Studland Stomp Sponsored Dog Walk (Dorset). In aid of Margaret Green Animal Sanctuary!
Ahoy matey!! Join us on the 2nd October for our Studland Stomp sponsored walk. We encourage all 2 legged walkers to don their pirate gear, meeting at 11.30am at National Trust Knoll Beach car park.
Enjoy and help raise money for a great Charity!
It’s Red Squirrel Week!
It’s the perfect time of year to spot red squirrels on Brownsea Island, the only place you can still see these brilliant animals in Dorset. Come and join us on Brownsea, or support squirrels from afar by adopting one from our website today! Here’s a selection of squirrel photos from this season.
Have you seen a Brownsea Island red? Do you have any photos of our native squirrel? We’d love to hear about your encounters, and see your pictures! ~ Jack, on Brownsea Island.
Hearing Dogs Awards 2016
Tickets on sale now!
This year’s inspirational Hearing Dogs Awards 2016 will take place on Thursday 10 November at the fabulous venue, One Marylebone, in London. To buy your tickets please email your booking form to events@hearingdogs.org.uk
This annual event celebrates our life-changing hearing dogs and partnerships across the UK, as well as recognising our amazing volunteers and supporters. We are really excited we have new categories for this year and are looking forward to hearing the nominated stories of our inspirational hearing dogs, friends, colleagues and champions.
2016 nominations are now closed. A panel of judges now has the difficult job of choosing a shortlist, from which the winners will be announced at the Hearing Dog Awards 2016.
Last year’s event was hosted by Hearing Dogs celebrity ambassador Dame Esther Rantzen, with awards presented by British actress Stephanie Beecham and TV’s Ashleigh and Pudsey. This year’s awards evening is set to be another star studded occasion. Tickets cost £150 (£125 for volunteers and recipients) and are now on sale. The price will include a drinks reception and three course dinner. Email your booking form today at events@hearingdogs.org.uk to buy your tickets, for volunteers and recipients please email this reduced rate booking form.
With thanks to our sponsors Specsavers and Royal Canin.
To sponsor a puppy go to my Links Page.
Good Morning to all Four Paws parents!
And of cos, their dogs and puppies too!
5 secret signs that your Vet doesn’t tell you – part 1
By regularly obseving your dog or dogs, you are far more likely to notice any changes in his/her or their behaviour.
They’re so worth it!
There are a number of viral and bacterial diseases that can cause the symptoms of upper respiratory infection, which generally include runny nose and eyes, coughing, and sneezing. In humans these symptoms are generally caused by a rhinovirus (which causes the common cold) or the influenza virus (which causes flu).
While dogs have a range of other respiratory viruses (parainfluenza virus, reovirus, canine herpes virus) and bacteria such as bordetella (which causes kennel cough), they don’t get human rhinovirus or influenza virus, and their respiratory viruses are not normally infectious to us.
Kennel Cough
A common respiratory disease, kennel cough can cause a cough, discharge from the eyes, and a high temperature. Affected dogs are highly contagious and are often given antibiotics to fight it off, although it can take weeks for them to fully recover.
Some bacterial elements of kennel cough are vaccinated against in a normal booster and there is also a bordetella vaccine available. It is given up the nose and is often recommended for dogs who mix with a lot of other dogs, or regularly stay in kennels.
What are the risks of kennel cough?
(Q) My dog’s just been diagnosed with kennel cough. Is there anything I can do to help him recover quickly? How can I stimulate him while he’s getting better? Playing with his toys makes him cough. The vet suggested the kennel cough vaccine. Could you tell me more about it?
(A) Vet Roberta Baxter says: Kennel cough is a nasty respiratory infection that commonly causes symptoms including a cough, a discharge from the eyes and nose, and a high temperature. Affected dogs are very infectious, and can take weeks to recover completely. Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial elements of this, and anti-inflammatories to ease pain and inflammation and relieve high temperatures. Anti-cough medication may also be useful.
At home you can help your dog by keeping him quiet. A shorter dog walk and avoiding excessive exercise. Letting him lick a little honey off a spoon can also help to ease a sore throat.
Once your dog has recovered completely, he will have a little natural immunity but this might not last long. Some of the elements of kennel cough are vaccinated against in a dog’s normal booster, but a bordetella (the main component of kennel cough) vaccine is also available. I would recommend this for dogs who go out and mix a lot, as well as those who stay in boarding kennels. This vaccine is given up the nose, and needs to be repeated yearly.
What’s making my dog cough?
(Q) I have a three-year-old Border Collie. She started randomly coughing every now and again and it was similar to a choking motion. We thought she had kennel cough so we took her to the vet. The vet ruled out kennel cough and told us to see if it cleared. It didn’t so we took her back and she was given antibiotics and steroids. It still didn’t clear up so we recently had a chest X-ray and a check of her throat and nothing came back. We’ve also had a treatment for lungworm.
She still coughs intermittently. The vet said the next step is to take her for heart tests. What could be wrong with her heart? She is an extremely fit and otherwise healthy dog who gets exercised regularly and is generally very active.
(A) Vet Roberta Baxter says: Most diseases involving coughing probably relate either to respiratory disease (such as kennel cough, or disease of the airways and lungs) or heart disease (which can cause fluid retention in the lungs).
Treatment may be given for infection, and for allergic respiratory disease in some cases, or further investigation may be needed to confirm the source of the problem. X-rays can be helpful to check out both the respiratory and cardiac (heart) systems. However, cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography) can give a more detailed analysis of heart function, and endoscopy of the respiratory system can also be helpful. Such tests might necessitate referral to a specialist centre.
It would be unusual for such a young and active dog to have a heart problem, but it is worth checking things out further to get to the root of this problem.
Dog Tip for Today.
Adder Bites.
Symptoms can include:
Swelling at point of bite (usually dark), may be able to see two puncture wounds.
Sign of pain, pale gums, drooling, bruising, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy.
This is a very sad day for me as here in the photo is Archie on our last Dog Walk.
Archie has moved house with his great owner Josh.
I have regularly walked Archie from a puppy and will miss his wonderful company. He is a very sweet dog and is always full of fun, with lots of energy, mischief and affection!
Wishing Archie all the very best and a huge ‘thank you’ to Josh for trusting me with his wonderful dog!
Four Paws Dog Raffles having fun yesterday, on our dog walk by the River Allen!
Still one of my favourite town centre walks in Wimborne because it’s interesting for the dogs and we always meet other doggies!
