Heronbank Cavaliers incorporating Heronbank Cavalier Rescue

14/08/2026

Fantastic news -
Heronbank Cavalier Rescue has just received £29.56 from easyfundraising.

07/06/2025

Keep your dogs cool this summer with three easy-to-make treats your dog will love!

If the weather forecast is for warm sunny weather, make these treats in advance and store in the freezer.

Ingredients
150g mixed berries — we used a mix of fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. These are dog-friendly and full of antioxidants, vitamins and fibre.

120g natural yogurt — choose a dairy free yogurt without any artificiaial sweeteners. Eg. oat yogurt but there are lots of varieties that are safe for your four-legged friend.

Method
This bit is super simple.
Chop the berries and combine them with the yogurt using a food processor or stick blender.
Once the texture is nice and smooth, slowly pour the smoothie into your slow feeder.
Pop it in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
Take it out and run warm water over it for a couple of seconds — this will make sure your dog's tongue doesn't get stuck. Give to your dog and let them enjoy.
Bonus: put any leftover mixture into ice cube trays and freeze, to give to your dog on a hot day.

Ingredients for a dog-friendly fruit cocktail.
How about a fruit cock-er-tail? (A fruit cocktail with a spaniel twist!) This fido-friendly snack is an easy picnic treat for your pup.

Ingredients
70g pineapple
50g melon or watermelon
50g berries – our favourite trio is strawberries, raspberries and blueberries

Method
Prep the pineapple, remove the skin and dice into small pieces.
Prep the melon, remove the rind and seeds, and dice into small pieces.
Add the berries and mix them all together.
Serve.

Ingredients for a dog-friendly treat
Banana and peanut pup pops
A classic combination of two of our dogs’ favourite treats.

Ingredients
3 tablespoons of peanut butter (make sure it’s xylitol free)
2 well-ripened bananas
1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Method
Combine the ingredients and mash the mixture until smooth.
Pour into your mould tray and pop in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
Serve!
And remember...
Just like humans, dogs need a healthy balanced diet so treats should be enjoyed in moderation. When you make them, reduce your dog’s usual food portion so they’re not overfed. Some dogs could have sensitivities to the ingredients, so these recipes might not be suitable for all pooches. If you’re concerned about giving your dog new foods speak to your vet.

07/06/2025

Never leave your dog in a vehicle

A dog could die in a hot car in just minutes. Winding a window down is not enough to help your dog stay cool.

Think twice about car trips with your dog. If you do have to travel with your dog, plan your journey. Consider travelling at cooler times of the day, identify places to take breaks and avoid congested roads or busy times of day when you could get caught in traffic.

What to do if you see a dog in distress in a hot car
In England and Wales
* Call 999 and ask for the police.
In Scotland
* Call 999 and ask for the police, and/or call the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) on 0300 099 9999.
In Ireland
* Take down the registration number and contact An Garda Síochána on 112 or 999, or the National Animal Helpline on 0818 515 515 (Callers from outside the Republic of Ireland should use +353 43 33 25035).
In Northern Ireland
* Call your regional Animal Welfare Officer or the PSNI on 999. Visit the ni.direct website for your regional Animal Welfare Officer contact numbers.

07/06/2025

What are the signs of heat related illness in dogs?

Heavy or continuous panting, even when they’ve stopped exercise
- It may look like your dog is ‘smiling’ because they pull up the corners of their mouth to pant harder
- Their tongue may be hanging out more
- Their eyes might look ‘squinty’
- Difficulty breathing or changes to their breathing
- Bright pink/ red gums and lips
- Seeming lethargic, drowsy, stiff or unwilling to move
- Shade seeking
- Seeming wobbly or uncoordinated
- Excessive drooling
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Collapse
- Seizures

The most common heatstroke symptoms are breathing changes (panting excessively or changes to breathing effort) and lethargy or drowsiness.

07/06/2025

Won’t my dog know when they’ve had enough sun?

We need to learn the signs of heatstroke and look out for these in our dogs to help them take a rest and cool down when they need to. Some dogs aren’t good at self-regulating and may continue to run and play even though they’re hot and tired, which increases their risk of heatstroke.

In fact, exercise is the main trigger. A recent study found that nearly 75% of cases of heat-related illness in UK dogs were because of exertion. And 67.5% of cases were just from walking only, so even moderate exercise can cause dogs to overheat.

How many times do we see people walking their dogs on a warm day?

07/06/2025

Why is overheating dangerous for dogs?

Getting too hot can be really risky for our four-legged friends. They can’t sweat (except through their paws), so they rely on panting as their main way to get rid of heat. Panting is less efficient than sweating, especially when it is humid.

Heat related illness is sometimes called ‘heat stress’, ‘heat exhaustion’ or ‘heatstroke’ - these terms describe increasing severity of heat related illness. You might think it’s only a problem in the summer months or during warm weather, but dogs can overheat at any temperature, and any time of year including during winter. A recent study has shown that a significant number of dogs were diagnosed with heatstroke when the temperature was only 16.9 degrees Celsius.*

What should I do if my dog gets too hot?

Act immediately to prevent your dog’s condition getting worse. If your dog has collapsed or is struggling to breathe, call your nearest vet immediately.

Cool first, transport second. Take these steps to cool your dog down, then transport them to a vet:

* Stop them from playing, walking or whatever activity they’re doing
* Move the dog to a shaded and cool area
* Offer them drinking water
* Start cooling them down urgently
- For young, conscious, healthy dogs, this means immersing them in cold water (for example, in a paddling pool) if possible, keeping their head above water. Use any water available, provided it is cooler than your dog. If immersion is not possible, continuous dousing with cool water is an alternative.
- For older dogs or dogs with health conditions, spray them with room temperature water, avoiding their face, and combine with air movement from a breeze, fan or air conditioning. Place ice wrapped in a tea towel (to prevent ice burns) in their groin and armpits.
- Always closely monitor cooling and stop if you notice signs of shivering
* Don’t place a wet towel over them as this can raise their temperature.
* Call your vet urgently for further advice and transport them there as quickly as is safely possible. Keep the air conditioning on in the car or the windows open.

07/06/2025

When is it too hot to walk your dog?

There's no simple answer. Your dog could overheat even in winter.

However, if you’re considering taking your pal out in warmer weather, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

Do the five-second tarmac test - Tarmac can get very hot in the sun and could burn your dog’s paws. Check the pavement with your hand before letting your dog walk on it – hold your hand down for five seconds, if it’s too hot for you, then we recommend walking your dog later when it’s cooled down to avoid burning their paws.

Walk your dog at cooler times of day – When walking your dog in hot weather, try to take them out in the early morning, or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. This will reduce their risk of heatstroke. Be particularly careful if your dog is old, overweight, suffers from breathing difficulties or is a flat faced breed like Pugs, French Bulldogs or English Bulldogs.

07/06/2025

Top tips for keeping dogs safe in hot weather:
* Provide shade and water - Make sure your dog has access to shade and plenty of fresh water throughout the day.
* Know the signs of heatstroke and cooling first aid - The ability to identify if your dog is overheating and knowing how to administer cooling first aid could be lifesaving.
* Don't let your dog get burnt - Keep your dog out of direct sunlight where you can. Use pet-safe sun cream on exposed parts of your dog’s skin, like the tips of their ears and nose. Ask your vet for more advice if needed.
* Plan ahead for adventures – Check the weather in advance and take your pal out at cooler times in the day – early morning or late evening. And if you're planning a day out somewhere, check whether dogs are welcome.

25/02/2025

Very highly recommended!

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