Learning with Lisa, Pet First Aid

27/05/2026

As temperatures soar across the UK today, remember the heat can be dangerous for dogs too ☀️🐾

Heatstroke can happen quickly! Avoid walks during the hottest part of the day, keep fresh water available, and never leave dogs in cars.

If the ground is too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for their paws.

Stay safe and keep your pets cool ❤️

Let us know in the comments how your dogs coping and what your doing to keep them cool 👇

06/05/2026

We recently got this comment under one of our harness reels:

"What control can you provide with a harness for a dog that can't walk on a loose lead? If you already have control - why do you need a harness? This is just good business - selling harnesses."

A harness is not a control tool. It is a safety tool. Training is what gives you control - there is no shortcut for that. A harness protects your dog while you do the work.

And no - a harness does not cause pulling. Poor training foundations/lack of training cause pulling.

One more thing - please choose a Y-shaped one. So called "anti-pull" designs can cause their own problems. We cover our recommendations in other reels.

But the real question is this. What is a flat collar actually doing to your Boxer's body?

Some research suggests the pressure under a flat collar during pulling may be significantly higher than the threshold at which soft tissue starts to break down. During a lead jerk - even more so. And in studies looking at collar types - none of the collars tested came close to what researchers considered safe levels once the dog started leaning into the lead.

And this is what sits directly under that collar on every walk:

🐾 The trachea - repeated pressure weakens the cartilage rings that hold it open. That honking cough that just appeared one day? Collar pressure is one very possible reason.

🐾 The cervical spine - every lunge sends force straight into the vertebrae and discs. Boxers are already predisposed to spondylosis and disc disease. Collar pressure adds to that with every walk.

🐾 The thyroid gland - it sits right underneath where the collar tightens. Repeated trauma causes inflammation. There is a link between years of collar pulling and acquired hypothyroidism - a condition over-represented in strong-pulling breeds.

🐾 The eyes - collar pressure compresses the jugular veins and raises pressure inside the eye. A 2025 study found brachycephalic dogs showed elevated eye pressure just from wearing a collar while standing still. Before any pulling even happened.

🐾 The nerves - the vagus nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, the cervical sympathetic trunk. Research suggests as little as 2 grams of sustained pressure on a nerve can reduce its function by 50%. If your Boxer has intermittent paw licking or occasional stiffness with no obvious cause - the collar is worth looking at.

Now think about how your dog feels. Every time they pull forward - pressure on the throat, restricted breathing, discomfort. They can't tell us. But it is happening.

And here is something people rarely think about. That discomfort means stress. A stressed, aroused dog pulls more. Which creates more pressure. Which creates more stress. You are not dealing with a dog that won't walk nicely. You are dealing with a dog that physically cannot calm down - because the thing around their neck is making it worse with every step. It becomes a cycle that no amount of training will fix while the collar stays on.

I care about this because I want every Boxer to actually enjoy their walks. A well-fitted Y-shaped harness protects their body while you train. The collar stays for ID tags only - lead goes to the harness.

And if your Boxer already has spinal issues, disc disease or eye problems - please switch today and don't go back.

Your dog deserves to walk without pain 🧡

05/04/2026

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Pet First Aid Awareness Month.

This post is going to be about a potential injury that can happen occasionally, especially to active dogs, working dogs, gun dogs etc.

If a dog lands on a fence post or a sharp broken branch they can damage the Brachial artery which is runs through the armpit. Like humans, it's a difficult place to tourniquet so the best action is to apply pressure immediately using your fist, hands, fingers etc

As the photograph shows, a tennis ball is a great object to use to help reduce blood loss if you have one handy. If a ball is squeezed in the armpit, it compresses the brachial artery, reducing the blood flow. Jam it in the armpit and keep it there hard as possible until you get to the Vets. It may just reduce blood loss enough for the dog to recover.

This is an injury I have had experience with working in Veterinary Practice

www.rachelbean.co.uk

03/04/2026

Great morning running a canine first aid course for Paddaburn: Canine Adventures, fun time & learning hand in hand

02/04/2026

01/04/2026

I ran a 2 part session on pet first aid for professionals with the lovely team from North Tyne Boarding Kennels.. your dogs are in safe hands with them

28/03/2026

Great morning with a team from Tyne Valley Dog Sports.. teaching canine first aid

24/03/2026

As we move into tick season - do you know all the hiding places?

22/03/2026

🐍 Adders 🐍
Now that spring is finally here, we have started to notice an increase in calls regarding adder bites.

The adder (Vipera berus berus) is the only venomous snake native to the UK, and is also found across northern Europe. It is a protected species in the UK. Adders are most commonly, but not exclusively, found on dry, sandy heaths, sand dunes, rocky hillsides, moorlands and woodland edges. The clinical signs of an adder bite can include rapid and progressive swelling around the bite site, pain, lethargy, vomiting, bruising, bleeding and collapse.

What should you do if your pet has been bitten by an adder?
❌Do not panic.
❌Do not interfere with the bite.
❌Do not apply a tourniquet.
❌Do not attempt to touch or catch the snake.
❌Do not kill the snake – it is a protected species.
❌If practical, carry your dog to your car and go to your veterinary surgeon - do not delay seeking advice even if your pet is well as things can change quickly.

Adders are not aggressive and generally only bite when provoked. They hibernate in the winter and as a result most bites occur in the summer. Pets are frequently bitten on the leg, head or neck. If your pet has been bitten by an adder (even if you did not see the snake or are not sure what happened) – contact your vet immediately. Your vet will examine your pet to determine the location of the bite and extent of the swelling.

Veterinary professionals can call us any time on 02073 055 055 if required for assistance with managing cases of adder bites. We also hold a list of antivenom stockists across the UK. Please note that antivenom is not indicated in all cases.

26/02/2026