I'm a dog expert- 5 top tips for travelling with your pooch this autumn

75% of dog owners expressed their intent to take their dog on staycation this year, as pooch parents and their road dogs head on journeys across the UK¹

Dr. Emma Scales-Theobald, canine behaviourist, and resident dog expert at Canine Cottages, has revealed her top tips for travelling with your pooch in the car, and on public transport

Dr. Emma says dogs can show their enthusiasm for travelling to a destination by “wagging their tail, moving around a lot, and panting”

Three-quarters (75%) of dog owners said they intended to take their dog on staycation this year¹ however, if you’re dog isn’t used to travelling in the car, or on public transport, how do you go about creating a stress-free travel experience?

To offer dog owners some helpful tips, dog-friendly holidays brand Canine Cottages, have shared some travel insights from their resident dog expert and canine behaviourist Dr Emma Scales-Theobald about travelling with your pooch this autumn.

Tip 1 - When travelling by car make sure your passenger pooches are secure and comfortable

When travelling with your pooch, it’s important that they are both comfortable and secure to prevent any driving distractions. Regarding the best place to put your pooch in the car, Dr Emma said: “The back seats or the boot of your car are best for your dog to travel in for their safety and to prevent distractions to the driver. When travelling with a dog in your car, it's crucial to ensure they are properly secured for the safety of both you and your pet. It is also part of the Highway Code (rule 57) that they are suitably restrained.”

“A crate or pet carrier can be an ideal way for many dogs to travel in a car. It can provide a comfortable space they feel safe in and can help many crate-trained dogs feel more relaxed about travelling. You can also use a dog seat belt, which is a convenient way to travel with your dog in the car. It’s recommended that this is attached to a harness, not the dog’s collar, if possible, to help reduce the likelihood of serious injury in the case of an accident.”

Tip 2 - Build paw-sitive association for travel with calming treats

Whether travelling via car or public transport your dog must build positive association with their environment. Dr Emma recommends that to help your dog feel calmer with travelling you should consider playing relaxing music, using calming products, such as treats and having them wear a compression jacket. If your dog is small enough, try to keep them in a pet carrier while travelling to help them feel safe.

“Practise making small, enjoyable journeys at first to help build their confidence. If you have time, try to give them a good run or long walk before a journey to help get rid of pent-up energy and encourage them to sleep during the journey.”

Tip 3 - Train your dog with basic commands such as ‘leave it’

Public transport can often be extremely busy at peak times therefore Dr Emma recommends teaching your dog to follow commands on where to move and to sit or lie in tight spots. She continues: “Training your dog to stop barking on command can also be handy on public transport to help bring their focus back to you if they have a tendency to bark at things like other dogs, bikes or children etc.

“It’s important to also teach your dog that they don’t have to greet everyone. Some people do not like dogs or are afraid of them. But also, this can help your dog to stay relaxed. Training the ‘leave it’ command and to focus on you can really help with this.”

Tip 4 - If your pooch is prone to travel sickness, feed them an hour or two before you leave

Most of us have experienced the familiar feeling of travel sickness, but did you know that dogs can experience this too? Dr Emma recommends watching out for excessive panting, drooling, retching and lip licking, when in the car.

She said: “Often, travel sickness is linked with anxiety. Make sure to slowly build their confidence on manageable short journeys and steadily increasing the distance over time will also really help. Also, leaving an hour or two before travelling after feeding your dog will help give their stomachs time to digest the food and reduce the chances of them being ill.”

Tip 5 - Pack the essentials

Being packed and prepared ensures that you and your dog will have a stress-free and easy journey. Dr Emma recommends packing the following when heading on a trip away:

• Dog food - A sudden change in your dog’s diet will cause your dog to have a very upset stomach.
• Treats - Many dogs can cope with different treats, but those with sensitive stomachs will probably prefer their usual treats from home as well.
• Water - Make sure to take enough water with you as well.
• Water bowl - Some dogs are fussy about what they drink out of and won’t like sharing water bowls where they can smell what other dogs have used.
• Travel mat - Bringing a travel mat can be handy for giving your dog somewhere comfortable to lie when you stop to eat.
• Poo bags – Having them handy and ready is always important on journeys.
• Pet first aid kit
• Toys – This can be comforting for your dog, they smell like home, and provide a fun distraction.

