Dog first aid, vet visits & canine care with Dr. Sophie Bell from Animal Love Pet First Aid

Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Welcome to the Yappy Hour, poweredby Yappily, the podcast for dog
lovers who want to deepen theirunderstanding of their pets and
provide the best care possible.
I'm your host, Nathan Dunleavy,and in today's episode, I'm
joined by the amazing Dr.
Sophie Bell, a vet and the founder ofAnimal Love Pet First Aid, Sophie is

(00:25):
on a mission to empower pet parentsand professionals with the skills
they need to handle emergencies andcare for their animals confidently.
We also talk about the importanceof early desensitization to the vet.
environment which is a gamechanger for your dog's well being.

(00:46):
Whether you're a new dog parent ora seasoned pro, you'll come away
with valuable tips and insightsthat you can use right away.
So let's dive in.
Grab a cup of tea, settle in.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Hello, and welcome back to The (01:02):
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Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily.
I'm your host, Nathan Dunlevy, andI'm so excited to bring you our
next episode, even more excited thatwe've got our ver our very first
vet joining us as our guest today.
So.
Sophie Bell from Animal LovePet First Aid is our guest.

(01:25):
And as I say, she's our first vet.
So I'm so excited to have a chatwith her and bring you lots of
expertise and useful information.
So without further ado Sophie.
Welcome to the Yappy Hour.
It's such a pleasureto have you here today.
How are you doing?

Sophie (01:44):
I'm really well, Nathan.
Thank you for having me on.
It's lovely to be here.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Brilliant. (01:48):
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Great to have you with us.
So just for our listeners or thosethat may not know you yet, can you
just share a little bit about yourjourney as a vet and how you came
to start Animal Love Pet First Aid?

Sophie (02:03):
Sure.
Yeah, I can.
So I had a really funnyjourney into all of it.
I started off as a musician in life.
Would you believe it?
So

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour (02:10):
okay.

Sophie (02:11):
didn't do the whole go to school, go to college, go, go to university.
I had a very, very diverse lifestyle.
And then when I finally grew up, thefirst day growing up, I went, Sophie, you
really need to actually get an actual job.
But being a musician was a job and itreally is, but I needed to get a more.

(02:33):
I had a stable career, and I knew fromthe age of six that I wanted to be a
vet, and I was in the right space, Idid, but I was never, you know what it's
like, kids get told at school, you'renot good enough, you can't, you're not
clever enough and then when I finishedschool, I kind of had those doubts and
thought, yeah, I'm not in the mood for it.
So, yeah.
Studying further.
And my parents were really great.

(02:54):
They were like, if you wantto pursue me music career, go.
So I left home and disappeared off toLondon, had a music career for well,
about five years and then went back.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: right, okay. (03:03):
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Sophie (03:05):
So, so that's kind of how it started.
So I didn't go for the normal, you know,one type of education after another.
That's why I always say to people,you know, it's never too late.
You know, I, when I was at vetschool, I had people in their
mid fifties learning to be vets.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
So it's never too late.
So I think that's an importantpoint for anyone thinking, Oh, I'd
love to go and pursue somethingthat I always wanted to do.

(03:27):
So I went and did that.
And then it was a very randomconversation one day where I was in
my garden of the house I'm in now.
And my mum said to me, so if you workso hard and I did, I thought 40, 40
night shifts in a row was normal.
You know, that was a real,yeah, I know it's gross, right?
But I thought that was normal.
And she said to me, you know, you're areal workaholic and you're away a lot.

(03:50):
I was away a lot.
And she said, can't you do somethingelse with animals where you can
still work as a vet, but lesshours and do something from home?
So I qualified to become a dog groomer.

Oh

Sophie (04:01):
And

okay.

Sophie (04:03):
I know my life is so random and then, and it was, it was a fantastic
career path for me because I had thatmixture of still being with the animals,
but I could do some of it from home.
Don't get me wrong.
Being a dog groomer is justas challenging as being a vet.
They're all are all these petprofessionals that you have a, you
know, a tough time, you know, at times.
And when I was on my dog groomingtraining, the lady that I learned

(04:24):
with said to me you're a vet.
Could you maybe teach us abit more about first aid?
Because.
There's, you know, thecurriculum was quite basic and
she said, I want to learn more.
I want our students to learn more.
And then I thought, there's something inthis, you know, there's, you're right.
There's a lot that people could learn.
There's a lot that people could doto help their pets and ultimately

(04:45):
that's what I do as a vet.
So why not pass knowledge across?

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: absolutely. (04:48):
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Sophie (04:49):
started teaching and I remember my first, my first gig, so to speak,
I think it was three people in adingy little room in Southampton.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, it's where I'm from! (04:57):
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Sophie (04:59):
How is it?
Yeah, cause I used to work as avet there, but yeah, it's great.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: where I am now in Southampton! (05:02):
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What are the chances?
Yes!

Sophie (05:06):
Yes.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: hometown! (05:06):
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Sophie (05:07):
Well, so it was easy for me because I, I worked in Southampton anyway,
and then I had a friend sort of say,do you want to use this little room?
And I was like, yeah, okay.
Gathered about three orfour people together.
Probably didn't do anything halfas near as what I teach now, but
they seemed really enthusiastic.
And a few of them said, Oh, you know,I'd love it if, you know, I can come
back in three years time and redo it.
By the time they came back inthree years time, you know, it

(05:29):
wasn't a three hour course anymore.
It was a seven hour day.

Oh, wow.

Sophie (05:33):
and so.
I've just gone from there.
I've added additional coursesabout additional topics

Yes,

Sophie (05:40):
like I'm the middle man.
Yeah,

okay,

Sophie (05:43):
I'm the middle man, you know, so that's right.
So you've got the, the CPD that'saimed at vets and, you know, the
sort of veterinary professionals,

the high end stuff like really intense?

Sophie (05:54):
the really intense stuff.
And then I like to be in the middlewhere I'm bringing that information
to pet professionals and pet ownersin a way they can understand.

yes.

Sophie (06:03):
So that's my thing.
It is.
And I think a lot of them say, what weneed is it explained in a way that we
understand and also practical, you know,what's the useful stuff we can take.
So that's where it all developed.
And that's been about what, over10 years, I'd say I've probably

Oh wow,

Sophie (06:21):
So it's been, I know, and I still play music and I still work as a vet.
All of it going on.

so you're doing, yeah, you're doing sort
of everything because, well, they're,they're clearly all your passions.
Your face lights up whenyou're talking about it.
So, you've been on a journey.
I love, I love a bit of a story andan interesting background like that.
and yeah, I live in Southampton.
Born and bred in Southampton.
So that was that was a nice littlesort of, segue into there that

(06:53):
you started off there as well.
And yeah.
So you're still doingsome vet stuff, like in

Sophie (06:58):
Yeah, yeah, I am.
I'm not quite doing 40 nights ina row anymore because obviously I
realised that I was really full.
And I always say, oh, I work part timeas a vet, but you know, most weeks
I probably do 30 hours in clinic.
But to me, I was thinking,that's part time.
Because.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: still full on. (07:14):
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Sophie (07:15):
It is full on.
But I love it.
And I think what's happened now, becauseI'm not doing silly things like 80
hours or 90 hours purely in vet work,the passion is really high for me.
So when I work with clients, they get110 percent of me because, you know,

Mmm.

Sophie (07:32):
time off where I'm teaching and then the time back where I'm actually
putting my skills to use in, and Idon't get that burnout feeling, which
I think I would have got to by now.
So.

have.
Yeah, it's

Sophie (07:43):
so.
I see colleagues that are, you know,burnt out and I don't blame them is it?
There's a lot in the vet.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: fatigue, I'd imagine as well, which (07:49):
undefined
a lot of pet professionals will.
Vets definitely probably suffer

Sophie (07:55):
Yeah.
And

know,

Sophie (07:56):
that's just something, it is.
And it's something I neverwanted to see in myself.
So the balance I have now meansthat I never feel that way.
You know, always verycompassionate every time I work.
Cause I think our pets,you know, they need us.
And so what they need is a vet.
tell them funny stories, kiss them, cuddlethem, because I have a really soppy hair.

(08:18):
But I need to do that, because for me,I think, I want you to think that I'm
here to be really caring, even thoughI'm stabbing a needle in you right now.
I want you to think I'mdoing it out of kindness.

So I mean, where are you in practice?
Is it like a first opinion vets?
Is that, where's that to?

