Spring has sprung and our dogs are anxious to get outside!
There are a few precautions we should take in order to make sure their time outside is a safe one.
If you have your lawn sprayed with chemicals, keep your dogs off the grass for several days after application. Chemical herbicides and pesticide treatments are highly toxic to dogs.
Some spring flowers like tulips, crocuses, and hyacinth can also be harmful to dogs that are busy investigating the wonderful spring smells. Cocoa mulch is also toxic. Though the weather is getting nicer outside, you still need to watch your curious canine outside.
With the warmer weather approaching, we must also be aware of hotter temperatures. Please don’t ever leave a dog locked in a car. Cracking the windows doesn’t help. Did you know that temperatures in a car can raise over 40 degrees in less than an hour? Eighty percent of the temperature increase occurs within the first 30 minutes! If you have to go run errands, leave Fido at home. If your dog is going to be playing outside, make sure they have access to fresh, cool water. We don’t want him to overheat. Keep running and active play to minimum on hot days.
Finally, with spring comes the birth of little critters. Please watch your dogs outside so they don’t come across baby skunks, raccoons, or coyotes that have big mommies watching over them. You could be asking for trouble.
Taking a few precautions in advance give you peace of mind while you and your dog enjoy the nicer weather.
• Robin Massey is a Canine Specialist and owner of FYDOLand Dog Care Centers. For more information, visit www.fydoland.com or send an email to fydosforum@gmail.com
