Did you know that ..... Chocolate can cause seizures, coma or even kill your dog? ...  Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure and even small amounts eaten regularly can have a cumulative effect? …. One brewers yeast  tablet given daily, as well as being good for your dog, can help repel fleas by the odour it emits through the dog’s skin. 

Mothballs, potpourri oils, coffee grounds, play dough, fabric softener sheets, dishwasher detergent, batteries, cigarettes, alcoholic drinks, pennies and hand/foot warmers are just a few of the household items that could be dangerous for your pet! So be tidy - don’t leave potential hazards for your dog to find.

 A fairly recent arrival on the gardening market is cocoa mulch. Made from cocoa shells, it is a by-product of chocolate manufacturing and contains a significant amount of theobromine, a chemical relative to caffeine - it’s the same chemical that makes chocolate toxic to dogs. Therefore cocoa mulch too can be potentially fatal to dogs and vets are reporting an increasing number of deaths in dogs that really like to eat the cocoa mulch.

 Most nuts are poisonous to dogs because of their phosphorus content ...  anxiety, excitability, nervousness or simply apprehension are the most commonest causes of travel-sickness in dogs rather than motion sickness ... dogs eat grass to cleanse their digestive systems, as do most carnivores.

 In cold weather cod liver oil is good for working dogs because it gives slow release energy throughout the day ...  Tea tree oil is an effective antiseptic - just dab a drop on any little sores or cuts and watch them heal up quickly.

 Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of car antifreeze and coolant and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Likewise, some rat, mouse, snail and slug baits contain sweet smelling inert ingredients, such as jelly, peanut butter or sugar that can attract your pets.

 DO check you dogs’ paws regularly for grass seeds during the summer months as these can work their way into their skin and cause your dog a lot of pain and discomfort. Likewise with long-coated breeds a quick comb through on your return from the fields to remove grass seeds can save a lot of hassle later.

 When returning from the seaside with your dog do remember to rinse their coats in clean water to remove sand / sea salt as these can become an irritant causing your dog endless licking and scratching.

  When the weather is warm, to keep your dog comfortable and performing at his / her best at agility club or shows, re-vitalise them with a fine spray of clean water from a mister bottle (taking care to avoid the eyes) and in very hot conditions wet towels or a wet toweling dog coat laid over them can make an enormous difference.

 If you give your dog a tablespoon of natural bio yoghurt once a week, it can help their digestive system.

 Paw wax protects dogs’ paws from snow and from slipping on icy surfaces. It also helps with the build-up of ice on hairy dogs’ feet.   It can also help at indoor events with grip on slippery surfaces.  

 Studies have shown that a lovingly handled dog is a healthier dog. The touch of the human hand improves the functions of virtually all the sustaining systems: respiratory, circulatory, digestive and so on.  A frequently petted puppy is not only healthier and happier, but also better behaved.  Dogs like humans, find solace in touching another living being, which is another reason why we get along so well together!

   A soothing wheat pillow kept in the freezer for cold treatments i.e. painful joints or injuries, or heated in the microwave or wrapped in tin foil and put in an oven to be used for keeping puppies/oldies warm or heat treatments for joints.

 Keep pets off gardens treated with fertilizers, herbicides or insecticides until they have dried completely (even the so-called pet-friendly ones) and always store such products in areas that are inaccessible to your pets.

 If you think your pet may have ingested something toxic seek veterinary advice immediately.

 If your dog gets stung by a wasp or bee, don’t panic or your dog will panic more! Firstly pull out the sting from below the poison sac. Bathe the area in water or bicarbonate of soda if available.  Apply ice to soothe and help reduce swelling. A few drops of Rescue Remedy (available from chemists) on the dog’s tongue will help calm him.  If the sting is in the mouth or throat, seek veterinary advice as swelling may occur and interfere with breathing (loosen the dog’s collar if swelling is occurring around the throat).  If you have them, give your dog an Apis Mel tablet (available from Health Food shops) to help reduce the swelling.

 Be aware that adders, our only British poisonous snakes, are found in heathland and dry, wooded areas from February to October. Being shy creatures, they mostly slip away from any noise or vibration on the ground, but a nosey dog may just catch them unawares and get bitten for it’s trouble. Although the defensive bite may use less venom than a hunting bite, the effects are dramatic. If bitten on the face the dog's head will swell up, perhaps right back to the neck and beyond. Remove the dog’s collar immediately or he may be suffocated. He will probably be very ill and in a great deal of pain and may be temporarily paralysed or blinded. To stop the poison spreading carry your dog to the car and keep him calm. Seek veterinary advice immediately. Remember, a frightened dog may bite you without realising you are trying to help him so exercise caution!

With the hot summer weather there is always the risk of our dogs being affected by heatstroke. This is an abnormally high body temperature and is more common in short-nosed dogs and long-haired dogs, but can happen in all breeds. Symptoms: Dogs will pant heavily and can show drooling, restlessness, unsteadiness, collapse and even coma and death! If you think your dog may be suffering heatstroke here’s what to do: Don’t panic! If you stay calm so will the dog. First aid treatment is geared towards cooling down the dog, so do this with water (preferably running water) or wet blankets. Do not immerse the patient in cold water as this can cause shock! Clear the mouth if necessary and contact your vet immediately.

Dogs only have sweat glands on their feet; dogs cannot lose heat rapidly by perspiring from head to toe like people do. Instead the dogs sweat by panting, which removes body heat by evaporation from the surface of the tongue.  Dogs also pant when they are nervous or excited.

The female flea lays eggs on the dog's coat, which drop off in the dog's bedding or your carpets, sofa, etc. The eggs hatch into larvae. The larvae develop by feeding on organic debris (flea dirt) in the environment. At this stage the larvae may become infected by tape worm eggs. The active larvae forms a cocoon (pupa) in which the flea forms. The adult flea emerges from the cocoon in 10-17 days but may often remain in this stage for months, so it is important to treat your dog and it’s environment all year round.