Sophie (08:35):
Yeah, so I do a mixture of days and I do a mixture of nights.
So I do dates locally and then Ido nights right over in Berkshire.

Okay.

Sophie (08:44):
and I keep that mix going because at night I see mainly the big emergencies
and during the day, more of the routine.
So it keeps that nice balance of Yeah,yeah, you've got to keep your skills up,
you know, and it's something I trainedhard for, and it's something that I love.
And so I think I couldn't just committo one area and say, right, all I'm
going to do is keep teaching everywhere.
You know, I think it'snice to have the mix.

Yeah.
And do you then like, I've got toask you what your, what your musical
side is, because I've got visionsof you either singing a song or
playing an instrument to the pet.

Sophie (09:16):
Oh gosh, I'm always, oh, I'm singing.
I always sing.
It's quite funny actually.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It's great for the soul. (09:20):
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Oh.

Sophie (09:23):
is.
So I used to gig a lot.
I mean, I don't so much nowsince having my children.
I might just pick up the guitarat home and do a few bits.
My, my dream was to bean actual rock star.
You know, I wanted to smash a guitarup on stage, but the reality is I
sing more like a country singer.
So, which was alwaysmy annoyance as a kid.
I'd be like, no, I don't want this.
You don't want to be upthere, like going for it.

(09:45):
And they'd be like, no, no, really,you know, you're kind of more like.
Dolly Parton kind ofgenre and I'm like, oh,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: your case. (09:52):
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You're working nine to

Sophie (09:54):
No

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: or something. (09:55):
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Oh, brilliant.
Oh, I love that.
Thank you.
Thank you, Sophie, for telling us alittle bit about about your journey.
I love where there's agreat story behind it.
So just moving on to our next question.
Why do you think it's so important forpet parents, not just professionals to

(10:16):
learn about first aid for their animals?

Sophie (10:19):
You know, it's funny because when you go on a course I always ask
at the beginning who's here as a petowner Obviously most of them are pet
owners and pet professionals, but who'shere purely as a pet owner And I would
say probably it's always 20 or lessthat are there as pet owners When you
ask people about it or people say wellyou teach first aid They're like but
that's what the vet's there for And Ialways say to them Yeah, but the vet's

(10:43):
not going to be next to your side ifokay, something extreme like CPR is very
unusual for people to have to do that.
So that's probably a poor example.
There's something like pickingup the lip of your dog and
checking the color of their gums,

Yeah.

Sophie (10:55):
knowing what that.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: refill test. (10:57):
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Sophie (10:59):
yeah, that as well.
And knowing that simple, howto do that basic clinical exam.
It doesn't have to be, youknow, and what it means.
And there isn't, you know, oftenowners only present the dog or cat
or whatever pet it is to the vetwhen it looks really ill and they
don't pick up the subtle signs.
And sometimes I think, Oh my gosh,if only you'd come four weeks ago,

(11:20):
this would be a different story.
You know, or three hours ago or whatever.
And so, you know, it's what I alwayssay that that cliche, but knowledge is
power and, and it's protective, isn't it?
Because people don't, when I'm theresaying to them, do you know your
dog's got a massive internal bleed?
And it doesn't need to be due to traumaand they cannot take that information in

(11:40):
because it's horrendous news and we'refighting for a life or we're putting a
pet to sleep and they can't take that in.
And something that I teach on the courses.
You'll pick stuff like that up by threesimple ways of looking at your dog.
You'll be like, this is really serious.
That's what I think people need thatto understand what they're dealing
with rather than, okay, the dog'sgot, you know, a bit of a bleed

(12:02):
on its leg and most people havethe common sense to stem a bleed.

Yes.

Sophie (12:06):
deeper than that.
People don't know that, you know, acertain type of stretch might mean
actually that dog's in pain or thisstyle of breathing is not right, you
know, and just make them appreciatewhat is wrong and picking it up.

Yes, well, we do it for ourselves as humans,
like, you know, most humans are firstaid trained and you, you live with your
partner, your husband, your wife, andyou know, you, you know, some basics,
but you know, why not do, why nottransfer that to your animals, your
pets and learn, you know, about animal

Sophie (12:39):
Yeah, I think that's it, isn't it?
And I like to incorporate in myfirst aid course is just lots of
health tips as well and discuss them.
hot topics like neutering andvaccinations and should I, shouldn't
I, what's the, you know, and all those.
And I will, I'll go in head firstand think, I know that some of these
are really controversial topics.
Let's talk about it.
What, what's your, you know, andso I like to do that 'cause it's

(13:02):
important that people know thelatest information that's going on.
You know, I like to arm peoplewith good information so they
can make informed decisions.
Because, you know, the pet is,they're, they're, they're the
voice, aren't they of the pet.
And so they've got toknow all of these things.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah, that's brilliant. (13:17):
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Thank you.
We're going to move on to our nextsection is around the importance of pet
first aid for owners and professionals.
So we touched on it obviously a bit therein the previous question, but just to sort
of delve into that a little bit more now.
Sophie, what are some of the mostcommon pet emergencies you've,

(13:39):
you've encountered as a vet?
And how can first aid training helpowners respond better in those situations?

Sophie (13:47):
So it's funny, things change over time.
Take me back, oh, 10 years ago and Iwould have said that if I was working
night, I would see a lot of bloat cases.

Yes.

Sophie (13:56):
see any now.
The last one I saw was aboutsix and a half years ago.
So I know, I don't ask why and I'mglad about that and touching wood
right here and there as I'm saying it.

Don't.

Sophie (14:12):
work a couple of nights soon and like, don't, don't jinx yourself, Sophie.
And I would say probably, definitelythe internal bleed, like I said.
So usually that's due to a mass on thespleen and it's a very silent growth.
And I, you know, last night shiftI worked, I saw two in one night.
So that puts that into perspectiveas to how common that is.

Yes.

Sophie (14:31):
I guess other kind of emergencies but much easier for owners
to appreciate are things like wesee a lot of vomiting and diarrhea,
but bloody, horrible sort of bloody,

Yeah.

Sophie (14:42):
which is horrid as well.
I see a fair amount of heart diseasewhere, you know, the dog's actually
gone into heart failure as well, andan owner hasn't really appreciated
that the breathing is really wrong andI've actually mistaken it and thought
that the dog has had, has kennel cough.
So I see that a fair amount.
Yeah.
And then I guess then it's justyour usual kind of, you know, wounds

(15:07):
and cuts and things like that.
A lot of diseases though, that I see, asI said before, I always think, Oh my gosh,
I wish that you'd recognize something.
was off.
And as I say in every first day course,and I've already said it on here, the one
thing you do with your dog is lift the lipand appreciate the color of their gums.
Those gums will tell you so much.
And you know, you'll know if it'ssomething horrible, autoimmune, the dog

(15:31):
will be starting to look pale beforeyou notice symptoms of them being ill.
So you're likely to have themtreated two to three weeks before you
actually, they find them collapsed.

Yeah.

Sophie (15:40):
just little things and it doesn't take a long time to know.

so with that test, it's, isn't it like
you press on it and then it has tofill back up with blood or go back pink

Sophie (15:51):
Yeah, so

Mmm.

Sophie (15:52):
that's right.
So you'll think so there's twothings really the gum color.
So just the general coloris really, really important.
It should be salmon pink andthe gum should feel slippery
and wet when you touch them.
The capillary refill time, likeyou say, you push hard on the
gum and within two seconds.
back.
I know, I know.
Don't I know.
I keep holding.
I'm trying to keep my hand down bymy side so I don't push my own gums.

(16:15):
I do it when I'm teaching as well.
I'm like, you do.
And I'm thinking, I don't know ifeveryone wants to see my, my mouth.
But

I used to tell people that when I did
puppy classes though, part of likegrooming your puppy and obviously things
to check over like ticks and lumpsand bumps, I used to demonstrate the

Sophie (16:32):
yeah,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: root ball test. (16:32):
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Sophie (16:33):
do it.
And actually one thing you were sayingabout four, you know, when you're
saying about common emergencies, it'snot an emergency, but a common thing
that I see a lot of now that's sounderappreciated is dogs with dementia

Oh,

Sophie (16:45):
Big time.
And people just think it's part ofgetting old, but there's lots we can do.
Or they think that perhaps they're inpain because it can look very similar.
It gets often left for a long timebefore someone will come to the vet.
And I think it's because the fearof that there isn't anything that
can be done to help and they'regoing to have to put them to sleep.

