Canicross Conversations

This week we chat to Dr Juliet McGrattan, former GP and author of two books, her second of which, Run Well, has recently been published. Juliet joins Michelle and Louise on the run with her dog Honey this week, and answers common running related questions, such as: 5:30  How do we recognise the signs of overheating in ourselves? 9:35 Why do your fingers sometimes swell up when you run? 11:13 Hayfever and running 13:37 Why does your nose run when you're running? 16:02 As we head into autumn and winter what are the main things runners should be looking out for in our bodies? 18:37 Strength and conditioning for runners 22:53 Running technique and canicross 25:34 Recognising when to rest an injury and when to seek specialist help 28:05 Warm ups 30:00 Preparing your mind for a run 31:00 Should you run with a cold? 33:41 Heartrate while running and how do you know if there's a problem   You can contact Juliet and find out more about her book on her website www.drjulietmcgrattan.com    

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to canine researchers, canicrosser Anne Carter and vet Emily Hall, about how to spot the early signs of heatstroke when exercising your dog. Not just an issue over summer, but something to be aware of all year round. Early signs of heatstroke in dogs can include: Excessive panting, that doesn’t ease when you stop the activity A longer, or spade shaped, tongue A reluctance to move, or lethargy Changes in how your dog moves, such as poor coordination If not caught early, severe heatstroke can be fatal, and preceding symptoms can include: Confusion Seizures Diarrhoea and vomiting, which may contain blood Bleeding under the skin Losing consciousness It’s important to cool your dog quickly, if you suspect it is suffering heatstroke. Stop the activity you’re doing Find shade Douse the dog in water (river, hose, wet towel, whatever you can find, or use car aircon) Get your dog to a vet quickly if you’re worried Dogs don’t just die in hot cars; a lot of dogs overheat by over exertion, and not just in hot temperatures (this includes walking as well as running), as they can’t cool themselves as effectively as we can. Thanks to Anne and Emily at Hot Dogs Research. You can read all of Anne and Emily's research at https://heatstroke.dog/  

In this first episode, Louise and Michelle take their dogs for a run while introducing the new podcast, the basics of canicross, and chat about the importance of the correct kit.