Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 7

Why not create a fun game to teach your kids or friends about dog breeds?

In the same way that wildlife books help you identify random plants by following a simple flow chart - you could split up and identify common - or not so common - dog breeds.  Or cat breeds, rabbit breeds or horse breeds etc…..

Obviously, it is far easier to learn something new when it is simple and you get fast results - so using technical terms is out of the question as well as things that can only be found out through serious study!

This should be fun!

The Key:

Now you need to decide whether this is for the very beginner - or whether they have a certain amount of doggy knowledge as otherwise this could become quite tedious - or just make 2.

The basic one assumes that they know no breeds at all - and the other can be more specific to rare or unusual breeds - after all if they know what a dalmation looks like - they won’t be using your guide anyway!

Now to get started you need to group your dogs in appearance related groups rather than show groups - as people who see a dog in the street might not know whether it is a working breed or toy dog - so go for looks alone - and start with the simple and most obvious breeds to get them out the way.

For example you may want to filter out Dalmation and Komandors straight away as they are unique in their looks and can’t be mistaken for anything else.  You could also look to be filtering out whole colour groups, like the blues, tri-colours and black and tans - as these groups are easy to spot and can then be further reduced to split up your Dobermanns from your Manchester Terriers.

You could also go on coat type early on if you wanted - although this might be better for later stages - however, a Mexican hairless and a Chow are also very easy to spot!

Problem Areas?

Yes, I know a German Shepherd can be white, black, black and tan, sable, long-haired or normal-haired - but you leave these till you need them - rule out the Maltese, Patterdales, Rottweilers, Collies and Shelties first before proceeding to the more variable breeds.

Try out different ways on scrap paper first as there will be more than one way to get to the same answer - and certain breeds may be at the end of several threads depending on your style of filtering.

Here’s a simple one to give you the jist.  Lets take a Rottweiler, GSD, Maltese and a Sheltie.  Now more than one could be black and tan; more than one could be white and more than one could be long-haired - so how do you filter them out?

Well, here are 2 ways:

1) Has it got very short hair - Yes - Rottweiler (leaving GSD, Maltese and Sheltie)
No: Could you pick it up easily? - No - GSD (leaving Maltese and Sheltie)
Yes: Is it White? - Yes - Maltese - No: it’s a Sheltie

2) Is it really fluffy? - Yes - Maltese
No: Could you pick it up easily? Yes - Sheltie
No: Has it got long hair? - Yes - GSD
No: Rottie

I know that this is only a small group and assumes that all the dogs are present - but it gives you an idea of how to avoid lengthy questions or variable breed descriptions.

These keys can also be used for the very basic teaching or breeds even - like how to tell the difference between all the common pet rodents, pet reptiles or caged birds etc.

It doesn’t have to stop at German Shepherds!  

posted by admin on Apr 9

Do you have a rabbit? And want to know more about their needs and requirements?

Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is just what you are after.  No longer are we happy to leave bunnies in tiny hutches out in the garden with nothing but the odd carrot top to entertain them.

Studies have shown that rabbits are very intelligent animals that thrive on stimulation and enjoy playing games.  We also know a lot more about their dietary requirements and what other rabbits and pets they are most likely to get on with.

However, their behaviour is an area that is only just beginning to be explored by owners.  Apart from the odd foot thumps, digging in the garden and their habit of eating every cable in the house, many rabbit owners know little more.

So, RAW are hoping to shed some light on their peculiar habits and help you see your pets in a new and interesting light!

Housing Requirements:
Rabbits are very social animals - as you can tell from the number of rabbit holes over nearby fields and farmland - so why keep just 1 on it’s own? 

I know that certain breeds of rabbit require very large hutches and runs, so having 2 in there might make a ’small animal’ into a very large pet responsibility - but think of the scale.

If you look at how long an average pet-shop hutch is in ‘rabbits’ (in length) they are around 4 rabbits long and just over 1 rabbit wide - now lay that out for a cat, dog or horse!  It would just be unacceptable.

So why do we think that it is OK for a rabbit to live alone in such a small space?  And to only be handled a few times a week in summer and hardly at all in winter?