(17:07):
You tell them there are things, there'sa lot of things we can do, we really
can make them start to come back inthe room, you know, feel a bit better.
But by that stage, owners are oftenexhausted because these dogs with dementia
can be up all night howling and pacing.
And

gosh.

Sophie (17:21):
I know, although it's not an emergency as such, I think it's
really underappreciated by ownersthat, you know, it happens and there's
stuff we can do, but get in early.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: getting early and it's all about (17:30):
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those early signs, isn't it, again?

Sophie (17:34):
It is.
It really is.
And I think if you can pick up on itquickly, we can start things to really
enhance their kind of brain activity andhelp them and, you know, actually there's
things you can do before they even developdementia, even something simple like put
a bit of kale in their food every day.
You know, it's a great antioxidantand it will help preserve.
So,

know.

Sophie (17:54):
you know, get them doing lots of sniffing games, brain
activities like we would as ahuman, you know, anything like that.
And you'll preserve theirmental state anyway.
So there's loads of stuff you can learn.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: really big on enrichment and getting (18:03):
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the dog using their nose really goodfor brain and mental stimulation

Sophie (18:09):
It's so good, isn't it?
And it helps with relaxation as well.
Like,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Helps promote calmness, relaxation. (18:13):
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Yeah.
Brilliant.

Sophie (18:16):
feel sleepy, even though, you know, people always think to
make their dog feel tired, you've gotto go on a, you know, 20 mile walk.

I know.

Sophie (18:24):
And you don't, you know.

20 minutes sniffing is just the same as a 60
minute outdoor walk in terms of brain and

Sophie (18:30):
Yeah,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: stimulation. (18:31):
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So,

Sophie (18:32):
it is.
And it's important to mix the both.
And I think, you know, it's, it's niceto have a dog being able to do both of
those things because it's important.
Their mental wellbeingis incredibly important.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: definitely. (18:41):
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Oh, and if that can help with,you know, the whole dementia
thing as well, then yeah, why not?

Sophie (18:48):
Trust me, Nathan, I put kale in my food nearly every single day.
Like, I eat it like a mad woman.
Cause I'm like trying tokeep my brain cells alive.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: keep it, keep it going, keep (18:56):
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it top, get yourself topped up.
Why do you think that petfirst aid has historically been
seen as a professional skill?
And how do we change thatmindset for pet parents?
I

Sophie (19:11):
hard, isn't it?
I think firstly a lot of parents are noteven aware that there's such a thing.
You know, people ask me sometimes,Oh, what do you do for a living?
And I say, I'm a vet, but Ialso do, I teach and I teach.
Then they say, Oh, what'd you teach?
And I'll say, you know,first aid pet first aid.
They're absolutely astounded.
What really?
So like, you know, would youteach something like the Heimlich

(19:31):
maneuver if they were choking?
Yeah, I do.
And they can't actuallybelieve that it's a thing.
So I think firstly, it's a.
are not knowing.
They just don't know that it exists, sothey probably don't go looking for it.
And I think there's always that classicof, we've got our vet to do that.
So why do we need to know this?
And it's that same age old thing.

(19:51):
You know, I've seen it, not specificallyfor myself, but some colleagues who
also teach first aid because there'ssome wonderful instructors out there.
And I've seen, you know, they've made apost and somebody's written on there, you
know, this, this, that's my vet's job.
Why would I want to do this?
And it's a It's a weird mentality becauseI just think, trust me, your vet's not
going to be there when your dog's choking.
It's not going to happen.

(20:12):
It is.

it?
So I think it comes back toraising awareness and it's all
about owner education isn't it?

Sophie (20:22):
And I have to say, as I've gone along, I find I work out of many
different venues now and this last12 months, as I said to you, usually
less than 20 percent are pet owners.
I've been to a few courseswhere only two out of 20 people
are actual pet professionals.
So I have seen the opposite and that's,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: a bit of a shift going. (20:40):
undefined

Sophie (20:41):
been more of a shift.
I think there's been more peopletaking it than ever before.
In comparison, you know, there'sbeen that usually it's always pet
professionals, but now as I say, I dosome courses and I'm like, wow, the
show of hands is more for the pet.
Pet owners.
And that, that surprises me.
So that's good news.
And I guess all we can do is justkeep spreading the word and, you know,

(21:04):
perhaps people that are professionalsin their sort of, you know, advertising
their services and showing that theirpet first aid trained and they, you
know, share their certificates withtheir, their followers and owners
that then that might encourageowners to say, Oh, well, hang on.
What's that then?
I'd quite like to learn that.
So yeah, I think it will get better.

(21:24):
Yeah.
So

on that, making, showcasing that you've done
it and it, you know, as a professional,it kind of sets you apart and, you
know, as an owner as well, it's agreat thing to obviously know about.
What would be the one skill or techniquethat you think every dog parent
should know in case of an emergency?

Sophie (21:45):
it's hard really, because Obviously, I was teached how to give CPR,

Yeah.

Sophie (21:50):
but then I've, out of all the people I've taught, I've probably
only had about three people ever thathave had to perform CPR on a dog.
So it's a very rare occurrence.
So although it's useful to learn, myworry is, and I always say to people
on a course, what I want you to do ison a rainy Sunday afternoon, I want you
to dig out this information that I'vegiven you and I want you to practice
it because otherwise you'll forget.

(22:11):
And you know, if you're only, youknow, you won't be able to do it
because none of us can rememberwhat someone told us two years ago.
to that extent.

exactly.

Sophie (22:19):
I think helping with choking actually, because I do see
a fair amount of choking cases.
And I think people think quick, get themin the back of the car and get them to the
vets and they'll get the, the item out.
You haven't got time for that.
So I think for a real emergency, I'dsay choking was the one that they
really, and often if you get the itemout, you don't have to give CPR anyway.
So that would be the thing that Iwould say would be the most useful.

Yeah.
I'd imagine just have to be carefulwith, with the shark teeth and
going, trying to get it, fish it out.

Sophie (22:48):
Yes.
Yeah.
Well, actually you saying that as well,not really, but I was just thinking the
other thing that would be very usefulfor owners is how to manage a seizure
because that gets managed really badly.
Sometimes people do things like, Oh,I've wrapped them up and kept them warm.
I mean, if anything, a seizureobviously causes the dog to overheat

(23:08):
and we need to cool them down.
So, and also learning more aboutheat stroke because there's so much
misinformation and it moves on and check.

Yeah.

Sophie (23:17):
It

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: changes a lot. (23:18):
undefined

Sophie (23:19):
does.
So little things like that, thatI think will be the difference
between life and death.
And actually, the more, the more Ithink of it, there's loads of these
things that are very useful for people.
So it's hard to pinpoint one.

we need a whole sort of manual or something,
you know, just the common things.
Perfect.
Brilliant.
Thank you so much for that.
We're going to move onto early desensitization.
Now that's a big word.
So early desensitization to the vet.
environment you know, particularlyobviously when you know, the dogs are
young why it's important that they getused to obviously going to the vets.

(23:53):
We don't, don't always want itjust to be that they're going
to the vets for something bad

Sophie (23:57):
No.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: associate with bad. (23:58):
undefined
I used to say to my puppy clients whenI was teaching one to one in classes,
I'll, you know, just take them into thevets once a week, get the receptionist,
give them a treat, you know, let.
Go in once a week, twice amonth, just build up that.
So they don't just associate thatthey're going to go in and get
like with a needle or, or whatever.
So I was really big on sort of youknow, sort of mentioned that to

(24:20):
puppy owners, but in terms of likethe dogs that are fearful when.
Of, because they're visiting thevet which can, which can make
routine checkups really stressful.
Why do you feel early desensitizationto the vet environment is important?
Sophie?

Sophie (24:35):
Well, it is really for the reasons like you said.
Now, the trouble is, I think sometimes inthe veterinary world, there's so many time
constraints and things are very rough.
Now, I'm quite fortunate becausein both clinics I'm in, I have the
option to leave something for longer,you know, say I want a longer gap or
because I'm the only vet there as well.
I can do things like, for example, Ihad a German shepherd in the other week

(24:58):
about five years old that apparentlythe vet, you can't get near it because,
you know, they've had to kind of muzzleit and people about four people holding
it and and he was in for an injection.
So I'm really fortunate.
We had the conversation of, right, let'snot do this in the consulting room.
Let's do it in the waiting room because wecan shut the door, no one else is due in.

