As the days are longer and the weather is better, you can have even more fun with your dog, senior or not! Dogs can get easily There are many things about spring that can be downers and some great activities that lead to lots of run. First, we’ll talk about some dangers, then we’ll hit the highlights you won’t want to miss!
DANGERS
Heartworm, fleas, and ticks, oh my
It is best to check with you vet to know how to prevent heartworms and ticks. Heartworm is parasitic disease that can be transmitted by mosquitoes and can be serious if not even fatal. Unfortunately, fleas and ticks can cause a lot of problems, from flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) to Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. Most vets will distribute either monthly spot on topicals or oral tablets.
For more informational visit The American Heartworm Society.
Dirt Diggers
By nature, dogs love to dig. Unfortunately, there are many plants and mushrooms that dogs love to eat that are poisonous. Ask your vet for a list of plants to avoid. To help your dog from eating all your plants, don’t garden, mow, or weed whack with him around – otherwise he may think that playing with plants and digging is okay. If your lawn is being treated with insecticides or herbicides, don’t let your dog walk on them until these toxic treatments have dried.
Click here for a list of poisonous plants.
Spring Allergies
Achoo! Blooming plants, dust, mold, pollen, grasses, and flowers can trigger an allergy like hay fever. But instead of sneezing, your dog may develop itchy skin and will constantly lick, scratch, and bite to get relief. In some cases, your vet may prescribe oral medications. Even cut spring bouquets such as lilies can be poisonous.
Spring Cleaning Safety
Annual spring cleaning can expose your pet to harmful chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and chlorine. Even all-natural products can cause stomach problems, Barrack said, so keep your pets in a separate room until all recently cleaned surfaces are dry.
Spring FUN
We are just starting to emerge from the pandemic and able to spread out wings and have a little more fun. We need some mood boosters to lift everyone spirits.
Bath: Does your dog feel better when she is clean and well groomed? Her nails clipped and her hair free of mats? This can be a relaxer! Incorporate massage into your grooming to make your dog feel extra special. Take 10 minutes a day to groom and massage. Good places to massage: the ears, neck, chest, stomach, and legs.
Sprinklers: My dog loves to run through the sprinklers. She loves it even more when I run with her and we play fetch.
Trick Training: It is good for dogs to get mental stimulation. Great tricks to try are crawl, weave, put toys away or spin, high five and make a wish.
Puzzles: Canine food puzzles are fun to solve. These puzzles are designed for dogs to use their nose, mouth, and paws to manipulate the pieces to reveal treats!
Dance with your dog: Dancing with dogs can be a blast. Turn on your favorite tunes, and just be silly.
Yoga. This is a great way to stretch for you and your dog.
Go Camping. This gives you the chance of your senior dog is mobile enough to go exploring and hiking.
Swimming. A lot of dogs absolutely love the chance to have some water fun, whether that means hitting the beach, finding a hiking trail near a lake, or exploring a nearby river together. Even if there is a stream, creek, or pond somewhere near home, you and Fido can spend a couple hours splashing around and playing fetch in the water.
No matter what you do, aim for getting outside with your dog at least a few times a week—you’ll both love the chance to soak in the sunshine and warm weather!