Dear Dr. Dog: My new rescue dog, Stella, is really smart and has a lot of energy. I’m planning to introduce her to canine sports this summer and want to get her involved in some kind of work, as well. Any advice on keeping her healthy during all this extra activity?
Dogs are very sociable creatures who love to play and, with proper training, are incredibly driven and effective at their jobs. Of course, just as with their human counterparts, hard work and play can sometimes lead to injuries, soreness, and chronic problems.
Whether your dog simply loves to run and play at the park, competes in agility and canine disc, or is a highly-skilled search and rescue dog, hazards abound. This article will explore some of the pitfalls of being an active outdoor dog and what we as caretakers can do to help our canine companions along in their quest for fun.
Foxtails
Few dog owners in the Bay Area have not experienced foxtails. These plant awns resemble stalks of wheat as they are growing, but when they dry out in the late spring, they become easily lodged in the feet, ears, eyes, and noses of dogs. If removed quickly, foxtails are not a major medical problem. If they are allowed to linger, medical problems such as infections, serious ear and eye injuries, and (thankfully rare) life-threatening complications can occur. Any dog with a suspected foxtail should be examined immediately to have it removed.
Heat Stroke
During the summer months, heat stoke is a real threat for dogs who are outside and exercising for a long time. On a warm day, a dog that has been exercising/ hiking for too long without adequate rest and water can develop a body temperature of over 106 degrees! At such temperatures, dogs can rapidly become incapacitated and may even die from brain injury or organ failure if they don’t receive immediate medical attention.
Dogs don’t always know when they need to stop and rest, so it is up to us to make sure they don’t overdo it. Heat stroke can also easily happen from leaving your dog in the car. Even with the windows open slightly, car interiors can easily top 100 degrees on a warm day.
Fleas
Dogs that spend any amount of time outdoors are at risk for acquiring a flea infestation. While not life threatening, fleas can really make your furry friend miserable. Scratching, chewing, and hot spots are common in the wake of a flea infestation. There are many flea and tick control products on the market and some of them are much safer than others. It is important to do your research before deciding on what product is right for your dog. Always read and precisely follow the package instructions.
Heartworm
What is summertime without mosquitoes? Mosquitoes themselves do not cause much trouble, but they can carry heartworm disease, a parasitic disease that, if left untreated, can be fatal. While not very common in the Bay Area, heartworm disease does occasionally occur. For those of us who travel with our dogs, it is important to remember is that there are many places outside the Bay Area with much more heartworm than we have here at home, so a heartworm preventative may be highly advisable. The treatment for heartworm disease is painful, expensive, and can be dangerous to the dog. Prevention however, is as easy as giving a treat once monthly. Speak to your veterinarian about weather heartworm prevention is right for your dog.
Injuries, Pain Control, and Rehabilitation
Just as people do, sometimes our dogs overdo it and get sore after a big day out. There is, of course, also the potential for more serious injuries related to over-activity, trauma, etc. If you find that your dog is injured or sore, please remember that many pain relievers that humans take – such as Advil, Tylenol, etc. – are toxic to dogs.. Always contact a veterinarian before giving any type of medication to your pet. Tragically, pets have been injured or killed by well-intentioned owners giving them inappropriate medicines.
Whether or not they are active or athletic, many dogs experience injuries or arthritis that can cause short-term or long-term pain. Please remember, dogs are hard-wired to not show external signs of pain and are very good at this evolutionary trait. Just because your dog is not crying in pain does not mean that he does not hurt! Appropriate pain control is not only humane, it has been proven to speed healing of injuries.
In addition to a multitude of Western medical options for pain control, we in the Bay Area are fortunate in that we have access to highly effective complementary treatments as well. Physical rehabilitation after injuries, surgery, or arthritis is as beneficial for pets as it is for people. Acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal therapy, pulsed signal therapy, and other complementary and alternative treatments keep many injured and older dogs working active and feeling good to a ripe old age.
Just like their owners, many dogs work hard and play hard. In order to maximize their physical abilities, it is crucial to feed them high-quality foods, practice preventative care, and treat injuries and illnesses quickly and thoroughly to allow for a full recovery. After all, when it comes to dogs and their people, we keep each other healthy.
Gary Richter has been a veterinarian in the East Bay for 12 years. He is owner and medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital (www.montclairvethospital.com) as well as Holistic Veterinary Care (www.holisticvetcare.com), a facility dedicated to providing alternative and complementary health options for pets. Dr. Richter lives in Oakland with his wife, daughter, and several pets. In his spare time, he enjoys music, time outdoors, and helping the City of Oakland and Alameda County with disaster preparedness planning.
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