Dog Health - How to Keep Your Dog Safe

 
 
By Douglas Hanna
 
Preventable accidents are sadly also a leading cause of early death for many dogs. Dogs, which suffer from car accidents, injuries from, dogfights, and accidental poisonings are unfortunately seen regularly in veterinarian clinics everywhere. While accidents sometimes happen no matter how many precautions we take, there are things that you can do to help keep your dog as safe as possible.
 
Protect Your Dog From Vehicular Accidents And Dog Fights
 
Never let your dog outside unaccompanied, and try to keep your dog in a fenced in yard. Keep the possibilities of accidental dogfights down by introducing your dog slowly to other dogs, or better yet keep other dogs away from your dog all together. Most dogfights occur when dogs are outside by themselves; be sure that your dog cannot run out of the house or escape from the yard.
If your dog is in an area where there are any vehicles, even golf carts or mopeds, watch your dog closely and always keep your dog on a secure leash and harness.
 
Dangerous dogfights can also occur when dogs are in a household that has a lot of other dogs. If you own more than one dog, and they continue to fight, then you may need to permanently separate the dogs to keep them from hurting one another.
 
Train Your Dog To Respond To Your Commands
 
A big part of keeping your dog safe involves training, which will help your dog to respond to
your voice in any type of situation. Professional training classes are often needed to obtain the desired and effective results, and the lessons you and your dog learn in these classes will need to be continually practiced throughout the dog's lifetime.
 
If one day your dog does run outside without a leash, you can quickly call your dog back to you before he or she gets into an accident; if your dog confronts another dog you may be able to call your dog away before a fight occurs. Training your dog can save your dog's life, and working with your dog will also help you and your dog to develop a stronger bond.
 
Protect Your Dog From Accidental Poisoning
 
Every year dogs around the world experience fatal poisoning accidents. Many of these accidents are caused by rodent poisons that are placed around the home or in outside areas where a dog has access to them. A dog may be treated successfully from rodenticide poisonings, but ingesting these products can often lead to permanent organ damage. If you use any poisonous products around your home, make sure that your dog will not be able to reach them at all.
 
Poisoning accidents can also occur from products around the home that are deadly, but they do not have a bad taste or smell and so your dog may ingest it out of curiosity, thirst, or hunger.
Anti-freeze is an example of a dangerous household product that can fatally poison dogs; while anti-freeze is a hazardous chemical, it actually has a slightly sweet taste; try to be aware of any products in an around the home that may harm your dog.
 
Other more common accidental poisonings occur when dogs eat prescription medications and over the counter drugs. These drugs may taste horrible to us, but for some reason dogs seem to find pills particularly appetizing. You may not think that your dog is tempted to eat your bottle of xanax, but it does happen.
In fact, recently some pet owners have discovered that their dogs are obsessed with getting into anti-depressant medications. While some of these stories are amusing, the health consequences that dogs can suffer from these types of overdoses are serious. Always keep over the counter drugs and prescription medications far out of reach of your dog.
 
Microchip Your Dog
 
Chipping your dog is one of the most proactive steps you can take towards keeping your dog safe, healthy, and in your care for as long as possible. If at some time you and your dog become separated, than a microchip may help to reunite you with your dog. When your dog becomes lost there is always the possibility that another person may adopt your dog, but a lost dog can also suffer from starvation, fights with other animals, or an accident with a vehicle.
 
When you can't claim your dog
 
Dogs that are lost are frequently picked up and brought to humane animal shelters as well, but if the dog is not claimed or adopted within a specified amount of time the dog will be euthanized.
If your dog does become lost and ends up in an animal shelter, a microchip will quickly identify your dog removing any chance that your dog may be accidentally euthanized.
 
A microchip will also help to identify your dog if you and your dog are separated in an
emergency. Mandatory evacuations caused by fires, floods, and storms are notorious for
separating dogs and their frantic owners; while you may experience a temporary separation from your dog in the event of an emergency, a microchip can bring you and your dog back together.

About the Author

Douglas Hanna and his wife have owned many dogs over the years. They currently share their home with a Wheaton Terrier named Emma Lou, and Jake, a Cairn Terrier. Hanna is the publisher of the popular web site, http://www.doghouseplans360.com/ which includes information about dog houses and many other subjects relating to dogs.

Posted by Amanda at 9:56 AM