*Fleas and Ticks and Snakes...Oh My!

Greetings my fellow Canine Angelenos!

Spring is in full bloom and Summertime is right around the corner; its time to get outside and enjoy all the wonderful places available to us Angelenos...canine and human.

But we have to be careful while we're having our fun...some common hazards exist that can spoil a great day for any dog and its pack.

Here are my top 5 hazards to watch for and some suggestions on how to deal with them:



FLEAS

Fleas, the bane of dog-kind the world over. No matter how much we scratch or bite at the little buggers its just soooooo itchy! Drives us nuts! Besides being annoying, fleas can also carry diseases that affect dogs and people alike.

• Make sure your dog uses some sort of flea prevention. Collars, topical drops and pills are all effective but some seem to work better than others depending on the dog. Experiment as necessary to find out what works best for your pack.

• If your dog get fleas, remember that getting them "de-flead" usually isn't enough. Fleas have up to a 6 month life cycle and will likely be all over your home, not just on the dog. Maintain flea prevention measures and use one of the great variety of home insecticides available on the market. Those little stinkers will be living in your carpet, your furniture, the cat.....

• Don't forget to wash the dog's bed, blankets and fuzzy toys too. Fleas will hide anywhere.

TICKS

These insidious, disease carrying parasites embed themselves into your skin and don't let go until they've gorged themselves on your blood. They'll go after a human as quickly as they will a dog too. The list of diseases they carry is extensive, with Lyme's disease being the most well known.

• When choosing a flea prevention product such as a collar, check if it also works on ticks. Many are for fleas only so read the label carefully.

• Closely examine the dog's skin and fur when you're done playing outside in tick prone areas. Do this for a few days because ticks can be very small and elusive. They'll be easier to detect as the fatten up on your dog's blood...yuck.

• Buy yourself a "tick-spoon". They're inexpensive and they make removing ticks much easier. You'll need to burn the tick with a match or flush them down the toilet because ticks are very hard to kill. I've also heard that some people put them in the microwave!

RATTLESNAKES

Rattlesnakes don't like to run into people or dogs anymore than we like to run into them. They just want to be left alone and I'm happy to oblige them; and unlike other poisonous snakes, they usually will give us a clear warning when we get too close. Once you've heard that rattle, you'll never forget the sound.

• If you see or hear a rattlesnake, don't panic. Figure out where it is and give it plenty of space. Often they'll just be 'catching some rays' and won't do anything as you pass. Other times they're looking for a meal and will move out of your way as quickly as they can. Either way just keep the dog from getting too nosy.

• If your dog is just too curious for its own good, there are rattlesnake avoidance classes they can take with professional trainers that will make them think twice before messing around with a snake.

• Another option is a rattlesnake venom vaccine. They supposedly reduce the toxic effect experienced by your dog, but many vets question their effectiveness - check with yours.

FOXTAILS

Foxtails are hard little clusters of plant material that help disperse the seeds of certain types of grasses. They have a hard tip on one side that has tiny barbs on it that lets them lodge into things and makes it difficult to remove them. They often get stuck in our paws, nose and ears. If undetected, they can move into the body and get infected, causing great discomfort and some dogs have died from it.

• At the end of your adventure, check our paws, nose and ears carefully whenever we've walked in areas that might have foxtails present. Its much easier to get them out before they've had some time to work their way into the body.

• Brush your long-haired dogs to see if any foxtails have hidden themselves in their fur.

• If the foxtail has caused any lesions, clean them up with an antiseptic and keep an eye on it. If you think one has entered the body, visit your vet and they'll probably prescribe antibiotics.

THE HEAT

Just like humans, extreme heat can leave dogs dehydrated, sunburned and susceptible to heat stroke.

• Go on your adventure early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid being out during the hottest part of the day.

• Make sure you take plenty of water for the whole pack and don't forget a dish for the dog  - unless you don't mind us drinking from your bottle. We don't mind but I don't want to speak for the humans.

• Check the surface of the ground you're walking on. Pavement and sandy trails can get very hot when exposed to direct sunlight and scorch our paws. Put your hands on the ground and ask yourself if you would want to walk on this in your bare feet. If the answer is no, your dog doesn't want to either.