(25:22):
We've got quite cosy, sortof comfy chairs in there.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: more space (25:24):
undefined

Sophie (25:25):
More space.
He can go off lead and explore.
You know, he hasn't got tojust be held in one position.
And I think.
Probably about 25 minutes of just havinga general chat with the owner, calling
the dog down, getting him to sit, give mea paw or, or not, and give him a treat.
And he probably had about50 treats in that time.
You know, that dog was amazing.

(25:45):
That muzzle didn't go on once.
He didn't grumble.
He, I like literally was did one thinglike, oh, show, give me a paw because
I needed to check his foot anyway.
He gave me that foot.
I was able to have a look.
I was able to do his listen to his heart.
I was able to then give him his injectionand the owners, I mean, I thought.
The female owner was going to crybecause she's like we have had us,

(26:07):
we've been cancelled this appointmentover and over and over because we
were the sort of new vet to see them.
They'd come over from another,from, from the States.
And apparently every single visit had beenso stressful that it was just too much.
I didn't have all ofthat information before.
I didn't realize, but Icould tell they were worried.
And I just said to them, so likeyou said, each week come in.

(26:27):
Come in usually like lunchtime.
We'll usually have a spacebetween here and here.
I'll come out, sit with him again, do allof this again, not give him any injection.
And give it time.
And okay, if we have to use themuzzle, we know we've got it there.
And there's nothing wrong withhaving to use a muzzle to protect it.
But what I didn't want is everyonehaving to hold him really tight.

(26:47):
And, you know, it's too much.
And so I agree with youthat desensitization from
an early age is important.
And also being honest withthe vet about the anxiety.
You know, I do a lot of things whereI say, but you know what, let me come
out and examine him in the car park.
Let me come and examinehim in the boot of the car.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: that, yeah. (27:04):
undefined

Sophie (27:05):
It's that environment, you know, sometimes or just little things
like cutting nails, you know, dogsthat can't have their nails cut.
You know, I pick the dog up,obviously if it's small enough
to, and I dance around with it.
And often if I'm dancing andsinging, I think they're all more
like, Who is this crazy person?
And I cut a nail each time as I goalong and just bob them like a baby.

(27:25):
And

great.

Sophie (27:29):
using Lickymats, I use loads of Lickymats, you know,
distraction and positivity.

Yeah,

Sophie (27:36):
I'm in clinics where I can do that and say, I know
this animal is really anxious.
So we need to leave halfan hour, not 15 minutes.
We need to do everything slowly.
You know, do one thing, like listen to theheart and then five minutes of playing.
And then one other thing, like,you know, look at his mouth and
then five minutes of playing.
So it is, so as an owner, youthen have to take that response.

(27:57):
For those of you who say wedon't always have that time.
So like you say, popping in, gettingreception to give them a treat.
Is there a quiet time where they canjust walk into the consulting room, even
sit the dog down, give them a treat.
If the dog likes to be on the floorto be examined, tell your vet.
I think most dogs like to beon the floor to be examined.
So you don't need to go inand put them on the table.

(28:17):
You know, just anythingthat your dog enjoys.

good.
One of mine doesn't like goingoff on the table and that's
ever since she was spayed.
So, you know.
to just, and it's the same, Ithink, for the groomers as well.
But you go onto that table, but ifyou can, if you've got a vet that
understands that, and you're able todo it on the floor, then, you know,
it's going to cause less stress.

Sophie (28:38):
Yeah, and I think that's what you, I always say to Fiona,
what do they prefer, floor or table?

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: That's really nice. (28:43):
undefined
Oh,

Sophie (28:46):
my knees are usually broken by the end of the day.
So I need one of those gardeningpads for my brother's floor.
Yeah,

God.
Oh, get you exercising for the day.
I think we've sort of touched onthis a little bit, but are there any
other practical steps that that petparents can take to help their dogs
feel more comfortable with vet visits?

Sophie (29:11):
I think, like we've mentioned before, with just going and, and, and
being in there and even little things.
In fact, what we didn't say is thatevery time it's been going in there
and just going and getting a treatcoming out, but sometimes even just
sat, sat in the waiting room, justsat there like down with their dog,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: the world go by. (29:25):
undefined

Sophie (29:26):
watching the world go by and then realizing, Oh no, I'm not going in today.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: You said about let, when it was (29:30):
undefined
safe to do, so letting them offand sniff, because obviously the

Sophie (29:33):
yeah.

help bring their arousal down, help calm.
You know,

Sophie (29:37):
Oh, it really does.
And it's just trying to get that.
And there are usually times where it is.
less hectic.
So it's about sort of saying, is therea less busy time rather than sort of
six o'clock when usually, you know, fivetill seven is a bit of a crazy time.
I usually say to owners, ifthey're anxious, could you do it?
Like, you know, midday come inbecause usually it's quieter.

(29:59):
And I think the more you go, the less.
stress they become.
But equally as well, it's like thatwith most things, like, you know, I
notice people with muzzles, they justgo all out and put the muzzle straight
on the dog, you know, that takes time.
Using a buster collar, that takes time.
Anything that you can do, and anythingyou can do in pre empting the problem.
So things like If you know thatyou're going to get your dog muted

(30:23):
or they need surgery, start gettingthem used to the Buster Cullen now.
Get it so that they have the operation.
And then they come outwith this great big cone.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Yeah, scary big cone (30:30):
undefined

Sophie (30:32):
Exactly, exactly.
And I was like, just try and grip.

it?
It's not it's not rocket science, isit but you wouldn't even think to do

Sophie (30:39):
No,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: until you've just said (30:39):
undefined

Sophie (30:41):
no, and you don't.
And it's little things like Isay to cat owners, don't keep
your cat basket in the garage.
Keep your cat basket somewhere wherethe cat can walk in and out of it.
Otherwise, every time you goout, they're like, oh, no vets.
You know, try to make it like justa normal part of the furniture.

And if it's there obviously like you say
it's desensitizing because normallyi've heard like, instances where
obviously it's come out and the cat'sseen it and they've disappeared and
then they've missed the vet appointment

Sophie (31:07):
I get that a lot.
I get

I used,

Sophie (31:11):
that a lot.

I used to work in a vet's on reception so I

Sophie (31:14):
you?

yeah I used to work in a vet's on reception for a
while and yeah you hear all those stories.

Sophie (31:20):
Oh my gosh, you really do.
And cats are clever, you know.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: They are so promiscuous. (31:24):
undefined

Sophie (31:27):
They are.
I

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Brilliant. (31:29):
undefined
As a vet what changes or adjustmentsdo you think clinics could make to, to
create a more dog friendly experience?

Sophie (31:38):
think sometimes we have to give in with those that are really anxious.
And I think that we're better offprescribing anti anxieties to be
used before they come to the clinic.
Once we've reached that point, I thinkwe need to give something to help
them feel better when they're there.
I think, you know, trying to maybe havemore components to the waiting rooms that

(31:59):
if you have got more anxious dogs, isthere a separate area that they can go
into away from some of the other dogs?
Usually it's all space dependent,

it

Sophie (32:08):
and it's so hard to have these, but you would.
I mean, crikey, if I ran a clinic,it's probably what I would do.
I'd have a waiting room, I'd probably,you know, go all out and have like
a soft play for dogs in there.
Oh

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Not just for kids, for the dogs. (32:19):
undefined

Sophie (32:21):
no, kids would be banned from it, just the dogs.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah, it's, at one of the specialist (32:23):
undefined
hospitals I've been to, youprobably know it, Anderson Moores,

Sophie (32:29):
Yes, yeah

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: sort of Otterbourne way, (32:30):
undefined

Sophie (32:32):
yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: they have a, they have a cat area, (32:32):
undefined

Sophie (32:35):
Yes.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it's separate from the (32:35):
undefined
dog area, and I like that

Sophie (32:37):
Yeah.

cat can be put on, on the, on the shelf, on the

Sophie (32:41):
Yeah.

cat area and it's labeled as a cat area.
And then I think there's covers as well.
They say, Oh,

Sophie (32:46):
Yes.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: to cover the cat, but I really liked (32:47):
undefined
the idea of like, if there is space,like, you know, there is an area for
dogs that are a bit more sensitiveand anxious and nervous of other dogs.

