Dog Park Safety

Dogs parks are great places for dogs to socialize, exercise, and play. If you practice common sense and follow some simple rules, you can help make the experience an easy, enjoyable and safe experience for everyone involved! Before visiting the dog park with your canine, check out the park on your own. Walk the perimeter to check for any holes in or under the fence. If you find any, notify the park director. Dog parks should have two gates at the entrance with a holding pen between them. Observe the other dogs and owners in the park, their activity levels, and the equipment available for your dog to play with/on to be sure all these factors are suited to your dogs personality, behavior and energy level. Here are some pointers to help you with your park visit: Make sure to close the first gate before opening the second. This will help keep your pet safe when removing the leash as well as prevent any dogs in the park from escaping. Remove your dogs leash in the holding pen before entering the park. Dogs that enter the park on leash can instigate fights. It is also a good idea to remove any prong collars or choker collars as the loops on these can get caught in other dogs mouths or on equipment in the park. However, you should have some form of external ID on your dog, such as tags and a nylon collar. Let the dogs sniff each others hind ends. This is how they get to know each other. Forcing dogs to address each other head-on can be interpreted as aggression and may instigate a fight. Some dogs may raise their hackles, or hair on their back, when meeting other dogs. Do not bring treats or toys with you. Some dogs can be protective of food and toys so introducing these items to the park can incite a fight. Maintain a visual of your dog while he/she is playing. To ensure the safety of your pet, other pets and owners, it's important to know where you pet is at all times. Watch for signs of aggression, either from your dog or other dogs. If your dog is being harassed or harassing another dog, or if you see aggression from any dog, remove your dog from the park to avoid potential conflicts. If your dog is in heat, do not take her to the park. Always be aware. Even dogs who are best friends can get into tiffs. Keep your eyes open for wildlife that may have wandered into the park, or dogs that may have been abandoned there. If anything seems questionable, take your dog out of the park. By following these rules, you will help keep your pet and other pets safe. Enjoy the dog park. And hey, while you're looking around, why not check out the Cedar Lane Dog Park, voted one of the top 10 dog parks in the US by Dog Fancy magazine! Visit their website at www.ossiningdogpark.com Bark In The Park, June 16th! On June 16th, Ossining's Cedar Lane Dog Park will host the third annual Bark In The Park. The festival typically hosts all kinds of pet related vendors, supplies and doggie oriented fun. Last year our festivities were drowned in rain, but this year we're looking forward to lots of sun, lots of people, and of course lots of dogs! At Hudson Vet we are a bunch of fair and festival loving people, so we will definitely be at Bark In The Park again this year. Bring your pups out for some socialization and pampering. We'll not only have some freebies...but some tasty treats for your pups too! Case Of The Month: Anal Sacs / Glands By: Dr. Glenn Zeitz Samantha, a 5 year old beagle, came for an appointment because her owner said she was "rubbing her butt on the carpet." Upon exam, Samantha appeared healthy and was not running a fever. I recommended we express her anal glands and advised her owner the problem to resolve immediately. We see many anal gland issues in dogs (mostly) and cats. These issues can range from minor discomfort to more severe disease and infection. The anal glands are two sacs located just inside the rectum that are connected to the rectal surface by short, narrow ducts. These sacs contain a very smelly secretion. We believe the purpose of these glands and their secretion is evolutionary and originally served to mark bowel movements so wild dogs could mark their territory. This tended to keep the 'peace' between neighboring packs of dogs. These are the very same glands that have made skunks so infamous. Typically, when your pet has a bowel movement, pressure is exerted on the glands and they empty onto the stool on their own. However, in some situations they do not empty on their own so the fluid continues to fill up in the sacs. The sac lining stretches and causes an irritating sensation to the pet. In the early stages you may see your dog "rub its' butt" on your carpeting. This is called "scooting." Scooting does not necessarily mean your pet has worms and may be your pet's way of trying to empty these glands and relieve the irritation. Some dogs attempt to lick at their rear ends and end up chewing off symmetrical patches of fur in either side of their hind quarters. Some dogs may jump up from a sitting or laying position as if something nipped their bottom. All of these behaviors, as well as others, can be signs that your pet's anal glands are full and causing discomfort. Because the duct connecting the sac to the surface is narrow it can become clogged, preventing the sacs from emptying. That is when you need our intervention. Your veterinarian can express the anal glands and release the pressure. In many cases the secretions are normal and just need some assistance. Dogs that have a normal secretion may have a one time problem or may need assistance emptying infrequently. No one knows why some dogs with normal secretions need periodic assistance. It may be due to soft stools or lack of fiber in the diet. Most times there is no known reason. Some dogs have abnormal secretions. The secretions can become thickened due to chronic irritation/inflammation. This can be diagnosed by your veterinarian and each situation is treated slightly differently. Dogs with abnormal secretions will usually require regular help in expressing their anal glands (easily handled by your veterinarian). The time period between expressions varies but is usually between 2 and 4 weeks. Periodically we see anal gland abscesses. These dogs develop an infected anal gland that does not drain at all. This is a very painful condition that needs surgical repair to drain the glands under anesthesia. Dogs with anal gland abscesses usually have a fever and are acting sick (ie lethargy, loss of appetite). You may see spots of blood on the floor where your pet was just sitting or you may notice that your pet may choose to lay down rather than sit. Anal glands are a stinky problem, but are relatively easy to manage once identified. If you believe your dog may be experiencing a problem with his/her anal glands, contact your veterinarian for an appointment.