Dog First Aid - Surrey

⚠️ID TAGS⚠️

In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar tag with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional (however as the legislation was written in 1992 before the advancements in technology and mobile phones, we would definitely recommend this).

You do not have to put your dogs name on the tag, this is optional. Unfortunately dog theft is a real danger and if the thief knows the name of your dog this may help them pass on the dog to the unsuspecting new owners because it appears they know the dog because the dog responds to their name. We would therefore recommend, you do not put your dogs name on the tag.

An example of the information to put on a dog tag is:

Mr A Smtih
No 54, BX17 7TD
01202 232218

OR

Mr A Smtih
54 Letsbe Avenue
BX17 7TD
01202 232218

Certain dogs are exempt from having to wear a collar with a dog tag. They are:

• Any dog registered with the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
• Any dog while being used in emergency rescue work.
• Any dog while being used on official duties by a member of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, HM Customs and Excise or the police.
• Any dog while being used for driving or tending cattle or sheep.
• Any dog while being used for the capture or destruction of vermin.
• Any dog while being used for sporting purposes.

💦DOG HYDRATION💦

On a hot summer’s day, there’s no better feeling than sipping on a glass of cold and refreshing water - especially after a long walk or run in the park!

Water is hugely important for good health, and it’s no different for our furry friends.

The problem is, not all dogs are as keen to frequently lap up water, and a reduced water intake can quickly lead to dehydration and sickness.

So if you find your dog not drinking water throughout the day, it’s important to try to get to the root cause and do your best to promote healthy water drinking habits.

If you notice your dog has any of the following symptoms:
• Sunken eyes
• Dry gums
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Collapses
• Loss of skin elasticity

Call your vet immediately for advice. Dehydration in dogs is a common, potentially life-threatening condition. If left untreated dehydration can cause serious organ damage and even death.

Can I give my dog frozen treats? 🧊

☀️ The weather has really warmed up over the last few days, and is set to stay that way for a while longer. This has meant a lot of mixed messages being shared over social media.

😞One post that I see frequently shared with regards to ice cubes & frozen treats is well-meaning but a little misleading. The original poster unfortunately misinterpreted what was said by the vet and, when recounting the advice, missed a crucial element of the advice - that the advice was specific to dogs who are experiencing hyperthermia/heatstroke.

✅ If your dog is not showing any signs of heat stroke then it is safe to give them frozen treats, ice cubes and doggy ice cream. You can add ice cubes to their water, let them play with ice cubes or freeze treats inside ice cubes for them.

❌If a dog is showing signs of heatstroke then it can be dangerous to give them frozen treats, ice cubes and icy cold water. Instead you should prioritise getting them to the vet for treatment and using safe methods of cooling on the way.

☀️Some signs of heatstroke are:
- excessive, vigorous panting
- agitation
- dark red, sticky/tacky gums

💦Safe cooling methods:
- stand the dog in cool/tepid water
- wipe the dog's paws, abdomen, arm pits and neck with a wet cloth, refresh and repeat.
- use a fan/air con

‼️Priority should always be to get the dog to the vet as a matter of urgency.
🌡No dogs have died from missing a walk but heatstroke can be fatal.

Prevention is the best option. Why not try some fun training or enrichment in the garden, play in a paddling pool, eat some tasty, frozen snacks or just chill out in front of the fan!

Stay safe out there ☀️🌡

🚗DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS🚗

Dogs mainly control their body temperature by panting. When a dog is very hot, panting isn’t enough to stop them from overheating. In warm weather, the temperature inside a parked car can climb rapidly and will be much higher than outside of the vehicle. Dogs left alone in a car on a hot day can quickly become dehydrated, develop heatstroke or even die.

We do not recommend that you leave your dog unattended in a vehicle on a warm day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Heatstroke can happen quickly and can be fatal.

If you think a dog may have heatstroke it is vital that you immediately contact a vet while cooling them down. Getting early advice and treatment is essential to saving a dog’s life. Research has found that in the UK, although 1 in 7 dogs that are taken to vets with heatstroke die, 98% that are seen early with mild signs are likely to survive.