Get Your Dog Ready for Hunting Season
Flea and Tick Prevention
Make sure your dog is protected from fleas and ticks with topical Frontline® Plus. Continue to use this product monthly as directed by a veterinarian. Fall is peak time for transmission of Lyme disease from adult ticks. Fall is also when many pets become infested with fleas. Please talk to your veterinarian about proper application of this product.
Internal Parasites
Hunting dogs are at higher risk to contract roundworms and hookworms from the environment. These parasites can then be passed to people. Heartworm prevention, such as Heartgard®, deworms for these parasites and should be given once a month.
Vaccinations
Make sure your pet is current on vaccinations such as Rabies, Lyme and Leptospirosis. Hunting dogs are at increased risk of these easily preventable diseases. Also, if your dog is going to be hunting with a group of other dogs, its distemper combination and bordetella vaccinations should be up-to-date.
Exercise
Just like a person, if a dog is not properly conditioned before working hard, they can suffer from performance injuries such as pulled muscles, sore joints and strained or torn ligaments. Gradually increase your pet's activity over a couple weeks prior to the start of hunting. In addition, be sure to allow your pet time to rest while hunting.
Food
Overweight pets are at an increased risk for performance injuries as well as exhaustion. Make sure your pet is an ideal weight prior to the start of hunting season. During hunting, a dog's calorie intake increased. It is best to feed dogs smaller more frequent meals.
Paws
Many dog's can wear down their paw pads and form painful ulcerations. Keep protective boots on hand for your dog to wear. Dog's can suffer from cuts and debris in their eyes, especially in grass and wooded areas. Keep an eye saline solution with you, along with some bandaging material to stop bleeding until you can get to your veterinarian.
Senior Hunters
Senior dogs can often remain active and healthy with the help of your veterinarian. Senior pets can benefit from a daily glucosamine supplement. There have also been many advances in pain medications for arthritis, which make have fewer side effects. Contact your veterinarian to make a plan to keep your senior hunter comfortable.
Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.