Also, rabbits talk ‘rabbit’ not ‘guinea pig’ - so why we ever thought that these 2 animals should live together in a confined space is quite strange?  And with rabbits being so much bigger and having giant thumpy feet - that poor guinea pig could get quite squashed! 

Free Health Checks:
Also as part of the RAW drive - vets across the country are opening their appointment schedule up for free bunny check-ups where you can discuss all sorts of lagomorphic queries (thats things relating to bunnies to you and me!).

Whether you are concerned over their fussy eating, worried about vaccinations or just think your bunny could lose a few pounds - take a few minutes to talk to your local vets and vet nurses about it for not a single penny!

You can also talk about housing requirements, handling, teeth checking, nail clipping and neutering at the same time.

Hop on over to their website for more great tips, a chance to enter your bunny pictures and to find the dates of rabbit-related events in your area.

Happy Bunny Week!

posted by admin on Mar 1

If you want to give your rabbit or guinea pig (or other small animal) a natural treat - head outside!

There are plenty of foods that may well be growing in nearby woodland or large wooded parks that will make a tasty treat to your little fluffy pets! Alongside their normal complete foods - there is no harm in offering a small amount of certain plants that may well already be growing close to your home or out on a walk - and if anything, they will actually do some good!

Don’t worry if you don’t have access to nearby woodland or glades etc, as you could easily grow many from seed yourself either in your garden or in pots. Also have a read through the other relevant Quick Guides to find wild plants and fallen nuts to find other safe natural foods for your rodents and rabbits!

However, also check the Dangerous Plants Quick Guide for things to avoid - and if in doubt about whether you should feed a certain plant, seed, berry or nut you have found - say NO and pick something else instead. There will be plenty of nice things to pick out there so don’t risk it!

Tasty Woodland Plants & Nuts:
Most bunnies and piggies get the freedom of munching on just grasses and lawns through the summer, so won’t get to taste a lot of these treats along the way.  However, there are many plants and trees that often don’t grow in gardens (or aren’t allowed to grow) so they are more likely to be found out on a coutryside walk or close to farmed land.

It is definately worth seeking these out for a bit of a change - and to leave plants and trees in your garden to attract and feed other mammals, insects and birds!

Fruit Trees - These common trees are totally safe for rodents and rabbits to nibble on and can be great for keeping those teeth in trim!  As long as they aren’t ornamental fruit trees or have been treated with unknown chemicals - you can throw a few twigs in with your pet and wash them gnaw away on the bark to get to the tasty insides!

Willow - This may also be found in gardens and often along river banks and is another safe treat for your pets.  They don’t need much of the branch to enjoy the taste - and of course you don’t want to damage the tree! 

Hawthorn Berries - Bright red berries start to form on these spiny bushes around late summer taking the place of the pretty may flowers!  Mind yourself when picking there as the plant tried to protect it’s berries with sharp spikes that can catch finger if you aren’t careful!  Don’t pick too many at a time as your pet may eat more than it should - and they are an important berry for many migrating or winter birds.

Acorns - Squirrels love them so why not offer your rodents a few?  They are tasty and nutritious nuts and fall from the tree when ripe to save you from picking them yourself.  Similarly in spring, you can also pick off a few new oak leaves for your rabbit - but only the really new leaves and only a few!

Hazel - We all know that hazel nuts are tasty - so why not give your gerbil or rat a few from the woods?  They can use their sharp teeth to gnaw their way in - and get a high protein tasty snack as a reward!  They can also chew on the branches of this tree as well - and as the hazel is usually coppiced, you may be able to find some small twigs left over after the landowners have harvested for themselves!

Beech Nuts - As with the Hazel, both the nuts and the tree itself can be eaten safely by your pets - however both the brances and the nuts are harder to come by!  Most beeches are mature and you can’t easily snap off a twig - and the nuts only fall at random times - and most years there won’t be a single nut on the tree! 

But remember - don’t give too much fresh food at a time. Too much will not only upset their tummy, but it will also stop them eating their complete foods with all the vitamins and minerals in!

They only have a small tummy too, so what ever they don’t eat that same day will die overnight and will be wasted - and that could have been eaten or used by wild animals instead - or picked by you at a later date.

posted by admin on Feb 22

If you want to give your rabbit or guinea pig (or other small animal) a natural treat - head outside!