Sophie (32:57):
Yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: there's an area there. (32:57):
undefined
I know a lot of them do sort of like,say, I'll wait in the car and then
we'll, and then it's like a militaryoperation waiting for the other dog to
leave and then they let their, oh theylet him in through the back door as well.
That's another option we used

Sophie (33:11):
Yeah.
That's a good thing as well.
And luckily I say because where Iam, I can have it just one in one
out so I can kind of control that.
But when you're in abusy place, you're right.
And it just All the dogs feed off eachother and they all start to get wound
up and you know, and we can't help it.
I mean, I've got two dog reactive dogs.

Ah.

Sophie (33:30):
I know, well,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: me, I've got a few. (33:31):
undefined

Sophie (33:34):
well, mine are clearly going to be dog reactive because it's two chihuahuas.
So they,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, I've got three chihuahuas. (33:38):
undefined
No, you haven't got

Sophie (33:41):
I've got two,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: got three. (33:42):
undefined
Yeah, all mine are dog reactive.
Like, such a bad rep.
They're like, they're just

Sophie (33:49):
Oh, but they're cute.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: full of character and they're (33:50):
undefined

Sophie (33:51):
They are.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Personality, or is that, I say it's (33:53):
undefined
that Mexican in there, fiery and

Sophie (33:57):
They are.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: like spicy. (33:57):
undefined
Oh, you've got trails as well, so

Sophie (34:00):
Yeah, I know.
I love them.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: the converted here. (34:01):
undefined

Sophie (34:02):
Yeah.
No, they're lovely.
And the thing is, I always say to people,you've got to imagine that, like, it's
like us standing next to T Rex every timethey, you know, yeah, it's really a big
old world when they're licking everything.
I don't know about yours, but oncemine have lost the kind of, oh, the
dog's not going to do anything, they'rethen happy to hang out with them.
It's just that initial, I see another dog.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: thing, isn't it? (34:22):
undefined

Sophie (34:23):
Yeah, they do.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: back up in. (34:25):
undefined

Sophie (34:27):
Yeah.
If the dog ran off to

they,

Sophie (34:28):
play, they'd cry.
Mine do, you know.
They

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: say, and I, I know I shouldn't because (34:32):
undefined
I've got Rotweiler clients, but, andI love rots, but I often say that
Chihuahuas think they're the rotweiler.
That they're big bravado.
Bravado and you know,they can take on the world

Sophie (34:45):
get called in the veterinary world, Chihuahuas
get called the land sharks.
Oh gosh, I have to calm down.

'cause I run a course on canine body language.
You come to the slide where.
Oh, it's great.
You, you come to the slide on aggressionand then there's a chihuahua baring its
teeth and they just get such bad rep.

Sophie (35:09):
They do, and they're actually, mine are really nice.
They've got young kids as well.
And then they're great.
They just snuggle up withthe kids all the time.
They're more like cats sort of in a way.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Snuggle buddies and we've got one (35:19):
undefined
that will go, that will push herbum into the smallest little area
she can get into to snuggle in.

Sophie (35:27):
oh no, they are, they're lovely.
They are.
They're total lapdogs.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: we could go off on a like a (35:32):
undefined
whole episode on chihuahuas,

Sophie (35:35):
Oh, we should do one.

Oh, I love that you've got chihuahuas.
Right, let's move on to educationfor pet parents and professionals.
Obviously, this is going to highlightyou know, your courses and the
value of accessible pet education.
Your courses.
Reached so many pet parents andprofessionals, but what inspired
you to bring pet first aid and caretraining into the online space?

Sophie (36:03):
So that's quite an easy one, actually.
So, I was only ever visiting classroombased courses, which I still do
as well, and a lady contacted meand said to me, Would you ever
consider doing anything online?
Because I have really bad anxietyin group situations, and so I don't
want to not learn, but I find itreally difficult being within a group.
And literally within that space of time,I found I was getting more and more

(36:26):
requests for all sorts of differentthings, like you know, different
neurodiversities that were causingpeople to not have that attention span
or not want to be in that environment.
And suddenly when, you're right, there'sThere's a need here and obviously
You probably know this yourself.
A lot of online courses, theyget really press like they're

(36:47):
not going to be up to scratch.
So what I decided when I started tocreate online content was, yeah, my
courses are not going to do that.
Like these are going to be very visual.
They're all going to be narrated.
You know, you're going to besat there watching something
where you're really engaged.
I don't, I don't want you to, Idon't want you to go away thinking.
Oh, it's just not goodenough for what I need.

(37:09):
You know, the idea is it's likebeing in a classroom with me.
And so that was really importantto me because I thought, and
you know, just a mixture.
And also in this day and age now, youknow, lots of people have busy lives.
They don't want to necessarily give uptheir Sunday to go somewhere and learn.
You know, they'd rathersit down and do it.
Yeah, do a few evenings a week, justpottering through it at their own pace.

(37:29):
And also, you know, Ithink it is a lot to learn.
I say to people, you know, long, long day.
For me, personally, I preferlearning online, but that's because
I like to re go over something.
You know, I feel like I, I really needto, you know, be like, What did they say?
Oh, let me listen to that again.
Whereas, you know, she came in.
Oh, sorry.

(37:52):
Oh my gosh.
I can imagine my partner and thenI'll go, don't this is my little
boy shouting chicken wing through.
Through an Alexa.
I'm sorry.
Well, no, it's both.
I'm

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: It's brilliant. (38:04):
undefined
I thought it was like Sirior someone talking to you.
Like my watch was going offjust as we started recording.
Siri started bloody talking to me.

Sophie (38:14):
just saying it's not what I'm going to do.
Unplug it.
In case.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, bless you. (38:17):
undefined

Sophie (38:18):
They're going to start.
There you go.
It's unplugged.
So we don't have random six yearold children shouting in the

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Chicken wing! (38:24):
undefined

Sophie (38:25):
a chicken wing.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I do love a chicken wing, (38:27):
undefined

Sophie (38:28):
But yeah, so that was my ideal idea for online.
People can rewatch things back.
I can deliver things like webinarsto more people as well, because some
people, for instance, this year, I'mactually going to do a little, I'm
going to do a classroom, two classroomcourses in Scotland, and then I'm getting
the ferry over to Northern Ireland,which I've never done this before.

(38:49):
There's a bit of ask,but I'll come and teach.
And that's another reason for having a lotof this online, because, I mean, I don't,
Don't have people from the UK either.
We have, you know, quite a fewin Australia and the States.
So again, it means that I can do that.
Well, we

Yeah.

Sophie (39:06):
which I'm amazed.
Whenever I sort of like send out acertificate or something, I think,
Oh my gosh, that's going to America.
You know, it's, it's a, it'sa great feeling that you know,
that some other people, you know,clocked onto this and found you.
Cause it's a, you know what it's like.
It's a busy market space, isn't it?
For online training.

Yes.
Yeah, definitely.
Oh, brilliant.
So, how do your courses help owners tofeel more empowered and less overwhelmed
when it comes to their dog's health?

Sophie (39:34):
So I think less overwhelmed.
Now, my two chihuahuas hada little spat the other day.
Okay.
They have a little sillysort of, it's nothing.
Basically, Huey tried to humpAlan and Alan didn't want it.
Why would you?

you said Alan earlier and I had to, like,
park it, but it's such a brilliant name.

Sophie (39:54):
I know, and Alan's the little underdog in our family.
I don't know if he doesit by choice really.
I think he likes to be a mummy's boy.
But anyway, this is, thereis a story behind this.
So basically, they had a little spat.
Huey fell on his side and I think hewinded himself a little bit, but you know,
he's two and a half kilos, he's tiny.
And it all seemed very dramatic.
Now, the most dramaticperson in that room was me.

(40:17):
I thought Huey had done somethingmajor to his spine, so I pick him up.
I tell the children to say their goodbyesbecause he's going to have to come with
me to the clinic and he might not survive.
Meanwhile, my partner Adam stoodthere like, maybe we should
just give it a bit of time.
So, although I love as an owner tothink you have empowerment, equally,
we're so emotional about our pets.

are.

Sophie (40:38):
And I think that, you know, it's hard to, to not overreact because,
you know, actually it turned out he hadto sort of winded himself 15 minutes
later, you know, he's back to tryingto hump Alan again, so obviously just
took the wind out of his sails and Ireally overreacted even though I've got.

(40:59):
Lots of knowledge, almost, you know,just couldn't think it through.
So I think there's always thatnormal, you know, there's nothing
wrong as an owner is sometimes tohave that kind of instant fear.
But then like I did, like mypartner, Adam said to me, sit there.
And just think it through.
And literally within about 60seconds, I was like, you're right.

