1staidbuddy

07/10/2026

Congratulations to The candidates for passing their canine first aid course last week.

Hales Tails
https://www.facebook.com/share/19ipYQcAj6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Wendy’s Waggy Tails
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dq65VNhJg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

If you need to re-certify or need to train for you business then give us a call. ☎️

07/10/2026

26/09/2026

Waiting for today’s candidates!

first aid

23/09/2026

17/09/2026

Thank you Sophie Bell at Animal Love Pet First Aid

05/09/2026

HAS YOUR PET SUDDENLY STARTED ITCHING?

Harvest mite larvae are active at this time of the year, and can cause intense irritation as they use their sharp mouthparts to pierce the skin surface and inject powerful digestive enzymes, which cause an allergic reaction.

Check for bright orange dots which tend to congregate:

- between the toes
- on the feet / pads (the most common site), legs, belly, ears
- in the armpits / groin

INTERESTING FACT:

While adult harvest mites live harmlessly in the soil and feed on vegetation, they lay eggs that hatch into tiny, six-legged larvae.

These larvae climb to the tips of long grass and weeds, waiting to swarm onto warm-blooded hosts like dogs, cats, or humans.

TREATMENT:

Harvest mite larvae only feed for a couple of days and then drop off on their own.

The itching however, can last much longer because of the saliva they leave behind.

Physically washing as many off as possible with lukewarm water helps, as does soothing the skin (applying pure inner-leaf aloe vera gel is often good for this) and preventing licking of the affected areas.

PREVENTION:

After walks, check the paws, ears and underside.

Also avoid affected grassy or woodland areas until the harvest-mite season has passed.

www.vincethevet.co.uk

29/08/2026

🐝🐶 Bee & Wasp Stings in Dogs – What You Need to Know! 🐶🐝

Spring and summer bring more time outdoors… but also more stings! 🌼If your dog gets stung by a bee or wasp, staying calm and acting quickly can make all the difference.

👉 Watch for signs:• Swelling (especially face, paws, or mouth)• Redness or itching
• Drooling or pawing at the face• Whining or restlessness

🩹 Quick First Aid Tips:

✔️ Check for a stinger (bees leave them behind!)

✔️ Gently remove it – scrape, don’t squeeze. Never use tweezers.

✔️ Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling

✔️ Monitor closely for any worsening symptoms such as an Anaphylactic reaction.

🚨 Call your vet immediately if you notice:• Difficulty breathing• Severe swelling around the face or neck• Vomiting, weakness, or collapse

💡 Did you know? Bees sting once and leave a stinger, but wasps can sting multiple times!

Your dog relies on you in moments like these—being prepared is key 🐾❤️

📌 Save this post so you’re ready if it ever happens!📲 Share with fellow dog owners to help keep pets safe.

28/08/2026

The goal is to stop the heat exposure, begin active cooling, and get the animal to veterinary care.

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘

Watch for:

• Panting
• Stopping activity, playing, or lying down
• Stumbling or disorientation
• A warm ambient environment
• Take a temperature if possible

𝗔𝗖𝗧

• Stop activity
• Move the animal to a cool location
• Call for help — including a nearby veterinary facility and assistance with transportation

𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗟

• Apply cool running water over the body, emphasizing areas with less fur and soaking through to the skin.
• Avoid applying water directly to the head and neck because of drowning risk.
• Continue cooling for at least 15 minutes, or until the re**al temperature reaches approximately 40°C (104°F).*
• The animal should become calmer and panting should improve.
• Pat the animal dry with a towel afterward.

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧

After initial cooling:

• Transport safely to the nearest open veterinary hospital.
• Keep the animal in a cool environment during transport, using air conditioning or a fan when available.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲:

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴.

For a dog or cat with suspected heat stroke, stop the activity, move them somewhere cool, begin active cooling, and arrange immediate veterinary care.

* If the animal has stertor or stridor, you can continue cooling until panting clearly improves or the temperature reaches 38.6°C (101.5°F), whichever comes first. In all cases, stop active cooling once 38.6°C is reached.

These recommendations are from the 2026 RECOVER First Aid Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.

25/08/2026

💥Monday Myth Buster!💥
🐾Last year we had 272 phone calls regarding ingestion of oxygen absorbers/ deoxidiser sachets, but what is the risk? Click the poster and have a read to find out!