As the days get longer and lighter, you may be spending more time than ever outside with your dog. While these warmer days do bring lots of fun with them, they also come with some hazards too so it is important to keep the following information in mind to keep your furry friend safe on your adventures:
Allergies
Just like humans, dogs can have seasonal allergies. Common allergens during spring/summer are: grass, plant/tree pollen, dust, fleas and feathers.
You can try to minimise your dogs symptoms by avoiding walking your dog in the early morning or late afternoon, when pollen levels are typically highest, or even having your dog wear boots to prevent direct contact.
As temporary relief you can bathe your dog or soak their feet with a special soothing pet safe soaps.
If you believe your dog is suffering from seasonal allergies please speak to their veterinarian as there are medications and immunotherapy courses that they can prescribe if needed to help your dog.
Snakes
Adders are the only venomous snakes in the UK, but other snake species can bite and cause damage too so try to avoid any and all if you spot them while out and about. Adders have a distinctive zig zag pattern down their back.
Keep your dog on lead and where possible stay on designated paths especially in known snake 'hot spots'.
Signs of a snake bite include: puncture wounds, swelling, pain, panting, drooling, diarrhoea, seizures, muscle tremors.
If your dog is bitten:
Heat
While we may enjoy the heat, or four legged friends who wear a fur jacket year round may not appreciate it so much. Make sure you are checking the floor with the back of your hand to make sure it is not too hot for their paws, ensure they have access to shade and water and keep a close eye on them.
Familiarise yourself with the signs of heatstroke:
And know when hot is 'too hot':
Water
Swimming is a great way for our pups to cool off, but it too has its own risks.
Always check the water before your dog enters for dangers such as litter, chemical spills or toxic algae formation. If you aren't sure if it's safe or not- don't take the risk!
Make sure you are regulating your dogs play- it IS fun for them but its also a full body work out and your dog may tire more quickly than on land. Try to avoid repetitive swimming out for retrieves and make sure they take lots of breaks. Use buoyancy aids where necessary and keep a close eye on them at all times.
If using the sea, an indoor pool or treated pool, wash them off after their swim session to avoid salt or chemicals drying into their fur.
Be aware of how much water your dog is ingesting- where possible avoid it completely and allow them to drink from your own water source from home, but if playing fetch for example, keep an eye on how much they are swallowing and limit this exposure. Too much water ingested can cause water intoxication which can be fatal.
Stay Safe!
Hopefully you found this blog informative and you learnt something new. If you have any questions leave a comment below and we will do out best to answer.
Team Cunningshot x
DISCLAIMER: This is not a conclusive list of spring/summer safety concerns so please always exercise caution when out and about with your dog, and if in doubt don't take the risk!