FIT PET
5 Tips for Keeping
You and Your Dog
Healthy on the
Trails this Summer
The sun is out, many of us have begun to shed our winter layers,
and the urge to get outside and hit the trails is stronger than ever.
For those of us that share our enthusiasm for fitness with our four
legged friends, it means that we are getting ready to do our fasted
cardio or high intensity intervals outside with our dogs. There is
nothing more fun than sharing some exercise with Fido, but before
you jet out the door, keep these five tips in mind to ensure that both
you and your pups stay safe this summer.
By:Thomas DeLauer
PACK WATER – You would think that it would go without
saying, but all too often we hear of dogs suffering from heat
exhaustion and even dying from what started out as a simple
excursion to the trails. The fact of the matter is, you can never
predict what might happen when you head out. A short, brisk walk
could turn into a daylong adventure with one wrong turn, and
it is one thing to forget your own water and get a little parched,
but our furry friends are much closer to the hot ground and risk
dehydration much quicker than us. There are some great products
out there that allow your dogs to carry their own water in small
packs so that you don’t have to carry the extra burden; but as
animal lovers, I’m sure all of us would gladly accept the extra
workout of carrying some more water!
BE PREPARED FOR TICKS – Depending on where you
live, you may or may not have to deal with ticks, but for those of us
that do, remember that ticks are not just a nuisance or danger for us
as humans, but they can wreak some serious havoc on your dogs
as well. We hear of humans suffering from Lyme’s disease now and
then, but not many talk about the effects of Lyme’s disease on dogs.
As an auto-immune disease, Lyme’s affects dogs similar to humans,
causing serious inflammation and joint pain which dramatically lowers
the quality of life for them. The best ways to prevent ticks for you
AND your dog are actually the simplest ones yet – Stay on the trails,
avoid heavily grassed areas, and thoroughly inspect for ticks after
your hikes or walks. There are tick prevention sprays available for
dogs, however only a small handful are bio-available and fully safe
for use on your dog. Do not use human tick prevention sprays on
your dog!
SNAKES! – In the U.S., only about twelve people die annually
form snake bites (according to PetMD), but the numbers of pets
that cross the rainbow bridge from venomous snake bites is much
higher. As the weather gets warmer, we are much more apt to have
an encounter with a rattlesnake or cottonmouth. Here are j