This is the time of year where everyone in Vancouver is out and about, be it trekking around our vibrant city in search of excitement or forging into the wilderness. We want to share these adventures with everyone we love, including our dogs. However, it’s important that everyone stays healthy during the summer months, which can present a greater risk for parasites, injuries, and heat stroke. This goes doubly for time spent in unfamiliar terrain, where there may be hidden or unexpected dangers. Of course, if you’re in the city, Vancouver’s animal hospitals can help you keep your dog safe, but when we leave the concrete jungle for the trail we blaze it’s important that you are entirely conscious and careful with youe best friend’s well being. Here are some health tips that will help make your adventure fun and furry.
First of all, you should talk to veterinarian about your trip. If you tell them what you’ll be doing and where, they can provide useful information about health risks in that location. On top of that, they can provide personalized advice for travelling with your dog, including safety, car sickness, parasite prevention, and travel anxiety. Preparation is key, and nobody can help more than your veterinarian.
Once you’re out of the city, things can get a little complicated. Being far away from a trusted professional who can diagnose and treat whatever ails your canine companion can be stressful. Before panicking, though, remember that your dog is stressed out too. Some things, such as diarrhea and an unusual amount of panting, can be signs of stress caused by travel rather than illness. One thing you can do in that situation is use a pet health checker to determine the severity of the symptoms and plan accordingly. You can also phone a trusted veterinarian and ask their opinion.
Now that you’ve left civilization behind, there are several key components to helping keep your dog fit for adventure. A huge part of that is seeing that their basic needs are met. Now of course, everyone knows their dog needs food and water, but in a travel situation these needs must adapt. Dog owners should try and be conscious of what their dogs are eating and drinking while outdoors. A carcass, a plant, or unclean water can all yield parasites, so watch what your buddy is picking up when walking or hiking. When it comes to water, ask yourself: Would I drink this? If the answer is no, then your dog probably shouldn’t be drinking it either.
Portions are also important to keep in mind when enjoying a retreat from city life. Pets of all kinds should always have water readily available, but most pet owners know by now that food should be more controlled. When you and your dog are out having a great time swimming, fishing and chasing chipmunks you should keep in mind that those activities burn calories. The extra activity might mean your dog needs a slightly bigger meal than usual to keep their tails wagging and their nose wet.
We hope this advice helps you plan your next adventure!