We wanted to provide you with the best resource on canine safety for 2020!
This is a long post divided into 8 categories with different canine safety tips such as travel, hot weather, camping, hiking and more. You can use the links below to jump ahead to each section.
We hope you’ll share this post if it will help someone you know, and please leave your own canine safety tips in the comments!
*To get this post emailed to you as a pdf, click here. Leia -o mais tarde para sua conveniência.
Dog safety tips Table of Contents:
1: canine travel Safety
Safety tips for traveling in the car or truck with your dog.
2: cold weather safety for Dogs
How to safely walk and hike with your canine in the winter.
3: hot weather safety for Dogs
Keep your canine safe in the summer months and prevent him from overheating.
4: camping and Hiking safety for Dogs
Safety tips for dogs on all your hiking and camping adventures.
5: common household Poisons for Dogs
Common items both inside and outside that are poisonous to dogs such as certain foods, household items and yard hazards.
6: first aid for Dogs
In an emergency it could take 20 minutes or more to get to the vet. This is why it’s essential to know at least the basics of pet CPR and first aid.
7: safety When Introducing 2 Dogs
Most dogs are able to greet other dogs without issues, but sometimes people can unintentionally set their good dogs up for failure. learn what kinds of mistakes to avoid.
8: canine safety products – top Picks
Our top picks for canine safety products such as a canine first aid kit, a canine seat belt and a canine GPS collar.
Dog travel Safety
Most of us love to travel with our dogs whenever possible, so let’s start with some basic travel safety tips:
Make sure your dog’s ID tag and microchip are up to date!
Use a well-fitted collar or harness to prevent slipping out
Keep photos of your canine in your phone to show in case your canine gets lost (I know you have hundreds!)
Bring a water bowl for your canine + water
Bring a coat or blanket for your canine in cold weather, in case of car trouble
Pack your dog’s medications and a canine first aid kit
Dog safety belt for the car
When traveling with your dog, we highly recommend using a canine safety belt. This is not only to keep your canine secure but to keep him from distracting the driver.
Don’t be that person with a canine in her lap while driving or the person texting with one hand, blocking the canine with the other and still somehow driving!
Benefits of a canine safety belt:
1. No more distracted driving. A canine seat belt keeps your canine to one area instead of jumping from seat to seat or bumping into you!
2. keeps the canine secure. use the safety belt with a harness to keep your canine safe and secure.
3. keeps most dogs calmer. A seat belt prevents them from hopping around in the vehicle from window to window and seat to seat. It actually helps a lot of dogs remain calmer (Remy!)
4. prevents damage to your vehicle. Your canine won’t be able to scratch the center console. Plus, it also keeps the canine hair and dirt to a smaller area.
5. prevents canine from bolting out. Your canine won’t be able to jump out and bolt until you are ready to unclip him.
6. required by law. Some states have proposed laws for requiring dogs to be restrained when riding in vehicles. here is a recent short article on current proposed laws for restraining dogs in cars.
Another option is to keep your canine in a crate while traveling, but that can be cumbersome, for larger dogs. If you prefer a crate, a fold-up wire crate is most convenient.
Visiting rest areas with your dog:
If you’re traveling alone with your canine in hot weather, it helps to pack your own food in a cooler. That way you’re not waiting in line for “fast” food while your canine is locked in a hot car. I pack sandwiches for myself when I travel with my canine in the summer.
Dogs in the back of pickups
We don’t like to see dogs in the open area of pickups for obvious safety reasons. In some areas, such as Minnesota, it is illegal for a canine to ride in the back of a pickup without a suitable crate or other restraint.
While we understand some dogs are used to riding in the truck on rural backroads, we would hate for the canine to jump out of the truck (maybe he wants to chase another dog) or be thrown from the truck.
*To get this post emailed to you as a pdf, click here. Leia -o mais tarde para sua conveniência.
One time I was driving behind a pickup truck in a small farming town. While we were stopped at a railroad crossing, the canine got excited and decided to jump out of the truck! The dog’s owner had to leave his truck and catch his dog! Thankfully the canine was fine.
If your canine must ride in the back of the truck bed, we recommend you use a large, plastic crate that is securely tied down. the best brand for this by far is Gunner Kennels. Their crates are designed forhunting dogs. The company designed it to keep dogs safe even in a crash, and it is designed to keep dogs comfortable in all weather conditions.
For longer rides, it can get too hot for the canine in the open area of the pickup or too cold, so it’s better for the canine to ride in the cab.
