St. Mary's Medical Center

Summer 2017

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

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21 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m | S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 | S P I R I T O F W O M E N Pet Health By Margaret Littman Scope out the park without your pup in tow. Drive or walk by during a busy time and get the lay of the land. How crowded is it? What are the local rules and regulations? What are the entrances and exits like? Talk to your vet. In addition to complying with the local vaccination laws (which usually include rabies), your pooch may need other preventive treatments such as those for Bordetella (aka kennel cough), fleas and ticks. A vaccine for leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can be transmitted in stagnant water or wooded areas, may also be wise, even if it's not legally required. Talk to your vet about canine influenza in your area too. If your town is in the midst of an outbreak, it's best to stay away from dog parks until it passes. Assess the crowd. Just as you don't necessarily like every person you meet at a party, your dog may not get along with every dog at the park, says Julia Georgesen, a veterinarian and co-owner of Chicago's Blum Animal Hospital. If you know your dog is afraid of larger dogs or gets riled up by one particular pup, be prepared to remove him or her before an incident starts. Some dog parks have small dog-only sections, which can be a bonus for those with little pets. Stay present. You can't prevent every dog-on-dog collision. But watching your dog—which means not checking your phone or getting too engrossed in a conversation with other dog owners—means you'll see if there are any potential problems (and you'll stay out of the path of running dogs yourself). Georgesen says she reminds her clients: "You are responsible for your dog." Pack right. Consider bringing your own water bowl so your dog doesn't have to drink from the communal bowl. Bring bags to pick up after your dog, and don't bring toys or treats that could cause a fight. Watch the weather. In summer, heat stroke is a real risk, particularly for dogs with shortened faces, such as pugs and bulldogs. Try to avoid the hottest part of the day for exercise, and choose parks with opportunities for shade. In winter, beware of ice and ice-melt treatments that can irritate Fido's paws. Manage the leash. Of course you want to make 100 percent certain that your dog is on a leash any time he is not in the secured, fenced-in dog park. But once you're inside with the gate closed, it's best to make your dog sit and take off the leash right away. As Georgesen explains, some dogs can be aggressive if they are on a leash while others are roaming free. A dog park can be an amazing place to let your furry family member burn off some extra energy without turning your backyard into a mud pit. Many dogs like the company of other dogs, and if yours is one, a dog park can be a place of joy for him or her. But it can also be a place of hazards, so take some common sense precautions to help keep your dog (and other dogs) free from injury and illness. Keep your pup safe at the dog park Where to play The best way to find an official dog park near you is to check with the municipal parks and recreation department in your community. For more suggestions, try these websites: www.dogfriendly.com petfriendlytravel.com

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