5 Spring Safety Tips for Your Dog

There’s warmer weather in the forecast! Are you looking forward to it as much as we are? With warmer weather, there are some safety tips you need to keep in mind so you and your dog can happily enjoy the spring.

Crack Your Car Windows

If you take your dog with you and need to leave her in the car, remember to crack the windows a few inches. Even if it’s only 40-50 degrees outside, the sun can raise the temperature in the car by several degrees and quickly make it uncomfortable, and even unsafe, for your dog.

Avoid Toxic Plants

Spring is a beautiful time of year, with all of the plants sprouting and flowers blooming. Some of those plants, though, may be poisonous to your dog. When you take your dog outside, watch what he puts in his mouth. If you’re raising an SSD dog, there’s a list of toxic plants near the back of the puppy manual. The ASPCA also has an extensive list of plants that are toxic to animals. 

Groom Your Dog

Grooming your dog not only makes them look good, but it helps prevent skin irritations, fleas, and ticks. A well groom coat also helps dogs regulate their temperature.

Attach ID Tags to Your Dog’s Collar

Whether you’re taking your dog for a walk or are just spending time in the backyard, make sure your dog is wearing their ID tags. When you spend more time outside, there are more chances for your dog to wander off or you may need to drop the leash for some reason. Even if you’re confident that your dog will stay by your side, it’s a good idea for your dog to wear ID tags to make it easier to recover them if they do get away.

Keep Spring Cleaning Supplies Out of Reach

If you’re doing some spring cleaning, be sure to keep your cleaning supplies out of your dog’s reach. The chemicals in many cleaners are poisonous for dogs

We hope you and your dog have a happy and safe spring! Enjoy the warmer weather! 

4 Cold Weather Safety Tips

It’s Farm Show week, and of course, that means Farm Show weather. If you’re from Central PA, you know exactly what we’re talking about—snowy, icy, cold weather. A polar vortex is coming through, and tonight and tomorrow, temperatures are plunging, hitting a low of 3 degrees Fahrenheit tonight and only getting up to about 12 degrees tomorrow. Stay inside if you can. That goes for your dogs, too!

Here are four safety tips for cold weather.

Limit Your Dog’s Time Outdoors

Just because dogs have fur doesn’t mean they can tolerate cold weather better than people. They can still be affected by the cold, and their paws can get frostbitten. Limit your dog’s time outside. Puppies have a much lower tolerance for cold weather than older dogs do, so try to keep them indoors as much as possible.

Protect Your Dog’s Paws

Ice melters, antifreeze, and other chemicals can be toxic to dogs. Try to avoid contact with rock salt and don’t let your dog lick antifreeze. If you’re outside and your dog suddenly kicks out a leg or acts like they don’t want to put their paws back down, move off the side walk or move into another area of the grass quickly. There may be chemicals on the ground that are burning your dog’s paw pads.

When you come inside, wipe your dog’s paws with a damp towel so they don’t ingest any chemicals that may have gotten on their paws. Examine your dog’s pads for cracking or irritation.

Don’t Leave Your Dog in the Car

This one should speak for itself. In cold temperatures, don’t leave your dog unattended in the car. Your car can turn into a freezer quickly.

Groom Your Dog

A well-groomed dog can stay insulated in cold weather. If you give your dog a bath, make sure that they’re completely dry before letting them go outside. A wet dog can easily get chilled. If your dog gets wet while they’re outside, rub them down with a dry towel when they come back inside. (Many of our dogs love being rubbed down with a towel!)

If your dog has long fur, make sure you check it for ice build-up, especially in between their pads.

Stay safe and warm! Tomorrow we’ll post some ideas for helping your dog get some exercise while staying indoors.

6 Holiday Safety Tips for Your Dog

Are your dogs joining in your holiday festivities? Here are some tips so you and your dogs have a good time celebrating.

