Regardless of breed, all dogs should be able to go outside regularly. Depending on your pet's physical abilities (and your own schedule), this can range from a brisk walk around the block to a full day of hiking in the woods.
Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help keep your pet safe while exploring the outside world. The more you know about the potential dangers to look out for when walking your dog , the better you will be able to protect him.
7 Potential Outdoor Dangers While Walking Your Dog
High temperatures
If you've ever seen a dog panting in the sun, then you won't be surprised to learn that high temperatures can pose risks to our canine companions and that protecting your dog from the heat is essential.
"Owners of short-snouted or flat-faced (brachycephalic) dog breeds will need to be especially careful when taking their dogs out in hot weather, "because they cannot cool off as easily as long-snouted dogs.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM THE HEAT : Not sure if it's too hot for your dog to go outside? In this case, Dr. Wright recommends testing the sidewalk yourself. Avoid walking with your dog during peak summer temperatures. Take short walks and always make sure your dog has plenty of water.
Low temperatures
Despite their fur, dogs are vulnerable to winter conditions.
Pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, or hormonal imbalances (such as Cushing's disease) may have more difficulty regulating their body temperature and may be more susceptible to problems related to extreme temperatures. The same goes for very young and very old animals.
How to protect your dog from the cold: limit your dog's outings in extreme cold. Once outside, there's no shame in having them wear a coat to keep them warm. To avoid thermal injuries and to protect your dog's paws from snow, ice or salt, try having him wear booties before leaving the house. You can also clean your dog's paws after a walk to remove any de-icing salt that may have gotten onto his paws.
Internal parasites
While walking , your dog may be exposed to a variety of internal parasites, especially if he tends to roll in (or eat) dirt or other animals' feces. Dogs can also be exposed by cleaning and licking their paws after a walk, picking up mud-covered sticks, poking their muzzle in the dirt and then licking it off.
If your dog ingests water (or other substances) soiled with fecal matter, he may be at risk of giardiasis, another common parasite that causes digestive upset. If you live in an area where there are rodents, squirrels, raccoons, pigs, or cattle, your dog may be exposed to leptospirosis. Heartworm is present around the Mediterranean. This heartworm disease is transmitted via an infested mosquito and can prove fatal if left untreated. Finally, your dog can also be exposed to lungworms by ingesting snails and slugs, or coming into contact with their mucus.
Both Wright and Pearl stress the importance of parasite protection to keep your dog healthy. Ask your veterinarian for advice.
ticks
Tick-borne diseases are one of the most serious dangers for dogs. Ticks are external parasites that often reside in tall grass or shrubs. They wait for an animal (or a human being) to pass by, so they can latch on and start feeding. Besides Lyme disease, ticks can transmit several other deadly diseases. Humans are also susceptible to some of the diseases transmitted to pets by ticks.
Although ticks are more active in warmer months, some species like cool weather; you should therefore consider them a danger to the dog all year round. Ticks can be ready to emerge as soon as temperatures rise above 0°C. Dr. Wright strongly recommends year-round tick protection for all dogs that roam in tall grass or undergrowth, areas of known tick infestation, areas frequented by wild animals or livestock.
When possible, avoid tall grass during walks and always be sure to check your dog for ticks when you return home.
Traffic
There is nothing more frightening than to imagine that during his walk, our dog gets run over by a car, and yet thousands of animals are killed in this way each year. No matter how much you trust your dog, it's essential to keep him on a leash when around traffic.
How to protect your dog: “Some dogs have noise phobia and can be frightened,” adds Dr. Pearl. “Traffic and truck noises can be problematic, as can bicycles, skateboards and roller skates… Avoiding these situations and/or training your dog may be necessary to defuse or desensitize the noise. sound animal. »
If your leashed dog is still chasing cars during his walk after thorough training, you may want to consider meeting with a veterinary behaviorist for more specific advice.
The other dogs
No matter how well-behaved your dog is, you can't control the behavior of other dogs on your walk . The unique personality of each dog must be taken into account.
0 Comments