The most important thing to remember is that some basic precautions and a little doggy maintenance will ensure that you'll have a hazard free adventure. I hope you find these tips useful and don't forget to visit my website for suggestions on fun things to do in our great city.


See you on the trail!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno

*A Tail in Two City...Parks

Pack Leader and I had to run an errand in Downtown the other day, so we decided to check out a couple of LA's historic urban parks...

***MacArthur Park***

Rating: 2.5 Paws

Location:
2230 W. 6th St.

Los Angeles, CA 90057

MacArthur Park, a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument, was founded in 1886 and was originally named Westlake Park because it was built around a natural lake on the Western edge of downtown. It got it's current name in 1942 in honor of General Douglas MacArthur.

Behind me is one of the many sculptures that can be found near the park's entrances.

The park has a fascinating history. It was considered a "civic treasure" in it's early years and people even wrote songs about it as recently as the 1960's (btw - the rumors of rain soaked cake are greatly exaggerated - I sniffed everywhere).  Unfortunately, the park became known as a gang hangout in the 1980's and had a very bad reputation until about 10 years ago, when a revitalization program made it a much safer place to visit...but Pack Leader says he still wouldn't come at night.

This place has lots of colorful birds...and colorful people too.

We visited on a weekday morning and there was plenty of metered parking on S. Park View St. between 6th and 7th streets. You could also take the subway here, but then your dog couldn't come and that would be a shame. Everyone knows that a visit to the park is much better with a dog.

There are plenty of water fountains, so you won't need to carry the dog's water, but there are no poop bag dispensers so make sure you've got your baggies.

Its a big park (32 acres) but was split in two when Wilshire Bl. was extended in the 1930's. Today, two tunnels go under the road and connect both sides of the park.

Sometimes its art, sometimes its just graffiti...

The Southern half has a bird-filled lake with a couple of small islands and a fountain. A paved walkway goes around the lake. There are benches and some grassy areas where you can relax and enjoy the scenery.

The lake was once a drinking water reservoir; today its "gone to the birds".

The birds have a nice place to live considering they're in the middle of one the largest cities in the world; but watch out for the geese! These "city geese" are obnoxious and are not to be messed with. I tried to say hello to one of them - he tried to bite me and chased me away!

Keep an eye out for this guy...he's one mean goose.

The Northern section of the park has soccer fields, a playground, a recreation center, and a stage where concerts are held during the summer. There are also a few spots where you can roll in the grass under a shady tree. A paved walkway connects all of it.

What used to be a hangout for troublemakers is now a nice place relax and play.

***Echo Park Lake***

Rating: 3.5 Paws

Location:
751 Echo Park Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Echo Park Lake, in conjunction with the lakes at MacArthur Park and Lincoln Park, was originally built in the 1860s as a reservoir for drinking water. The surrounding park was added in the mid 1890's and it has undergone many changes over the years, including being closed off and drained in 2011.

The park reopened in 2013 after a $45 million renovation which cleaned up the water, added a new observation deck, and built a very nice paved walking path around the lake. The famous lotus beds have been replanted as well and covered with black mesh netting to protect them.

The original lotus species was restored thanks to some illegal "flower-napping"

There is street parking available all around the park and there's a small parking lot by the boathouse.

Water fountains are located near the main entrances but there are no poop bag dispensers to be found.

At the North end of the park there are a bunch of trees and about and acre of grass to frolic in as well as a playground, a boathouse, and a statue of the "Lady of The Lake".

I wish I could jump in but I'll settle for a nice roll in the grass.

If you want a snack or a cup of coffee, there's a small cafe with a dog-friendly patio and you humans can rent paddle boats while you're there.

The lighthouse is a nice touch, but I'm not allowed on the boats...bummer.

Of course there were a bunch of birds in the lake, but I made friends with a turtle while I was rolling in the grass...an unexpected bonus.

Hi Mr. Turtle. You're much friendlier than the goose I met at MacArthur Park...

