Here are a couple of simple ideas and safeguards you are able to make sure that this year’s woodsy adventures are worry and injury free. Before we even arrive at our destination, here are a couple of things we ought to consider: Make sure to have your dog’s ID tags are secure and up-to-date. Get a vaccination for flea and tick shots is needed. It’s wise to setup your tent outside a few days ahead, this will let you practice camping together with your pet so he feels safe inside the tent. Make certain pets are permitted in the campground and inquire into the nearest vet.

Despite the fact that you are living in the backwoods you’ll still wish to have some conveniences of home as does your pet. It is important they have a few of their favorite things, be it a blanket, a toy or at home bed.

Don’t forget about your camping neighbors and supply a secure tether for the dog along with a muzzle if required. Dogs possess a inclination to wrap themselves around any tree, table, vehicle or bit of fire wood, you might consider a doggy playpen, which is also good to keep them in the shade.

Just like us, dogs should have their bed elevated and should not sleep directly on the ground all night. They also need to be protected from the sun and heat. Just as you wouldn’t leave your dog in the car for hours on a hot day, don’t leave him locked in a tent, the outcomes are the same. A little pup tent or a child’s blow up pool are good ways to help keep both pets and kids cool.

Also, make sure you’ve a secure spot for your pet in case of scary noises that may possibly scare them such as thunder or fireworks. Certainly use their crate if they already have one or I’ve found that the car works as a safe place.

Ready to chill out?! Not so fast – You need to watch them as you would a little child. Listed here are a couple of hazards to be watchful for:

FOOD – We tend to be much more laid back and consume a lot more junk foods camping than would at home. Don’t leave meals or snacks lying. Canines have sensitive digestive tracks and get sick easier from fatty foods that are foreign to them than we do.

GARBAGE – It goes without saying, keep it away from them. I have known dogs that have eaten whole cobs of corn, which got stuck in their digestive track and had to become surgically removed. We had a Beagle/Chihuahua mix that ate anything. Once we poured bacon grease in the bushes which was wrong on our part, and of course he licked up the grease and we ended up finding all sorts of stones and twigs in his belly. That was an expensive vet bill and put an end to any fun on that trip.

FIRE – Don’t burn food in the fire. Frequently it doesn’t burn entirely and becomes a dog attraction, but there might be glowing embers within the fire and burn their noses, mouth or feet.

TERRAIN – Get rid of as much sharp and dangerous and sticks, stones and glass. If it hurts your feet it’s going to hurt your dog’s. Dog shoes are the perfect idea if you’re going through rough terrain.

OK, you are ready up at camp and now you have to take on nature. What dangers might lurk within the forest you ask?

INSECTS & TICKS – Short coated animals are just as prone to mosquito bites as we are and should really have their own insect repellent. Ticks are a threat to your dog’s health. A tick vaccine or collar will aid but you will need to do manual checks and if you find one, pick it off with sharp tweezers.

POISON IVY – Although dogs are not much affected by poison ivy, the oil that the plant secretes gets and stays on your dog’s fur and transfers to everything he touches or touches him (like you!) Wash him off repeatedly with mild soap or shampoo wearing rubber gloves.

WILDLIFE – The reality is, avoid them and get your dog in check. If he’s attacked by a skunk, run to the lake for repeated scrubs with mild cleaning soap or skunk. Porcupine quills would be best left to a vet to get rid of.

WATER ACCIDENTS – If you are out on any type of boat or floatation device, and away from your shore you should really put a PFD (life jacket) on your pet, especially if your pet is out of shape or not used to swimming.

Your best bet, while camping is to always have a first help kit available for yourself and your pet. There are special kits made especially for pets. At least have the basics; rubbing alcohol, tweezers, scissors and bandages. Those stretchy roll up bandages are great for wrapping over fur.

In summary, don’t let this advise scare you away from camping with your pet. If anything, it should help make your outdoor experience even better. I have had so much fun over the years camping with my family and would never dream of leaving Henri and Bear behind, they are part of the family too!

