Dog safety on springtime walks

Now the icy grip of winter is being thawed by the hint of spring sunshine peeking through brightening clouds, it’s time to enjoy adventuring again!

Our canine companions are likely just as excited as we are to see the springtime sun return, though it’s still important to keep an eye out for potential hazards. While the dark evenings and relentless cold are disappearing, spring brings with it a new lease of life, new flowers, and new risks for our dogs.  

We want you and your dog to make the most of spring. So, here are our five top tips to help you and your best fur-iend stay safe throughout your springtime adventures…

1. Watch out for poisonous plants

As flowers begin to bloom, it’s essential to know which ones are toxic to dogs in order to avoid them on your springtime walks. 

When walking your dog, please avoid the following flowers and plants:

• Bluebells.
• Daffodils.
• Tulips.
• Rhododendrons.
• Buttercups.
• Foxgloves.
• Hyacinths.
• Sweetpea.
• Crocuses.
• Azaleas.
• Irises.
• Amaryllis.
• Elderberry.
• Wild cherry trees.
• Yew trees.

In case your dog does snack on a potentially poisonous plant, here are some symptoms to look out for:

• Drooling.
• Sleepiness.
• Wobbliness.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhoea.

Please contact a vet immediately if you think your dog might have eaten something toxic, even if they aren’t showing symptoms!

2. Be prepared for changing weather conditions

Just as the seasons change, the weather changes too. So, it makes sense that as we wave goodbye to winter, we’re likely to experience an array of weather conditions while spring settles in!

Some spring days can be rainy and windy, whereas others may be sunny and warm. Yet, there are days peppered throughout springtime that seem to mimic all four seasons in the space of a few hours. With this in mind, it’s vital to keep an eye on weather forecasts, like those provided by the Met Office, before venturing outdoors with your pup. 

From heavy rain to blazing sunshine, stay prepared for the best and worst of the weather, by making sure you have supplies to hand for both you and your dog:

• Snacks and water – keeping yourself and your canine companion nourished and hydrated should be top-priority throughout your adventure.
• Dog poop bags – remembering to follow appropriate dog poo etiquette; in case you’re going somewhere there may not be bins, you might also want to consider something like a Dicky Bag.
• Fully charged mobile phone – you’ll need to be able to contact someone in case of an emergency.
• Waterproof clothing – for you that could include a coat, wellies, and an umbrella; while your dog might need a suitable coat, or just a towel-dry before heading home in the car. 
• First aid kit – no-matter the time of year, having a human first aid kit and a dog first aid kit available is a must.

Top tip: Always let someone know where you’re going and roughly what time you’ll be back – not forgetting about the what3words app in case you get lost!

3. Travel safely with your dog

Although it often doesn’t feel very summery when there’s April showers and gloomy skies, temperatures tend to increase in the leap from winter to spring. 

Dogs should never be left alone in cars, no-matter the time of year, though it’s essential to note the temperature before embarking on a car journey with your canine companion. Keeping your dog cool in the car, with air conditioning switched on, and plenty of breaks built into lengthier journeys should help them feel more comfortable while travelling.

For further advice about travelling with your dog, by car or public transport, visit our article about travelling with your pet. 

4. Check for ticks

Since spring has sprung, ticks will emerge and could pose a problem for our pets. 

Unfortunately, ticks carry nasty diseases that can be transferred to our dogs if they’re bitten by one. For instance, Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that could result in joint pain, limping, loss of appetite, and fever in dogs. 

Ensuring you keep up to date with your canine companion’s preventative health care (e.g. tick, flea and worming treatments) can help to lower the risk of a tick bite. Though you’ll also need to thoroughly check your dog’s coat after every walk, to make sure there’s no sign of a tick attached to their:

• Ears.
• Armpits.
• Paws (especially between their toes!).

More information about the prevention and treatment of tick bites can be found in our article about ticks on dogs. 

5. Look out for livestock and wildlife

Spring is a time for welcoming new life for many species, particularly grazing livestock (like cows and sheep) and ground-nesting birds (like the curlew and skylark). 

However, if a dog disturbs a bird’s nest or frightens livestock, the result can be devastating for chicks and baby animals, whose parents could abandon them out of fear. Dogs who dive into ponds and lakes may also have a negative impact on aquatic wildlife; with the extra risk of their flea treatments potentially polluting the water. 

Additionally, cows with calves are extremely protective, and could become defensive if your dog gets too close to them.

Please note: It is against the law to let your dog worry livestock, meaning your dog isn’t allowed to chase, attack, or cause injury to animals such as cows and sheep. 

Thankfully, there’s one important step you can take during springtime walks to ensure your canine companion and other animals stay safe, which is to keep your dog on a lead. 

If your dog delights in running around off the lead, you could take regular trips to a safe, local dog walking field. Hiring a dog walking field is a great alternative to letting your dog off their lead around wildlife and livestock!

Visit our ‘Tails’ of UK Wildlife to discover the reasons to keep dogs on leads around wildlife. To learn more about the risks involved with letting your dog splash around in ponds or lakes, you can read our article all about the dangers of blue-green algae.