7 Springtime safety tips for dogs
Spring is the favorite time of the year for the dogs. Dogs just love to run and roam around in the green parks in Springtime. Winter is the time when your dog’s outdoor time is severely reduced. This makes spring all the more important for them. But like a ‘beware of dog’ sign, Spring is also the time of caution and precaution for dog owners. Here are seven essential safety tips for every dog owner:
1. Fear of fleas
Fleas often make a comeback on your dog’s body after debilitating winter. Unfortunately spring and monsoon are two seasons when it is boom time for flea reproduction. But don’t worry. If you take the necessary precautions, you can avoid this. First and foremost, the flea medication should be applied to the dog’s coat on a monthly basis. Another related precaution is to not wash your dog with shampoo-based soap but rather use water-based one, this way the medication won’t be washed away.
2. Attack of allergies
Another bad news that comes with spring is the abundance of pollen grains in the air that can cause severe allergies in both humans and their pets. Keeping a check for any sign of sneezing or sniffling and a regular visit to the vet is essential.
3. Paw parenting
Though regular cleaning and washing of dog nails is part of regular dog caring, but in the post winter scenario it becomes all the more essential. The melting snow is full of harmful chemicals and substances that can cause some serious damage to dog skin and their overall health. A regular wash with good dog soap will be sufficient.
4. Water worries
Spring time is essentially outdoor times, dogs love to run, sit and poop under the sun. Increased amount of activity right after lazy winters can cause immediate weight loss and dehydration in dogs. So every time you take your dog for a walk, make sure you keep ample fresh water bottles with you. Eating items like chew stick will keep the nutrient balance in check.
5. Time for exercise
Just like their owners, dogs too have a tendency to put on a few extra pounds during the winters. As a worried dog parent you might want them to exercise and shed that weight quickly, but it is not the right way to approach the problem. The exercise regime of the dog should be planned and practiced in such a way that there is no sudden weight loss. The outdoor hours should be increased gradually.
6. Fencing and boundary check
A lot of hard metal fencing and boundaries suffer damage during the harsh and long winters. At times the damage is little and seems avoidable but it is not if you are a dog owner. Dogs also like to catch up on the digging they missed during the winters. Even little shards of glass or bent fencing can cause serious damage to your dog’s body. A proper point by point check of the whole house and garden is a must for every dog owner.
7. Tag it up
Winters are enclosing and gloomy. Spring on the other hand is a chance to get out and get far. Increased outdoor hours and long walks becomes a routine. In such a scenario make sure your dog is wearing a flat collar tag, with your phone number and address imprinted on it.