This leads us to cold and hot weather safety tips for dogs …
Cold weather safety tips for Dogs
Cold weather is a challenge all canine owners are faced with, and while a brisk walk in the snow or cold can be a lot of fun, we suggest keeping the following safety tips in mind when the temperatures drop:
Use common sense and don’t exercise your canine outside when it’s too cold for yourself.
Play indoor games such as hide & seek instead to keep your canine entertained.
Offer him chew toys/treats or feed his meals in a canine puzzle to challenge him mentally.
Always offer fresh water to eliminate the risk of dehydration, both indoors and outdoors.
Keep your canine at a safe distance from wood burning fireplaces and candles to avoid the risk of his fur catching on fire.
Provide a warm sleeping place for your dog. We recommend the faux fur beds from treat A Dog.
Try using doggie boots when walking your canine on icy or cold surfaces to protect his paw pads. brands we like are Ruffwear and Muttluks. See our Muttluks review here.
Try using a doggie jacket or coat if your canine doesn’t have an insulating undercoat and/or starts shivering quickly when outside in the cold. We like Ruffwear’s Cloud Chaser jackets featuring reflective trimming.
Use ointments for cracked paw pads to keep them soft and in good shape during the cold weather. Coconut oil is a good alternative.
Wash your dog’s paws if you’ve walked him without doggie boots in an area where ice melt products have been used. They can be toxic when ingested.
Use pet-friendly ice melt products on your own home such as green Gobbler Pet safe Ice Melt, natural Rapport Pet and kid friendly Ice Melt, or safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter.
Don’t leave your canine outside unsupervised when the temperatures drop and snow starts to fall to avoid the risk of hypothermia.
Be prepared to cut cold weather walks and hikes shorter than planned if conditions are worse than you thought
What to do when your canine suffers from hypothermia
Symptoms of hypothermia in dogs include:
Shivering and shaking
Letargia
Pale or blue gums
Slow heart rate and breathing
Pupilas dilatadas
Body temperature below 100°F (a dog’s normal temperature is between 101-102.5°F)
If you notice these symptoms in your dog, bring him inside and wrap him in warm towels or blankets. offer warm liquids such as bone broth, either homemade or store bought, but don’t force any down your dog’s throat.
Monitor his body temperature using a pet thermometer from your doggie first aid kit. Bring him to your vet if his condition stagnates or worsens.
See our post: 6 ways to exercise your canine when you’re stuck indoors
Hot weather safety tips for Dogs
We are big believers in exercising our four legged pals & ourselves year-round, but the canine days of summer (pun intended!) can be a real drag.
That’s because a dog’s only way of cooling himself off is by panting and sweating through his paw pads, but unfortunately neither method is very effective.
This applies to all canine breeds, and is particularly true for short nosed breeds with shortened nasal passages such as Boxers, Pugs, Shih-Tzus, Bulldogs, and many others. These dogs are also known as “brachycephalic.”
How to keep your canine cool in the summer:
Don’t leave your canine outside in the yard unsupervised and please don’t force him to stay inside a canine house. They offer no protection from the sun.
Don’t leave your canine inside the garage either because it heats up quickly. even insulated garages are typically too warm for dogs when it’s hot outside.
Don’t leave your canine alone in a hot car. Cracked windows offer no relief from the heat.
Walk on turf rather than hot pavement & sand, both of which can burn a dog’s paw pads. A good way of testing the heat of a surface is by using the hand test – if it’s too hot for the back of your hand, it’s too hot for your dog’s paw pads.
Try doggie boots to avoid contact with hot surfaces. brands we like are Ruffwear and Muttluks.
Limit longer walks/exercise sessions to early morning and/or late evening hours when temperatures drop a little.
Keep your canine in the shade as much as possible when you take him outdoors during the day.
Limit games like fetch since some nutty sporting dogs (and certain Boxer mixes…Buzz!) will not quit on their own!
Bring water along on walks and always offer fresh water inside your home.
Offer refreshing treats such as homemade raw goat milk treats and watermelon (without the seeds).
Play water games in the yard by using a kiddie pool and/or a sprinkler.
Consider investing in cooling accessories such as cooling vests to wear and cooling mats to lie on. The latter oneS me ajudou tremendamente quando o AC do meu jipe decidiu parar de trabalhar no meio de uma longa viagem de verão com Missy. Encontrei a próxima loja de varejo de animais de estimação e comprei duas!
