LOS ANGELES (KNX) — The spring season is in full force, with temperatures warming up and more people heading outdoors. If you’re taking a pet out there with you, be sure to keep these tips in mind.
To help pet owners plan ahead for health dangers, experts with BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital shared the following tips.
Heatstroke
As dogs have few sweat glands, they are prone to overheating in warm and humid weather.
“They cool themselves off primarily through evaporation off of their tongue and mouth (panting) and footpads,” experts said. “When it is humid, evaporation through these surfaces is harder, so they will struggle even more to cool themselves off.”
To make sure your dog doesn’t over exercise and overheat, make sure to find shaded areas where they can rest and rehydrate while out enjoying the warm weather with you.
And, if you believe your dog is overheating, experts with BluePearl said it's best to immediately apply cold compresses and bring them into the closest pet emergency hospital.
Infectious diseases
Lots of dogs are at community parks and lots of dogs drink from those communal water bowls. Just like people, dogs need to be careful about catching diseases.
“Because so many dogs gather at parks, they are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases there - like kennel cough and canine influenza,” BluePearl said. “Be sure to keep your dog up-to-date on vaccinations to prevent them from contracting these and other common diseases.”
It’s also best, experts said, to bring your own water and dog bowl instead of relying on the communal ones that can get pretty germy.
If that’s not enough to worry you, BluePearl said intestinal parasites like roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted from dog-to-dog if a dog steps into another’s poop and then licks their paws later. So, it may be best to also wipe down Fido’s feet when you get home.
“There’s also a special concern with puppies, who can easily catch Parvovirus. The highly-contagious virus can be deadly, and attacks the gastrointestinal tracts of infected dogs.
“While puppies are most at risk for contracting parvo, any unvaccinated or partially vaccinated dog can contract the disease through dog-to-dog contact and contact with contaminated stool, environments, or people,” BluePearl said.
“If left untreated, most parvo deaths occur within 48 to 72 hours. However, survival rates can approach 90% with proper treatment. Be sure to refrain from bringing your dog to the park until they are fully vaccinated.”
Ticks and fleas
Dogs can pick up fleas and ticks naturally in parks and in other wooded areas. To help protect your pet from these parasites, BluePearl suggests trying a safe and effective topical oil, a monthly oral tablet, or a flea/tick collar.
And after every hike, walk, or park outing, be sure to check your pet for ticks and fleas.
“Checking between your dog’s toes, around eyes, in ears, and under their tails so, your pup does not bring any of the disease-spreading bug's home,” the VetStreet company said.
Flowers, fertilizers, etc.
With Spring in full swing, there are a lot of new blooms and flower fertilizers around. You can’t keep your pet from them, but you can learn which ones are harmful.
“ One of the most common garden dangers for dogs is cocoa mulch. While known for its rich chocolate-brown color and nutritional benefits for soil, cocoa mulch is toxic to canines,” BluePearl said.
“Another common danger for dogs is commercial fertilizers. Dogs can accidentally consume these chemicals just by running and playing outside and then grooming themselves.”
As with park visits, be sure to wipe your pet’s paws and fur down after playing, just to be sure that they don’t have any harmful substances leftover.
Common dangerous plants/flowers include:
-Lilies
-Daffodils
-Tulips
-Azaleas
-Autumn Crocus
-Oleander
-Amaryllis
-Sago Palm
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