Picking up where I left off in my last column about keeping pets safe during outdoor adventures—an ounce of prevention (and preparation) is worth a pound of cure. Seize this forewarning and be forearmed with knowledge and know-how.

Parasites

Let’s talk ticks. When faced with a creature whose characteristics I find offensive, I try to keep in mind that every living thing has earned its place on planet Earth. But ticks are tough. While blood-letting used to be a medically-approved practice for curing various ills, the withdrawal a tick takes at the trough of its victim’s blood bank can deliver a deposit of illness-inducing diseases such as Lyme and Anaplasmosis. 

Add in mosquitos (which can transmit heartworms and cause serious damage to a dog’s heart and lungs), fleas, tapeworms and whipworms, all of which can cause problems requiring veterinary intervention. 

Here’s where an ounce of prevention truly IS worth a pound of cure. 

There are a host of products, ranging from collars to powders to sprays and more, which can defend against many threats. Invest in a visit to your favorite veterinarian to determine what will work best. This alone can keep your pet from suffering serious illnesses and save you substantial expenses in treating something that might otherwise have been avoided. 

And don’t forget about stinging insects. I speak from experience, thanks to the curiosity of a canine pal of mine who unwittingly provoked the wrath of a yellow jacket nest by poking her nose into a benign-looking hole in the ground, triggering a swarm of angry insects determined to defend their home. After being rushed to the vet, she made a full recovery, but some knowledge and better awareness on my part could have enabled a better outdoor adventure overall.

Hydration and temperature extremes 

Don’t let your thirsty dog drink from puddles, ditches, sluggish streams or brackish waters, which can contain harmful agents like giardiasis and algal blooms, chemicals from roadway runoff or herbicides or insecticides applied by humans for weed or insect control. 

Practice healthy hydration by packing fresh water for your dog and a collapsible bowl that can be folded into a pocket or backpack.

Be mindful of temperature extremes as well. Protect your pup with a sweater or coat on days when the temperature plunges or wintry conditions prevail. At both extremes, a dog’s paws can be harmed by excessive heat (scorching pavement) and severe cold (icy or snowy conditions). 

Pay attention to your dog’s behavior and heed expressions of discomfort such as shivering and sudden lameness or heavy panting and excessive drooling (signs of heatstroke). 

Play it safe

Keep your dog’s vaccinations current to prevent  life-threatening diseases such as rabies. Ensure that their license is up to date and have your dog microchipped. If they should go missing, your chances of getting them back will be better. 

While it’s not always possible to completely avoid coming to harm during what was intended to be a happy hike, no one wants to be left with nagging regrets of what could have been done. Prepare a Pet First Aid Kit and have a plan in place to help your pet if the need arises. See here: www.aspcapro.org/sites/default/files/resource/downloads/2020-2020-07/aspca-diy-first-aid-kit-list_0.pdf to see what’s recommended by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.