Spring is finally here and it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and enjoying dog walks in the warmer, sunnier weather. Regular physical activity is essential for keeping your canine companion healthy and happy, however just like any other season, spring comes with its own set of challenges and potential hazards for our canine companions.
In this blog, we explore common outdoor spring hazards for dogs, from parasites and grass seeds to toxic algae. If you're looking for advice on dog-safe foods and plant hazards, be sure to check out our Easter pet blog here.
As the seasons change, it's essential for dog owners to stay aware of potential dangers and take steps to keep their pets safe. Here are some key tips for spring dog care:
The Hazards Of Blue-Green Algae
Dogs can be poisoned by drinking, swimming, or playing in water that has been contaminated with blue-green algae. This algae produces toxins harmful to both dogs and humans and is widespread in the UK - found in ponds, lakes, streams, estuaries and bodies of open water.
Symptoms of algae poisoning may include diarrhoea, vomiting (possibly with blood), lethargy, twitching, breathing difficulties, and organ damage which can potentially be fatal.
Tips To Avoid Toxic Algae
- Water that contains toxic algae may appear an unusual colour or have visible algae blooms on the surface. The only way to confirm that toxins may be present in the water is through testing, so it is not guaranteed that the lack of visible algae ensures that a water source is toxin free.
- Local knowledge of the water quality in the area is the best form of prevention.
- It’s critical to take your pet to a vet immediately if any of the symptoms of algae poisoning are presented in your dog after swimming or drinking from unknown water sources.
- If you are taking your dog on holiday, check for local information to find places where the water is safe for dogs to enjoy and be aware of algae hot spots.
- Washing your dog immediately after swimming and water play can help to reduce the chance of your dog ingesting contaminated water but is unfortunately not a fail-safe method of prevention.
Beware of Grass Seeds
Grass seeds may seem harmless but can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for your dog if they manage to embed into your pet’s skin. These tough little seeds are easily picked up, becoming stuck to your dog’s hair when walking through grassy areas. Their shape and sharp ends make them particularly adept at burrowing into your dog’s skin, causing localised pain and swelling, leading to infection and abscesses.
Grass seeds can penetrate the skin on any part of the body but are more commonly picked up by the ears and paws. Your dog may shake or tilt their head or display lameness with constant worrying of the injury site. An embedded grass seed will need to be removed by your vet as the area will be very sore and there may not be an obvious sign of a wound or entry point of the seed visible on the skin.
How To Keep Grass Seeds At Bay
- Regular grooming with a fine-toothed comb and slicker brush physically removes any seeds that have been caught in the coat and prevents your dog from ingesting them too.
- After each walk, especially through long grass, take the time to check the inside of your dog’s ears and paws, in between the pads and toes to check for any rogue grass seeds.
- Dogs that have a lot of hair around the ears and paws will benefit from clipping. Our A5 dog clippers are ideal for keeping your dog’s coat in an easy to maintain trim to reduce the collection of grass seeds and help you to spot skin issues.
- Specialist toe blades can be used on A5 dog clippers for detailed clipping of the hair from the narrow parts between the pads of the feet to prevent seeds from collecting between the toes. Find out more about dogs paw care and trimming here.
- Our Showmate trimmers are also the perfect handy cordless trimmer to keep on top of the hair on your dog’s paws and from around the face and ears.
Check For Parasites
Spending more time outside with our dogs has the downside of leading to greater exposure to parasites such as fleas and ticks. These parasites are generally spread by wildlife, other infected pets and livestock and can be picked up by walking through woodlands and long grass. Not only are canine parasites a health problem for your pet but they can pose serious health problems for us too.
Signs of a flea infestation in dogs include persistent itching and scratching, visible parasites in the fur, hair loss, allergic dermatitis, and even tapeworm infections. Once fleas take hold, they can quickly spread into your home, thriving in warm environments year-round. They often settle in soft furnishings, making them difficult to eliminate.
Ticks are another common springtime parasite. These blood-sucking pests attach to your dog's skin and can resemble a large, grey-coloured skin tag. They may cause severe itching, lethargy, anaemia, swollen glands, paralysis, digestive issues, and, in some cases, Lyme disease or life-threatening anaemia. Early detection is key—regular checks and prompt removal help keep your dog healthy and parasite-free. You can read up about ticks on our blog here.
How To Eliminate Fleas And Ticks
- Regularly grooming your dog provides the perfect opportunity for you to check the condition of your dog’s skin. A metal comb or flea comb are useful tools to part the hair down to the skin to check for fleas, ticks and grass seeds. Our Essentials pet grooming set contains everything you need to keep your four-legged friend healthy.
- Run your hands through the coat to feel all over your dog’s body to detect for unusual lumps, bumps, heat or swelling. Doing this regularly will help you to know what is and isn’t normal for your dog.
- Ticks can be easily and safely removed from the skin with a specialist tick removal tool.
- If your dog has a long or thick coat, clipping can offer a quick and easy maintenance solution to facilitate grooming and make it much easier to spot potential problems.
- Tablets and topical treatments can be purchased from your vet and should be given to your dog at regular intervals to break the lifecycle of these pests. However there are growing concerns about the environmental impact of conventional flea and tick treatments on UK freshwater ecosystems. Studies by Imperial Collage London, found chemicals from pet parasiticides having been detected in rivers and ponds at levels harmful to aquatic life. Given this worrying research, regular grooming is more important than ever. Maintaining your dog's coat and grooming frequently can help remove and detect fleas and ticks early, reducing reliance on chemical treatments.
- For a natural parasitic deterent, spray your dog with Wildwash flea and bug repellent before heading out on walks. This organic formulation with a blend of essential oils and herbs blend such as Horsetail, Eucalyptus and Nettle work together to help deter fleas, flies, mites, ticks and mosquitoes as well as brightening your dog's coat.
Superb grooms ready for spring by @Lauren Emily Dog Grooming
Spring Dog Care Tips
Keeping on top of your dogs grooming routine will help to prevent and spot any of these spring hazards to keep your dog happy and healthy.
Take a look at our blogs here for more tips for expert grooming guidance to keep your four-legged friend in top shape all year round.
If you’d like more advice or need to find the perfect clippers and grooming accessories for your dog’s breed, we’re here to help. Contact us today for bespoke grooming recommendations.
