Pet Strollers: Spring care for your dog

Fitting your pooch with a good thick padded dog coat is an ideal to keep your dog warm during the winter. Spring can still be a little chilly too, so invest in a lighter, less padded coat that will just keep them from getting chilly. These lighter jackets can be put on and taken off when necessary and can be easily stored in the storage compartment of your dog stroller. Short haired dogs can get quite cold in the early spring, especially if they have been used to wearing a jacket during the winter months.

Many dogs start to shed their coat in the spring. It is a natural transition as the weather begins to warm up. If your dog has grown a warm winter coat throughout the winter always make sure your dog is thoroughly brushed and groomed on a regular basis. This will help prevent tangles and mats in their coat.

If your dog does wear a dog coat on their walk always remove it when you return home and give them a brushing out. A gentle regular brushing also helps restore oils to their new spring coat. Brushing also stimulates the skin and prevents the dreaded dreads of an unkempt coat. You can also give your dog an Omega 3 capsule supplement to assist this transitional period for the coat.

As the weather warms up the pesky problem of fleas will reemerge and cause your dog many health problems if not properly treated. If you haven’t kept up your dogs monthly (or regular) flea treatment throughout the winter, then start to treat your dog in early spring. One of the best flea treatments is the ‘once a month’ topical solution pipette that is applied to the back of your dog’s neck. Did you know that a single female flea can lay over 300 eggs a day, so take preventive measures to protect your dog and your home from an infestation as the warm spring weather begins.

Spring is also the season when many dogs pick up intestinal parasites. Tapeworms are a common parasite and are contracted from fleas, especially when a dog licks the flea bites. Roundworms and hookworms are also easily contracted as well. Prevention of such parasites is done by giving your dog the correct treatment and medication regularly. Your vet will advise you on what preventive treatment to give your dog and how often. Many worm prevention medications also include Heart Worm prevention, which is ideal bonus.

Early spring can still be plagued with front, ice and snow, especially on morning walks with your dog. Always make sure your dog’s feet are dried and cleaned when you return back home. Roads, pavements and kerbs have been repeatedly covered with salty grit and ice melting chemical all winter. These substances can be harmful to you dogs paw pads.

If there has been a snow fall prevent your dog from drinking snow melted water in case it is laced with salty ice melting grit. It’s always a good idea to carry water with you i case your dog becomes thirsty on your walk.

After a cold winter warmer weather makes us all feel more healthier and happy. Humans and dogs store a little more fat in the winter and spring is a good time to walk it off and become more healthy in readiness for an active summer. If you have have given your dog shorter walks throughout the winter gently ease them back into longer walks. Don’t overdo it on the first spring day and walk them for a 5 mile walk! Just as you would want to ease back into an outdoor trek, fitness programme or exercise routine, your canine companion also needs to take it slowly at first. You can increase the length of their walks and runs steadily and gradually.

If you are planning on taking your dog out on a day long excursion then a dog stroller may be of some help. That way you won’t tire your dog too quickly. Having a pet stroller handy will allow your dog to walk and rest when they need to, especially if they haven’t been doing long walks since last autumn. A pet stroller is ideal for any senior dog that isn’t so good on their legs anymore. The spring weather will give them a new lease of life, especially if they don’t have to worry about walking or suffering from hip or leg pain. A dog stroller will also keep your small, senior or vulnerable dog warm and dry if the weather should unexpectedly turn bad.

Spring is a time when you increase the amount of outdoor walks and jaunts, especially if the weather is brightening up. Spring is an ideal time to check your dog has the correct collar and that all their contact details are visible on their identity tag. Check that your dogs collar is the correct size and not too tight. And check that your dog’s details have not faded from the identity tag. If the worst should happen and your dog runs off you will then be more likely to be reunited with your beloved pooch.

Many of us like to start preparing the garden in spring, so we can have a picturesque place to spend our hot summer days. Dogs like to spend time with you as you dig and plant your new borders and bulbs. Just be careful that you are using dog friendly plants and non toxic chemicals to brighten up your garden. Avoid using toxic weed killers and materials like ‘cocoa mulch’, which is often used as bedding mulch for flower beds, it is very attractive to, but highly toxic to dogs. Many outdoor parks use ‘cocoa mulch’ on their flower beds so look out for it on your outdoor walks.

Another danger in the flourishing garden is spring bulbs. Some dogs like to dig up your daffodil and tulip bulbs as a destructive sport. But beware. Many spring bulbs fall into the allium family, and onions (allium) are toxic to dogs.

Your family dog will enjoy your spring lawn as much as you will do, but make sure you don’t use harsh toxic chemicals like weed killer or plant food that is poisonous to your dog. Spring lawn care also often combines herbicide and pesticide treatments that will to insect larva, ticks, fleas and other garden critters.

There are also some dangerous fertilisers on the market that would be harmful to your dog if they ingested it or even walked on it as it could also harm their paws. Slug and snail baits can also be harmful to your dog, so try and use more dog friendly solutions rather than harmful toxic chemicals. Speak to your local garden centre specialist on which dog friendly garden products are best for your outdoor spaces.

Also keep an eye out for any fresh gardening work on your outdoor walks in the local park or even down your street. Pesticides, lawn chemicals, plant foods, snail or slug repellents, herbicides and your dog don’t go together.