors to consider when planning how much to exercise your dog as you do not want to overwork a dog with health problems.
Dog owners often think that if you have a small dog or a large garden then it is acceptable to let your dog walk around the garden for 10-20 minutes, then bring him back indoors. This is not enough structured exercise as dogs require stimulation and exercise which they won't find in the garden.
The most common form of exercise is walking your dog. However, unless you have a small dog that has to run to catch up with you, walking is not enough exercise for a dog. It is recommended that you walk to an area where it is safe for your dog to run loose, for example a secured field. This gives them the freedom that they need so they won't be as much trouble at home.
If you don't live near a secure area for your dog to run, or if your pet cannot be trusted off the lead, then an easy way to exercise your dog is to use a skateboard, a bike or rollerskates to move alongside your dog as he runs at a quick enough pace to burn off excess energy that makes him dig up the garden or bark at your neighbours.
Another less common but useful method of exercising your dog is hydrotherapy. Using hydrotherapy is a good way to calm your dog as he swims freely in a pool of warm water. This can also be used as therapy after a dog has had an operation or an older dog who is less agile.
Treadmills are sometimes used to exercise a dog if people have little time to walk their dog far. However, this is not ideal as the only form of exercising your dog because it doesn't give your pet the social benefits of mixing with other dogs. Exercising your dog is part of forming a strong bond between you and your dog as well as keeping them a healthy weight. If your dog is on a treadmill alone then the owner-pet relationship is not growing.
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