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
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