How
to Pre-empt and Avoid Your Dog from Getting Injured while
Hiking
Though
your hiking expedition with your dog by your side is really
fun and thrilling, there is little scope that you will return
home without getting your dog injured.Any hiking is fraught
with dangers and your dog unwittingly will meet with one of
the dangers if you are not careful and cautious. Out of various
lurking dangers, we will see 3 potential dangers that when
taken note by you can make your hiking trip uneventful.
Forest
Dangers
As you set your foot out on a hiking trip with your dog, the
vast natural woodlands and deep forests will stay spread before
you and your dog for exploring. Similar to your interests,
your dog will also get enthusiastic to explore things and
places and in its adventurous expedition your dog may meet
with many traps that has been set by hunters for catching
small animals and mammals and these traps with its sharp edges
normally cause deep injuries and may even prove fatal to your
dog.
For
instance, in many parts of northern US, hunters are in the
habit of placing baits in pits or ditches to trap furred animals
and many a times these traps will end up in catching one of
the curious dogs that accompanied its master in a hiking trip.
The
possible solution to this menace is to avoid hiking during
any of the hunting seasons and additionally you can also get
to know more about the frequent places where hunters hunt
for such small animals and remove those areas from your itinerary.
Further, you should also note to consider the threat from
poachers and it is better you get your dog clad in a bright
orange dog vest to avoid any mistaken identity.
Chasing
Prairies
Prairie
chasing is one of the most favorite pastimes of your dog that
too when you are undertaking hiking expedition. Prairies are
not aggressive creatures but they get scared at the sight
of other animals and hence take to their feet thus making
your dog chasing it without any second thought.
Though
your dog may not be interested to chase animals that are bigger
in body size such as deers or young bisons, it is sure to
get allured by prairies and start chasing them without fail.
There are also instances where the chasing dog getting lost
its way back to you or get caught in other dangers of the
forest or the area.
Foxtail
Plants
These
Foxtail Plants belong to the perennial weedy grass species
and are normally found sparsely on roadsides and abundantly
in grasslands and forest areas. The plants have long spikes
that hold many seeds with sharp edges. When your dog unwittingly
explore its interests through these foxtail plants, the seeds
will get lodged on your dog’s body and inside the paws
giving severe pricking pain. Further, as these seeds come
with barbs pointing in opposite direction, they get lodged
deep into the flesh with every attempt of your dog to shed
them and thus make your dog exposed to infection too.
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