Do dogs get excited about their travels?

Dr Emma reveals your dog may be telling you how excited they are for their travels by wagging their tail, moving around a lot and panting. She said: “Dogs are very clever and quickly build associations. They can recognise that using the car or public transport can mean you’re going somewhere fun and get excited.”

For further wag-tastic travel tips, read this guide to travelling with your pet.

Sources

https://www.caninecottages.co.uk/blog/dog-friendly-trends-report

About The Author

Canine Cottages: leading the way for dog-friendly holidays

A company dedicated to dog-tastic vacations spanning England, Scotland and Wales, we feature over 10,000 immaculate, pet-friendly places to stay where four-legged friends are not just ‘allowed’ but encouraged and welcomed with open arms.

Seven years ago, we recognised a hole in the market for holidays for the ENTIRE family. Today, we’re proud to say thousands of dogs have enjoyed a UK adventure with us and we’re only seeing that number grow!

Big, small, lively or lazy – we welcome all dogs and, better yet, over half our collection of cottages gladly accepts more than one.

Dr Emma Scales-Theobald – Canine Behaviour and Nutrition Consultant

Dr Emma holds a PhD in Veterinary Medicine and Science from the University of Surrey, as well as an MSc in Animal Behaviour from the University of Exeter. Dr Emma specialises in canine health, behaviour and quality of life in both healthy dogs and those with chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, dementia and pruritus.

Website: https://www.emmathedogtor.com

How can acupuncture help my pet?

Have you heard of acupuncture for pets? Many pet owners are unaware that this therapy is an option for their furry family members. In this post I will try to explain how it works and how it may be helpful for your pet.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture has evolved from the ancient art of placing needles into special locations on the body to alleviate pain, improve recovery rates and increase resistance to disease. It has been practised by the Chinese and other Eastern cultures for thousands of years, but in recent decades there has been a wealth of scientific studies into the effects of acupuncture on the body, meaning it has become more accepted into Western medicine. Acupuncture is available on the NHS for a limited number of conditions including low back pain, migraine headaches and allergic rhinitis (hayfever). It is a very safe treatment with minimal side-effects and can be used alongside conventional medicines.

How does acupuncture work?

By stimulating receptors under the skin, and nerve endings within connective tissues and muscles, acupuncture needles produce a range of effects including

• Release of endorphins ( the body’s own morphine-like chemicals) and dilating blood vessels to improve blood flow to constricted areas, relieving pain and promote healing
• Relief of tension and constriction in the myofascial system (muscles and connective tissues). These often become painful secondarily to the initial disease, as the animal tries to compensate for or protect the damaged area - sometimes these actually become the primary source of pain for the animal.
• Influences on the emotional centres of the brain and autonomic nervous system to bring a painful animal out of their ‘flight or flight’ state into a calmer state of mind, reducing muscular tension and anxiety to improve wellbeing

More recent sophisticated studies have revealed effects on the hypothalamus, immune system and autonomic nervous system - all systems designed to maintain a normal physiological balance in the body. This has led to its use in a wider range of internal medical disease conditions.

When can acupuncture be useful?

Acupuncture is most often used to treat musculoskeletal conditions (of the bones and muscles) and painful conditions, including:

• neck pain
• osteoarthritis (joint pain)
• muscular or ligament injuries
• dental pain
• postoperative pain
• spinal pain ( e.g. from a disc protrusion or collapse, IVDD)

It can also be useful in chronic medical conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), urinary problems such as cystitis or incontinence and chronic respiratory diseases - particularly when conventional medicines have failed or are inadequate to control the patient's symptoms. These conditions are often where the body's own regulatory systems (known as homeostatic mechanisms) are working poorly, perhaps due to stress, or other ongoing illness.

Acupuncture treatment can only be carried out by a registered veterinary surgeon (MRCVS) or a registered veterinary nurse (RVN) under veterinary supervision, and should always follow an accurate diagnosis of the problem where possible, and a full appraisal of all available treatment options. In many cases acupuncture is best used in conjunction with conventional medicine however, in some situations, it can be used as a sole treatment. Adding acupuncture to a treatment plan can help to reduce the requirement for other medications, reducing the risk of side effects.