(41:20):
You're right.
He just, just took thewind out of his sails.
He's not dying.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Adam was the rational one in (41:24):
undefined
being the voice of reason.

Sophie (41:28):
That's what's there for my children.
That's it.
Everyone can stop crying.
He's going to be fine.
I mean, it was so dramatic.
I was like,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: it's hard, you are, they're part, (41:35):
undefined
they're your family, aren't you?
So, you know, you're emotionallyconnected and invested.
You know, I've had a situation wherewe had to go into the out of hours with
one of ours and they were like, youknow, it's, it's, it's touch and go.
And to be told that,

Sophie (41:53):
yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: never had to go through that before (41:53):
undefined
yet, luckily, but to be told thatit was like a stab in the heart.

Sophie (41:59):
Oh, it's horrible.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: literally bawled my eyes (42:00):
undefined
out because they were

Sophie (42:03):
Yeah,

you may have to, you better go in and say goodbye
because it, you know, it's touching going.
Oh my God.
Yeah.

Sophie (42:12):
Actually, I know, even though I'm a vet, I took him to a specialist.
He had a problem with his eye and shesaid to me, I think it could be cancer.
And if it is, when we take that eyeout, we're going to put, he'll have
to be put to sleep on the table.
And I was having to do this.
So I was in that, I've been inthat position and it is awful.
But I think, you know, now the waythings that are going, you were
saying about online courses, we haveonline, obviously vets as well as

(42:36):
they're doing video based calls.

Yes.

Sophie (42:39):
is where this kind of knowledge that you would learn with me really
comes into play because instead ofdoing the classic, which is what people
do, you know, my dog is a bit off.
He doesn't seem to be that keen to eat.
You don't get any moreinformation usually.
Whereas if you can say the heartrates, this, the temperatures,
this, the gums that like this,this is how he's breathing.
I've known, you know, I've thought aboutwhat's happened over the last couple of

(43:00):
days and you know, this, we went here,we did this, anything relevant, you
start to understand what's relevant.
You start to realize what is not right.
And that prompts you to.
Get in contact with somebody.
Whereas if you almost live in that bubbleof just not having any knowledge at all,
things go very missed, you know, and andthey really, you know, they become missed.

(43:24):
And then what was the simplefix becomes very difficult.
And you have potentially a dog that's notgoing to make it who may well have done.
So I think that's whereI like people to have.
That level of knowledge and not justfor those bits as well, but things like
when I teach courses all about caninedementia, or oral and dental health, I

(43:45):
do a course on, you know, how can you,you know, what are you looking for?
How can you improve things?
What practical things can you do?
Which the vet doesn'tget a chance to tell you.
So I'm just going to bringout a course on diabetes.
And there'll be massive videos likethat of like, what can you do at home?
And really, it's a three hourconsult I'd have with an owner
that I just don't have the time to.

(44:07):
Teaching them how to, you know,test the urine, how to test the
blood glucose, you know, how to bodycondition score to make sure they're
not losing muscle mass, you know.
Why should you give theinsulin at this time?
What symptoms are you looking for?
What do you do if the theblood sugars go too low?
All the things that we cannot doin a consult and I feel awful just
handing out a bottle of insulinand not much other information.

(44:29):
So that's kind of

Yeah.

Sophie (44:32):
the main, the main focus.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: definitely. (44:34):
undefined
And you were saying obviouslythe, the use of online vets is,
is quite useful, quite helpful tobridge that gap as well, I suppose.

Sophie (44:43):
It is, and as I say, but what they want is the more information,
you know, it's it's hard for someoneto say on the phone or, you know,
just a couple of very vague symptoms.
You know, when people say my doghasn't eaten for two days, do you
think they'll be okay till the morning?
I have no idea.
That tells me nothing.
You know, I don't know.
Whereas if it was a case of there'sthis, there's this, you can make a more

(45:07):
informed decision and say, actually,yeah, that sounds like it could be this.
It probably can actually wait tillthe morning or that's very serious.
We better see, better see you.

Yeah.
Get better.
Get you in.

Sophie (45:17):
Yeah

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: you have a favorite success story (45:18):
undefined
from someone who's taken your courseand applied what they've learned?
I bet there's all sorts of stories you'veheard over the years and, and stuff.

Sophie (45:30):
so many, so many, but the most, I thought you were going
to say my favorite success story.
I'll tell you mine.
My favorite success story was a dog andit's Willy stuck out for about an hour.
He comes down to out of hours.
I walk into the consultingroom, he takes one look at me
and it shoots back in again.
That's my favouritesuccess story as a vet.
He saw my test and he went, butI didn't know how to take that.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: to send it back on its way. (45:54):
undefined

Sophie (45:56):
I was like, Oh, that's quite insulting, isn't it?
But then obviously the owner was verypleased because it was fixed at no cost.

Oh God.

Sophie (46:06):
But success stories with first aid was a lovely one
actually, not very long ago.
And I know well, she actually,She runs a businesses like
an animal business as well.
So she'd come on a course to me.
I remember it so specifically becausethe course was the 23rd of October and
she learned all the bits and pieces.
And then on the 1st of November,I have a message from her.

(46:26):
And she said, I was out trick ortreating with my children last night.
I also thought this would havebeen quite funny to have it.

already, I don't know why, because I just want

Sophie (46:36):
This is quite funny, but I'm too serious.
But the dog survives.
So she's out, she's trickle treating.
She gets to an owner's house.
The dog and the dog, thewoman speaking to her kids.
You know, do you wantsome sweets or whatever?
And this lady spots thedog really struggling.
Okay?
And she's like, oh mygosh, that dog's choking.
She pushes the woman out of the way.
Who owns the house?
I mean, the woman must havebeen thinking, what is going on?

(46:57):
She literally goes over to the dog.
She performs a knit maneuver.
nothing happens.
She gets a dog on its back and doessomething called external evacuation
technique, which I treat, which isteach, which is basically like a
Heimlich maneuver on the neck andout pops a knot from a rawhide.
Dog is saved.
And the woman's obviouslywhat they went to the vet.
She went because the owner by this pointis like emotional because she didn't know

(47:23):
and felt bad because she didn't realize.
and equally obviously extremely gratefulthat that particular situation happened
and probably also have fear of why is thislady pushing herself into my home because
she didn't know her dog was strugglingshe must be ready to call the police and
and they've become really good friendsnow these two women which is really great
as well and dog was Absolutely fine.

(47:43):
Went to the vets.
They gave a little bit of pain reliefbecause they thought probably you know,
caused a bit of yeah, like scratchingand things to the dog when that happened.
And he's doing absolutely fine.
And all rawhide has been chuckedin the bin, which is also a
successful part of the story.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: where it should be. (47:59):
undefined
That's where it belongs.
Yeah, yeah.

Sophie (48:04):
lots of lovely, lots of lovely things and lovely things
that aren't even emergencies.
Just people recognizing stuff.
Like I do a lot of stuff about neuteringand if you get it wrong, if a bitch
is having a phantom pregnancy and youspay at the wrong time, she remains in
that state for the rest of her life.
And that can cause behaviouralissues going forward and owners
coming and learning with me andthen going, I think that's my dog.

(48:26):
And that being treated with hormones.
and the dog being like a different dog.
Little things like that,a big success story.
Things that I go, wow, I'm so pleased thatyou picked that up and that your dog now
doesn't have to have a life of anxiety.
You know, it's better.
So like, yeah, loads of things,but that, yeah, definitely.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: sticks out for sure. (48:43):
undefined

Sophie (48:45):
Well, the Willy story did quite literally.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, blimey. (48:47):
undefined
Oh

Sophie (48:51):
habit of lowering the tone.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: no, I don't mind that at all. (48:53):
undefined
I love that.
Life's too serious

Sophie (48:58):
It really is.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: have a bit of a laugh. (48:59):
undefined
Right, we're just going to be movingon to our final section the sort of
last five or seven minutes or so beforewe bring this episode to a close.
Your courses are great.
Now, Paris and I haven't done one yet.
but I do want to do one.
I think I, I think I get a cheekydiscount as part of my Yappily
membership because you've got acollaboration with Yappily now.