Henri Hound has been an enthusiastic pet lover his entire life. He has hands-on insight of just about every form of pet and their behaviors. If you’re looking for light, yet informative pet advice, please read other articles of his, such as What’s Up With Dogs and Thunder or his blogHenri’s Pet Tips & Tricks

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Some people seem to think that an underground dog fence is cruel for their pup. However, with a few training lessons your pup will definitely be more than willing to stay within your yard. It’s a fact that in some areas you just can not have a large fence put up to keep your dog from accidentally going into the street. It may be because of the neighborhood association’s rules, your yard may just not be large enough, or it might be that you just can’t force yourself to cover up the view of the rest of your street. Whatever the reason that you can’t put a fence up, an invisible dog fence could be the only real solution.

Your dog want to have fun, and often wants to get out of the confines of your backyard. Dogs are just like that. But unfortunately the case is that their nature could get them seriously hurt if they end up running out into the street and into the front of an incoming car. They could also run out of the yard and get lost while playing. There are hundreds of awful things that could happen to your dog if it accidentally got out, and with no fence it could very well happen.

An underground dog fence is something you will need to train your dog to avoid in order to work effectively, but once they have gotten used to it, the fence will be very useful. The fence is set up with an electric wire that you run underneath the outside of your lawn along with a collar for your pup to wear that is the recipient of the electricity.

When the collar happens to come near the wire, a small shock is sent to your dog and they can’t pass. This could give them a huge surprise, but it is not enough to hurt them for any long period of time. Collars that choke have the same sort of short-term effect when used correctly and it can be easy to train your dog not to leave the yard or even get close to the installed underground electric fence.

This kindof fence is also cheaper to have set up than normal yard fences, which can cost anywhere into the mid-to-upper hundreds to thousands fairly easily. Electric fences will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars at the most and there is not much labor needed to get them up and working.

Ensuring that your pup is safe should be yournumber one priority. These types of fences are 100% safe, and if you make sure to train your doggie they will be more than glad to remaining inside the yard and completely avoiding the electrically shocking boundaries. Overall, it is a far more safe alternative to tying them around a tree trunk, as well as being far more open and attractive by having your yard visible for people to look into and for you to see out of. An underground dog fence is very safe as long as you take the time to train.

If your pooch is prone to trying to escape the yard, you may have to invest in more than your traditional fence. An underground dog fence can give you a guarantee that they will never get out, and they they will stay safe.

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Keeping your pet safe is a priority to the majority of dog lovers. Your dog isn’t just an animal, it’s part of the family. You care for your dog, buy your dog the right food and vitamins. You take care of your pet because you love them.

There are so many things that can go wrong in so many different situations. You can’t see into the future, all you can do is make sure that your are as prepared as you possibly be to keep your pets safe. For example, a common thing that people think is that all dogs are natural swimmers and do very well in the water. This is far from the truth.

When ever you decide to take your pet for a swim, it would be a wise choice to keep them safe and protected. A great way to keep your dog safe in the water is by using a dog life jacket. Dog life jackets work just like regular life jackets do and will keep your pet buoyant in the water, making it easier for them to swim.

So, what are some of the safety benefits from using dog life jackets? Well they will greatly reduce the risk of drowning, of course. Dog life jackets can also help keep your dog from inhaling water as they swim. You will notice that when dogs swim that their heads are not very far above the water. This can make it easy for them to accidental get water into their lungs which can cause many serious complications.

Just like humans, dogs can begin to panic in the water. When an animal is panicked they aren’t thinking properly and can become seriously injured. What would happen is your dog where to cramp up as they swam? They couldn’t very well call for help like you might. They could very well in hail water or worse.

Dog life vests are highly recommended for all dogs that spend time in the water. You should, however, make sure that your dog is wearing a dog life vest if they spend any time in the water if they: Are older dogs. Are a small breed. Are young puppies. Are overweight. Essentially dog life jackets are they safest way to take your dog swimming.

When all is said done, dog life jackets are just the smart and safe choice for your beloved pet. They are safe, affordable and sensible. Do whats the absolute best for your dog and keep them safe when they are in the water.

If you are looking for more information on dog life jackets, stop by my website, dog life jacket information.

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Are you aware of the wide range of common household items and products that can be hazardous to your dog’s health? Although it is not all-inclusive, this article is intended to help you recognize some of the common hazards found in the home.