Will it work for my pet?

Although most commonly used in dogs and horses, any animal may benefit from acupuncture, with reptiles and zoo animals having received acupuncture for many years. Acupuncture responses can vary from instant improvement to no benefit at all, with most animals falling somewhere in the middle. The standard approach is to try 3-4 sessions at weekly or biweekly intervals and then review how the animal is progressing. A veterinary acupuncturist will not insist on continuing if there is no obvious benefit to your pet.

Will it hurt?

Most pets will tolerate the superfine needles much more easily than a standard veterinary injection, and the acupuncturist will use a very gentle approach in the first instance, slowly feeling the muscles and joints for any highly sensitive areas before choosing where to place the needles. Often animals will benefit from some distraction when the needles are inserted (bring out the lickmat!) but once the endorphins start to be released most animals will relax, sometimes into quite a sleepy state!

What are the side effects?

Acupuncture is extremely safe when practised correctly, with side effects usually mild such as temporary muscle soreness or a tiny bleed when a needle is removed, that stops with pressure. Occasionally temporary nerve irritation may occur. The most common side effect is a really good sleep afterwards!

How can I find a veterinary acupuncturist near me?

There is a searchable directory on two member association websites:
https://www.ivas.org/vets/?fwp_country=united_kingdom
https://abva.co.uk/find-a-vet



About The Author
Carole Parsons BVSc CertAVP(VetGP) MRCVS has been a general practice vet for 20 years and stepped away from full time clinical work last year to concentrate solely on acupuncture and pain management for pets in their homes. She runs a mobile service in the East Midlands.
www.pettherapyacupuncture.co.uk

How To Decide On Your Holistic Animal Therapy Career

My Taranet website aims to raise awareness about complementary therapies for animals. It educates people seeking careers in holistic animal care. The field can be confusing, with many professional organizations and therapies. So, where should one begin to train in a specific therapy?

First of all my number one piece of advice is to know what animals you want to work with.

Some courses enable you to work with all types of animals (either on completion of the initial course, or with further training). This includes:

• Veterinary surgeon
• Veterinary nurse
• Physiotherapist
• Hydrotherapist
• Osteopath
• Chiropractic
• Zoopharmacognosy
• Plus others too

Or other courses, enable you to specialise early on. For instance, there are courses specifically in canine massage and equine muscle release therapy. These would mean you could work with dogs only or horses only.

Once you have decided what animals you'd like to work with, then think about what sort of work you'd like to do. Working with animals to promote their health in any capacity can be very rewarding. Different courses will have varying entry requirements. But don't let that put you off! Do investigate what your ideal work with animals is. And if that is a veterinary surgeon and you need to take some initial examinations or qualifications to meet the entry level, then it will be worth it if you can achieve your goal.

For many complementary animal therapies, there are various different training routes.

Whereas to be a veterinarian, there are much simpler course options! (At least to get initally qualified, you can of course take further postgraduate qualifiations to get more specialist training - for instance to train in veterinary acupuncture).

This is where the complementary animal therapy sector can get confusing. I've noticed some subtle disparaging of some professional associations and qualifications. This just adds to the confusion.

My two top tips to choose your training course include:

1. Does it offer hands-on training? I believe online learning is valuable, but in-person sessions with experts are crucial. Only then can you truly grasp an animal's health and the effects of therapy. Online methods can fall short in providing necessary skills and knowledge.

2. What professional association will you be able to be a member of on completion of your course? Look at the professional body and see what it will offer you. Insurance, continuous professional development are just two benefits from many. What professional standards do they have? I am not going to say any association is better than another. But do choose one that gives you access to continuous learning. Choose one you feel is doing its best to promote professionalism in the animal care industry with an evidence-based approach.

A common question I'm asked is whether veterinary surgeon's will be happy to refer clients to you, on completion of a certain course.