Sophie (49:21):
I do.

yeah, so I've not yet done one of your courses,

Sophie (49:25):
Well, I want to do yours.
So maybe we can do a switch.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: okay, yeah, all right. (49:29):
undefined

Sophie (49:30):
I'd like to learn more about Kano.
I love learning.

think, I think every pet professional you know,
vet, vet nurse, pet owner, pet guardian,

Sophie (49:42):
Yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Anyone that works with dogs (49:43):
undefined
needs to learn a bit more aboutunderstanding canine body language.

Sophie (49:47):
100%.
Yeah, I totally agree.
Because that also helps byunderstanding body language.
Yeah, you understand pain as well.
It really helps you to

Yeah,

Sophie (49:56):
totally agree.
So I'm going to be doing your horse.
That's for sure.
I'm going to be doing it.
Amazing.

Yeah, but as I've not had the pleasure of, I
do want to do it, but I literally, causeI'm, I'm a business mentor as well.
So I help mentor pet professionals.
My, my main focus is on new sort of.
Dog walkers that are startingup pet sitters and dog trainers
that want to diversify and addadditional services so often.
So I'm sort of like a pet professionalmentor helping them sort of get up

(50:24):
and running with their businesses.
So I say to them about, you know, youneed to do this, you need to do that.
But I literally just, the reason I'msaying this is that one of my ladies
she, she's launching like a cat careof her business, the Mad Hatter.
The Mad Hatter cat sit in service,

Sophie (50:40):
Oh, that's cool.

as an additional service to her dog walker.
And she won't mind me saying this andshe wants to learn more about cats.
She's cat mad anyway.
She's got three cats.
But I sent her a link to yourfeline first aid course today.
Because everyone always does canine first

Sophie (50:56):
Yeah.
Yeah.

you know, it might be different with felines.
So I sent her the link to that today.
So I think, you know, it's great that youcover a wide range of different subjects.

Sophie (51:06):
Yeah.
Do you know it's funny because so myfeline first aid, yeah, it covers.
So I mean, some of the fundamentals,yes, they cross over, but with the
cat course, oh my gosh, there's just,I love that course for the fact that
I think people would almost Yeah,I'll take it and be like, Oh my
gosh, I didn't know any of this stuffabout my cat because like you say,

it

Sophie (51:28):
is always very much dog.
And

is.

Sophie (51:30):
actually if I bring out a cat course specifically for cats, I would
probably get 10 times less peopletake it than a dog related course.
Which is very sad because.
Yeah, I do.
I think it's it's it's a real shame.
I did a lovely course on rabbits andagain, you just don't get, you just
don't get people, which I don't mindbecause I just want to be able to

(51:53):
offer people all they can to learn.
And I enjoy writing something a bitdifferent because when I write a
course, it takes me a long time and alot of research because I don't just
write it all off the top of my head.
I need to make sure that, you know,I'm up to date with everything.
So I learn at the same time.
So that's what I quite like.
doing some different speciesas well, because I see those.

yeah, and I'm I'm bringing you up now, but
you've got these fantastic first aidkits of different sizes I purchased one
a few months ago And I sent it to mymentee one of my mentees I was working
with at the time and she purchasedone So you've got these little kits.
So tell us about your kits.
I love them

Sophie (52:36):
So that was another thing that I decided to do because I thought,
well, first of all, I wanted it tobe different because I wanted to,
I wanted the whole of our business.
I say our, cause I, my partner,he often works with me on just
running all the bits and bobs.
I wanted it to be different.
You know, I wanted it to be like, not,I wanted people to think, well, if the

(52:57):
kids are like that, which, you know.
We, we put them all together from scratch,you know, they're really well thought out.
I want people to think, well, if theywould do that with a kit, what would she
do with a course, you know, and that's.
I try to put 100 percent into all ofthose and make it different, like, as,
you know, give people something on the go.
Yeah, be brave.
Which you've got to do.

(53:17):
Yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: brave and they're nice. (53:18):
undefined
Yeah, they're really colourful andthey're, it, it tags on, it hangs onto
my little walking belt and it comes outwith me on my walks because it's like
a little, a mobile one of, my biggerone's in the van anyway, but I have my
little mobile one on me just in case.

Sophie (53:33):
Yeah.
And I like to put, you know, and I liketo think about, so if someone said to
me yesterday, no, Sunday when I wason a course, I was talking about you
know, if a dog has low blood sugaror, you know, you use honey or jam on
their gums and they were like, Oh yeah.
That'd be a good idea to put ina first aid kit, wouldn't it?
And I was like, here's one I made earlier.
So I tried to put things inthe kit that I say to you,

saw.

Sophie (53:56):
if this happens, you use an ice pack.
If this happens, you use a hot pack.
I want you to have the things therethat you can go, you don't need to
do this rather than all I've got inthis kit are bandages and a pair of
scissors, which can happen, you know,and I just wanted it to be that I've
actually got the practical stuff that.
that she told me to use.
You know, that was the whole,the whole idea, really.

(54:17):
And hopefully it will tie in nicelybecause Well, hopefully within the next
few weeks I'll have a book as well.

Oh,

Sophie (54:24):
I know it's not one about my memoirs as a vet, although it has
got some funny stories throughout it.
It

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: something like that at (54:30):
undefined
some point, honestly.

Sophie (54:34):
is a first aid book, but it has some nice little
stories as you go along as well.
But it's a very practical one.
So like you were saying earlier,I picked up and you're like, you
almost need something to kind ofjust, you know, what do I do now?
And straight away,that's what this book is.
So it's not a load of waffle of seizureshappen because of blah, blah, blah.
It's a.
If a dog is having a seizure, yeah,do this, this, this, this, so that

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Well, I'm definitely want one of them. (54:57):
undefined

Sophie (54:59):
I'll send you one.
Then you can literally openit up and we've got one stage
further that you can scan the QRcode and it'll bring up a video.
So when I'm trying to explain to you what,say, breathing difficulties are, you can
scan it, you'll get my face showing youa little image of This is what I mean.
So it then gives you,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: interesting. (55:17):
undefined

Sophie (55:18):
so hopefully, you know, people will then have that guide.
That's a really quick referencethat they don't have to go, you
know, Googling, dishing through, youknow, they've just got to open up,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Google could be wrong. (55:27):
undefined

Sophie (55:30):
but we all have a bit of, don't we, when we got ahead before we
know, yeah, we learn, learn, learn, and

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: well, I love your kit. (55:40):
undefined
So, you know, we'll be.
Obviously in the show notes, we'llbe linking and we'll be talking
about your website and how people canreach you in a minute, but we will
be posting your details and stuff.
But Sophie, just a final reflection.
So if there's one message you'd likepet owners dog owners, pet owners
to take away from this conversation,what would you, what would that be?

Sophie (56:02):
you can never stop learning.
And you don't have to.
Everyone has their own opinion.
You don't have to get drawn into,you know, feeling like you have to
do certain things in a certain way.
Read while, while, you know,you're being told something.
So even if your vet says, youknow I think you should do this
prime example is neutering.

(56:22):
Is it right for your dog?
Don't, you know, pleasego and research things.
Don't just.
And I just, because asvets, we don't know it all.
Don't be afraid either of feelinglike you can't have, you can't speak
about weird and wonderful stuff.
I mean, you know, I get people sayingto me, Oh, I use this in my dog's food.
And there's a load of amazing supplementsand products and great things out there.

(56:46):
And you should be able toresearch those, read about them.
I'm always a contact, you know,if you want to message me about
something and you think I just.
want to know more about this or have yougot an opinion, but yeah, keep learning,
keep really like getting in tune withyour animal, you know, that's, that's
what they're, you know, with your dog,like really get to understand them.

(57:07):
Like you say, with the body language,

Yeah,

Sophie (57:10):
their traits.
You know, have a little notebook,note down their resting pulse
rate, really watch their breathingand get used to what is normal.
Just really understandthem as much as you can.
And then when something happens,which hopefully it won't, but if
it does, you can really be thereand know what you're dealing with.
And, you know, especially old dogs.
Oh my gosh, please, with olddogs, don't write them off.

(57:33):
Don't just say, it happens a lot.
I know you have.

the pulse thing, isn't that to do with
the femoral artery and the hind leg?
Have I got that right?
See, this is something else Iused to teach in my puppy classes,
is for, to tell the pet parentshow to check their dog's pulse.
So, femoral artery, isn't it?
And in

Sophie (57:53):
So we're answering hind leg.
Usually what I do is it's quite nice if Ihave an owner that has their dog diagnosed
with heart disease, I teach them how touse a stethoscope because now I need them
to have like a very good idea on whatthat heart's doing and coming to visit
me once every six months isn't enough.
So I would say to them, you know, Ireally want this heart listened to every
week, you know, what, how fast is it?

