Seasonal Dog Care Essentials: Keeping Your Pup Thriving Year-Round

🌸 Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is a critical time to focus on key health aspects for your dog:

🔹 🐜 Flea & Tick Prevention

✔️ Ideally start in February, but if not, now is the time!

✔️ Looking for natural prevention methods? Check out our parasites blog here.

🔹 🦠 Gut Reset for Health & Detox

✔️ If your dog was unwell over winter or you feel you’ve lost track of a natural diet, consider a gut reset—similar to a human health kick at the start of the year.

✔️ Many experts do this annually to refresh gut health and boost digestion & immunity.

🔹 🌿 Seasonal Allergies

✔️ Typically affect dogs March–October.

✔️ While not all dogs suffer, around 1 in 4 may require seasonal allergy relief.

✔️ If your dog experiences watery eyes, sneezing, reverse sneezing, or rashes, check our supplements list, filtered for seasonal allergy support here.

🔥 Keeping Dogs Cool in Summer

💧 Hydration: The #1 Priority

Water sounds simple, but keeping fresh & clean drinking water available is crucial—especially during heatwaves.

📌 Key Tips:

✔️ Change water more frequently in hotter months.

✔️ Encourage drinking—some dogs need extra motivation or even gentle hand-feeding (never forcefully!) if lethargy develops.

🐶 Hydration-Boosting Foods:

🥣 Bone Broth – Helps keep dogs hydrated & interested in food and drink.

✔️ UK-Based Brands: Alexander’s Natural, Karnlea & more offer dog-safe bone broth with no harmful ingredients.

✔️ Raw Diet Benefits: Contains 60–85% moisture vs. kibble’s 6–12%.

📌 Don’t waste raw liquid! Keep myoglobin-rich juices, freeze them into small moulds, or serve them with meals—full of nutrients!

🧊 The Truth About Ice Cubes

🚨 Every summer, myths circulate about ice cubes being dangerous for dogs. Here are the facts:

✔️ Ice Cubes for HEALTHY BUT WARM Dogs:

💙 As advised by Blue Cross: Yes! Dogs CAN have ice cubes.

✔️ Add ice cubes to water bowls to help keep water cooler.

✔️ Choose appropriate sizes to prevent choking.

✔️ Crush/blitz ice into a soft "snow" for safe cooling.

🐾 Other Frozen Treats for Dogs:

✔️ Frozen Bone Broth✔️ Frozen Kefir✔️ Dog-Friendly "Ice Cream" Pots

🚫 Ice Cubes for DOGS WITH HEATSTROKE:

💔 As advised by Blue Cross: NO! Ice cubes should NOT be given to dogs suffering from heatstroke.

✔️ Cool them with COOL (not cold) water and seek urgent veterinary attention.

🚨 Heatstroke in Dogs: What You Need to Know

⚠️ Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency that affects:

✔️ Brachycephalic breeds (flat-faced dogs)

✔️ Puppies & senior dogs

✔️ Overweight pets

✔️ Dogs with underlying health conditions

❗ Signs of Heatstroke:

✔️ Elevated body temperature

✔️ Excessive panting or rapid breathing

✔️ Weakness or collapse

✔️ Bright red tongue or gums

✔️ Excessive drooling

✔️ Vomiting or diarrhoea

✔️ Staggering, glazed eyes, or seizures

✔️ Unconsciousness

🚨 If your dog displays these symptoms, seek emergency vet care IMMEDIATELY.

🚑 Emergency Response for Heatstroke

✔️ Move the dog to a shaded area & call your vet immediately.

✔️ Follow the latest advice found here around rapid cooling of dogs: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.beanrvn/posts/pfbid0319rP3nWgdPkVdbvZpwVYhK2qEPfoLRQCFMEiMq7T9kU3FzGGyucwP67nSdqKnyjel

🚫 DO NOT place wet towels over the dog—this traps heat rather than cooling effectively.

✔️ Encourage small sips of cool water—do not force drinking.

✔️ Continue cooling until breathing stabilises but STOP if shivering occurs.

✔️ If unconscious, focus on rapid cooling & get to a vet urgently.

✔️ Keep water away from the head—especially for flat-faced breeds to prevent inhalation risks.

✔️ Use air conditioning during transport to keep cooling effective.

🚫 Preventing Heatstroke

✔️ Use cooling bandanas to regulate temperature.

✔️ Provide cooling treats in shaded areas.

✔️ Keep water bowls fresh & change water regularly.

✔️ Enhance hydration by adding dog-safe bone broth to meals.

✔️ Avoid car journeys & long walks in extreme heat.

🚨 Heatstroke can be fatal—but with early recognition and fast action, you can protect your dog.

Autumnal Canine Care: Keeping Your Dog Safe & Healthy

As the days grow shorter, it's essential to adjust care routines to keep dogs comfortable, healthy, and safe during the autumn months.

🍂 Be Cautious: Autumn Walks & Hidden Hazards

Fallen leaves create a sensory wonderland for dogs, but they also hide risks:

⚠️ Wet leaves can be slippery, increasing the risk of falls.

⚠️ Leaves may conceal hazards—curbs, broken glass, dog waste, and other debris.

⚠️ Leaf mould can irritate sensitive skin, causing itchiness.

✅ Protect Your Dog:

✔️ Take extra care when walking in leafy areas.

✔️ Wipe paws & legs after walks to remove any residue—cooled chamomile tea is a gentle, soothing option.

