Be Monsoon Ready: How to take care of your dog during rainy season

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When early humans started domesticating animals for its use and self-protection, these animals were forced to enjoy the man-made confinement and luxuries. But slowly steadily, they got used to the over whelming care and nourishment provided by man, thereby moving away from using their natural instincts for survival and gain.

Out in the wild, animals are exposed to all weather forces and their body is suitably adapted to enjoy the benefits of the changing weather. They are blessed with self curing capabilities. Varieties of animals are seen, world over, depending upon the geographical and climatic conditions prevailing there – in. The animals in the coldest regions, which experience harsh winters and snow fall, have a thick double coat, which supports them during minus temperatures and blow their coat when climate warms up a bit. Animals in the desert with scorching heat and very little rainfall are used to storing water in their body and these, sweat less to keep a water reservoir within them.

Their paw pads, ears, tails, mouth, abdomen etc., are all varied and suit a very definite purpose in their lifetime. Wild animals also groom themselves naturally, by running, brushing against shrubs and trees, helping each other groom and maintain a good physical hygiene. They are always physically active and act upon need. They will hunt when hungry, rest when tired and drink when thirsty, as opposed to our house pets, who have to follow a routine schedule depending upon OUR convenience.

We ‘created’ dependant animals, opposed to their independent nature. That is their genetic makeup, the very instinct we call, Animal – Instinct. They have a ticking clock in their system which signals their brain for hunger, thirst, mating desire, socializing, pack mentality, hierarchy and much more. As we enjoy each and every aspect of human life, our dogs have a life too, that of a free will. Living with us humans, in our house hold, they have learnt to live their life with us. Unable to provide them with the wild, free – run atmosphere of the wild, they are ‘trained’ to make co – habiting a successful living idea.

House pets are taught to obey different routines, such as timely walks, set meals, pee – potty routines etc. They look up to us for fulfilling these desires. We try and conduct these activities religiously until the routine is met with a forceful change. Climate changes alter our plans and usually we tweak their schedules to suit ours, monsoon being a major game changer.

Just like us, animals enjoy the rains and the cold breeze it gets along. The smell of rain on earth is invigorating, mind filling and takes over our soul. It is that inviting smell and the feeling of raindrops on our skin, which makes it such an adventure to step out and dance under it. But the monsoons brings along new challenges too, especially with a pet. These can be met easily with a few grooming tips those can be used daily to make it a monsoon worth enjoying and loads of tricks to make it fun indoors.

Allow them to enjoy the nature, especially the rains, with a few tips..

Rains give us real respite from the scorching heat and stifling weather, rejuvenating all life forms on earth. While welcoming the rains, dog parents should always be wary of the side effects of continuous down pour and stagnant collected ground water. Here are a few pointers to help you and your dog enjoy the wet weather.

Our dogs are prone to a number of infections or ailments during the monsoon and this season might not be a very pleasant one for them. Dog owners should be careful and must make sure to keep their dogs disease-free by regularly visiting the Veterinarian.

Stay away from muddy puddles:

The rains, humidity and access to contaminated water are prone to develop respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections

Groom the paws:

Fungal infections are caused due to high levels of humidity, constant dampness of your dogs paws and can cause yeast infections, grooming, therefore is important. Keep the paws clean and totally dry at all times to avoid any infection. You may use tissue paper to wipe them clean as per need. Rinse them with clean water after every outdoor walk and do blow dry them for surety. If your dog is a long haired one, you must keep the paw pads trimmed to avoid any stubborn mud and dirt that could get stuck in between. Nails should be carefully trimmed, not to short and never too long.

Steer clear of parasites:

Ticks and fleas infestation cases shoot up in the monsoon season. Keep a close watch on your dog, if they are found itching or scratching themselves, look for ticks on their skin. If found, you must visit a Veterinarian, avoid heavy infestation and use professional grooming services for achieving best results in keeping your dog parasite free.

Footwear for dogs  can be very useful:

Dog shoes are available in various sizes and with careful selection can fit any dog. These are available at pet stores or you can also try buying them on any online platform. These come in handy when trying to keep your dogs paws from feeling the heat on a hot sunny day or keep them dry on a rainy day.

Shoes can lessen your efforts of paw grooming after each walk. These shoes are mostly home washed and can be a boon to your pet. Do buy shoes which have a solid sole, such as rubber or PVC and these must be soft lined of padded for extra comfort. They would need a little effort to wear and walk in, but eventually they get used to it. The only time a dog can refuse to use shoes are when they do not fit properly. So go ahead, make a good decision and enjoying shopping for your dog.

Ear health:

Wet weathers make them vulnerable to ear infections too. It is advisable to clean their outer ears and inner ears with soft organic cotton balls at least once in two days. You may choose to avoid cotton buds, as unprofessional cleaning can push the wax deeper inside the canal causing much pain to your dog instead of relief.