(58:14):
And so I really try and getthem to learn about that.
So, but no, you're right.
The easiest way is.
Inner thigh, always saying,you know, what dog doesn't like
being touched in the inner thigh?

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: yeah, I know. (58:26):
undefined

Sophie (58:27):
Take Alan, Alan's like on his back.
If I even go towards his innerthigh, he's like, yes, please.
And I think

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: No, that's good. (58:39):
undefined
So for any pet parent who's feelingoverwhelmed by their pet health care
needs, what's one small step they couldtake today just to feel more confident?

Sophie (58:50):
you have to block out the noise these days.
You know, a lot of the time thatsocial media is telling you so much
stuff about your pets and Google andthings, so much stuff about your pets.
And I think, you know, ifyou're feeling overwhelmed.
Think about first of all, what's theone thing that you want to work on
with your dog and break it down andyou know, Hopefully your vet's and you
can speak to them or you say reach outto other pet professionals as well.

(59:14):
Just for a general chat and gather all theinformation and don't suffer in silence.
If there's something weird or unusual,you just feel anxious about something.
Do reach out, you know,because some people, you know,
they'll like like dog dementia.
There are some people that wouldthink it was crazy if they mentioned,
I think my dog's got dementia.

(59:37):
It's happening all the time.
And so, you know, no one thinks you'recrazy, you know, and also, you know,
your dog better than anyone else.
When they go to the vets, theyoften play the game of, I'm okay
now, you know, they do that.
Just insist that they'renot, you know, you know them.
I always say to an owner,you know them better than me.
Is this behaviour whatyou've seen at home?
No.

(59:57):
Well, then I completely respectwhat you're saying because you
know them more than I know them.
So yeah, just gather everything you canblock out all that noise of everyone.
You know, Joe blogs down thestreet telling you this about you.
You see it a lot in training, don't you?
And behavioural stuff, you know,

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour (01:00:12):
God.

Sophie (01:00:13):
such and such down the road.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: I've had dogs for 50 years, (01:00:15):
undefined
so you know, I'm an expert.

Sophie (01:00:18):
I know.
And you've got to be carefulwith that because there's so many
knowledgeable people out there.
But equally, you just want to makesure what people are telling you,
read about what people tell you.
It doesn't mean what they're telling youis wrong, but just make sure that you
have just looked into it rather than, youknow, going to grab this, that and the
other and not really finding out about it.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Brilliant. (01:00:36):
undefined
That's perfect.
I'm going to put you on the spotnow, but you probably know lots of
great people, but we've got tons ofguests lined up for the Yappy Hour.
Literally, I'm booking everyone in andit's Over the next couple of months.
It's so busy.
We've got breed experts.
We've got groomers, hydrotherapiststrainers, behaviourists.
If there was one person that youthink that I should invite on to

(01:00:58):
the yappy hour, who would that be?
Is there anyone that Kindof sticks out to you.

Sophie (01:01:04):
Two people actually.
So,

it.
It's even better.

Sophie (01:01:07):
Both holistic vets.

Yes.

Sophie (01:01:09):
they are one is Nick Thompson and Nick is very much into his nutrition.
So he's a, he's a great person to talk to.
And the other one is a wonderfullady who I think is amazing
called Shelley Doxy and Shelley.
She does all the normal conventionalvet stuff, but she's one of the
very few, we don't have verymany herbal vets in the UK.
So herbs rather thanhomeopathy, she's herb.

(01:01:31):
She's one of the only few.
around and her knowledge is incredible.
She is just a lovely lady as well.
And I think, you know, shegives some nice little hints.
I think little tips for people.
You know, she's, she's,she's really, really great.
Then I could probablyname, I could go on and on.
Now you're asking me that.
I'm like, I know anotherlovely skin incredible.

(01:01:52):
You know, you could get loads of it.

to me I mean, I've not heard of Shelly
before but I definitely will be makinga note and dr Nick Thompson he was
mentioned in the previous podcast that

Sophie (01:02:01):
Who was he?
Oh, he's Mr.
Popular.
I

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: need to reach out to him because he's (01:02:04):
undefined
part of Well pet medic so i've got dr.
Connor brady coming on soon.

Sophie (01:02:09):
Oh gosh, I have to listen.
Okay.

yeah.
So Dr.
Connor Brady is coming on and a few peoplesaid about Nick and I do follow Nick.
So and I've, I've done one of his sortof webinars and stuff that he's put on.
So I have to reach out to him.
Sophie, my God, what a, what a jam packed.
I think we could doanother one in the future

Sophie (01:02:29):
Yes.

If our listeners want to find out more about
you what's the best place to contact you?
Tell us all your.
Website and social bits and pieces.

Sophie (01:02:39):
Sure, yeah, so it's very simple.
So you can find me at www.
addlelovepetfirstaid.
co.
uk And there's literally a clickthere, contact me button as well.
If ever you want to sendme an email or something.
And I've got a list of all thethings that I'm doing on there.
There's a couple of free webinars as well.
So, you know, again, you've gotA couple of things on there that
you just want to learn a bit more.
Both of those webinars are abouttwo or three hours long as well.

(01:03:01):
So it's not like a sortof just a short snippet.
It's quite a lot to learn.
And then on Facebook, I'm just,again, just animal love pet first aid.
So nice and, and simple.
But yeah, inbox is always open.
I always say to people, pleasedon't feel you've got to have done
a course with me or anything withme or purchase anything off me.
My main aim in life is tohelp pets as much as possible.

(01:03:22):
And if that means answering a simplequestion for you, that means it's
going to make an impact in yourdog's life or cat or horse, or it
doesn't matter what species, thenthat's the main aim of my game.
So I'm very happy to, tohelp as much as I can.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: Oh, that's amazing. (01:03:35):
undefined
And your course is a reallygood value for money as well.

Sophie (01:03:40):
Thank you.

know,

Sophie (01:03:40):
try to, I like to think people, you know, can learn without feeling like.
it's going to cost them a lot.
You know, I want people to just havethat, you know, ability of any, any
budget can say, yeah, I can, I cando that, you know, cause it's, again,
it just means that it means thatour animals get better care really.
So that's the whole, the whole reason.
Yeah.

Nathan Dunleavy - The Yappy Hour: amazing speaking with you today. (01:04:03):
undefined
Like I said, like I think we couldgo on for even longer, but we might
have to another one in for, you know,later on in the year or something
and delve into something a bitmore sort of deeper or something
or a certain certain subject area.
But Sophie, Dr.
Sophie Bell, thank you so much forjoining me on the YAPI hour today.

(01:04:29):
Powered by Yappily.
It's been absolutely fantastic and I lookforward to speaking to you again soon.
so

Sophie (01:04:38):
really fun.
Thank you for having me on.
Thanks.

much.
Before I dive into today's key takeaways,I just want to congratulate some people
that successively guessed who ournext guest would be on the yappy hour
from our teaser post on social media.
So very well done to Barker and Hound DogTraining and Behaviour, Liana Cavalanti

(01:05:08):
Canti, Raggy Rascals, Sue Williamsonand the Puppy School in Plymouth.
What an insightful conversationwith Dr Sophie Bell.
Her passion for empowering petparents and professionals really
shines through and I hope you foundthis episode as valuable as I did.

(01:05:30):
Here are a few keytakeaways from today's chat.
Number one, pet first aid is foreveryone, not just professionals.
Knowing even basic skills can make ahuge difference in an emergency and
give you the confidence to act quickly.
Number two, early desensitizationto the vet is key to

(01:05:53):
reducing stress for your dog.
Simple steps like visiting the vetclinic for positive experiences
can make a world of differencein their health and happiness.
Number three.
Accessible education is a game changer.
Sophie's online courses provide practicaltools and knowledge that can empower you

(01:06:14):
to care for your dog more effectively.
Sophie, thank you so much for sharing yourexpertise and your passion for helping pet
parents feel more confident and prepared.
And thank you to all, thank you toall of our listeners for tuning in.
Don't forget to check out Sophie'scourses at Animal Love Pet First

(01:06:37):
Aid and follow her on social mediafor even more tips and resources.
If you enjoyed this episode,please consider leaving a review or
sharing it with a fellow dog parent.
I'll see you next time on the yappy hour.
Until then, take care ofyourselves and your furry friends.

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