With the warmer weather, its understandable we want to spend more time outside with our dogs. Whether that be a trip to the beach, a BBQ in the garden or a lunchtime walk. However, dogs can easily overheat and develop heatstroke, and this can occur due to hot weather or over exertion. Unlike us, dogs cannot sweat to cool down and rely on panting which is not effective enough in hot weather. Heatstroke is a veterinary emergency and can be fatal for dogs if left untreated

Some breeds of dogs are more at risk of heatstroke – large breeds, those with a thick coats, overweight dogs and brachycephalic dogs (with flat faces).

Signs of heat stroke include:

• Excessive panting and drooling
• Bright red gums
• Confusion or lethargy
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Collapse
• Seizures can also develop if left untreated

If you suspect heatstroke, we advise a call to your vet immediately, but you can then do things to help cool them before bringing them to us.

Rapid cooling is essential and contrary to other advice, you cannot cool them too quickly.

Things to do:

• Remove them from the heat and into shade or a cool area
• Pour cold water over them, you can also submerge their body in water in the bath or paddling pool.
• Do not cover them in wet towels as these will retain heat.
• Using a fan can help to cool them
• Offer them a drink of water but do not syringe anything into their mouth
• Get them to the vets – with air con on in the car

Ways to avoid heatstroke:

• Do not walk your dog in the middle of the day, stick to the cooler mornings and evenings
• Ensure your dog has shade if they are in the garden
• Consider cooling aids such as a paddling pool, frozen treats and cooling mats
• Never leave a dog in a car
• Encourage indoor activities and enrichment, such as licky mats and treat puzzles

Our feline friends can also suffer from heatstroke, although less commonly.

Cats tend to be less active in the heat and prefer to snooze in the sun, but they can still be at risk of heat stroke.

• Make sure your cat is not left in a hot room such as a conservatory
• Take care when closing sheds and greenhouses that no cats (yours or a neighbour’s) are not trapped inside.
• Grooming long haired cats to keep their fur manageable
• Minimise the time cats spend lounging in the sun

If you have any concerns that your pet is suffering from heatstroke, follow the advice above to rapidly cool them and call us on 01606 880 890 or 01606 717969

We are proud to announce that Hollybank Vets Winnington has been accredited as a Dog Friendly Clinic!

The Dog Friendly Clinic Scheme has been set up by Dogs Trust and The British Veterinary Behaviour Association to help vet clinics and owners make every dog’s veterinary experience the best possible.

The Dog Friendly Clinic scheme helps practice staff develop dog behaviour knowledge and skills so they can recognise and address early signs of anxiety and improve the welfare of dogs whilst in the clinic.

To find out more, and how you can help your dog have a better trip to the vets, visit www.dogfriendlyclinic.org.uk

How we became Dog Friendly!

As a practice we have had to show we meet certain requirements to become a dog friendly clinic. The whole team is involved with making your dogs visit a positive one – vets, nurses and receptionists!

Firstly, it’s important to recognise that dogs can be affected by their experience in the reception area. Along with our separate dog specific waiting area, our receptionists will be on hand to ensure your dog gets the right experience for them. Our receptionists will greet you and your dog, if they are keen, with treats and a fuss however we do understand that not all dogs are happiest when they come to the vets so if they would prefer less interaction and to wait in a quieter area then we will also facilitate this.

The handling of your dog can also have an impact on their visit and we will always be gentle with your pets. Stress and pain can influence a dogs behaviour so if they are not feeling very well, you may notice they are not acting their usual self. They may be more worried, shy or even be less tolerant of being touched and examined so we need to take this into consideration. The majority of consultations will require physical interaction. A considerate, slow approach will help dogs to feel safe and minimise distress. The interpretation of the dog’s body language will also help the staff to understand how a dog is reacting to a situation.

If your dog needed to be hospitalised, whether that be for one day for a procedure or for longer if they are needing overnight care, then it is important we utilise dog friendly methods to ensure they feel safe during their stay. Our kennels have been designed to be as stress free as possible, no two kennels face each other so dogs cannot make eye contact. The kennels are made comfy with bedding, blankets and our nurses care for them, taking them out to the toilet and providing TLC with personalised and regularly reviewed patient care plans.

If your dog does get very stressed and worried coming to the vets, then there are things we can do to help including anxiolytic medications and socialisation clinics. Our socialisation clinics are designed to get your dog more used to the practice environment and experience happy visits with us so that when they do come for a vet appointment, they have a positive association with us.

Look out for an upcoming post regarding our socialisation clinics and featuring some star patients!