Dogs find it harder than humans to regulate their temperature so it’s really important we help them stay cool during the summer. Our top tips:

• Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day. Walk your dog early in the morning or wait until the temperature cools in the evening.
• Offer a cold, damp towel or cool mat for your dog to lie on, letting them have the choice where to settle. Swapping locations as the sun moves during the day will help them to keep cool too.
• Fill up an old plastic bottle with tap water, freezing it and then placing it on the floor so it can help keep the air a bit cooler for your dog. Simply refreeze every time the water defrosts!
• Closing curtains, opening windows and using fans can help keep your dog more comfortable.

If you need advice about keep your canine partner or Canine Partners puppy/dog in training cool, please get in touch with your usual Canine Partners contact.

We’re all quite partial to a pancake or two (or three…), and there’s no need to leave the dogs out of all of the fun.

Dog friendly pancakes are very similar to the human version – but instead of using milk, you can use water instead. Easy peasy.

Ingredients

• Flour
• Eggs
• Water

Method

Combine the three ingredients into a batter. Add more water if necessary.

Next, add some of the mixture to the bottom of a microwaveable dish and pop into the microwave for a couple of minutes. You can also fry your dogs pancakes with a small amount of oil, which is good to keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

Voilà! The dog friendly pancakes are ready!

How about some dog friendly toppings?

Us humans might be partial to a little lemon and sugar, but there are some great dog friendly toppings that your pooches will love! Here are a few ideas:

• Drizzle some Marmite over the top for a savoury treat
• Spread some peanut butter over the top – great for humans too! Be sure to avoid peanut butter with xylitol as this can be toxic for dogs
• Chop up some banana pieces or apples to serve with the pancakes – these would go great with the peanut butter too
• Add chopped veggies like carrots or cucumbers
• Decorate the pancakes with your dog’s favourite biscuits

Please remember that treats like yummy dog friendly pancakes should form part of your dog’s overall daily food intake – keeping your dog at a healthy weight is crucial for their well-being.

With several instances around the UK of dogs being bitten by Adders this year, our dog health and insurance administrator Hayley wanted to share some advice on how to deal with an adder bite should your dog receive one.

The Adder (otherwise known as Vipera berus) is the only venomous snake that is native to the United Kingdom. They are usually found in the south and south west of England, western Wales and Scotland. This is because these areas house their preferred types of habitat.

Adders are often found in or near sand dunes, heathland, rocky hillsides, moorland and woodland edges. They are most active between April and July, usually making an appearance in the afternoon.

Signs to look out for

While bites are not particularly common, they can happen. Things to look out for if your dog may have been bitten include pain and swelling at the bite site (normally on the face or lower limbs), marked bruising and occasionally generalised weakness.

What to do if you suspect your dog has been bitten

If you think your dog has been bitten by an snake, you need to take them to the vets immediately. Call your vet for an emergency appointment as soon as you can and let them know that you suspect your dog has been bitten.

• Never attempt to ‘suck out’ the poison yourself if you suspect a snake bite
• Keep your dog as calm as possible – remember that dogs can read your body language and behaviours so try to remain calm as well
• Try to stop any haemorrhage by wrapping the wound

Treatment for snake bites

In the event of a venomous snake bite, many dogs require anti-venom therapy and hospitalisation. Between 96-97% of dogs will make a full recovery from an adder bite. This will usually take up to 5 days with the right treatment.

It’s that time of year when the wind is boisterous and our four-legged friends always manage to find the deepest puddles!

Muddy feet, dishevelled manes and a rather smelly perfume are guaranteed after a gusty wet walk but it’s important to keep your dogs well groomed to ensure that they, and your home are kept clean.

So here are our top tips to make sure your dog is clean and dry after walkies.

Wiping paws

Wiping your dogs paws after a walk is not only important to avoid paw prints across the carpet, but also for their own safety too.

At this time of year, grit can be spread on paths and roads. This grit can attach itself to your dogs paws, which they will then lick. This can cause dehydration and lead to more serious conditions.

When you return home, get your dog to sit whilst you soak their paws in water to remove the grit or any other impurities. Check each paw carefully as lodged stones and other bits picked up from the outside can become very uncomfortable. Afterwards, simply towel dry each paw.

Drying off

After wiping their paws, you should also dry their fur to prevent that “doggie” smell, and to keep the fur un-matted. Drying your dog will help them stay warm and comfortable too – as much as they might think a quick shake is enough!

Short-haired breeds like Labradors simply need a good towelling down. Golden retrievers however have longer fur, so would benefit from using a towelling bag to dry them off.

