An innovative new physio and hydrotherapy centre for dogs is set to open in Harrogate next month.
Veterinary physiotherapist Sophie Brook is hoping to launch the facility on Skipton Road at the end of August.
The first of its kind in Harrogate, it will offer physiotherapy, rehabilitation hydrotherapy, fun and fitness swims and puppy confidence swims.
Ms Brook, who owns The Harrogate Vet Physio, has been working on a mobile basis for the last two years, treating dogs and horses.
She has spent that time looking for a suitable location to be able to also offer hydrotherapy, which she currently practises at a centre in Brighouse.
And she finally found the perfect unit at Dragon Court Business Park, which will offer a 6m x 2.5m heated dog swimming pool and a physio room.
Ms Brook, who studied veterinary physiotherapy for four years, said:
“I always wanted a pool because hydrotherapy is so good for dogs. The pool is getting fitted next month and hopefully it will be open at the end of August.
“It can help with problems such as arthritis in older dogs and hip and elbow dysplasia. There are also things like cruciate injuries that be helped through physio and hydrotherapy.”
Ms Brook said the swimming sessions were aimed at helping puppies and dogs gain confidence in the water, as not all are natural swimmers.
She said:
“You would be surprised how many dogs can’t swim. For some it’s not a natural ability. It also helps puppies gain confidence around water so if they fall in, they don’t go into full panic mode.
“I’m really excited to launch the new centre. People in Harrogate are big dog lovers, so it is the ideal place to do it.”
A signed referral form is needed for all of the sessions, including fun and puppy swims, and can be found here.
Ripon firefighters save pony stuck in mudRipon firefighters helped to a free a pony that got stuck in the mud this week.
The pony, called Monarch, was unable to get up after lying in mud at the side of a small stream.
He panicked and soon became exhausted.
The owner called for help from a vet, who summoned the assistance of fire crews from Ripon, Malton and Richmond.
The vet sedated Monarch and the firefighters were eventually able to free him from the stream in Ravensworth, Richmondshire.
Swale Veterinary Surgery, whose vet Lesley responded to the incident, posted on its Facebook page:
“Amazingly Monarch had no severe injuries and was just a bit sore and stiff after the ordeal.
“Amazing work Lesley and a massive thank you to North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for helping get Monarch out safely.”
Monarch recovering afterwards.
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Warning to dog owners after rare disease found in Knaresborough
Dog owners have been warned to be alert for the symptoms of a rare disease after a case was found in Knaresborough.
Cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, better known as Alabama rot, begins as skin lesions but can develop quickly and lead to kidney failure.
Specialist veterinary referral practice Anderson Moores, which leads research into the disease from it Winchester base, confirmed yesterday it had seen three new cases in the UK including one in Knaresborough. There have been 271 confirmed cases of the rare disease since it first emerged in the UK in 2012, with 20 since the beginning of this year.
Hannah Philipson, who runs The Harrogate Dog Walking and Pet Company, said while there was no need for alarm, dog owners should be aware of the symptoms of Alabama rot.
“It tends to be their feet and legs that are affected more, which is why they advise you wash your dog down when it’s muddy after a walk.
“It can be treated if it’s noticed early – it’s down to your vet and how quickly they act, whether they think it’s something else. It does tend to take hold in a couple of days, which is very fast.
“If it takes hold, it’s really unlikely a dog would survive.”
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When she posted about the Knaresborough case on Facebook, Hannah said some people were alarmed and said they would not walk their dogs in the area any more. However, there is no evidence that the disease can be transmitted by dogs being walked in the same place, and vets do not know how it is contracted.
Hannah said she has known families with two dogs, both cared for and walked together, where one has caught Alabama rot and the other has not.
She has spoken to fellow dog walkers to discuss what measures can be taken to minimise risk. Rather than trying to avoid it, she said the best thing to do is to be vigilant for the early signs and speak to a vet if there are any sores or swelling on the dog, particularly around the legs and paws, but also on the face, mouth and body.
She added that, with a rise in dog ownership during the pandemic, it was more important than ever to raise awareness of the rare disease.
“A lot of people don’t know about it and what to look for – they might think it’s just a sore and nothing to worry about.”
A paw lesion in a case of Alabama rot
David Walker, a specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores and is the UK’s foremost authority on Alabama rot. He said:
“Sadly, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified. It is understandably a worrying time for dog owners with regard to CRGV; however, the disease remains rare.
“The disease seems to appear across many counties at this time of year. January and February are typically our highest case number months and, sadly, this year was no different.
“We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions. If a dog becomes affected by CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility.”
Although around 90% of cases to prove to be fatal, he said the team had recently successfully treated a Labrador for the disease.
Fireworks season could be worst for animals in decadesFireworks displays in the Harrogate district may have been cancelled this year but a local vet and the RSPCA have warned it could still be the worst period for pets in decades.
The absence of large organised events is expected to lead to an increase in backyard firework displays, bringing noise much closer to pets at home.
Katy Bell, a vet at the Rae, Bean & Partners practice in Boroughbridge told the Stray Ferret:
“A big display will be organised on a certain date, at a certain time, so pet owners can be prepared for that event.
“However, if home-organised events can be a lot more spread out over an evening, and have a bigger negative impact on the animal.”
Ms Bell encourages worried pet owners to start preparing now: she advised playing firework training CDs to pets in the run-up to November 5, starting at a low volume and increasing as necessary.
On Bonfire Night itself, Ms Bell recommends not leaving your pet alone, and ensuring it has somewhere safe and dark to hide.
A RSPCA spokesperson said this fireworks season could be the worst for animals in decades.
The charity advised pet owners to close windows and curtains to muffle noise, and bring smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs inside.
Around 62% of dogs and 54% of cats in the UK show signs of anxiety when they hear fireworks, according to the RSPCA.
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Fire services’ advice
Station manager Tony Peel, from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said bonfire night was usually a quiet one for fire services in the county “and we’d love it to be the same this year”. He added:
“Please follow our safety tips if you are planning a display at home and help reduce the pressure not only on the fire service, but also on our colleagues in the ambulance service and police.
“Some people and animals are scared by firework noise so if you’re planning to let off fireworks please tell your neighbours and avoid buying really noisy ones.”
Mr Peel said anyone planning a home display should ensure it finishes before 11pm, always light the firework at arms length and only buy fireworks that carry the CE mark.