Ask the Veterinarian

Q: What do I have to worry about if I take my dog to a dog park?

Posted

A:Dog Parks are great places for dogs to get exercise and have fun.  But if not careful, they can also become a hazard.

Before taking your dog to the park you should make sure they will get along with other dogs.  Dog bites are a very common occurrance at a dog park, especially between unneutered male dogs. 

Keep your dog leashed if they don’t listen to you.  That will help keep them from running away.

Always keep an eye on your dog so that way they don’t end up eating goose feces or some other debris off the ground.

Make sure that your dog always has access to water and shade.   Make sure they don’t overwork themselves.  If they do too much in the heat, they can get heat stroke.

And don’t forget that fleas and ticks can be found in many parks across the United States, especially Long Island.  Make sure you have flea and tick preventative. 

Heartworm disease is becoming a bigger problem across the United States.  It’s transmitted by a mosquito and it’s not easily treated.  However, it is easily PREVENTED with heartworm medication. 

And, of course, always keep your dog up to date on their vaccines.  The vaccines help prevent many of the viruses that your dog could contract at a park.  The Rabies vaccine is required by state law in New York. 

We hope these suggestions help you and your pet have fun!

http://www.centralvets.com/

Welcome to Central Veterinary Associates. We appreciate the opportunity to introduce you to our practice.

As one of the oldest continuous veterinary practices in the region, we pride ourselves in providing outstanding veterinary medicine coupled with compassion and caring for your companion and exotic animals.

Our unique system of delivering outstanding veterinary care begins with providing convenient animal clinic locations throughout Nassau and Queens Counties, including Valley StreamGreat NeckBaysideForest HillsFar Rockaway, andMineola. These clinics are backed by our 24/7/365 state-of-the-art Valley Stream Animal Hospital. The hospital not only serves as an emergency and surgical facility, but also provides advanced diagnostic and treatment servicespain managementdentistry and boarding services for our clients.
You can call us at 516-825-3066