Running or walking on the beach with your Pet is great exercise and checking out all the cool treasures can be tons of fun for people and Pets.
Here are a couple of things to think about to help keep the trip fun:
- Be sure your Pet is protected against fleas by starting Advantage, Frontline or Vectra before the trip and remember to take the next dose along if your Pet will be due before you get back home. This kills fleas that get on your Pet and stops them from reproducing which happens quickly in warm summer weather.
- Since grass and other areas can hide ticks, check with your veterinarian for tick control products that are safe for your Pet and family.
- “Garbage gut” is a term used to describe a Pet that eats anything and everything — some dogs will be opportunists, seeking out trash collection sites, empty campsites etc. Keep a close eye on your Pet to prevent him from eating (or rolling in) dead, smelly rotten things along the beach or in the trash.
- Ask your vet if a Giardia vaccine is recommended for your cat or dog. Many wet areas are contaminated with Giardia from birds, rodents or other wildlife which can put a Pet at risk of infection.
- Although salt water is generally soothing to the skin, some Pets may be sensitive to ocean waters or sand, resulting in irritated skin. Check with your veterinarian for a Pet shampoo recommendation and keep it handy for baths on the go. Everyone will sleep better at night if Pets are not up itching, scratching and chewing.
- Grass seeds from tall dry grasses, called foxtails or grass awns, can wind up in your Pet’s ears or penetrate through the skin, commonly between the toes. If not removed, the seeds can migrate or become lodged in areas of the body such as eardrums or feet where they can be very problematic possibly leaving a nasty infected tract. After romping through tall grass check your Pet’s ears, toes and other furry areas. Use a comb or brush to remove the grass seeds before they have a chance to disappear and cause problems later.
- Older and normally sedentary Pets may experience stiffness or soreness from overdoing it on exercise or playing and romping in weather/temperatures different from normal. If your Pet has been diagnosed by your veterinarian with arthritis or other bone/joint issues and is currently taking medications, be sure to make sure you have enough to last while you are out playing, exploring and traveling with your Pet.
- Have fun!
This article and the Banfield email I received today was very disturbing. I read “Be Aware of Foxtails – A Hidden Danger for your Pets” with great interest and am curious if any of the ornamental grass plumes are a danger to our pets as is the foxtail. This year I planted purple fountain grass outside the fence to my dogs’run. Should I pull it up? Does it pose similar dangers as the foxtail?
August 13th, 2009 at 5:20 pmI am not familiar with purple fountain grass and think as a ornamental it’s probably okay. Foxtails come from natural grasses as they dry and die back for the winter. The foxtails themselves are somewhat sticky and because of their shape they move in 1 direction which is why they tend to migrate once they get stuck in an ear or in between toes. You can always check with your vet who will likely know what plants you need to be careful about.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:34 am