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Protecting Your Dogs From Summertime Hazards
With summer upon us, its probably a good idea to refresh ourselves about a few hazards to watch out for. In addition to the obvious dangers of
overheating in the car or too much exercise on hot days, there are other summertime dangers we might overlook:
The Tempting Grill and other Barbeque Hazards ...
For those of us who use charcoal grills, be careful which products you choose. Quick-starting charcoal (like Matchlight) is saturated with lighter
fluid which is HIGHLY toxic to your dog. If you've got a puppy or an adult dog who's extra curious about the grill (like most are), its probably
better to use traditional untreated charcoal.
What's summer without corn on the cob? Unfortunately, corn cobs are a major obstruction risk in dogs. Please avoid giving them to your dogs.
Citronella candles may also smell attractive to dogs. Keep them out of reach whether in use or not, as ingestion of citronella products can cause
abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Sunblock & Insect Repellent ...
Many (if not most) sunblock formulas are also highly toxic if ingested. Plenty of them smell delicious, so remember to keep them safely out of
your dogs' reach and bear in mind they should not lick sunblock off of you. In addition, those which are waterproof will be difficult to remove
should your dog get some in his eyes or mouth. Topical human insect repellents are often scented, and may seem appetizing to your dog. Be sure to
remember these are pesticides and carry a wide range of risks. Products containing DEET are particularly harmful ... to you, your children, as
well as your pets. PLEASE read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
Lawn Care, Gardens & Container Plants ...
Fertilizers, herbicides, and other lawn treatments can be dangerous if ingested or via absorption through foot pads. Use caution in areas your
dogs use. Also watch out for gardens and containers on patios or decks in which you've used fertilizer-enriched soil mixes.
Please keep your dogs and/or cats indoors and out of the way of the mower when you are mowing your lawn. It just takes a quick careless second
to injure a pet that is too close to a working lawn mower.
Have bandages handy if your dog goes swimming. They can cut the pads on their feet.
Mosquitoes are back -- don't forget your heartworm preventative!!!! I give it year round, but in case anyone doesn't do that because they live in
a place where it is frozen a good part of the year, do not forget it during summer months!!!
When walking dogs, remember how incredibly hot asphalt gets, and how long it holds the heat - even crossing a street can damage a dog's paws, so
planning walks early in the day is a bonus.
If hikes or a day at the park or beach include the dog, remember to bring along plenty of water from home.
Keep an eye out for poisonous ornamental plants.
Hops, a plant used in making beer, can cause malignant hyperthermia in dogs, usually with fatal results. Certain breeds, such as Greyhounds, seem
particularly sensitive to hop toxicity, but hops should be kept away from all dogs. Even small amounts of hops can trigger a potentially deadly
reaction, even if the hops are "spent" after use in brewing. Ingested in any form at all - even after they've been tinctured for beer brewing, or
right off the vine -- bad. And tiny amounts can cause severe reactions. If your dog does injest hops take them to the vet immediately and bring
a cold towel and ice - your dog can develop a sudden and severe fever.
A lot of plants that we have in our gardens are potentially poisonous to our pets. A couple of sites you can get info are as follows:
http://www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.html
http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddogs/l/blplants.html
There was a mulch that is also poisonous to dogs as it contains cocoa nuts. The smell may be irresistible to your dog.
http://www.cocoamulch.com
For all dog owners, especially those who have labbies with darker fur. When it is very hot outside and your dog begins to pant heavily if you soak
a towel in cold water and lay it on the floor it helps them to relax enough and cool off. This helps keep them cooled off and less likely to
dehydrate although you should still give them plenty of fresh water throughout the day. This is a good idea for those early dove hunts in
September as well.
Also, for those of us who own dogs who love to swim. Make them take breaks so they do not tire - even though we think our dogs are good
swimmers they can tire out and cramp.
With summer upon us, its probably a good idea to refresh ourselves about a few hazards to watch out for. In addition to the obvious dangers of
overheating in the car or too much exercise on hot days, there are other summertime dangers we might overlook:
The Tempting Grill and other Barbeque Hazards ...
For those of us who use charcoal grills, be careful which products you choose. Quick-starting charcoal (like Matchlight) is saturated with lighter
fluid which is HIGHLY toxic to your dog. If you've got a puppy or an adult dog who's extra curious about the grill (like most are), its probably
better to use traditional untreated charcoal.
What's summer without corn on the cob? Unfortunately, corn cobs are a major obstruction risk in dogs. Please avoid giving them to your dogs.
Citronella candles may also smell attractive to dogs. Keep them out of reach whether in use or not, as ingestion of citronella products can cause
abdominal cramping and diarrhea.
Sunblock & Insect Repellent ...
Many (if not most) sunblock formulas are also highly toxic if ingested. Plenty of them smell delicious, so remember to keep them safely out of
your dogs' reach and bear in mind they should not lick sunblock off of you. In addition, those which are waterproof will be difficult to remove
should your dog get some in his eyes or mouth. Topical human insect repellents are often scented, and may seem appetizing to your dog. Be sure to
remember these are pesticides and carry a wide range of risks. Products containing DEET are particularly harmful ... to you, your children, as
well as your pets. PLEASE read the instructions carefully and follow them exactly.
Lawn Care, Gardens & Container Plants ...
Fertilizers, herbicides, and other lawn treatments can be dangerous if ingested or via absorption through foot pads. Use caution in areas your
dogs use. Also watch out for gardens and containers on patios or decks in which you've used fertilizer-enriched soil mixes.
Please keep your dogs and/or cats indoors and out of the way of the mower when you are mowing your lawn. It just takes a quick careless second
to injure a pet that is too close to a working lawn mower.
Have bandages handy if your dog goes swimming. They can cut the pads on their feet.
Mosquitoes are back -- don't forget your heartworm preventative!!!! I give it year round, but in case anyone doesn't do that because they live in
a place where it is frozen a good part of the year, do not forget it during summer months!!!
When walking dogs, remember how incredibly hot asphalt gets, and how long it holds the heat - even crossing a street can damage a dog's paws, so
planning walks early in the day is a bonus.
If hikes or a day at the park or beach include the dog, remember to bring along plenty of water from home.
Keep an eye out for poisonous ornamental plants.
Hops, a plant used in making beer, can cause malignant hyperthermia in dogs, usually with fatal results. Certain breeds, such as Greyhounds, seem
particularly sensitive to hop toxicity, but hops should be kept away from all dogs. Even small amounts of hops can trigger a potentially deadly
reaction, even if the hops are "spent" after use in brewing. Ingested in any form at all - even after they've been tinctured for beer brewing, or
right off the vine -- bad. And tiny amounts can cause severe reactions. If your dog does injest hops take them to the vet immediately and bring
a cold towel and ice - your dog can develop a sudden and severe fever.
A lot of plants that we have in our gardens are potentially poisonous to our pets. A couple of sites you can get info are as follows:
http://www.dogpack.com/health/poisonplants.html
http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddogs/l/blplants.html
There was a mulch that is also poisonous to dogs as it contains cocoa nuts. The smell may be irresistible to your dog.
http://www.cocoamulch.com
For all dog owners, especially those who have labbies with darker fur. When it is very hot outside and your dog begins to pant heavily if you soak
a towel in cold water and lay it on the floor it helps them to relax enough and cool off. This helps keep them cooled off and less likely to
dehydrate although you should still give them plenty of fresh water throughout the day. This is a good idea for those early dove hunts in
September as well.
Also, for those of us who own dogs who love to swim. Make them take breaks so they do not tire - even though we think our dogs are good
swimmers they can tire out and cramp.
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