There are plenty of foods that may well be growing in nearby grasslands or large parks that will make a tasty treat to your little fluffy pets! Alongside their normal complete foods - there is no harm in offering a small amount of certain plants that may well already be growing close to your home or out on a walk - and if anything, they will actually do some good!

Don’t worry if you don’t have access to open fields etc, as you could easily grow many from seed yourself either in your garden or in pots. Also have a read through the other relevant Quick Guides to find wild plants and fallen nuts to find other safe natural foods for your rodents and rabbits!

However, also check the Dangerous Plants Quick Guide for things to avoid - and if in doubt about whether you should feed a certain plant, seed, berry or nut you have found - say NO and pick something else instead. There will be plenty of nice things to pick out there so don’t risk it!

Tasty Grassland Plants:
Most bunnies and piggies get the freedom of munching grasses and lawns through the summer, so will get a lot of these treats along the way, but there are many plants that don’t often grow in gardens, they are more likely to be found in larger grassland areas or close to farmed land or woods. 

So, it is worth seeking these out for a bit of a change - and to leave plants in your garden to attract and feed other mammals, insects and birds!

Cow Parsley - This ridiculously messy plant is often found around field edges or all throughout longer grasses.  With its wide spanning but thin stems all tangled together and its profusion of white flowers from April - you will only need to pick 1 plant to keep your rabbit happy all afternoon - and just a few flowers for smaller pets!

Thistle - This might not look too appealing to you with all the spiky bits - but they are very tasty for vegetarians!  So just pick a few stems or flower heads in the summer - as they will be tricky to carry home in your pockets!  Also, these plants can be covered in a wispy material - which is likely to be bugs - so make sure you don’t pick those ones!

Colt’s Foot - These low yellow flowers are very popular for grazing on and can be found in short grass around February to April only.   However, there are a lot of taller yellow-flowered plants that will not be good for your pets - and may well be members of the Ragwort plant family and must be avoided!

Vetch - These delicate little plants are easy to spot in the grasses - although they can look like other such flowers.  They will be either purple, yellow or pink and usually have lots of their flowers all on the same stems and they also have a very distinctive style of leaves. 

Yarrow - These tall plants have a single stem with florets of white flowers on top - usually 4-6 florets per stem.  Their leaves are similar to fine ferns and remain tightly curled until they are mature.  They have similar flowers to the cow parsley above, but the stem is not branched at all and is only half the height a well. 

Hogweed - These plant are similar again to the cow parsley but on a ginormous scale!  These giant plants can grow to 2 metres tall and have over 40 florets of tiny white flowers on top.  They are usually in groups of about 6 seperate stems (plants) and of course you won’t need a whole one!  Just snap off a tasty flower top as you pass in the summer!

But remember - don’t give too much fresh food at a time. Too much will not only upset their tummy, but it will also stop them eating their complete foods with all the vitamins and minerals in!

They only have a small tummy too, so what ever they don’t eat that same day will die overnight and will be wasted - and that could have been eaten or used by wild animals instead - or picked by you at a later date.

posted by admin on Feb 15

If you want to give your rabbit or guinea pig (or other small animal) a natural treat - head outside!

There are plenty of foods that may well be growing on your garden that will make a tasty treat to your little fluffy pets!  Alongside their normal complete foods - there is no harm in offering a small amount of certain plants that may well already be growing in your back garden - and if anything, they will actually do some good!

Don’t worry if your garden isn’t overflowing with the following plants, as you could easily grow them from seed yourself.  Or read through the other relevant Quick Guides to find wild plants and fallen nuts to find other safe natural foods for your rodents and rabbits! 

However, also check the Dangerous Plants Quick Guide for things to avoid - and if in doubt about whether you should feed a certain plant, seed, berry or nut you have found - say NO and pick something else instead.  There will be plenty of nice things to pick out there so don’t risk it!

Tasty Garden Plants:
Most bunnies and piggies get the freedom of munching grasses and lawns through the summer, so will get a lot of these treats along the way, but there may be some that are on uneven ground or around the garden edges that they would love - but can’t reach!

Clovers - Commonly found on most lawns mixed in with the low grasses.  In May to October you can spot their flowers - usually white, pinky or all pink with 3-part leaves across patches of lawn.  The flower and leaves are super tasty!