There's also an island that was home to a bunch of birds and other wildlife, but we couldn't visit because the bridge to it was closed. Its a pretty bridge, but what good is a bridge if you can't cross it? 

Oh well, Pack Leader says its time to go home now, but make sure you tell your pack that you want to visit these great parks. And don't forget to check out my website for some more fun places to visit.


See you at the park!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno




Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:

KCET
Echo Park Historical Society

All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.

*One Park, Two Park, I Found A New Park

Greetings fellow Canine Angelenos!

Last week I shared with you my new Parks Rating System which I created in order to review the many small parks throughout Southern California where we can stretch our legs or enjoy a nice afternoon.

This week, I visited a couple of parks I've never been to before and I'm happy to report that I found a couple of gems:

***Brace Canyon Park***

Rating: 4 Paws

Location:
2801 Haven Way
Burbank, CA 91504

Brace Canyon Park is located in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood at the base of the Verdugo Mountains. Its a well-maintained and nicely equipped place for the entire pack to spend some quality recreation time.

There's a decent sized parking lot at the entrance and plenty of street parking close by.

The center of the park is a large open grassy area big enough for a soccer game and there's a playground, clean restrooms, and an excellent water fountain that includes a doggy dish. Why doesn't every park have one of these?

Perfect for those of us under 2' tall.

South of the parking lot, a short dirt path (about 1/3 mile) goes around 2 very nice baseball fields and offers a panoramic view of the far eastern end of the San Fernando Valley; including Bob Hope Airport. You can watch the planes takeoff and land without actually hearing them. There's a poop bag dispenser at the start of the path; which is always nice.

Lots of trees but I didn't see a single squirrel...

To the North of the parking lot, a paved walking path takes you through a bunch of shade trees with picnic tables and containers to dispose of your hot coals if you're grilling. There are also four basketball courts and, just across the street, you'll find tennis courts and another small grassy area where you can relax away from the main section of the park.

Perfect spot for a picnic; or a roll in the grass.

SIDE TRIP:

A 5-minute drive from Brace Canyon finds you in Sun Valley at the entrance to Villa Cabrini Park.

Its basically a big open field that slopes upward to the base of the Verdugo Mountains. There aren't many amenities; 1 picnic bench, a couple of water fountains and some garbage cans; but it has lots and lots of trees and the grass is plush.

A sign at the entrance says to watch for mountain lions! You don't have to tell me twice...

Its a little off the beaten path so I don't imagine it gets many visitors (we were the only ones there).  If you're looking for solitude, walk to the far end of the park - its almost like being in the woods and you're likely to be all by yourself.

From here its easy to forget you're in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

Rating: 2 Paws





 

***Carl Thornton Park***

Rating: 4 Paws

Location:
1801 W. Segerstrom Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
 
My Pack had to take a work-related ride down to Orange County this week and I got to come along. When we (OK, they) finished working, we opened up our beat-up old Thomas Guide and looked for the closest green space on the map.

You never know what you're going to find looking for parks that way, but it was our lucky day because we discovered a very cool place; Carl Thornton Park in Santa Ana.

This place has everything your pack could want for a great day at the park; lots of nicely maintained grass, immaculate baseball/softball fields and plenty of open space to play football or soccer...its even got a duck pond and a small creek! There were a few people fishing too, although I didn't see them catch anything.

No swimming! Bummer...

A paved walkway goes for about half a mile around the East end of the park with a couple of small bridges to help you cross the creek. I personally went around the bridges because what good is a creek if you don't get your paws wet?

Not many city parks have a creek in them...nice touch Santa Ana.

Near the parking lot are some restrooms and there are plenty of water fountains spread throughout the park. The only thing this place lacks for us canines is a poop bag dispenser, so make sure you bring your own.

Pack Leader noted that the parking lot is rather small and there didn't seem to be much street parking available, so make sure you get here early on nice weekends.

Oh, I almost forgot; there are hundreds of birds in this place so watch out where you step!

We saw about a dozen different kinds of birds around the pond.

That's it for this week's blog. Make sure you tell your pack you want to visit these great parks and check out my other blogs for some more great places to visit.


See you on the trail!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno





All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered, as usual, by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.