Pets

Ho do I make sure my dog doesn't hurt himself when he gets the zoomies?

Keeping Your Dog Safe During the Zoomies

How can I make sure my dog doesn't hurt himself when he gets the zoomies? That's kind of a hard one. So the zoomies are a non-technical term for, you know, when your dog kind of suddenly gets a burst of energy and runs around almost like a little crazy maniac. It's hard to predict when that's going to happen. Often it's spontaneous, so it's hard to know. Obviously, if you could control their environment so that they have zoomies, for instance, outside rather than in the house, that's going to be safer for them. I would say most dogs, even in the house, are pretty good about avoiding objects. But if you know, for instance, like my little guy, he really likes to get zoomies when he's at the park. So if we take him to the park, that's usually where he has them. So if there's anything that triggers zoomies in your dog, obviously try and trigger it in a environment where they have space. Otherwise, I think it's kind of hard to control that per se.

To make sure your dog doesn't hurt himself during the zoomies, try to trigger them in a environment where they have space and avoid objects.

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To ensure your dog doesn't hurt themselves when they get the zoomies, it can be challenging as these bursts of energy are often spontaneous and hard to predict. One approach is to try and control their environment, allowing them to have the zoomies outside rather than inside the house. Most dogs are generally good at avoiding objects even indoors, but if you know certain triggers for their zoomies, like taking them to the park, try to provide an open space where they can safely release their energy. Overall, it's difficult to have complete control over these episodes.

Protect your pet: The dangers of walking in cold weather

Can it be too cold for a walk with your pet? Absolutely. So I think a lot of us think of the negative consequences of walking your pet in the heat, but the cold also poses dangers. So dogs can very easily get hypothermia. And so if they're not bundled up appropriately, or even if they are and they don't have good fat stores, they're definitely predisposed to hypothermia. Frostbite also happens, tips of the ears and the feet. So if you are walking your dog when it's really cold outside, you definitely wanna make sure they're bundled up. And ideally they have some sort of protection for their paws, booties, if they can handle it, at the very least some sort of cream or protector to help protect against things like ice melt and salts, which can either be toxic to dogs or can just result in topical kind of like burns or irritation to their feet. Other things you wanna think about is, depending on the size of the dog, their age, certain dogs are gonna be more likely to suffer the consequences of the cold, like older dogs, dogs with diseases, heart disease, et cetera, just like people. So definitely if it's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for your dog, and you want to find ways to entertain them inside and keep them safe and healthy.

Yes, it can be too cold to walk your pet. Hypothermia and frostbite are risks in cold weather, so make sure they're adequately bundled up. Older dogs, dogs with diseases, and smaller dogs are more susceptible to the cold. If it's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for your pet. Try to find ways to entertain them inside to keep them safe and healthy.

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Can it be too cold for a walk with your pet? Absolutely. While many of us are aware of the risks of walking pets in hot weather, the cold also poses dangers. Dogs are susceptible to hypothermia, especially if they aren't appropriately bundled up or lack sufficient fat stores. Frostbite can also occur on their ears and feet. When walking your dog in freezing temperatures, it's important to ensure they are properly dressed and ideally have paw protection such as booties or a cream/protector to safeguard against ice melt and salts that can be toxic or cause irritation. Factors such as a dog's size, age, and any underlying diseases like heart conditions can make them more vulnerable to the cold, just like humans. If it's too cold for you, it's likely too cold for your dog as well. It's best to find ways to entertain them indoors while keeping them safe and healthy.

Recommendations for exercises I can do with my dog indoors during the hot summer months? She hates the water unfortunately.

Beat the Heat: Fun Indoor Exercises for Dogs!

Recommendations for exercises I can do with my dog indoors during the hot summer months. She hates water, unfortunately. So there's a lot of things you can do inside with your pets. Mostly what we're talking about inside are kind of like brain challenges rather than physical exhaustion challenges. And so using things like puzzles, so there are yes, puzzles made for dogs, play mats. You can also take like toys or treats and freeze them in a big block of ice. So dogs have to then lick that ice, they're getting hydration and they're also getting a treat at the end and it's time consuming. So those are probably some of the more common ones. You can still take your dog out during the summer months. You just really need to make sure you're taking them out during the cooler times of day. So early in the morning or late at night and watching for signs that they might be overheated like panting, exhaustion or wanting to go home.

Some activities you can do with your dog indoors during the summer months include puzzles, play mats, and freezing treats or toys in a block of ice. These challenges give mental stimulation instead of physical exhaustion. When taking your dog outside, make sure it is during cooler times of the day such as early morning or late night, and watch for signs that they may be overheated.

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For exercising your dog indoors during the hot summer months, especially if she dislikes water, there are several options. Indoor exercises mainly focus on mental stimulation rather than physical exhaustion. You can try using puzzles or play mats designed for dogs. Another idea is to freeze toys or treats in a large block of ice, which will provide hydration and a rewarding challenge for your dog. These are some common indoor activities you can explore. However, you can still take your dog outside during the summer, as long as you do it during cooler times of the day, such as early morning or late evening. Be sure to watch for signs of overheating, such as excessive panting, exhaustion, or a desire to go home.

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Lauren Adelman answers your Pets questions. See all the advice Lauren Adelman has and get answers to your own Pets questions.

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Dr. Lauren Adelman earned her veterinary degree from the University of Calgary in 2012 where she was part of the inaugural class. Following graduation, she completed a small animal rotating internship at VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital followed by a one-year specialty internship in emergency and critical care at North Carolina State University. Dr. Adelman then moved to Knoxville where she completed a three-year small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Tennessee. She achieved diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialty of Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2017. Dr. Adelman is currently practicing at Canada West Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, BC., where her particular areas of interest include gastroenterology, nephrology and urology, and infectious disease. She is trained to perform a variety of state-of-the-art minimally-invasive procedures.