Daisys - Easy to spot in the garden and flowering from May through the summer.  Common daisys are quite small and low to the ground, but the Oxeye daisy is huge and can grow up to 60cm tall on garden edges and in taller grasses.  Other daisy-looking plants (yellow centre with white leaves) may well be camomiles and are also very welcome!

Dandilion - Everyone’s favourite garden plant as they make the familiar ‘clocks’ when they disperse their seeds!  Many meticulate gardeners call this juicy flower a ‘weed’ but your rabbits and pigs - as well as hamsters and gerbils - will wolf this down given half the chance!  Both the leaves and flowers are edible - but don’t pick these from along the pavement as they may be contaminated.  Stick to those flowering in your garden over the warmer months!

Plantain - These low leaves are around all year in quite a thick group and can be picked all year too - however the tall flowers only pop up in the summer when you can notice them towering above the grass with a heavy head on top.  People usually pick them to tie in a knot and fire the ‘head’ off at a friend!  But feeding them to bunny is better use of nature!

Nettles - Obviously a tricky customer, and not found in very tidy gardens - these plants will not sting you when they are young and can be picked without gloves, but better to be safe than sore!  Your pets won’t feel the effects as much as we do - but other animals depend on flowering nettle plants (as with all other flowers) so don’t clear your garden in 1 sitting - just take a few springs at a time to allow the plant to recover!

Chickweed - These lovely white flowers spring up all over the bare patches in your flower beds and there will be plenty of them too!  However, there are a lot of similar plants, like stitchworts that won’t be as tasty - so make sure you pick the right ones.  Their leaves are large too and can fill a little pigs tummy nicely!

But remember - don’t give too much fresh food at a time.  Too much will not only upset their tummy, but it will also stop them eating their complete foods with all the vitamins and minerals in!

They only have a small tummy too, so what ever they don’t eat that same day will die overnight and will be wasted - and that could have been eaten or used by wild animals instead - or picked by you at a later date.

posted by admin on Feb 8

We all know that rabbits love dandilion leaves - but what about other plants?

There are many plants that your pet rabbit or guinea pig would just love you to bring home from a walk in the countryside - or for you to grow in the garden where their run is - but do you know which plants are actually toxic to your pet?

Yes, they grow in the wild and wild rabbits don’t get sick all the time - but they have had certain knowledge or experiences passed down to them through their parents. 

Your pet has no idea what is safe to eat - and they will give anything a try.

How you know this is true is the fact that a rabbit or guinea pig left to run free in your home would no doubt chew through your electricity cables - a very dangerous thing to do!  But they just don’t know the danger.

You have to do the thinking for them to make sure that they are safe - I mean even the common buttercup can upset their tiny tummies!

So before you let them loose on your lawn or givet hem a handful of plants as a treat - take a look at the following list of toxic plants:

Wild Plants:
Here are some wild growing plants that you may find in woodlands, footpaths and open coutryside.

Ivy: Very common throughout the year - but very toxic to nearly every living creature.
Holly: This winter fruiting evergreen will upset anyone’s tummy - unless you are a bird!
Ragwort: This plant is even an irritant if you hand pick it - so no eating…..
Yew: And most evergreen trees - highly toxic and can cause death in large doses!

Wild Flowers:
They might look pretty in the woods - but can cause you to itch or your pets to get sick.  Leave these plants where you find them!

Bluebells: Cover the woodland floor in Spring - but look and don’t touch!
Foxglove: Grow tall in the grasses - but can damage your pet’s heart muscles.
Poppies: Can cause many problems in a small pet - so leave in the fields please.
Daffodils: The flowers, leaves, or bulbs can kill a human in just hours……..

Garden Flowers:
You may be growing these in your own garden - so make sure you use a run for your pets or fence off the flower beds instead…..

Tulips:  A definate no-no for tiny tummies - and they look better in a vase anyway!
Rhodedendron:  Always a problem for pets - and will cause stomach problems too.
Lobelia: Highly toxic to small mammals and can cause your pet to salivate.
Dahlias: These pretty flowers could give you a trip to the vets if you aren’t careful!

Other Considerations:
It is also worth thinking about where you pick your plants from in the first place - as you have to think ahead.