O que fazer quando o seu superaquecimento canino
Os sintomas de um canino superaquecido incluem:
Ofegante pesado
Sede excessiva
Gomas e língua vermelhas brilhantes ou escuras
A temperatura corporal acima de 103 ° F (a temperatura normal de um cão está entre 101-102,5 ° F)
Tropeçando ou desmoronando
Se você notar algum desses sinais, remova o seu canino de qualquer exposição ao sol e leve -o para um lugar fresco, idealmente em ambientes fechados. Se possível, peça para ele deitar em uma superfície fria, como ladrilhos ou madeira, e envolva as toalhas frias em torno da barriga e das patas. Ofereça água fresca e fria, mas não force água na garganta do seu cão.
Monitore a temperatura corporal dele usando um termômetro do seu kit de primeiros socorros.
Se a condição dele não melhorar, leve -o ao seu veterinário para ficar do lado seguro e evitar insultos que geralmente são fatais.
Dicas de segurança para camping e caminhadas para cães
Como mencionado anteriormente, adoramos passar um tempo de qualidade ao ar livre com nossos cães! As seguintes dicas de segurança são voltadas para as aventuras de camping e caminhadas:
Sempre traga água doce em caminhadas. Se o seu canino usa sua própria mochila, ele pode carregar sua própria água (e a sua também!) Nos bolsos da mochila. Mais peso no pacote ajuda a cansar um canino ativo e de alta energia também!
Considere usar botas de cachorro para proteção de pata final, se você estiver caminhando em terrenos rochosos. As marcas que gostamos são Ruffwear e Muttluks.
Traga um kit de primeiros socorros para cachorros em viagens e caminhadas de acampamento, especialmente em mais longas. Veja minhas dicas sobre como fazer um kit de primeiros socorros para o seu cachorro
Traga um colarinho extra e a trela se o colarinho regular e/ou a coleira quebrar ou se perder.
Leve um apito alto ou sino e um meio de defesa pessoal, como um spray de pimenta, spray de urso ou um palito de caminhada.
Dependendo de onde você mora, trate seu canino com preventivas de pulgas e carrapatos antes de qualquer aventura de caminhada e camping, idealmente o tipo natural, em oposição às opções químicas. Considere também o tratamento do dirofilariose, mas esteja ciente dos potenciais contras desse tipo de medicamento. Seu veterinário (holístico) terá o prazer de educá -lo sobre diferentes opções.
Mantenha seu canino a uma distância segura dos incêndios do acampamento para evitar queimaduras.
Certifique -se de que seu canino use tags legíveis com o nome dele e seu número de telefone e que estejam firmemente presos ao colarinho ou no equipamento de caminhada.
Traga uma cópia do certificado de raiva do seu cão, caso ele se machuque e exija tratamento médico de um veterinário.
Considere vestir seu canino em uma cor brilhante, como o Blaze Orange durante a temporada de caça.
Considere um colar de GPS se você estiver fazendo uma caminhada ou caça fora da coleira com seu cão. Lindsay começou a usar um colar de Garmin para Remy que pode rastrear até 9 milhas usando GPS (não é necessária recepção de células).
Mantenha seu canino em uma trela para limitar as chances de encontros desagradáveis com a vida selvagem, especialmente cobras venenosas, ursos, coiotes e gatos selvagens.
Traga uma trela extra longa de 30 pés ou mais se você estiver pensando em deixar seu canino nadar em um lago ou rio. É uma boa maneira de mantê -lo seguro e ser capaz de recuperá -lo, se necessário.
Antes de sair, saiba que tipo de plantas estão na área, como hera venenosa ou carvalho venenoso. Embora a maioria dos cães não reaja a essas plantas (o pêlo deles os protege), eles podem espalhar os óleos na pele e fazer com que você tenha uma reação alérgica. (Sem diversão!) Mais informações sobre essas plantas aqui.
Esteja ciente do perigo potencial de cobras de água venenosa em certas áreas dos EUA, especialmente nos estados costeiros do sudeste. Você pode reconsiderar que o seu canino nadar nessas áreas como uma medida preventiva de evitar picadas de cobras.
Também esteja ciente das cascavéis. Eles são encontrados nos EUA, têm cabeças em forma de diamante, são venenosas e podem se entregar ao suiar e emitir um som chocante com os chocalhos no final do rabo. Preste muita atenção ao seu entorno e permaneça em trilhas marcadas.
O que fazer se o seu canino for mordido por uma cobra:
Se você