PETS AT HOME

Want your four-legged friend to be as much a part of your daily life as they were during lockdown? As some owners sadly consider rehoming, The Kennel Club is encouraging a more dog-friendly society post-pandemic

As life begins to return to ‘normal’, many people are excited to go out and explore again –some alongside four-legged friends, who were a lifeline to thousands during lockdown. During this period, dogs and owners got used to being together all the time, and now many are worried about the fate of man’s best friend, as restrictions lift.

New research from The Kennel Club shows that more than one in three dog owners have concerns about what their pet will do if they can’t go with them to the places they usually socialise and work when Covid-19 restrictions have eased. Some 23% fear they won’t be able to provide a suitable home for their dog after lockdown, and nearly one in five are considering rehoming as an option.

Research also shows that plenty of us in the South West want to share more spaces, including pubs and offices, with canine companions –60 per cent would like there to be more places open to dogs and almost as many agreed that struggling establishments could benefit from being dog-friendly. The majority feel that more people will visit if their dog can come as well, and that a pooch or two makes the atmosphere friendlier. Moreover, almost half agree that workplaces could also benefit from being dog friendly, with employees’ dogs or an office pet commonly believed to help alleviate stress in the workplace.

To help tackle the potential welfare crisis for a generation of dogs and support businesses and workplaces that want to welcome man’s best friend, The Kennel Club has launched a campaign –Open for Dogs –with top tips for owners who don’t want to be parted from their pal as the world opens up.

• Check the dog-friendly status of places you are planning to visit. • Consider if your pooch is ready and trained to visit new places, and prepared to be surrounded by other people and dogs. If you are only introducing your dog to situations like these, start with a short visit and increase the length over time. • Make sure your dog is well-behaved and can happily sit and stay. • Feed and exercise your dog before visiting a pub or other establishment so they can settle. • Make sure you bring treats and toys in case you need to distract them and don’t forget poo bags! • Keep an eye on your dog to make sure they are relaxed, safe and comfortable, and make sure they are not giving other guests unwanted attention.

• Always check out the rules about travelling with a dog on your chosen mode of transport. • Travel during quieter periods, avoiding rush hour, and always during cooler times to prevent hot weather dangers. • Make sure your dog has had enough exercise and time to go the toilet so they will settle for the journey. • Bring your dog lead, collar and ID tag as well as treats, toys, poo bags, and water with a bowl. • Always keep your dog on a short lead close to you.

• Find out whether your company has an office dog policy and what it says. • Make sure that your dog is confident and happy in new environments, around people and other dogs. • During the day, make sure to keep an eye on your pup and take them for regular walks and breaks. • Know your dog’s whereabouts, especially if there are other dogs in the office. • Bring food, treats, bags, and a bed for your dog and consider bringing a bowl if they aren’t provided in the office. n *Figures based on survey of 2,001 general consumer and dog owner respondents, carried out for The Kennel Club by Censuswide in June 2021; thekennelclub.org.uk/openfordogs

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Summer is here, which is typically the time when people start to become more conscious of their skin. Dr Genevieve Osborne, a Consultant Dermatologist at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, gives advice on the sort of things we should be aware of when spending time in the sun.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK – but most is curable if caught early. Sun is the primary cause of skin cancer; the sun’s ultra violet (UV) rays –both UVA and UVB – can cause genetic and immune changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer in the future.

The two main categories of skin cancer are melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Melanoma skin cancer can be a serious form which can spread more rapidly internally if not treated early. Over the last 20 years, it has become the fastest increasing cancer, probably reflecting changes in people’s sun exposure habits, and in particular can affect a younger population – although all forms of skin cancer become more common with advancing years. Non-melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

The reactions that immediate sun exposure can cause are redness (‘sunburn’), tanning (caused by an increased amount of the pigment melanin) and freckling (where the melanin occurs in clumps). All these changes can be risk factors for the development of skin cancer, but sunburn is particularly risky, especially in children. Use of sunscreen at least SPF 30 with 5* UVA cover, protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats helps prevent sunburn, as does avoiding exposure to the most intense sun between 11am - 3pm. Individuals who are more light-skinned, with fair or red hair, who have a freckling tendency, or those with a lot of moles are all more prone to skin cancer.

Moles are common ordinary skin spots that represent clumps of pigment-making cells called melanocytes. They’re usually brown, sometimes pink and can be flat or raised. They start to appear in early childhood, more so in response to sun exposure, but they can also occur spontaneously at non-sun exposed sites and may be hereditary. When moles become cancerous, they’re called ‘melanoma’. A change in a mole, such as enlargement, change in colour, shape or size may be signs that it has become a melanoma. Less often, melanoma may cause bleeding, irritation and itching.

Melanoma can also develop on normal skin, where there was no mole present before. Many people aren’t in the habit of checking their moles for change but this does help to pick up melanoma early. A typical melanoma is a brown, irregular-shaped mark that may show several shades of colour and have a fuzzy border; occasionally a melanoma can be pink.

As most melanomas develop silently, it can be helpful to have your moles assessed by a Dermatologist, particularly if you have risk factors such as fair skin, many moles, a family history or have had considerable sun exposure or used a sun bed. If a suspicious mole is seen, it may be surgically removed and sent for analysis, and early detection of melanoma can be life-saving. The Dermatology team at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital can make a risk assessment of your skin, photographically map suspicious moles for surveillance purposes, treat pre-cancerous changes and surgically treat many skin cancers where present.

People who have accumulated much sunexposure over the years are prone to precancerous skin conditions that can turn into SCC, and they are at greater risk of BCC too. These skin cancers are usually managed surgically. Individuals who have had a nonmelanoma skin cancer are more prone to further such cancers in the future and therefore benefit from regular skin surveillance by a Dermatologist for early diagnosis.

Dermatologists would never view a sun tan as ‘healthy’ because it is a sign that there has been damage which may later lead to skin cancer. Some exposure to the sun is required to maintain Vitamin D levels, so we don’t need to avoid it completely, and Vitamin D can still be made in the body when a sunscreen is applied. Certain skin conditions, such as psoriasis, are actually improved by UV exposure from the sun, so the important message is to avoid sunburn and prolonged exposure, and know your own risk factors, regularly inspecting your skin for changes.

If you would like to book an appointment with Dr Osborne, or one of the other Consultant Dermatologists at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital, Dr Helen Audrain and Dr Adam Bray, call 0117 911 5339, or visit our website: www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/bristol.