Dealing with Animal Accidents Near Roads

Avoiding Accidents with Cars

• Leash Your Dog: Keep your dog on a lead when on or near the road.
• Caution with Vehicles: Be careful when loading or unloading pets into vehicles.

Reporting Collisions with Animals

Legal Obligations and Responsibilities

• Immediate Reporting: If you collide with certain animals (e.g., Dog, Horse, Pig, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, Mule, or Cattle), stop and report the incident to the police promptly.
• Remain at the Scene: Stay at the scene until permitted by the police, regardless of the animal's condition.
• Witnessed Incidents: If you witness an accident and the driver flees, record their registration number and report to authorities.

Providing First Aid to Injured Animals

Ensuring Safety and Prompt Care

• Seek Veterinary Assistance: Locate and contact a local vet for guidance.
• Follow Veterinary Advice: Abide by the vet's recommendations for treatment.
• Safely Transporting Injured Animals: If necessary, use your car parcel shelf or mat for transportation.
• Contacting the Owner: In the case of a dog, try to reach the owner if possible.
• Maintain Calm and Warmth: Keep the animal calm, warm, and minimize excessive movement.
• Bleeding Control: Address any bleeding appropriately.
• Be Cautious: Injured animals may act unpredictably, so approach them carefully to avoid bites or scratches.
• Avoid Medications or Food: Refrain from giving any substances that may interfere with veterinary treatment.

Assisting at the Veterinary Practice

• Notify the Vet: Ensure the vet is expecting your arrival to expedite the animal's care.
• Prompt Care: Timely assistance upon arrival at the vet's practice.

Preventing Accidents in Pet-Friendly Areas

Importance of Prevention

Proactive Safety Measures

Preventing accidents is paramount; conducting safety assessments in areas frequented by animals is crucial.

Identifying Potential Hazards

Areas Requiring Vigilance

• Garden Fences: Ensure secure fencing to prevent escapes.
• Garden Chemicals: Beware of substances like slug pellets that may be toxic to pets.
• Potentially Toxic Plants: Identify and remove plants harmful to animals.
• Windows: Safeguard against falls or injuries.
• Outdoor Glass Tables: Minimize collision risks with glass furniture.
• Outdoor Electrical Connections: Prevent electrical hazards in outdoor spaces.
• Heaters: Avoid burns, shocks, and injuries related to heaters.
• Shelves: Secure shelves to prevent them from falling.
• Electrical Cables: Conceal or secure cables to prevent chewing or tripping hazards.
• Front Door: Ensure safety at entry points to prevent pets from escaping.
• Stairs: Make staircases safe and accessible for pets.
• Cookers: Prevent burns or accidents related to cookers.
• Kettles: Keep kettles and hot objects out of reach to avoid burns.
• Knives: Store knives securely to prevent access by pets.
• Electrical Appliances: Safeguard appliances against potential mishaps.
• Gas Boilers: Address fumes and safety concerns related to gas boilers.

Now we are going to have a lookout with cats and kittens, the foot, and also the claws. So, what is different about a cat's claws and feet compared with a dog's?

You need to clip their claws if they are going to be indoors. An indoor cat, you need to clip their claws, because you do not want them scratching on your furniture, and also supply them with a scratching post, and you can train them to go use a scratching post by putting a little bit of catnip on it which they are attracted to, and if you keep their claws, just nip the ends of the claws off, then it saves them scratching young children unintentionally.

You need to take the kitten where the mother would hold the kitten when they are babies, and just hold her there and turn her on her back. Now, this sort of immobilises her because this is how her mother would pick her up when you see them moving them if they want to move them around, so she becomes immobilised and floppy. And I've only gently got her on the back of her neck, and then support her back end so she is all lovely and floppy.

Definitely for two people. So, if you want to take her as I have just shown you. You just take her back of the neck, and then I will just take a claw, and we have got the dewclaw at the top of the leg there, and it literally just snips the end off. And again, you just get hold of the claw and just push the claw out. And again, just snip the end off, and she's purring away as we are doing it. And that is one paw done. And if you do this from when they are little, they are always used to having it done, and then there is no need to take them to the vet to have it done. It does not need doing that often, it is just as and when you think their claws have got a little bit sharp. And so, when they grow up and they are bigger, they are used to having it done so they are not going to put up any resistance.

So, in clipping the claws there, we are using proper clippers. And these are not that expensive, are they, to actually buy in the shop? But what should you not be used?

Do not use scissors. If you use the proper equipment, then it is very easy to do and there is not going to be any accidents.

When you did that, obviously you just took the very end off. If you did go too far is there a chance, then of the claw bleeding?

Yes, because there is the wick of the nail, so it is very important, say to do it more often, but only take the very end off. So, you are actually just taking the very sharp end bit off, rather than think, "Oh, well I will do it, and then it will not need doing for a long time." You have to be very careful not to, obviously, take it down too far. And also, on certain cats it is very easy to see because she has light coloured claws, some cats have black claws, so it is more difficult to see. So, it is very important only to take the very end bit off.

Recognizing Signs of Illness in Dogs

Introduction

The Importance of Early Recognition

Understanding every possible illness in dogs is not necessary, but recognizing when something is amiss holds great importance. Early identification of illness allows for timely treatment, preventing it from becoming a serious concern.

What a Healthy Dog Looks Like

Key Indicators of Health

• Brightness, Alertness, and Mobility
• Normal Head and Tail Position
• Clean Skin Without Irritations
• Absence of Fleas or Insects
• Clear, Bright Eyes
• Normal Eye Colour
• Clean Ears Without Dirt or Odour
• Clean Mouth with Healthy Gums and No Excessive Saliva
• No Unusual Nasal Discharge
• Clean Tail Area
• Healthy Paws with No Swelling or Redness

If you are familiar with what is normal for your pet, you will readily notice when something is awry.

Recognizing Signs vs. Symptoms

Understanding Pet Observations

In the case of animals, you do not have symptoms as they cannot communicate verbally. However, they exhibit various signs that observant pet owners can notice and act upon.

Potential Health Concerns

Common Conditions to Watch For

• Parasites: Indicated by skin licking, scratching, or redness.
• Hair Loss: Can suggest a reaction to fleas.
• Eye Disorders: May exhibit discharge, blood in the eyes, or vision problems.
• Heart Problems: Signs include weakness, exhaustion, fainting, pain, and reduced energy.
• Bone and Joint Problems: May result in lameness, discomfort, or paralysis.
• Mouth and Tooth Disorders: Indicated by mouth bleeding, growths, bad breath, or redness. Excessive saliva and eating reluctance can also be signs.
• Seizures or Fits: May suggest a nervous disorder.
• Digestive Disorders: Signaled by vomiting, diarrhea, weight fluctuations, or stomach tenderness.
• Urinary Disorders: Indicated by frequent urination, urination problems, blood in urine, odour, or discharge.
• Respiratory Disorders: Signs include coughing, breathing noises, wheezing, sneezing, laboured breathing, or nasal discharge.

Consulting the Veterinarian

Seeking Professional Help

If you observe any concerning signs or unfamiliar issues, it is essential to consult your vet promptly. Provide as much information as possible, either by remembering or noting down what you've noticed. The vet will conduct a thorough examination, perform necessary tests, and diagnose and treat your pet accordingly.