Household Cleaning Products

Although many household cleaning products can be used safely around dogs, it is important that they are properly stored and used responsibly. Product labels normally include appropriate warnings when their use presents a potential hazard. Review product labels for statements such as “keep children and pets away from area until completely dry”. While cleaners containing chlorine bleach can safely disinfect household surfaces when used safely, they can also cause severe chemical burns when skin contact is made and are potentially lethal if swallowed. Diarrhea, excessive drooling, vomiting and stomach pain are typical symptoms of ingestion of these products.

To avoid accidents with cleaning products be sure to keep them in their original packaging if they can be tightly sealed. Packages that cannot be re-sealed should be stored in a properly labeled sealed container.

Insecticides and Herbicides

Keep flea and tick control products, intended for external use only, well out of your dog’s reach to avoid over exposure or ingestion. These products contain poisonous chemicals that can be very harmful to your pet if applied improperly.

Mouse and rat poisons when ingested can result in a life-threatening situation. It is critical to keep these products well sealed and in a location that is completely inaccessible to your dog.

Other insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and similar gardening products may also be hazardous to your dog if ingested. When these substances are applied to lawns and pets are exposed to wet or granular chemicals, severe skin reactions may occur. Should the chemicals stick to your dog’s paws, he may lick them and be sickened. Be sure to keep pets away from any treated area for at least the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.

Human Foods Dogs Should Avoid

Some foods that are perfectly fine for human consumption can be dangerous – even deadly – to dogs. No matter how much he begs, these foods should never be given to your pooch:

Alcohol, Yeast Dough, Chewing Gum, Persimmons, Raw Eggs or Fish, Nutmeg, Mushrooms, Grapes/Raisins, Chocolate, Onions, Coffee & Grounds, Tea, Garlic, Avocados, Nuts, Salt, Potato Peelings, Most Bones, Baking Soda/Powder, and Sugar Free Foods Containing Xylitol.

Rotting food found in garbage may contain bacteria that could produce food poisoning. Be sure to keep garbage in securely closed trash cans. Dogs find garbage in plastic trash bags particularly tempting and they can easily tear open the bags looking for “goodies”.

Bathroom Hazards

Unless your veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so, never give your dog medications that are used to treat humans. To avoid accidental poisoning, keep all medicine in tightly closed, secured containers well away from your pooch. Particularly hazardous over-the-counter medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, antihistamines, cold medicines, vitamins, diet pills, and topical creams/ointments.

Other health and beauty products such as skin lotions, toothpaste, nail care products and even some soaps can cause vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain so keep them secured and out of reach. Also remember to keep toilet lids closed. Dogs seem to love drinking from toilet bowls but if they do so it can be risky due to chemicals in toilet bowl cleaning products.

Household Plants

Some plants typically found in homes and in the yard can be hazardous to a dog’s health. A few of the common plants that may be dangerous include:

Chrysanthemum, Schefflera, Lilies, Tulip and Narcissus Bulbs, Oleander, Azalea, Rhododendron, English Ivy, Sago Palm, Cyclamen, Yew, Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Pothos, Hibiscus, and Hydrangea

The ASPCA website has a very useful searchable data base of both non-toxic and toxic plants for dogs, cats, and horses. Visit http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ to access their system.

Miscellaneous Household Hazards

– Ethylene glycol antifreeze and coolants can be fatal, even is very small quantities. Although less toxic, propylene glycol antifreeze can still be dangerous.

– Mothballs can be toxic to dogs particularly those containing naphthalene. They can result in blood cell damage, swelling of brain tissue, seizures, coma, and even death.

– Tobacco products

– Mothballs can be toxic to dogs particularly those containing naphthalene. They can result in blood cell damage, swelling of brain tissue, seizures, coma, and even death.

– Electrical cords should be covered and blocked to prevent access. Chewing on a live wire could prove deadly.

– Tobacco products

– Strings, ribbons, and similar items can damage your dog’s intestines and could be fatal if not surgically removed.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR DOG IS POISONED

Do Not Delay! Quick action is essential for successful treatment of accidental poisoning. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-425-4435. Be ready to provide your dog’s age, weight, breed, and any symptoms observed. Have the product container or a sample of the plant with you so that the poison can be properly identified and an appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

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