Regular Grooming:

A regular, once a week visit to a pet groomer is advisable at all times of the year, especially in the monsoons as the salons are equipped with tools and all necessary items to carefully groom your pet and advise if there are any red flags regarding their physical appearance, which can help you take wise decisions.

Keep them smelling fresh:

You must avoid damp coats, because that is the cause for an unpleasant odor emanating from your dog. They must be wiped completely dry each time they get even slightly wet. Brushing your pets hair at least twice a day is a sure shot way to keep your pet odorless. You may choose to use dog deodorants, easily available at pet stores or also on online platforms.

Pay attention to parasites such as ticks:

Monsoon is also the breeding season for parasites, such as ticks. These are small six – legged brown to black colored parasites, which climb up or get on your pet from the environment. These are a menace. You must check your pet for ticks daily and any slight occurrence must not be neglected. You must scan your pet for ticks by moving your fingers along his skin. Once you have a tick in sight, please do not be tempted to pull it out. By doing so you shall be doing more harm than good to your dog than to the tick. When the tick latches on to a dog, it pierces through the delicate upper most layer of the dog’s skin and draws out blood. It lives on the blood of your dog. Once in sight, the most trusted and safe procedure to kill a tick would be to pour a drop of Organic Neem oil on to its latch and after a few minutes the lick will fall out. This way you are likely to get rid of the tick without your pet getting a red spot or urge of itching. This is a better and faster way of healing from a tick bite. There are other tick treatments available in the market. A bath with a tick and flea shampoo is a good idea too. Then there are tick collars, topical applications, injections etc., available. However, it is strongly advised to consult a practicing Veterinarian to guide you in the same.

Walk watchfully:

When walking your dog in the rains, you must watch him closely, if he decides to lick at or grab a frog or lizard, it can be very fatal. These small creatures are extremely toxic. If you catch your pet with one of these in her mouth, induce vomiting by using vinegar or by placing salt on the back of her tongue to flush out the toxins. She should be given much rest post this and she should be good to go.

De worming before the monsoons:

To be best careful of their gut health, they must be de – wormed and optimally vaccinated before the onset of monsoons, this should be done by a registered Veterinarian only. Follow up for the next visit should be adhered to as this is critical and must not be taken lightly.

Clean and fresh drinking water:

You may choose to give them cooled down, boiled water to drink. This way you can make sure none of the bacteria or any other impurity present in unfiltered water, enters in to their delicate digestive system. Their water bowls must be washed often to remove any film of grime within and around it and also refilled with fresh water every 2 hrs.

Keep his meals simple yet, nutrient rich:

include fresh and tender seasonal vegetables and fruits in your dogs daily diet to keep her stomach full on best ingredients and these are easy for digestion too

Organize, fun doggy play dates:

play dates for pets is a new and upcoming conscious fun time organized by many dog parents. When the downpour is long and heavy, you can take your pet over to her friends place for a play date. This is a great way to beat the monsoon blues. They learn to make new friends, socialize, follow one another, relax their separation anxiety and most of all; they learn to share their belongings. This is a fun time aimed at learning many tricks and habits without realizing it.

But do make sure you have thoroughly checked the other dog for any red flags regarding his health, as playing together can affect both the dogs, positively and also negatively. Do be nice and allow your pet to be checked by the neighbor too. You can start with a supervised play time of 15 minutes initially; if fruitful you can slowly and gradually increase the time. If you realize that the play time is not going too well, end it for the day and try again another time, may be in a different location. You may also look for another dog friend who may be a even more rewarding play mate. Once the dogs get used to this time, they will look forward to it and you may not need to walk your dog as much, besides for the obvious reasons.

Gear up on rain gear:

this is a fairly new concept but a trend catching up wildly. It is an interesting and loveable idea to dress up your dog. Summers call for light cotton shirts, festive wear has a special place in their wardrobe but the monsoons make the raincoat a ‘must have’ in their collection. This seems to be a fancy idea but it is totally worth it. There are various designs and types available in the market today. Select the one best suiting your need.

This would depend on duration spent by the dog in the rain wear. As the durability and built of the raincoat is designed with different specifications. You must be sure to follow the instructions for taking body measurements of your dog, from the manufacturer’s manual, making sure you order or purchase the right size. After you receive the same, check for any sharp or pointy loose ends on the insides of the raincoat, so as to avoid your pet getting erroneously hurt by it.

Once checked, patiently dress your dog in the raincoat each day, for a few minutes so that he gets used to wearing it and then slowly progress to making him wear it along with his shoes for a small walk in the rain. If this first walk is easy, you shall be happy to walk your dog, each time and make sure enjoys his walk in the rain, albeit covered head to tail.

Dry and cozy corner of the house: Each pet has a favorite place to sleep in the house. Make sure, her bedding is in a clean and safe place. This area should be dry and by a sunny window. Bedding can be cozy to keep away chills from attacking the pet. Regular checks for mites or insects are a must.

Last but not the least, enjoy each moment of your life with your beautiful dog and make a beautiful life together, rain or no rain.