Summer is fast approaching and that means good times in the sunshine. Unfortunately, it also means an increase in certain types of canine injuries.
But a little bit of prevention goes a long way. Dr. Susan Wight, an emergency veterinarian with VCA Veterinary Specialists of Colorado, shared some great dog safety tips with us. Read on to find out how to keep your dogs safe this season (and throughout the year).
8 Safety Tips for Dog Owners
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Don’t use metal lawn edging. Vets see a shockingly high number of lacerations due to metal landscape edging. “We see some very serious injuries from metal lawn edging,” says Dr. Wight. “It slices right through some important tendons quite frequently.”
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Watch out for snakes. Poisonous snakes are a real threat to our canine friends this time of year and can even mean fatalities. Keep you dog on a leash when walking or hiking to best prevent snakebites. If your dog is bitten, rush it to the closest emergency veterinarian.
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Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are real threats in the summer. “If the temp is greater than about 70-75 degrees, it is too hot for dogs to be over-exerting themselves,” says Dr. Wight. “Dogs don’t sweat. They cool themselves by panting. But that only goes so far before their compensatory mechanism is overwhelmed, and their body temp increases rapidly.”
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Don’t let your dog ride in the back of the truck - no matter how much you trust him/her. “Think of a 2-year-old-child. You would never put your 2-year-old in the back of pick up truck and expect them to stay there,” says Dr. Wight.
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Be vigilant during backyard barbeques and get togethers. Save the people food (and kids toys) for the people. Chocolate, candy, gum, chicken bones and kids toys can be extremely harmful to pets if swallowed.
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Use mouse traps instead of rat poison for pest problems. Vets see a high number of sick dogs due to rat poison each year.
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Keep all medication and vitamins away from dogs and never self-prescribe medication to your pet (even Aspirin). “Ibuprofen is NOT safe for dogs or cats,” says Dr. Wight. “Nor are any other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs.”
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“Vaccinate puppies and kittens when your veterinarian tells you to! Don’t wait,” says Dr. Wight. “It really can save their lives.”