Pooch care during the monsoon blues
Health & Wellness — By Namraata Badheka on July 11, 2012 at 4:07 PM
Are the monsoons turning out to be a pet scare instead of pet care? To ease you and your pets’ misery, here is what Dr. Sagar Bhongle advices for monsoon pet care. He runs a twenty four hour clinic for pets and is a veterinarian surgeon for the last ten years.
DO’S AND DON’TS FOR MONSOON CANINE CARE
Most of us are busy with our work or other commitments and give the responsibility of looking after our pooches to care takers. Caretakers don’t usually care for our pets well, and it’s our duty to take some time out to do little things that’ll ensure the wellbeing of our pets. Just ensure that your pet has a warm, dry and a secure place to sleep. Preferably, get your pet indoors to keep them safe during the monsoons.
Do
- Give your pet regular grooming. Grooming includes brushing, nail clipping, ear clean-up and check up and dental supervision. Brushing their fur will get rid of loose hair strands and keep their coat shiny and clean. Also use anti-fungal powder.
- De-tick your dog. You can do so by purchasing de-ticking products from pet stores. It’d be advisable to visit a vet for the ideal procedure. You could also de-tick manually but use gloves or tissue to protect your hands.
- Remember to keep the fur and paws dry to prevent any infection.
- Get vaccination and de-worming done before the rains start.
- Use a dry shampoo or just blow dry the fur using a blow dryer or a heater if they get drenched in the rain. Prevent your pooch from getting drenched by cladding them in washable socks and raincoats.
Don’t
- Wash the paws if they get wet in the rains as this could lead to a fungal infection. Just keep them dry.
- Bathe them frequently. You can bathe your dog every fifteen to twenty days, though once a month is ideal.
- Use products like Dettol or Savlon and the like. Dogs are allergic to such human products.
- Put them on medication or use a product without consulting the vet. Dogs are sensitive beings and could develop allergies or infections or other side effects if it’s not compatible with their system.
- Let your pooches eat anything off the road. This causes digestive problems. The monsoons bring with them a host of viruses, bacteria and other illnesses. Use a muzzle for your pet to prevent it from chomping things from the road.
Symptoms to look out for:
Keep a watchful eye on your adorable darlings. Here are a few signs that call for a visit to the vet.
- Redness in paws. This also leads to difficulty in walking.
- Abnormal flapping of ears/head. This could mean that the ears are infected.
- Loss of appetite, vomiting or an irregular eating habit. This could mean that your pooch is suffering from digestive issues.
Take your pet for regular check-ups to the vet. If you follow these simple tips, you and your pet will experience a happy monsoon!
