By Elle Williams
Pet Columnist, Canyon Lake Insider
The days are longer and the summer heat has already snuck its way into spring. With the change of season comes different health risks to our beloved pups.
Foxtails, rattlesnakes, and 90-degree plus weather are the major concerns. Here’s what you need to know and what you can do to prevent the worst from happening.
Foxtails are in full bloom and with that comes the risk of them getting into our dog’s sensitive spots — the nose and paws. Foxtails have barbed seed heads that easily break and can burrow their way into the skin. They can find their way in between our dog’s toes causing irritation and possible infection.
Because they can’t break down in the body, foxtails will remain embedded under the skin unless removed surgically. Imagine having a dried-out, sharp plant in your feet. You would do almost anything to get it out, and that’s what your dog will resort to as well by constantly licking and biting to try to get relief. Self-mutilation can introduce harmful bacteria from the dog’s mouth under the skin, creating even more risk of infection.
That’s not even the worst-case scenario. Since dogs love to sniff on walks, foxtails can make their way into the nose and up into the brain. Without medical attention from a vet, it can be a death sentence.
The best line of defense is avoiding foxtails altogether. On walks, keep your dog at a safe distance from curbsides or gardens with foxtails. You may need to avoid hiking trails altogether since foxtails are everywhere during this time of the year.
After walks, check in between your dog’s toes and among its fur. Keep an eye out for obsessive licking of the paws and continuous sneezing. Either could be an indicator that a foxtail may have made its way into your dog’s paws or nose.
It’s also rattlesnake season, newly hatched baby rattlesnakes to be specific. I highly recommend seeking a professional for rattlesnake avoidance training. This form of training uses adverse training techniques to make sure a dog’s first encounter with a fake or caged rattlesnake is a bad experience in hopes the dog generalizes to avoid snakes.
The most commonly used tool is a shock collar, also known as an E-collar. When the dog shows interest in the snake the trainer will trigger the shock collar to give a quick shock to the dog’s neck. Although I am not a fan of using shock collars in training, I do respect the use of one for such a life-saving reason.
Some vets offer a rattlesnake vaccine. The vaccine won’t make your dog immune to the rattlesnake’s venom, but it will buy you valuable time. The vaccine works by creating protective antibodies that help neutralize the venom so the dog will experience less pain and swelling after a bite. If your dog is vaccinated for rattlesnake bites and gets bitten, you’ll still need to immediately take your dog to a vet or emergency vet as soon as possible.
Lastly, the heat. With temperatures well into the mid to high 80s this week, it’s smart to start planning on taking your dog out earlier or much later in the day for walks or playtime at the dog park. If it’s 80 degrees outside, the asphalt is a whopping 125 degrees, far too for a dog’s sensitive paw pads. A safe temperature range for walking your dog on a pathed road is 60 to 70 degrees.
Always take into consideration if your dog is prone to heat exhaustion, overweight, has a medical issue, or a dark coat. If you have any concerns about how the heat affects your dog, it’s best to ask a vet about the ideal temperature for walks or outside time. And don’t forget to bring water on your walks. Dehydration can be deadly.
There are so many good reasons to bring your dog outdoors to explore the world outside of the home, but let’s make sure the adventures we have with our dogs are fun and safe experiences.
Elle Williams is a local in-home dog trainer and the owner of Give a Sit Dog Training. She is certified in dog psychology, nutrition, and grooming, and specializes in basic and advanced obedience, puppy prep, and behavior adjustment training.
