Dog Days of Labor Day?

Holidays and three-day weekends are always welcome, but how does your dog feel about it?

Labor Day and other holidays can be more hazardous for your dog than you might suspect! The experts at Ask.Vet have some ways to keep your pooch safe this Labor Day weekend.

#1: YOUR DOG ISN'T AN EXPERT SWIMMER!
If you're gonna be near a lake, pond or river, get your dog a life jacket, even if he’s a strong swimmer. Older dogs can actually have heart attacks while swimming if they get tired and stressed. Oh, and if you're headed to the Oregon coast, watch out for salt water—it’s toxic for dogs if they drink too much.

#2: NO HUMAN FOOD
You might think you're spoiling your dog when you give them people food like steak bones or scraps like corn cobs, but you're actually putting your dog at risk of painful pancreatitis. Onions, onion powder, chocolate are all toxic to dogs.

#3: SAY NO TO FLEAS AND TICKS
Don't head to the fields and mountains without picking up the proper topic flea meds and a flea or tick collar. Lyme disease and the plague can be transmitted to your dog from fleas or ticks. Pick up the meds or flea and tick collar from the pet store before that hiking, camping, or lake trip.

#4: WATCH OUT FOR THE CANINE FLU
Make sure your dog has a vaccine for the Canine Influenza—it's dangerous and highly contagious. If your dog has not been vaccinated for the Canine Flu he could catch more than you might think from another dog over the three day weekend vacation.

#5: PREPARE FOR THE LONG WEEKEND
Your dog has lots of needs - cool water, prescriptions, safety harness, travel carrier, grooming supplies, favorite toy, Pet ID tag, and car cleaning supplies (and you thought you packed heavy).

Source: Ask.Vet