For example, dandilion leaves picked from along the pavement would almost certainly be covered in layers of dog urine from all the dog walkers using the same route - and all the dogs scent-marking the same spot.

Leaves picked from the side of a busy road or car park could well have been exposed to all the exhaust fumes from passing traffic as well as the potential for having been sprayed with weedkiller by the council or car park owners.

Neither of which would do your bunny any good!

So, either stick to plants, treats and nibbles from a reputble pet store - or do a bit of forward thinking before you start feeding your pet unknown plants as treats.

It won’t be very much of a treat if it makes your pet poorly! 

posted by admin on Jan 16

Have you seen something unusual - or the wrong colour - and want to share it with others?

As long as you have a picture of it, then there is a new way to find out what on earth you have just seen or share something different with like-minded people.

It could be that you have just photographed a white squirrel and thought you’d share it - or you may think you are the first to see a species that isn’t usually found in your  area and you have been one of the first to identify it.

The Open University in the UK has basically set up a database of images for exactly these types of things.  Everything in the natural world can be shared here - as well as a whole bank of people who can tell you what it is and why.

Rather than just asking a few work colleagues, having a quick look through your old field guides or just keeping the photo to yourself to admire - you can now share it and let others enjoy your experiences too.

iSpot:
Not another iPhone application as its name might suggest - but a growing online nature database that can sort out your greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers, your wood and yellow necked mice or even your crimson from your scarlet waxcaps! 

You can sign up for free, then easily upload your photographs - as many as you like - to the community.  Whether you know what they are, or have no idea what they are - as long as you upload them - others can help. 

Once signed up, you can start to help with the identification of other people’s pictures. It may be that you have experience in amphibians - but have just taken a picture of an unusual plant that it was feeding on.  You can find out what the plant is in exchange for identifying some garden newts or a river tadpole!

The basic areas are divided clearly into categories including: plants, birds, insects, fish, etc so you can browse images that are already on the system.  You can then just look at some unusual images, admire colour variants of common species or just use the labels to find out where these animals were seen so you can go out and look at them yourself.

Other Information:
It’s not just identification that you can find on the site - there are also a whole load of related links for your further reading, nature surveys, plenty of tips on what to look for when identifying different species as well as links to other useful id and specialist websites.

If you are taking a wildlife course - then this website goes to show that nature is everywhere - and by working alongside the experts on iSpot, you can find out what is living in your local countryside and why - and anything you can do to keep it there or improve the number and diversity of plants and animals there will be a bonus!

So, if you have been meaning to get qualified in something ‘outdoors’ or to help brush up on your basic skills before embarking on a longer or higher level course - then maybe this website could help you keep on top of everything you find on your walks.

It’s lovely to just walk through the countryside and admire the views - but it is even better to know what animals live in it and why.

Also You Might Like To:
Obviously, volunteering with wildlife or landscape-related charities and societies in your local area will help you to experience nature first hand, give you access to great habitats that might be off-limits to the public, and to learn from local experts. 

It could even lead to a larger project or a permanent job somewhere down the line.

And get a camera with a good zoom and an even better macro - and practice observing things. Trying out the myriad of settings at home is one thing - but knowing what to look out for in the field is another. 

Say you take a wonderful photo of a brightly coloured mushroom - only to find out when you get home that there were 30 mushrooms that colour - and the only way to tell them apart was to have photographed the gills and measured the height on it. But until you make those mistakes and get annoyed with yourself - you won’t get any better at identifications.

It is fine to rely on ‘experts’ for identifying those rare species or all those ‘very similar’ lichens - but you should really start to build up your basic id skills in the field if you are planning any sort of career based in the field.

So pack your camera, field guide and sun cream - and get out there!

posted by admin on Nov 20

Here’s your chance to get your rabbit the publicity it deserves!

Rabbits are currently the 3rd most popular pet in the UK - and it’s not suprising really since they are sociable, intelligent, can live indoors and most importantly: are cute and fluffy!

Ever since pet stores began encouraging people to welcome the humble bunny into the home - it has come on in leaps and bounds!

It is now well known that rabbits can be litter trained, learn tricks and make great homely companions - so more people are seeing the benefits of the indoor life.