Once the dog is inside the towelling bag, give them a good rub. The towelling is really absorbent and also cleans up sand and mud.

When drying a poodle-breed, our dog welfare team recommend “squeezing” rather than rubbing with a towel. This is to avoid creating knots in their curly fur which are very difficult to comb out!

Bath time

If your dog is very muddy, it is best to give them a bath. Make sure to brush your dog before a bath where possible, as water can get caught in matted fur.

Use lukewarm water, with a low shower pressure, as dog’s skin can be more susceptible to heat and higher water pressure can stress them out. Larger dogs are more prone to overheating, so use a cooler temperature for them.

Shampooing your dogs will get rid of any dirt and keep them smelling fresh. Be sure to use a shampoo formulated for dogs, and to be careful around their eyes.

After their bath, towel dry as per the above instructions.

We hope you found our tips useful and that they can prevent a smelly, muddy home!

It’s not long now until the big day now, and excitement here at Canine Partners is growing!

To ensure that humans and dogs alike have a happy holiday during the festive period, our dog welfare team have put together tips to protect your pets from the seasonal dangers that are likely to end with a trip to the vet.

Human treats

Human treats are for humans only – and some of our favourite seasonal snacks are incredibly toxic to dogs. Here is a list of some of the foods and drink to keep far away from your furry companion:

• Chocolate
• Mince pies
• Christmas pudding
• Nuts and berries
• Tea, coffee and alcohol

Also keep chicken or turkey bones, as well as food wrappings (foil, cling film and meat strings) well out of reach of your pooches.

Christmas tree decorations

Our four-legged pals can injure themselves by knocking over the tree, or getting tangled in ribbons, tinsel or stringed ornaments. Fairy lights can also be a danger as dogs may even burn or shock themselves on them. What’s more, popular seasonal plants can be deadly such as poinsettia, holly and mistletoe.

How to prevent incidents

Kara Carver, Dog Welfare Officer, has some easy to follow advice: “We advise all of our puppy parents, partners and fosterers to keep an extra-close eye on their canine partners over the holidays so that everyone can enjoy a safe and merry Christmas.

“It’s particularly crucial that dogs are not left unattended with food, presents or even the Christmas tree as many of these could lead to them injuring themselves or falling ill.

“Be aware that some aspects of the festivities can be frightening to dogs and other animals including the bangs or snaps of Christmas crackers, large singing Santa Clauses and other decorations.

“It’s important not to pressure a pet to go near anything they are frightened of and never force a pet to dress up. If they are happy to wear a costume, make sure garments are flame resistant and don’t restrict movement.”

Hoping to impress Angel, fellow golden retriever Radley, served Angel a delicious pilchard cake treat with a twist.

Radley thought he’d share his chosen romantic dish with you so you can make it for your four-legged friends too.

Ingredients:

• 1 tin of pilchards (or any other tinned fish)
• 1 egg
• flour

and the twist

• 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil
• porridge oats

Method:

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until it forms a dough like mixture.
Pop the mixture in the microwave for a few minutes to cook it through.
Leave to cool before cutting into small squares or shaping into hearts to give as delicious Valentine treats.

Here’s an interesting fact for you:

Coconut oil has some fantastic health benefits for your dog and although sometimes supplements can be a confusing topic, this is an easy one to add in to keep your hound healthy.

Coconut oil consists of more than 90% saturated fats, with traces of few unsaturated fatty acids, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Most of the saturated fats in coconut oil are Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). The main component (more than 40%) of MCTs is lauric acid, followed by capric acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic. Coconut oil also contains about 2% linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids) and about 6% oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acids).

Most of the coconut oil benefits come from the MCTs. For example, the lauric acid in coconut oil has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Capric and caprylic acid have similar properties and are best known for their anti-fungal effects.

In addition, MCTs are efficiently metabolized to provide an immediate source of fuel and energy, enhancing athletic performance and aiding weight loss. In dogs, the MCTs in coconut oil balance the thyroid, helping overweight dogs lose weight and helping sedentary dogs feel energetic.

According to Dr. Bruce Fife (dogsnaturallymagazing.com), certified nutritionist and naturopathic doctor, coconut oil gently elevates the metabolism, provides a higher level of energy and vitality, protects you from illness, and speeds healing. As a bonus, coconut oil improves any dog’s skin and coat, improves digestion, and reduces allergic reactions.

