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4 Great Ways to Keep Your Dog Safe in the Outdoors

More Outdoor Tips for Fido

  • Keep fresh water available at all times.
  • Know the location of the nearest emergency veterinary clinic while traveling.
  • Know the risks for the area you are exploring.
  • Microchip your pet.
  • Protect paws from hot, rough surfaces (dog booties are great for long hikes over tough terrain).
  • Create a go-bag for your pet that includes bottled water, record of current prescriptions and vaccination record and any first-aid treatment recommended by your veterinarian.

Summertime is made for hiking, swimming, camping and exploring. Often, our dogs are the best partners for those activities. They don鈥檛 ask 鈥渁re we there yet?鈥 every five minutes 鈥 they just stick their heads out the window and enjoy the journey. (OK, let鈥檚 be honest, every other dog but mine does this!)

There鈥檚 more to consider though than grabbing the leash and heading out the door if you want to avoid possible health problems and a visit to the vet. Here are a few key tips from the for keeping your dog safe on those Instagram-worthy summer adventures.

1. Avoid heatstroke

You鈥檝e heard it a million times, but it bears repeating: Don鈥檛 leave your dog inside a parked car on a warm day. The inside of parked cars can reach dangerously high temperatures quickly and cause heatstroke when a dog鈥檚 body temperature rises (typically over 106 degrees Fahrenheit). As in humans, heatstroke can damage canine cell health and normal functions. Left untreated, it can kill.

Dogs are also susceptible to heatstroke when they exercise in warm weather and haven鈥檛 exercised a great deal in the colder months. You don鈥檛 go out and run a marathon the first day of summer when you have been keeping the couch warm all winter 鈥 and neither should your dog. Dogs at greater risk include those that are older, overweight or are (those cute, squishy-face breeds).

, associate professor of clinical small animal emergency and critical care at the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine, suggests easing into exercise, providing your dog access to plenty of water to drink and a safe body of water where they can cool off.

2. Prevent infectious disease

Dog in mountain creek
Dogs like Cara love to jump straight into lakes and streams, especially on hot days. Make sure your dog is vaccinated to avoid infectious diseases like leptospirosis found in these outdoor water spots. (Chris Nicolini)

Speaking of those cool bodies of water that look so inviting when you鈥檙e hiking 鈥 some of them can harbor . This bacteria-caused disease can cause fever and kidney failure in dogs. Fortunately, there is a vaccine to help prevent your dog from getting leptospirosis, and it is recommended for dogs who spend a lot of time outdoors. Is your dog too, including rabies?

Other infectious diseases are transmitted by fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. The most common mosquito-transmitted disease is heartworm. , director of the , recommends keeping your dog on heartworm medication throughout the year as many mosquito varieties are active year-round. Some heartworm medications also help prevent fleas and ticks. Consult with a veterinarian for the best preventive care for your pet. (While rare, cats can also be infected by heartworm. 鈥 warning: not for the queasy viewer.)

Check your dog for ticks after a romp outdoors and if found, remove them promptly. Wear gloves if possible. Grasp the tick firmly with tweezers or curved forceps as close to the skin鈥檚 surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, slow pressure to ensure the tick's mouth parts do not break off in the skin. If that happens, wash area with disinfectant and watch carefully for signs of infection. If you see redness or swelling at the site, your dog should be checked by a veterinarian. Yes, dogs can be infected with , too.

3. Protect against snakebite

Two dogs with packs on in the mountains
When you venture into nature, protect your dog from rattlesnakes by staying away from tall grass, rocks and wood piles.  (Debbie North)

In California, we鈥檙e pretty lucky to have only one poisonous snake to avoid 鈥 . The risk from these snakes is highest between April and October. A few tips to keep in mind:

  • Keep away from areas with tall grass, rocks and wood piles.
  • Stay on trails and keep your dog on a leash.
  • Use a walking stick to rustle brush along trails to alert snakes of your presence. They don鈥檛 want to run into you either.

If your dog is bitten, Jandrey recommends getting it to the nearest veterinarian as quickly as possible. 鈥淎 rattlesnake vaccine doesn鈥檛 necessarily prevent the need for medical attention or treatment."

4. Keep ID current

Golden retriever out in the hills
The best chance of finding your dog if it should get lost is to make sure you keep its identification current. (Caroline Mitter/courtesy)

All pets need proper identification, particularly those who venture outside. Microchips, license tags, and tags with medical and contact information should be kept current for the best chance of reuniting with your pet should it get lost.

Keeping with our blog's One Health theme, read more about how to protect your pets and yourself from illness:

Trina Wood is the 嘿嘿视频 School of Veterinary Medicine鈥檚 communications 鈥淛ill of All Trades,鈥 a lover of animals who tells multimedia stories.

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