Inside Information:
Well, we all know that they can wreak havoc in the home with their insatiable gnawing and those teeth can be a whole different problem of their own - clocking up some costs at the vets too!

So, before setting out on the rabbit path to pet heaven, it is worth considering a few basics about their health and general care - and that is just what the RSPCA as well as many other small animal charities are hoping to do.

Thousands of rabbits end up in rescue centres across the country every year due to people not realising the very basics in rabbit care - the worst offender being that they really do breed like rabbits!

It seems so obvious that a male rabbit left alone with a female rabbit will produce babies - but endless strings of pet owners seem to think that it won’t happen to them!  A classic excuse is that the rabbits were brother and sister!  As if rabbits have human morals and decline from mating with their close relatives or rabbits they ‘don’t like the look of’!

Another reason for rehoming is that certain breeds of rabbits can grow to quite a size and can live for up to 8 years on average.

Other problems that seem to ’suprise’ new rabbit owners are that they: dig up the lawn (even though they are natural diggers), they smell (only if you don’t clean them out), they chew things (they have to chew to keep their teeth under control) and they fight (not if matched correctly or in a large enough environment - I mean what do you think would happen if you left 2 teenagers trapped in a room for week without toys, games or books, one cup and non flushing toilet?).

Still Interested?
If you love animals and will try to do the best for your pets no matter what the demands - then share your stories and help make a difference to those pets that aren’t so lucky.

Visit the ‘We’re All Ears’ campaign webpages and check out tips and hints on rabbit care and be in with a chance of winning loads of rabbit related goodies!

And make sure you come with a story about your rabbits to enter on the site - to share with others and hopefully inspire a new generation of rabbit owners to come forward and rehome some of the less fortunate bunnies in rescue centres across the country!

posted by admin on Jul 25

This article details all you need to know as a beginner about a year in the life of a Red Fox:

Animal Type: Mammalia - Carnivora - Canidae

Species Info: There is only 1 Red Fox Species: Vulpes vulpes, however, there are around 12 species of true fox in the world, but there are around 24 other species with ‘fox’ in their name like the Bat-Eared Fox (Otocyon) and the Arctic Fox (Alopex). 

UK Distribution: Red Foxes are the only fox species to be living in the UK and are found almost everywhere in the country - particularly in towns and cities! 

Preferred Habitat:  These creatures are ground dwelling and generally nocturnal - although you will often see then during the day when they have young or are ill.

In urban areas they are known to be scavengers - although will take the odd unattended rabbit or chicken!  But in the countryside they need to be in areas of high rabbit density - but will eat fruit, berries and even fish and reptiles! 

In Spring: The Fox Cubs Start To Appear.
The cubs are born quite helpless underground in March, and at this time you will still see the male and female together - with the male bringing food back to the den for the female.  It is only about 4/5 weeks later that the young will start to leave the den as well and investigate their surroundings. 

In Summer:  The Cubs Are Training To Be Adults.
The cubs spend quite a while with their parents in the same area, learning to hunt by themselves and getting to explore the dangers of the area - it will be autumn before they are full size and able to head of alone.

Many people will find their garden filled with fox families at this time - much to the horror of some!  It is very difficult and time consuming to try to ‘get rid of’ a whole family, but why would you want to anyway!  They are very interesting to watch, and it is only for a few weeks

In Autumn:  Foxes Start To Split Up And Hunt Separately.
Not only will the male have been long gone by now, but the mother will be starting to get a little fed up with the young hanging around and sharing her food, so she will start to tell them off a lot more and try to get them to go away.  And this can lead to some noisy nights and short ‘fights’ between nighttime foxes.

The young will soon get the message, and you will start to see single foxes all over the place as the young head off in search of their own territory - so you can find them in some quite unusual places as they try to find an unoccupied area to live in.  The more food available means there can be more foxes living in an area, although in more rural areas, the young foxes may have to travel quite far to settle down.

In Winter: Pairing Up And Mating.
As the cold draws in foxes will have formed monogamous pairs and set up home in a large den - either freshly dug or having been improved from an existing smaller den.  Once settled, they will start mating around January which results in a lot of nighttime garden screeching!

Other Facts: Most Red Foxes have an average lifespan of about 3 years due to accidents and injury - although 12-14 is achievable in the right conditions!   Red Foxes can also be totally black (quite rare) or even almost white (very rare).

