Four Paws North

06/05/2026

🐍 ADDER BITES 🐍

If your dog has bitten by an adder, their symptoms will depend on where the bite is, and where the venom spreads to. If the venom stays in the tissues around the bite, it will cause pain and swelling, but if it spreads further and gets into the bloodstream, it can cause much more serious problems such as damage to the liver, kidneys, heart and nervous system. If venom is injected straight into the blood stream, it can cause death very quickly. It can also be very serious if your dog is bitten on the face or neck because swelling can lead to breathing problems.

With treatment, most dogs make a full recovery, but sadly, in some cases, adder venom can cause severe illness and even death. The quicker your dog is treated, the better their outlook. Any dog with a suspected adder bite should be seen by a vet ASAP.

What to do if your dog is bitten?

1. Stay calm
2. If you see the snake, try to remember what it looks like, or take a photo from a distance. Do not try to find the snake, get close to it, touch it or harm it. (Adders are a protected species so it is illegal to hurt or kill them, and they can bite people if disturbed.)
3. Keep your dog as still as possible to prevent venom spreading around their body
4. Leave the bite alone, don’t apply a bandage or tourniquet.
5. Call you vet to let them know you are coming down to the practice
6. If possible, bring a car to your dog or depending on their weight, carry them to it.

Snakebites should always be treated as an emergency - if your dog has been bitten, call your vet straight away. Do not attempt to treat your dog at home.

31/03/2026

Lads lads lads

05/03/2026

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

Dogs’ stress signals often get misunderstood or missed, with some owners not realising their dog is unhappy until they growl, snap or even bite.

The canine ladder of communication is a useful guide, showing the different signals dogs show through their body language to communicate. As a dog gets more upset, their body language may change according to the steps on the ladder.

It’s important to note that all dogs are different - not every dog will show every behaviour on the ladder and might not follow the specific order.

Familiarise yourself with the signals shown above so that you can recognise them with your own dog 🐶

20/11/2025

Hey lovelies

Socials have had to take a massive back seat recently due to illness and trying to keep things together.

Apologies if I haven't got back to your messages, there's a massive admin day next week!

The diary is open for dog sits in 2026 xx

20/11/2025

Lucky for some, certain dog breeds have naturally long and well insulated coats that help keep them warm when the weather gets tough. Unfortunately, lots of other types of dog are more vulnerable. During winter, small breeds with short coats and toy breeds will struggle to keep warm. However, larger breeds can also get chilly despite their size due to their thin coats.

🐾 Small and short coated dog breeds 🐾
Jack Russels
Poodles
Whippets
Dachshunds
Chihuahuas
Basset Hounds
Yorkshire Terriers

🐾 Large and short coated dog breeds 🐾
Dalmations
Staffies
Greyhounds
Doberman Pinschers

All these breeds are more susceptible to the cold however, any dog will get cold if left in the cold or wet for too long

22/08/2025

This has been one of the best dog sits I've ever done, I love you two dearly!!

04/05/2025

ITS BACK
Hopefully for a while
Annoyingly some joker tried to get in on my Facebook action and logged me out.
But I have it back and will post photos later today