Part one of summer dangers for dogs
‘Hot spots’ (Moist eczema)
“Hot Spots” or its formal name which is moist eczema are quite common in dogs during summer months,, even more so if a dog has dense fur and has regular baths
Most hot spots occur in areas that the dog scratches such as the back of the neck. As a result of frequent scratching, the skin develops an ulcerated, red patch. Bacteria spread quickly in a hot, humid environment. Due to it being the ideal environment for bacteria to grow the hotspot will grow rapidly and be painful
When drying your dog take your time as this can help prevent them
Seawater
Seaw
ater is something that most owners probably do not think about. Be honest, did you? Ingesting large amounts of salty water can cause salt poisoning. Unlike any other forms of poisoning, they may not vomit as such or show other signs
If your dog has been in or near saltwater, then make sure they drink fresh water after. It is important they don’t drink large quantities in one go but little and often. Regarding the best dinner to give them when returning from the beach or other places with salty water is cooked rice or pasta with a little chicken or white fish
If they do show signs of severe poisoning such as decohere, vomiting or cramps vomiting cramps then you need to get them to the vets for advice immediately
Wounds
Any dogs especially young ones will get themselves into trouble and often suffer small cuts and abrasions which 9 out of 10 ties can be treated at home larger and deeper wounds or if your dog can’t stand or is struggling then you need to see your vet
Try and keep your dog calm and quiet. Clean the wound if possible with clean water and Cover the world with dressing and apply pressure. If the blood comes through the dressing do NOT remove but add another dressing on top. At this point, I was told if it comes through h second dressing start again as it is probably not on right.
Call someone or carry your dog so you can him to the vet
Simple cuts, grazes and scratches can be treated at home. As with most wounds, the important thing is to keep it clean and moist for faster healing. Veterinary strength manuka honey is worth keeping in
When bathing the wound use clean warm water with a teaspoon of salt in a pint of water. If it has glass or large foreign objects in then please seek veterinary help
With simple wounds once clean simply apply a sterile unmedicated dressing. Like all wounds, it is important to check the dressing regularly and change every day at the start
It may be necessary to use an Elizabethan collar or a buster collar to give it its correct name so the dog cannot try and chew the bandage off and open up the wound in certain cases you may need a bodysuit
It is generally recommended that only gentle on lead exercise be given so that the dog cannot do any further damage until It has healed
Finally, if the wound is on the paw then consider dog booties or an old sock to protect the bandage
. Antiseptic ointments and lotions apart from being used to clean the wound should not be used as they slow down the healing as alas, they kill all bacteria both good and bad
If the wound is more than a centimetre or two and deep (egg through the skin) then this should be assessed by a vet as it may need stitches and should be done within 5 hours
Sunburn
Whilst not quite as common, dogs like humans can get sunburn especially dogs that have pink skin as they are at a higher risk
As with humans, sunburn can increase the risk of developing skin cancer if they get sunburn. It is therefore recommended to use pet-specific sun cream on any exposed areas of the skin to prevent sunburn and ideally walk them early or later in the day when the sun is not so strong in nice cool shady spots
Read our post on dogs and sunburn
Drowning
We tend to think of dogs as being good swimmers this I not always the case as some dogs have to be taught to swim and some dogs like Pugs and Frenchie’s just don’t make good swimmers at all (It is a sad fact that every year an estimated 5000 dogs drownIt is important to remember that should your dog fall into the water from the side of a boat or a jetty they can be very hard to retrieve especially bigger dogs as most will panic or try and climb out themselves and if they cant the risk of drowning is high even under full supervision
Whilst many dogs happily jump o the water and will swim it is important to remember they will become exhausted and could get into trouble
IF you are spending any time by the water, I would always recommend a doggy buoyancy aid to make it easier for the dog to swim and also easier to pull them out as they generally have a rescue handle
To help a dog that has aspirated water, a quick response is needed. For small dogs, hold them vertically, with their head pointing down towards the floor, to enable water to drain out by gravity. For larger dogs, place them on one side, ideally on a downhill slope with their head and neck lower than their trunk, so that the water can run out. Carefully pull the tongue forwards and place it hanging out of one side of the mouth. Check that there is nothing inside the mouth and that the airways are clear.
If the dog is not breathing, cardiac resuscitation must be given. Contact your vet for instructions on how to do this and what steps to take before transporting the dog to a veterinary clinic. Dry the dog to prevent it getting cold (hypothermia) on the way to the vet.
Some important Water Safety tips for you and your four-legged friend
- Ensure that your dog is wearing a life jacket around boats jetties and docks
- Supervised dogs as they get on and off boats, so they do not slip
- Make sure your dog has a safe area when onboard
- Always make sure you know where your dog is, and you have a close eye on hi
if you are unsure if you need a Vet then Vetfone is a good starting point for checking out summer dangers for dogs