Fox Groups: 
UK - The Fox Website 
UK - League Against Cruel Sports

Other Information:
If you find a ’sick’ fox in your garden during the day, the best thing to do it to slowly approach it head on.  If it doesn’t move when you are within 2 feet of it - then it is really ill or seriously injured and you need to call a rescue centre to come and collect it.  If you don’t try to approach it, or it runs away when you do - then it will probably run away from a rescue centre operative when they arrive so will be a waste of time!

If it seems ‘ok’, then offer the fox some food (anything meaty) and fresh water, and leave it alone and with a clear exit (open gate) - as with the extra strength the food and water gave it, it may well then be strong enough to wander back to where it ’lives’ and leave your garden. 

posted by admin on Jul 20

We all get a bit hot in the warm weather - and we shed our layers and drink cold drinks.

So imagine your dog on the same hot day.  It can’t shed it’s coat or roll up it’s sleeves - and it can’t drink cool drinks or decide to stop in the shade or stay home.

So think about your dog before you take it out and watch it for signs that it is too hot.

However, there are 2 things you can do to make sure your dog never gets too hot unnecessarily and they are both very simple.

1) The Car:
Never leave your dog in a car in hot weather - even with the windows open!  You would think this piece of advice was the most obvious thing in the world - but people still do it! 

Dogs usually don’t settle when alone in the car either - making them even more stressed and so liable to heat up faster anyway.

Add this to a full furry coat and soaring temperatures inside a vehicle and you could very well have yourself a collapsed dog - or even a dead one.  Dogs really do die in hot cars - so don’t make yours suffer.

If you HAVE to drive your dog somewhere in the sunshine, have a strong breeze flowing through the car or the air con on - and plenty of water available in a non-spill bowl of course.

Equally, don’t leave your car parked in full sunshine wherever possible.  Find a tree or building to hide your car behind and/or invest in 1 or 2 of those thick window shades to keep the sun out - they work a treat!

2) Mad Dogs:
What ever possesses people to take their dogs out for a walk in the hottest part of the day (11am -2pm) is beyond me!

I can’t see any sense in taking your hairy friend out when the sun is at it’s hottest - just because we want to sit in the sun for hours - your dog certainly will have other ideas!  It would rather be at home asleep on a cold floor out of the sun!

Yes, some dogs do love to sit in the sun occasionally - but not after a long walk there and another long walk back in the sun - without a drink either!

Why not walk it earlier in te morning or later in the evening - and make it a walk for your dog, stopping and sniffing etc.  Don’t just take your dog where you want to go whenever that is.

And if you have short-nosed breeds, long-haired breeds, overweight dogs (be honest), or dogs with heart murmurs - you could be doing them more harm walking in the heat than you would if you didn’t walk them at all for the day.

If your dog is continually panting on a calm walk - it is too hot.  As dogs only ’sweat’ by panting - they will be losing water from their bodies fast!  So if your dog is drooling and panting in the sun after just walking - it could be in serious trouble. 

Stop walking, get in the shade and give your dog a big drink of water.  Don’t move on until it has fully recovered - or get a taxi home.  Why take the risk with your pets health?

Many dogs are diagnosed with heart problems in the hot weather.  It’s not that hot weather triggers heart problems - its just that people put extra stress on their dogs hearts by getting them too hot!

Cool Tricks:
Obviously, if you think that there is absolutely no way around taking them out in the hottest hours, then try some preventative steps on your journey - and take water with you at all times!

For example, make sure that you walk on the side of the road that is in shadow at the time, so your dog isn’t actually walking in the sun itself. 

Leave yourself longer to get to your destination, so that you can walk slowly and stop frequently in a shaded area to cool off part way.

Don’t be tempted to make your dog run around in any way.  Even if it usually loves chasing balls in the park - don’t ask it to do it in the boiling sun!  It will still want to chase things to please you - so don’t ask it to when it’s hot as it could easily overheat your pet!

Book an appointment to be clipped or bathed and groomed to thin out the coat.  Even short-haired dogs can benefit from a good grooming and a trim in the summer - and it could keep them that bit cooler when out on walks.

Now - go and fill up the paddling pool!