🎆 Be Alert: Firework Season & Dog Safety

Fireworks are not just a one-night event—they can happen throughout autumn, causing distress to sensitive dogs.

📌 Fireworks Safety Tips:

🔹 Ensure your garden is secure—repair any broken fences.

🔹 Check your dog's microchip details—ensure they are up to date (required by UK law).

🔹 Use a well-fitting collar—ensure two fingers fit between the collar & your dog’s neck.

🔹 Attach an identity tag—must include your name, house number, postcode & phone number

🔹 Walk your dog in daylight to reduce spooking risks.

🔹 Keep nervous dogs on-lead—off-lead dogs are more likely to bolt when frightened.

📌 For detailed support, check out our Fireworks Blog here.

🔦 Be Visible & Present

With reduced daylight, visibility becomes crucial for pet safety:

✅ Use clip-on lights, reflective collars, harnesses, or coats to enhance your dog’s visibility.

✅ Wear head torches & reflective trims yourself to stay visible to motorists & pedestrians.

✅ Stay alert when walking—avoid headphones & keep your phone in your pocket to stay fully aware.

🏃 Be Aware: Seasonal Exercise Adjustments

Autumn brings variable activity levels—some dogs exercise less, while others become more active as temperatures drop.

🐶 For Less Active Dogs:

📌 Monitor weight & body condition closely—aim for Body Condition Score 5 (some vets allow 4–6 depending on breed).

🚫 Stop ball slingers—repetitive running/braking strains joints & increases injury risk.

✅ Smart Swaps for Reduced Activity:

✔️ Reduce treats—stick to bare minimum training treats (Drool, JR Pet Products, or Just Ere For Treats Horse Training Treats).

✔️ Swap dairy-based probiotics for Alexander’s Natural or Boil & Broth Kefir Water.

✔️ Replace starchy root vegetables (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin) with dark leafy greens (broccoli, kale, spinach).

📌 For more weight management tips, see our blog: Help! My Dog Needs to Lose Weight here.

🐕 For More Active Dogs:

✔️ Adjust food intake—slightly increase fat-rich treats if energy levels rise.

✔️ Choose fat-based options (Finer By Nature Sheep Fat Cubes or homemade frozen bone broth fat moulds).

📌 Check out Help! My Dog Needs to Gain Weight here for tailored advice.

🐾 Be An Advocate for Your Dog

✔️ Always seek veterinary advice if your dog is injured or unwell.

✔️ Avoid social media medical advice—trained professionals should assess health concerns.

📌 Other Ways to Advocate for Your Dog:

✔️ Provide daily gut support with bone broth—see our Bone Broth Guide here.

✔️ Boost vitamin C intake during stress-inducing events like fireworks (stress lingers in the body for 3 days after a stressful event!).

✔️ Support joint health with natural supplements—see our Joint Support Blog here.

Winter Wellness for Dogs: Keeping Them Healthy & Comfortable

As winter settles in, dogs can be more prone to seasonal health challenges, so adjusting their care routine is essential.

Fortunately, simple measures can help support and protect your dog—even in the coldest months.

🦴 Boosting Nutrition for Winter Health

✔️ Plant Matter & General Health Supplements – If your dog’s diet doesn’t already include up to 10% plant matter, now is a great time to incorporate it.

✔️ Joint Support – Cold weather can intensify joint discomfort, so check out our supplements list to filter for joint support options here.

📌 Winter Protective Clothing: Brands like Rydale Clothing & HotterDog sell doggy fleeces, which:

✔️ Keep your dog warm

✔️ Protect against mud splashes & light showers

🦠 Gut Support: Preventing Winter Digestive Issues

🐶 Year after year, we see many dogs catch winter gastrointestinal bugs. Being proactive helps prevent discomfort & prolonged recovery.

📌 Be prepared with:

✔️ Dorwest Tree Barks – Gentle digestive support.

✔️ Proflax Tummy Tastic – Aiding gut health.

✔️ Four Leaf Rover Saccharomyces Boulardii – Excellent gut support during medication-related illness.

🍯 Natural Remedies for Seasonal Illness

✔️ Local Raw Honey or Manuka Honey – Supports coughs & colds.

📌 Check our guide on the incredible healing benefits of honey here.

✔️ Soup, Broth & Kefir:

🐾 Bone Broth – Supports gut health & overall wellness. Every dog benefits from bone broth—see our Bone Broth Guide here for details.

🐾 Kefir – Powerful probiotics, available from Boil & Broth (water-based) or Alexander’s Natural (coconut water, goat milk, cow milk forms).

🐾 Dog-Friendly Soup – Alexander’s Natural now offers dog-safe soup, made from bone broth & fermented veggies in kefir whey—served chilled or warm!

🚨 Managing Illness in Cold Weather

📌 If your dog becomes unwell (diarrhoea or vomiting), consult our blog: Dealing with Illness here.

🚫 Do NOT walk a sick dog—they should stay home until fully recovered:

✔️ Wait at least 24–48 hours after symptoms have ended before taking them outside.

✔️ Walking a sick dog increases recovery time and spreads illness—especially dangerous for older or immune-compromised dogs.

🧼 Protecting Against Winter Hazards

⚠️ ALWAYS wash your dog after walking near gritted areas—salt exposure can cause illness.⚠️ After muddy walks or seaside trips, wipe or wash your dog down to remove potential toxins or bacteria.

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