Essential First Aid Plus

02/03/2026

Important advice from our friends at Spirit Dog Training.

02/02/2026

🦷 FEBRUARY IS CANINE DENTAL HEALTH MONTH 🐶💙

Most people think stinky breath is just a dog thing…

But in many cases? It’s actually a warning sign.

Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in dogs — and it doesn’t just stay in the mouth.

Here’s why dental care matters more than people realize:

✅ Pain is often hidden
Dogs don’t always show obvious signs of sore teeth or infected gums… they just quietly cope.

✅ Bad teeth = big health risks
Bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream and may affect the heart, liver, and kidneys over time.

✅ Dental disease can change behavior
Chewing less, crankiness, picky eating, head shyness, drooling, pawing at the mouth… sometimes it’s not “attitude.” It’s discomfort.

✅ It can literally shorten quality of life
Chronic inflammation + infection = stress on the body (and it’s preventable in many cases).

Quick signs your dog might need a dental check:

🦷 Bad breath
🦷 Yellow/brown buildup on teeth
🦷 Red or bleeding gums
🦷 Dropping food / chewing on one side
🦷 Swollen face or pawing at the mouth

💡 Dental care isn’t “extra.” It’s healthcare.
Your dog’s mouth is part of their whole-body wellness — and a little prevention goes a LONG way.

🐾 Give your pup a quick “lip lift” today and take a peek.
If something looks off, book a vet check.

Your dog deserves a healthy mouth and a pain-free life. 💙

01/30/2026

01/30/2026

Trimming your dogs black toenails doesn’t have to be scary!

When trimming your dog’s black toenails:

✅ Go slowly
✅ Hold your dog’s paw firmly but gently
✅ Position the clippers to cut the nail from top to bottom (not side to side)
✅ Trim a very small length of the nail, about 1/16th of an inch
✅ After you’ve made one trim, look at your dog’s nail head-on. If it appears whitish, you’re still in the “dead area.” It’s safe to trim a bit more into the nail.
✅ Continue making very small cuts and looking at the end of your dog’s nail after each one. As you get closer to the quick, the center of the nail will appear black, and may eventually look pink right before the quick.

🙌🏻 The trick is to trim a very short bit of nail at a time and stop as soon as the cut surface shows a black center. If you get to the pink, definitely stop!🙃

01/28/2026

Because of its sweet taste, antifreeze is unfortunately a common pet toxin in the winter. Be sure to look out for antifreeze spills around your car, driveway and garage and clean them up immediately. If you think your pet has ingested antifreeze, you should call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian right away.

01/27/2026

Giggle for the day 🤣🤣🤣

01/26/2026

Now more than ever you need to be prepared to be the first responder for your pet.

The vet isn’t close enough.
The internet isn’t fast enough.
And panic steals time.

Knowing pet first aid gives you confidence and skills when seconds matter.

Join our upcoming course Doglovers Playground Newmarket February 21, 2026.

01/26/2026

Kennel cough is on the rise... here's what you need to know.

Kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads quickly anywhere dogs socialize — daycare, boarding, grooming salons, training classes, dog parks, even vet waiting rooms.

✅ Common Signs & Symptoms

A dry, honking cough (often sounds like a goose honk)
Gagging or retching, especially after coughing
Sneezing and runny nose
Mild lethargy
Reduced appetite (sometimes)
Watery eyes

Most dogs still act fairly normal, but the cough can be persistent and annoying — and it can last 1–3+ weeks.

🦠 How Kennel Cough Spreads

Kennel cough is spread through:
Coughing / sneezing droplets in the air
Direct nose-to-nose contact

Shared items like:
-Water bowls
-Toys
-Leashes
-Kennels/Crates
-Grooming tools

🚨 Even dogs that “seem fine” can spread it while incubating or recovering.

What You Can Do

Take your dog to the vet for the Bordetella vaccine for kennel cough, if they're not already vaccinated.

If you suspect kennel cough:
✅ Isolate your dog from other dogs immediately
✅ Rest & hydration are key
✅ Use a harness instead of a collar to avoid irritating the throat
✅ Keep them in a calm environment (avoid heavy exercise)

📌 Call your vet ASAP if your dog has:

Trouble breathing
Fever
Loss of appetite
Thick/yellow/green discharge
Lethargy that seems more than mild
Cough lasting more than a couple of weeks
Any symptoms in a puppy, senior, or immunocompromised dog

Kennel cough is usually treatable, but it can develop into pneumonia in higher-risk dogs — so don’t ignore worsening symptoms.