Working with veterinarians is essential, as animals must be registered with a vet. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon's Code of Conduct states this around musculoskeletal practitioners (physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic):

"Musculoskeletal maintenance care for a healthy animal, for instance massage, does not require delegation by a veterinary surgeon. However, the animal must still be registered with a veterinary surgeon. Maintenance should cease and the owner of the animal should be asked to take their animal to a veterinary surgeon for clinical examination at the first sign that there may be any underlying injury, disease or pathology. Alternatively, the musculoskeletal therapist may ask the client for formal consent to disclose any concerns to the veterinary surgeon that has their animal under their care."

If you have a reputable qualification, are a member of a reputable professional organisation and can clearly state what and how you can help animals, then a veterinarian will almost certainly be happy to consent to their animal clients to be seen by you.

Taking time to build good professional relationships is a vital part of your building your business. Read my business coaching blog here for some tips to develop your animal care business.

Read more on different complementary therapy for animals training options here:

• Canine Bowen
• Chiropractic for Animals
• Equine Bowen Therapy
• Equine Massage
• Equine Manual Lymph Drainage Therapy
• Hydrotherapy
• Osteopathy for Animals
• Physiotherapy for Animals
• Thermography for Horses
• Veterinary Acupuncture

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse

How Lime Essential Oil Can Help Your Dog's Wellbeing

Using Essential Oils With Animals?

Essential oils are commonly used by people for a range of human wellbeing benefits. Not only do essential oils usually smell amazingly great, but they can help with many health and wellbeing situations.

Our animals too can benefit from some essential oils. Have you ever noticed your pet or horse or other animal, smell certain plants or flowers when out in the field or garden? They will self-select what plant or flower they need to help them feel good.

Zoopharmacognosy or animal aromatherapy are the terms sometimes used to describe the use of essential oils with your animal. Read more in my Taranet advice page here.

Why Use Lime Essential Oil For Your Dog?

Dogs will often use Lime essential oil to help with:

1 digestive issues

2 liver problems

3 general wellness

Of course as with any complementary therapy it's essential to get veterinary advice for a proper diagnosis of any health and wellbeing issues. And also to then get a veterinarian approved treatment plan.

There are many veterinarians who do advocate the use of natural approaches. There also specialist holistic veterinarians you can get help from too.

Why Can Lime Essential Oil Help Your Dog?

Lime (latin name - Citrus × aurantiifolia) is understood to comprise various therapeutic qualities, which can be used to help specific health issues. As well as of course a lovely citrus aroma.

There are several different types of lime. Research into citrus fruits (of which lime is one) suggest

"Citrus fruits abilities on the exploited benefits are not far from their rich bioactive compounds and phytochemical contents such as minerals, vitamins, flavonoids and carotenoids. These phytochemicals may act as antioxidants, boosting the action of protective enzymes in the liver, reverse lipid for oxidation of genetic material and improve immune system."

Veterinary Research Into Use Of Lime With Dog Health

• Antibacterial Effect of Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Against Opportunistic Bacterial Isolates Causing Otitis External in Dogs (2014)
• Use of Essential Oils in Veterinary Medicine to Combat Bacterial and Fungal Infections (2020)

If you're interested in using lime essential oil to help your dog's health, then speak to your veterinary surgeon or a qualified zoopharmcognosy practitioner.

It is possible to for you to complete a course to understand how best to use yourself too.

Like to buy the high quality doTERRA range of essential oils? Visit my doTERRA website here. Any questions on doTERRA do email me as below

Like help finding a veterinary surgeon or therapist for your animal?
Please email me at info at taranet . co. uk

Please remember that if your horse, dog or other animal is unwell. Or on any kind of medication or other supplement. Then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon first before using any supplement or therapy. Even natural ones. To avoid any possible issues.

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.

How To Help Your Animal's Skin Health Naturally

Skin conditions affect many animals at some point during their life. In fact, research suggests: "Dermatological problems are one of the most commonly reported and hardest to resolve problems encountered by veterinarians in small animal medicine" (Scott et al., 2001).

There can be lots of different causes - including:

• Food allergies
• Allergies caused by the environment (e.g. smoke, pollen, dust, etc)
• Fleas and mites
• Ticks
• Fly bites
• Hormonal imbalance
• Injuries (e.g. wounds)
• Plus many others too!

