California Canine Winter Engagement
If you’re fortunate enough to remain out of the wind flow of the fires, the cooler temps are a great time to take advantage of hiking especially since snakes are less active. Although always be on the lookout since winter temperatures may still be favorable enough for snakes and fire may keep them on the move. The following are good places to start for rattlesnake information to keep you and your Canine safe outside.
County of San Diego Communications Office – How to Avoid Rattlesnake Encounters
County of San Diego Department of Animal Services Snake Brochure
Looking to stay out of the hills and walking around the neighborhood is getting repetitive if not dull?! With the tourists gone, this is a fantastic time to visit the dog beach! In addition to dog beaches put together a few suggestions on our Resources page for Dog Hikes and Dog Parks as well.
For anyone wanting to keep their dog engaged mentally and physically although experiencing bad air quality, not enough daylight time during the week, simply unable to leave the house for any number of reason and really anyone with a dog and a house and yard full of Christmas decorations that beckon to be chewed on… NOW is a fantastic time to use your off leash control to reinforce “place”, “sit”, “off”, etc. so you can decorate with reckless abandon and not have to worry about your favorite decoration getting destroyed or worse yet… ending up the focus of an emergency trip to the veterinarian.
If it happens that you are in need of a little tune up in training… Contact Us and we’ll keep you going in the right direction.
In addition to Christmas decorations, our favorite holiday foods and family can also pose problems. Be sure to utilize your off leash control to wade through keeping your dog safe with the following additional suggestions to make the holidays safe and happy for your pet.
Make the Holidays Safe and Happy for Your Pet
First and foremost, make sure your pet has a safe area it can go to or be kept for them to get away from your friends and family and their children whom they may not be as interested in visiting with as you are. A crate in a bedroom or other room away from traffic works great!
Next ensure your pets are safe from:
- Onions
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Chocolate
- Items with xylitol
- Cooked and / or small bones
- Some pets are extremely sensitive to fatty foods and yeast dough
Most importantly ensure your trash containing all the fantastic food smells with plastic wrappers, twine, toothpicks etc is in a place they can’t get to.
Make sure you have the phone number to your local EMERGENCY veterinary clinic already saved in your phone to save time in case of emergency.
Signs of pet distress include: sudden changes in behavior, depression, pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Take quick action if your pet is in distress, you believe it has been poisoned or consumed something it shouldn’t have, call your local veterinary emergency clinic immediately. You may also want to call the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435.
Enjoy the Holiday Season and Stay Safe!
