Hazards of the Dog Park

The dog park is a great place for your dog to play with others and meet new friends. But there are also certain hazards to keep in mind before letting your dog play at the dog park. Whether you are taking your dog to the park for the first time, or you’ve done it for a while, knowing what negative things can possibly happen can save both you and your dog from a variety of costly and hazardous problems.

Infectious Diseases

Since so many dogs are at the dog park at a given time, as well as before your dog is there, illnesses like kennel cough and canine influenza can be easily spread.

Canine Influenza (‘Dog flu’) is another hazard that can be transmitted from the communal water bowls at the dog park. It is wise to bring a collapsible water bowl with you, as well as your dog’s own toys. It is unrealistic to think that, even though you have brought your own water bowl and toys, that your dog will not come into contact with public items. Vaccinating your dog for the flu virus is another important precaution to take in the case that your dog does use another dog’s toys or drinks from a communal bowl.

Another important precaution to take is cleaning up after your dog. Intestinal parasites from people not picking up after their dogs is a widespread problem at dog parks. Your dog can step in another dog’s feces and when they lick their paw to clean it off, they pick up parasites like giardia, roundworm and hookworm soon after.

Heat Stroke
If your dog is playing on a hot, humid day, watch to make sure they don’t contract heat stroke. Dogs don’t have many sweat glands, so they cool themselves through evaporation off their tongue and mouth (panting), as well as evaporation off their foot pads. If it is hot and humid, they won’t be able to cool themselves as effectively, which can be a problem if they are having fun and don’t have the sense to stop. The best solution is to always have cool water and try to find a shady spot for your dog to rest when needed.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are easily spread by dogs playing together. But many effective flea and tick medications are available to protect your pet from these parasites. When you are leaving the dog park, do a tick check to make sure your dog doesn’t have any of the pesky parasites on them.

*Folsom Veterinary Hospital recommends occasional fecal tests to check for parasites in your pet. Frontline and Nexgard products for flea and tick prevention are also recommended.*