If your animal has any kind of skin complaint, then you should seek professional veterinary advice. Some conditions can be easily confused with another. So it’s always essential to know what the problem is, which a veterinary surgeon can help you with.

How Will You Know Your Animal Has a Skin Condition That Needs Treating?

There can be many symptoms, such as:

• Itching and scratching
• Licking/over-cleaning the skin
• Raw, red or sore spots.
• Flaky skin
• Bald spots
• Bumps and spots

These can all be potentially distressing for your animal. Some animals are more sensitive than others. But even what looks like a mild symptom, can develop to be more serious if not identified and treated sooner rather than later.

How To Help Your Animal With a Skin Condition Holistically?

1. Immune health
My number one tip is to ensure your animal has a healthy immune system as possible. This can be overlooked, but is a basic of good health. As I talk about in my immune health for animals advice page here, “wounds that won't heal and repeated illness. All of these can be signs of an immune system that's being challenged, and needs some support.”

2. Herbal Health - Aloe Vera
My second tip, but is linked to the first one is use Aloe Vera daily as a part of overall health. Why you might ask? Well I’ve used Aloe Vera for myself and my animals for over 20 years, both as a supplement (to help promote good immunity) and also as topical skincare. Get more information at my aloe vera for animals here. And if you’d like to buy then as I sell a large range of pure aloe vera skin and health care please email me with any queries at info at taranet.co.uk.

3. Other Herbs for Your Animal's Skin Health
There's a large range of herbs to help your animals skin health. Read about 4 popular herbs in my Natural Pet Health Blog post here.

In choosing a herbal skincare product for your animal, check the ingredients. The quantities and composition can vary a lot. Some herbs can be taken as a supplement or a topical skincare lotion, or both.

4. Veterinary Homeopathy
There are many veterinary surgeons around the world who've completed additional training in homeopathy. So either ask your own vet for their advice or ask to be referred to a specialist homeopathic vet for a consultation. You'll find many different remedies that can be used to help with skin health, the most suitable will depend on the presentation of your animal, and what symptoms he or she has.

There are some specific conditions that manifest as serious skin ailments. These include:

• Equine Sweet Itch

So How Can A Holistic Approach Help Your Horse Pony or Donkey With Sweet Itch?

This is distressing condition can affect horses, donkeys and ponies. As I mention in my summer healthcare for animals advice page “Every equine is different - some will experience sweet itch more severely than another, and some will respond to a treatment more quickly and more effectively than how another horse, pony or donkey will.” There’s a range of holistic approaches to help manage sweet itch naturally which you can learn more about here.

• Ticks

These little critters can cause severe skin irritation and even srious illness. So must be taken seriously. Get advice on how to help manage ticks for your dog holistically, with my blog post here.

• Mud Fever

This can affect all kinds of horses, ponies and donkeys and can be extremely painful and distressing. Even causing apparent lameness if the irritation and soreness is such that putting the leg to the ground hurts. Get tips on how to help manage equine mud fever holistically here.

In conclusion - there are many ways a holistic approach can help your animal have healthy skin. Hopefully this has been helpful. You can find information on a large range of complementary therapies here at Taranet.

Even modalities such as massage can help with skin health, by removing toxins from the body. So please explore this website to learn more about how a holistic approach can help your animal, large or small.


Veterinary Skin Health Research

• Scott, D. W., Miller, W. H. and Griffin, C. E. (2001). Small Animal Dermatology. (6th edn.), W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia. cited Khurana et al
• Find information on other veterinary research looking at holistic approaches here - with my research page.

Finally….Please remember that if your horse, dog or other animal is unwell. Or on any kind of medication or other supplement. Then always speak to your Veterinary Surgeon first before using any supplement or therapy. Even natural ones. To avoid any possible issues.

And do you know someone who'd find this helpful? Please share, the more we can spread awareness of the benefits of natural therapies the better! :)

Find out more about other natural animal therapies here at Taranet. Or read other articles in this Natural Pet Health Blog. Take a look at the sitemap here to explore!

Exciting News About This Natural Pet HealthCare Blog
It's been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 UK Animal Blogs on the web. Check out this here

About the Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse