Such Joys, Such Pitfalls

by Christopher Forsythe, DVM

Now that we have survived the wettest winter and spring in recent memory, those of us with beloved pooches are finally ready to bond beneath the starry nights by going on a pet friendly camping trip with our dogs. This can truly be a Zen experience, or a miserable one, if anything untoward should happen to that four-legged chum snoring by your side. So this month, I want to remind you of some concerns you need to consider before you trek out with your Borzoi or Bassett to have special bonding moments around a campfire just like the cowboys did in Mel Brooks’ movie “Blazing Saddles.”

Several serious problems can face dog campers when they are on vacation with their owners. Among these are fights, bite wounds from other dogs or wild animals, dietary indiscretion around the grill, ingestion of toxins including scat and poisonous plants, sprains, strains, lacerations, and burns. And let’s not forget another dreadful problem the folks at Mastercard have capitalized on, pets getting lost and separated from their humans.

Bite wounds are very common. If two companion dogs begin to fight, it is important that you not try to reach in and break up the fight. The most serious injuries from dog fights happen to people trying to separate dogs. A good splash of water or ice is usually all that is needed to get two pets separated long enough for owners to intervene. The same is true for much wildlife, including possums, squirrels, and raccoons. Skunks? Stay clear, since the noxious spray can cause eye damage.

If your pet is bitten, stop the bleeding by placing a towel or undershirt or other absorbent material directly over the wound and apply manual pressure over the wound to reduce or stop the bleeding, then seek medical care. It is important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible, even for fairly small puncture wounds. Many think bite wounds are self-limiting and will heal on their own. _ is is simply not the case. In fact, often a veterinarian’s worst nightmare is the owner who presents his badly infected, sick animal a week after an injury, having treated the wound with Neosporin. Often, placing a cream or a salve only serves to trap dangerous germs inside a puncture wound, allowing infection to spread. Pets with puncture wounds need careful wound cleaning and antibiotic care, usually within a day of the injury.

Burns are also fairly common at the old hoedown. Some pets cannot resist playing hot potato and dosie-doe into the campfire re. While the majority of these pets seem to be of the adorable, ever-trusting Labrador Retriever variety, there are certainly other breeds who may try this trick. If this should happen to your happy camper, clean the area with cold water and keep a cool washcloth over the lesion until you can get the pet checked by your veterinarian. And again, no creams or lotions on the area as this will attract dirt and germs.

Sprains, strains and automobiles

Most doggie campers don’t feel they’ve had an adventure unless they’ve prowled around significantly, and this opens them up to the possibility of sustaining a sprain or strain or even a fracture. This event can be greatly reduced by keeping your pet on a leash at all times, but should you let that critter run free (and we all have at one time or another) and then hear that yelp and see your pet hobble back on three legs, keep the following in mind:

• Injured pets need strict rest, no running or jumping.

• Human medications, like aspirin and especially Tylenol, can be harmful to pets.

• Even if the injury seems temporary, sprains and strains are easy to reinjure if the pet runs again, so keep your pet leashed and restrained.

• Microchipped pets (see your vet) will give you peace of mind, knowing you’ll have a much better chance of getting him back should you two become separated.

Isn’t that poison oak pretty?

Pets do love to move about in nature, and they also don’t always stop and think. Even if they did, they are not so good at reasoning (Border Collies excepted!). So it is up to us as their guardians to make sure they stay away from eating plants while rummaging through the forest. The list of toxic plants is too vast for me to cover here. Suffice it to say that everything from English ivy to buttercup are toxic and many things in between. There are also contact toxins such as poison oak that can cause skin irritation, which can spread to you if you touch your pet.

Finally, remember that when you have those big meaty wieners and burgers roasting on the spit, and you look down at those big brown eyes begging for a bite, this is not the time to give in and feed your begging bowser from the grill. Pancreatitis is just a few delicious bites away. Keep your pet’s regular food on hand, and he will be healthier and happier and, hopefully, able to camp with you for many years to come.