Spring Safety Tips for Your Pooch
Unless you live in a very mild or tropical zone, making the transition from spring to summer requires some adjustments for dogs and owners alike. Just as winter ice doesn’t become summer grass overnight, changeable conditions require flexibility. Here are some things to take into consideration now that spring has sprung:
Spring Outer Wear: If your dog wears a coat in winter, unless the heat transition is very dramatic, you may want him to wear a lighter sweater or doggy tee walking in the chilly sun. Coat-donning dogs are accustomed to having their body temperatures managed, and they get chilly easily.
Paw Care: Conscious spring paw care is essential. Roadside banks of icy snow have been repeatedly inundated with salt and other snow melting chemicals. The puddles from these glaciers are toxic and harsh for the pads.
Remember to wash your dog’s feet with soap after every walk and beware of thirsty dogs who want to lap up snow melt water. As the sun warms the roads, dogs will again get thirsty on walks, so carry a water bottle and travel bowl to prevent sipping roadside sludge.
Shedding: Many dogs shed in spring. Shedding is a natural transition, but the dry, winter coat can cause mats and tangles as it falls out, especially if your dog wears a coat or a sweater outside.
Always remember to take your dog’s warm clothes off inside after every walk. Gentle, regular brushing in spring helps restore oils to the new coat, stimulates the skin and prevents the dreaded dreads of an unkempt coat. Your vet may approve canine Omega 3 oil capsules to assist this transitional period for the coat.
Exercise: Warmer weather means we all feel friskier. It is normal for dogs to store fat in winter, but a heavier dog needs to begin spring exercise gently. Just as you may want to ease back into an outdoor exercise routine, your companion dog also needs to take it slowly at first. Increase walks and runs in the park steadily, but gradually.
Allergies: Dogs get springtime allergies too. As is the case for humans, dogs can become allergic over time, so do not be surprised if your dog’s reactions to springtime allergens change from puppy to adult. Pollen from the first flowering trees, dandelions and tulips, dust, mold and even insects can cause allergic reactions.
Symptoms include itching, coughing, sneezing, flaky skin or an oily-feeling coat. Never use human allergy medicines for dogs on your own initiative. Canine allergy medicines are effective; your vet can prescribe the safest dose.
Toxic Plants and Mulch: Spring bulb plants pushing out of the ground often attract dogs. It’s not that dogs just want to ruin the landscaping. Squirrels and rodents are also attracted to spring bulbs and an inquisitive dog might be hot on the trail.
But beware. Many spring bulbs fall into the allium family, and onions (allium) are toxic to dogs. Furthermore, cocoa mulch, often used as bedding mulch for park side flower beds, is very attractive to, but highly toxic to dogs. Keep your dog out of the flower beds and nobody will get hurt.
Lawn Chemicals: In the spring, your dog will be able finally to run on grass, not frozen snow or dead thatch. Please pay attention to where you let your dog run. Spring lawn care often combines herbicide and pesticide treatments to kill insect larva, ticks, fleas, “critters,” and seed-sprouting weeds.
Nitrogen-based fertilizers, blood meal, milorganite, rose boosters and Japanese beetle inhibitors, grub killers, herbicides, insecticides (especially those with organophosphates), rodenticides, acid fertilizer for holly and azalea and slug and snail baits do not belong on dogs’ paws. While these chemical washes might produce a green lawn, they also produce a toxic lawn for dogs. So, walk your dog in the safe scrubby grass in spring and keep an eye out for the “pesticide treated” signs in the formal lawns. Pesticides, herbicides and dogs don’t go together.
By thinking ahead, dog owners can head off problems and help their dogs get the most out of getting out and about in spring.
About the Author: Helen Fazio and her dog Raja blog on pet travel and related topics atwww.traveldogbooks.com. In their first book, “The Journey of the Shih Tzu,” Raja tells the wolf to woof story of the development of this amazing breed. They are working on forthcoming titles.
Full Story http://www.dogster.com/dog-health-care/spring-safety-tips-for-dogs
Go Take a Hike!
Warm weather is a natural draw for getting out and enjoying the bounties of summer before the next cold arrives in the fall. And naturally, our dogs want to get out and enjoy the warm weather, too. But a day out in the sun is only fun when everyone is comfortable. Before heading out to your favorite hiking trail, make sure you pack all the right supplies, for you and your pet, to be sure that the day ends as well as it begins.
Before You Go
Here are some important things you should first verify before heading out into the wild:
- Is your dog up to date on her vaccinations?
- Does she have her rabies tag on her?
- Is your contact info on her collar up to date (this also applies if she has a microchip implant; check with the chip manufacturer)?
- Does she have all the necessary preventatives for fleas, ticks, and heartworms?
- Is she in good health and free of any open wounds that could be vulnerable to infection?
If Lyme disease is endemic to your area, you might consider getting vaccines before heading out. And don’t forget to do your research so that you know which potential hazards you might encounter. Ask your pet-loving friends and veterinarian for tips. You can also use the Internet to find out more about your area, download maps of the trails you’ll be taking, and even get in touch with your local hiking clubs, who can share their experiences.
The Day of Your Hike
Do not give your dog a large meal before heading out. You don’t want her to be weighed down or have an upset stomach due to vigorous activity. Take along some food and treats for snack and meal breaks, but keep the meals small. Save the full meals for when you are ready to take a long rest or when you get home.
Things to Take Along
You will need to have plenty of water, enough for you and your dog. This is a great time to mention that the best plan is to have your dog carry her own water, snacks and other supplies. Having her own backpack will not only make your dog feel useful, it will lighten your load. Dog backpacks are easy to find; check with your local pet supply or sporting goods stores.
Along with canteens or bottles of water, you will need a portable bowl, sealed bags of snacks and meals, wet wipes for cleanups, a towel, sunscreen, waste disposal bags, and a basic first aid kit with disinfectant, gauze, bandaging material, tweezers, scissors, insect repellant, cortisone, and whatever else seems reasonable, considering the environment you are in. You can find a list of items for a pet first aid kit and assemble one yourself, or you can buy one pre-assembled.
If your dog has close cropped hair, and/or a light colored nose, it is essential that you use sunscreen on her exposed skin. Light-coated dogs and dogs with light-colored noses tend to suffer from sunburn on these areas. Pay attention especially to the nose and tips of the ears, as well as other areas that are light-colored or sparsely covered. If your dog is likely to lick the sunscreen off, you will need to use a sunscreen product that is designed for pets, or that that is guaranteed not to be toxic, such as those made for infants and children.
Additional Safety Precautions
Always keep your dog on a leash for his safety, and do not allow her to drink from areas of standing water, since standing water often harbors parasites and other bacteria that can be harmful and even fatal to your dog. Always keep a keen eye for other animals, broken glass and debris, and rocky terrain. Any cuts or scrapes should be attended to right away. Some dog owners like to outfit their dogs in special hiking booties to safeguard their foot pads from injury.
Dehydration can easily occur in the warmer months, as well as heat exhaustion(conversely, hypothermia can occur in the colder months). Watch out for excessive panting and drooling, or stumbling, confusion or disorientation. If your dog has any of these symptoms, stop immediately and take a break until she has recovered. To prevent these conditions from occurring, stop for water breaks often and slow down when she appears to be breathing heavily.
Original article: www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_hiking_with_your_dog