Be Careful with your Tree and Decorations

Dogs can get very curious whenever something new enters their environment, especially if it’s a tree with lots of lights, sparkling garland, and ornaments. Make sure your tree is secure so it doesn’t topple over if your dog bumps into it. You may want to hang treasured ornaments on the higher branches. Even if your dog tends to leave the tree alone, you never know when a wagging tail will knock an ornament off.

Don’t let your dog drink the tree water, especially if you put any sort of fertilizer in it. Also, don’t let your dog eat pine needles or tinsel. Neither are digestible and could cut your dog’s digestive tract and require a vet visit.

Holly, mistletoe, and poinsettia plants are all poisonous to dogs. If you absolutely must have them, make sure they’re out of reach of your dog.

Keep Lit Candles Out of Reach

Most of our dogs are Labs, and we know that a Lab tail is capable of cleaning off a coffee table in one wagging swipe. Make sure you keep an eye on all lit candles, and if you have to leave the room, consider moving them out of tail-reach.

Keep an Eye on Holiday Goodies and Presents

If you set out dishes of candy, plates of cookies, or adult beverages, be sure to keep an eye on them. They can be tempting for dogs, and chocolate and alcohol can upset your dog’s stomach. Also keep an eye on any presents. If your dog eats wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, etc., they could cause blockages that require a vet visit.

Practice Calm Greetings

If you’re planning on having guests over to your house, or if you’re taking your dog with you, it’s a good idea to practice calm greetings, especially if you have an SSD dog. Enlist a friend to help by knocking or ringing the doorbell like he or she is coming to visit. When they come inside, keep your dog’s attention on you by giving them lots of treats, one at a time. Only when they’re calm and have all four paws on the floor can they be greeted by visitors.

If guests are going to be coming and going, it’s a good idea to make sure your dog is wearing a collar and I.D. tags. In the excitement and bustle of people arriving with bags of goodies, it’s not unheard-of for dogs to slip out the door.

Give Your Dog Plenty of Water

With all the excitement and stimulation during the holidays, dogs may need more water than usual. Make sure your dog has access to plenty of water, and if you notice your dog drinking more, be sure to take them out for potty breaks.

Create a Quiet Haven

All the hustle and bustle can be overwhelming for some dogs. Even if your dog seems to be handling everything well, they still may get tired sooner than usual. Give them a quiet place to go, whether it’s a crate or a dog bed.

We hope your holidays are filled with joy!

Do You Know the Signs of Heat Stroke?

Whew! It’s getting hot out there! While we love the warm weather and doing all sorts of fun things outside with our dogs, this heat can be very dangerous. As humans, we can sweat to cool down. Dogs only sweat a little bit through their paws. Instead, they use panting to cool off. But in the heat, dogs can quickly overheat and succumb to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Do you know the signs of heat stroke? It could save your dog’s life.

Signs of Heat Stroke

The early signs of heat stroke include: 

• panting
• increased heart rate
• excess or thick saliva
• confusion and inattention
• vomiting
• diarrhea

More serious signs include:

• weakness
• gasping or slowed breathing
• staggering 
• collapse
• purple, blue or grey gums
• seizures
• coma
• death

Treatment for Heat Stroke

If your dog is exhibiting any of these signs, you need to start cooling him down immediately. Move out of the heat and the sun. Shade can help, but if possible, try to get inside to an air conditioned room. Use cool towels or cool water to help your dog’s body temperature drop. This will work best if you soak towels in cool water and place them on your dog’s stomach, groin and armpits. You can also cool his paws down.

Do not use icy cold water or feed your dog ice cubes to cool him down. This could cause him to cool down too fast and can actually make the situation worse.

Even after your dog seems to be cooled down, take him to the vet, especially if he was exhibiting any of the more severe symptoms.

How to Prevent Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is preventable. Avoid the hottest part of the day, and don’t allow your dog to overexert himself in the heat, even if he looks like he’s having a great time playing. Always make sure your dog has access to plenty of shade and cool, fresh water. And never leave your dog unattended in the car, no matter how long you think you’ll be gone.

For more summer tips, check out our 6 safety tips to enjoy summer with your dog.