So it’s great for your pooch’s:

• skin
• coat
• allergies

Make sure your four-legged family member isn’t left out of Pancake Day fun with our quick and easy recipe. They’re very much like human pancakes except are made with water as some dogs are best not to eat any dairy.

It couldn’t be more simple! All you need to do is make a batter consisting of flour, water and egg. Pop a little of the mixture in the bottom of a microwavable dish and microwave it for a few minutes. Ta da! Doggy pancakes complete. You could drizzle a little Marmite over them for some added flavour too.

Here’s an interesting fact for you:

There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about raw feeding and it seems the poor egg is often dragged through the mud as a dangerous food for dogs. Some claim that they are too high in cholesterol, they pose a risk of salmonella and that they cause a biotin deficiency. But that’s not entirely true.

Eggs are not only a cheap and safe source of raw food for your dog, they are one of the most complete and nutritious meals you can choose!

Eggs are an important source of nutrition for not only many predators, but for the chick living inside it.  Inside the egg are all the nutrients necessary to grow a new chicken.  Eggs are also one of the most complete sources of amino acids, the building blocks of protein.  Eggs are a good source of:

• Vitamin A
• Riboflavin
• Folate
• Vitamin B12
• Iron
• Selenium
• Fatty Acids

One of the reasons pet owners are warned off eggs is that the whites contain enzyme inhibitors which can interfere with digestion, especially in very young and old animals.  This is true, but it only means that eggs should not be the mainstay of the diet.  It is perfectly safe to feed several eggs a week to the average dog.  If you don’t see evidence of digestive upset when feeding eggs to dogs, then he should have no trouble if eggs are a regular part of his diet.  Cooking the egg white could solve this problem but much of the nutrition would be lost so it is best to feed it raw.

Don’t forget the shells – If eggs are fed with the shell on, they are a nearly complete food source for dogs.  The shells can also be valuable for dogs who have difficulty eating bones.  Simply dry the shells out and grind them in a clean coffee grinder until they are powdered and sprinkle the powder on your dog’s food.  It’s important to remember that many eggs are sprayed with a chemical to make them look shiny, so it is best to get your eggs from a local organic farmer.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your recipe and interesting fact from the Canine Partners Barkery, more exciting recipes and facts coming soon!

At this time of year there are hundreds of assistance dog owners all over the UK who may soon find themselves with a highly-trained assistant and invaluable lifeline that has become traumatised by fireworks or trick or treaters.  This can mean their owners will be left without their trusted companion and, as a result, lose their independence.

It’s not just assistance dogs however that are affected by loud, noisy fireworks, excited children and frightening outfits, it’s other pets inside and outside the home too.

Our Kennel Welfare Team have some great top tips on how to keep your pets both safe and reassured during Halloween and fireworks season:

• In kennel welfare, one of the first things we say to all our puppy parents, partners and fosterers is don’t let your dog go with you to the front door to greet trick or treaters. It’s best to keep them calm and quiet in another room in the house when you go to the door.
• Any pets that usually live or like to be outdoors should be kept inside where possible or kept in their safe outdoor housing. For example, make sure cats are indoors not prowling the neighbourhood during the evening.
• Follow the ROCKET code to keep pets from being traumatised by fireworks:

R: Reduce outside noise in your house by closing windows and curtains and turning on a television or radio

O: Occupy pets with games or toys, this acts as a great distraction

C: Calm and quiet behaviour should be rewarded, anxious and worried behaviour should be ignored

K: Keep calm yourself – your anxiety can transfer to your pet

E: Early use of anti-stress aids such as DAP products can be beneficial

T: Time out and safe area: pets often find their own safe place where they feel secure

Our friends at Pets Corner also offer some useful advice for pet owners:

Plan ahead: take your dog for a long walk before it gets dark and evening activities get going.

Be cautious with costumes: even though it may be fun to dress up pets with festive accessories, never force your pet to wear anything. If your pet is happy to dress up make sure garments are appropriate to the animal, their movements aren’t restricted and materials are flame resistant.

No glow sticks: keep glow sticks and glow accessories well away from pets. Even though they aren’t necessarily toxic, if chewed on they can cause your pet to salivate excessively and act abnormally.

You can find further tips, advice and information on all things animal related on the Pets Corner website in the Petopedia section.

We hope both our and Pets Corner’s advice offered above will help reduce the number of pets severely traumatised by fireworks each year.  That, coupled with the sensible and restricted use of fireworks, should mean the impact of Bonfire Night and Halloween on assistance dogs – and their owners – and domestic pets alike will be much less, and everyone can enjoy the celebrations.