Christmas can be a fun but also dangerous time for dogs if pet owners are not careful about potential hazards in the home. Knowing what items and foods to keep away from dogs can help keep them safe and healthy over the holidays. Consider these Christmas dangers for dogs and how to avoid them.
Summer Pests and Your Dog
The arrival of the warm season brings lots of sunshine, barbeques and fun outdoor activities our way! But embarking into the Great Outdoors also brings with it some pesky pests who love the hot and humid weather. This can be a real nuisance to both you and your dog which is why we’ve compiled a handy list of the main pests to watch out for during the summer season!
Ticks
Probably the biggest summer pest for your dog – a tiny parasite which lurks amidst long grasses which dogs often sniff/walk through. Regularly check your dog for ticks . The easiest way to remove ticks is to obtain a tick removal tool. I have been using the O’Tom Tick Twister very successfully for years . You can purchase it online or sometimes through your vet. Tweezers can be of use BUT it’s important to grasp where the tick’s mouth meets your dog. Often tweezers can leave the head of the tick buried in your dogs skin so pull gently and steadily while trying to tease out the whole tick.
Bee and Wasp Stings
If you see your dog trying to chase a bee or wasp then try to distract/stop them. If they get stung then remove the sting with tweezers, being careful not to squeeze the poison sack (if it’s a bee sting). A wasp sting will only require cleaning with some malt vinegar or lemon juice to soothe the area. Watch out for sting allergies be particularly careful if your dog is stung in the mouth. Report to your vet if your dogs mouth swells or it suffers any kind of bad reaction!
Grass Seeds
These are easily picked up by walking through long grass and can get caught in your dog’s paws, ears and eyes. Constant itching and discomfort in these areas (such as paw-licking or head-shaking) should be a signal to take your dog to the vet where they can treat the problem. The longer they go untreated, the harder they will be to remove.
Other Pests
Fleas – fleas aren’t just a summer problem but it’s important to keep an eye on your dog, its bedding and indoor areas to prevent an infestation. If your dog has fleas then use a trusted flea removal product to kill them. In severe cases you may need to spray your house Your vet can advise.
Weed Killer – not so much a pest but something to be wary of, especially during the summer months. Keep your dog off private property and under close control, making sure they don’t pick up any material from areas that may be chemically controlled (fields, woodland areas). Any signs of suspicious vomiting, dizziness or diarrhoea then seek veterinary guidance.
A few tips to help keep your dog safe and happy over the holidays
This time of year for most of us is filled with parties, visiting family and friends and lots of activity and excitement.
To a dog it is a time of change when his/her routine is disturbed.
Dogs really like consistency in their lives especially if he/she has a more nervous or timid temperament. Sometimes our pets can be overwhelmed by all the celebrations.
Here are a few tips to help you and your dog enjoy the holiday period and some pitfalls to avoid.
1) Make sure your dog has a quiet safe place to escape to when the activity is at its loudest.
2) Teach young children to respect the dogs space and let it rest.
3)Don’t let children hand feed the dog tit bits instead tell them to drop any food on the floor for the dog to pick up. (This avoids excited dogs accidentally grabbing at the food)
4) Be wary of feeding the dog turkey(or any other meat) with the gravy and avoid rich puddings …both can be too heavy and cause upset tummies (In the dog that is!) Keep any scraps plain and simple.
5) Keep all chocolate away from your dog. Excess human chocolate has been known to kill dogs in the past.
6)NEVER EVER feed your dog the bone of a cooked turkey or any other animal. Bones become brittle during the cooking process and can cause horrendous damage if they splinter inside the dog.
Be aware of the winter weather.
1) When the temperature plummets be wary of your dog near water e.g. lochs/canals ect our pets don’t understand that thin ice cracks so keep them on lead near any frozen water.
2) If your dog travels with you remember the temperature in the car can drop fast in cold days. If you have to leave your dog for short periods make sure:
You use a warm doggie coat especially for short haired dogs.
If your dog is settled in the car simply wrap a doggie blanket round him/her to retain heat.
3) If your dog has been out in the snow wipe your dogs paws to remove and snow / ice or road salts that may have accumulated.