We love our pets, but we don’t always love the trouble they can get themselves into. With spring already here and summer around the corner, veterinarian Dr. Rebecca Greenstein has some tips on how to keep our pets healthy and safe from dangers both inside and outside the home.
HAVE A FIRST AID KIT HANDY
Every pet owner should have a pet first aid kid in their homes. With recent restrictions lifted across many provinces, veterinary visits may no longer be restricted to just urgent care, so we are now on our way back to normal in terms of being able to visit our vet for any issues that may come up, but it’s always good to be prepared in case of an emergency. Let’s say your dog gets cut in the park, it’s a good idea to have that bandaging material on hand.In most ways, the pet first aid kit is really similar to the usual first aid kit you’d have for yourself (bandages, gauze pads), but remember that it’s not a replacement for care. The one thing Dr. Greenstein really recommends you have for your pet first aid kit is a cone. Having a cone on hand in their home will save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars down the line. Let’s say your dog or cat has a wound, they will lick it until it’s raw and that’s when it becomes a much bigger (and more expensive) problem.
PROTECT YOUR PET AGAINST TICKS
Keep in mind that all ticks need to be active is for the weather to be anything over four degrees. They’re way more common than fleas or anything else. We know that ticks carry several diseases, the most notable being Lyme disease. They transmit the diseases through their tick bite after they feed on a pet’s blood.Everyone thinks ticks are only found deep in the bush, but that’s not the case. They can be anywhere that you have piles of stick, in bushes, at the edge of a twig or in the grass.You always want to pat your dog down when they come inside, feeling for any lumps or bumps that are out of the ordinary. Most owners don’t notice the presence of a tick until they’re engorged, when they get to the size of a mini M&M – and then people lose it. People might think it’s a mass or a nipple. If you feel one, don’t freak out, and do not try to pull it out on your own. Ticks bury their head, so people might be tempted to pull out the part that they can see. But if you do that, you’ll rip the rick off without its head, and then it becomes another issue. So if you find a tick – just contact your vet right away. We’ll take care of it![video_embed id='1958569']How to check your pets for ticks[/video_embed]
HAVE A DIY SKUNK SPRAY KIT
For the most part, it’s just gross and not dangerous when your pet gets sprayed by a skunk. Most of the time, it doesn’t warrant a visit to the vet and can be taken care of at home. In fact, Dr. Greenstein says she often has patients come in who have been sprayed and she has to walk them right out of the clinic.If your pet is sprayed, you might notice they start to foam at the mouth – but this is mostly because the spray tastes so bad. The first thing you’ll want to do is rinse out their eyes under water, because the irritation will really bother your pet. You might hear of all of these DIY kits to wash your dog, but just get the specialty shampoo! You don’t want that smell lingering around.One thing to keep in mind that a lot of people might not be aware of, is that in some cases it’s not just a skunk spray you’re dealing with, but a skunk bite. This would open up another list of potential issues, so you want to check your pet thoroughly to make sure you’re not also dealing with a bite.
DON'T PULL OUT PORCUPINE QUILLS YOURSELF
This is actually really common, and is a really frequent call vets get, especially in the summer. Your dog might be minding his own business in your backyard, he goes over for a sniff, and comes back with a face and mouth full of quills. We’re talking dozens. This is extremely painful for your dog, they will be frantic. But you don’t want to try and pull these quills out yourself, as many owners try to do. Porcupine quills are very brittle and fine at the base, so if you try to pull them out, you’ll leave the base punctured in your pet. You NEED to go to the vet right away.Not to mention your dog won’t sit still as you try to get the quills out, they need to be sedated. You might think you could get the more obvious ones, but it’s the ones hiding in the back of the throat or mouth that you won’t be able to find that can cause a real health issue.
EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT BACKYARD DANGERS
We know that fertilizer and some common springtime plants like daffodils and hyacinths are dangerous for pets to consume, but another thing to pay attention to in your own backyard is standing water and puddles. Consumption of still water like this can lead to a disease called leptosplerosis. Always remember that any standing water in your yard will have runoff from wild life, including raccoon urine, which is really not good for your pet to consume, so you want to be mindful of their behaviours around any standing puddles while out on walks and in your own backyard.We also know that respiratory diseases can be spread through dogs sharing water from the same bowls, so be wary of what they drink from. Especially now, we’re worried enough about dogs licking our face, so you might want to think twice about letting your dog drink from a bowl through which these things can be easily transmitted.[video_embed id='1951779']Yes, you can groom your dog yourself at home (but watch this first)[/video_embed]
WATCH WHAT THEY EAT
Most dogs will eat just about anything, no matter the season. There are obvious symptoms like gagging or choking that would be major red flags, but if dogs seem OK after ingesting something questionable, does that mean they'll be fine?Until the last bit of that object passes out, you just don’t know what the damage could be. There are a lot of bottle necks along the digestive tract where something could get stuck. If it does get stuck, it can cause anything from minor irritation to an obstruction, a perforation or life-threatening complications. With some objects, the symptoms will show up right away. But with other things, like corn cobs for example, they can go weeks or months with minor symptoms until it worsens. What’s crucial to know here is that there is a golden period of the first two hours after ingesting something where some types of objects can be retrieved through induced vomiting, for example – a sock. So keep that golden period in mind.
DON'T INDUCE VOMITTING
This is a more old-school approach, often using hydrogen peroxide as a means to try and induce vomiting in our pets. Dr. Greenstein would absolutely not recommend doing this, because it can cause terrible damage to the lining of your pet’s stomach.
USE TELEMEDICINE SPARINGLY
Telemedicine is really coming into its own for vet practices, and people have made huge use of it especially recently in light of the pandemic. We’re just starting to see what it can do.But there are issues to be aware of as well. The treatment you’ll get through telemedicine is what we call symptomatic treatment. For example, "We’re pretty sure based on what you’re describing that it sounds like an ear infection, and these ear drops would be appropriate". But people might not necessarily describe symptoms in the best way, so it depends how well you can articulate those symptoms to get an informed assessment. That’s why telemedicine is mostly just ideal when your pet is otherwise stable and healthy, but has conditions like an ear infection, certain skin conditions, or a minor case of limping. These lend themselves better to the visual medium. It also works way better when you have a pre-existing relationship with your vet and pet. This is not the way to see a new doctor.But certain things will never replace a physical exam, so you want to forego telemedicine if your pet’s symptoms worsen or don’t improve. If your pet is older or has chronic illness, then telemedicine is also not the best choice for you.[video_embed id='1963675']BEFORE YOU GO: This puppy is really excited to see its owner come home[/video_embed]