Credit Canine Health Canada

01/25/2026

Ice Balls Break Legs. The "High Heel" Danger. 🐎🧊

We worry about horses freezing. We should worry about them tripping. In slushy snow, a horse can develop "Ice Balls" in their hooves in less than 15 minutes. These aren't soft snowballs. They are rocks of compressed ice that turn your horse into a teetering giant on stilts.

🌡️ 1. The Thermodynamic Trap The horse's hoof is warm (blood flow). The metal shoe is freezing. When the horse steps, the snow melts against the warm sole, then instantly flash-freezes against the cold metal shoe. Layer by layer, it builds a rock-hard sphere of ice. The shoe acts like a "cup" that holds this ice in place.

👠 2. The "Stilt" Effect (Biomechanics) Suddenly, your 1,200lb animal is walking on 3-inch high heels made of ice.

Tendon Strain: The angle of the hoof changes, putting massive tension on the Deep Digital Flexor Tendon.

Lateral Wobble: The horse is balancing on a pivot point. The ankle (fetlock) wobbles side-to-side. This strains the collateral ligaments, which can lead to permanent lameness.

💥 3. The Concrete Killer The real danger is the barn aisle. When a horse with ice balls steps onto concrete or asphalt, they have Zero Traction. It is metal and ice on cement. Their legs slide out like Bambi. Because they are elevated on the ice balls, the torque is higher. This is a leading cause of pelvic and leg fractures in winter.

The Fix:

Pick Hooves Immediately: Before leading them onto concrete, stop at the door and pick the ice out.

Snow Pads: If you shoe your horse in winter, ask your farrier for "Snow popper pads" (bubble pads that push the snow out).

The Grease Hack: In a pinch, smear the sole of the hoof with Crisco or petroleum jelly. It prevents the ice from bonding to the keratin (temporary fix).



📌 QUICK FAQ
Q: Are barefoot horses safer? R: Yes. 🦶 A barefoot hoof is flexible. When it hits the ground, it expands, naturally popping the snow out. Also, keratin doesn't conduct cold like a steel shoe, so the "flash freeze" effect is reduced. Barefoot horses get ice balls, but much less often than shod horses.

Q: Can I use cooking spray? R: Yes, but it wears off fast. 🍳 Pam or Crisco works by creating a hydrophobic layer. It stops the snow from sticking for about 15-30 minutes. It's great for a short turnout, but don't rely on it for an all-day pasture session.

Q: Why not just leave them inside? R: Colic risk. ⚠️ Horses need movement to keep their gut moving (peristalsis). Locking them in a stall for 3 days during a storm increases the risk of impaction colic. Turnout is vital, just prepare the hooves first!

01/24/2026

There are dozens of different conditions that can cause a horse to show signs of abdominal pain. Most (but not all) involve the digestive system, most often the stomach or intestines. Therefore, it stands to good reason that understanding the anatomy of your horse’s digestive system can help you become a better steward for your equine friend.

Fun fact: many people associate digestive health with stomach health. But did you know that the horse has the smallest stomach in relation to body size of all domestic animals? The stomach of the horse is also the smallest unit of the digestive tract, comprising less than 10% of the total volume of the horse’s digestive tract. By contrast, the hindgut is huge and plays a significant role in the horse’s digestive process by serving as the home of friendly bacteria that ferment fiber and turn it into energy.

Hindgut problems can produce obvious physical signs like loss of weight, poor condition, poor performance, diarrhea and colic. Some symptoms however can be less obvious, like poor temperament and training issues.

The key to ensuring good digestive health is good management practices that include (but are not limited to) establishing a set daily routine; feeding a high-quality diet comprised primarily of high-quality roughage; avoid overloading the digestive tract with concentrate rations; providing clean, fresh water at all times; establishing a regular turnout and exercise routine; setting up a regular deworming and dental care program with your veterinarian; reducing stress and making any changes (to diet, housing and exercise) gradually.

Consult your veterinarian about how to maximize your horse’s digestive health. A healthy horse is a happy horse!

01/24/2026

Our curious, energetic pets can get into just about anything, including human medications, even in places we think are safely out of curious paws’ and noses’ reach. Many pet poisonings happen this way, often right inside the home. 😢

Remember Your pet’s curiosity knows no bounds. Always store medications securely and well out of reach. 🚫💊

Credit to bark & whiskers

This is just one of the many topics covered in our Canine Emergency First Aid course.

Our next course date is February 21, 2026 at Doglovers Playground Newmarket

To register contact us at essentialfirstaidplus@outlook.com

01/23/2026

Good information