SUMMERHAZARDS
Joanne Bibby – Fursafe®
When I think about Summer, I think about the Queensland heat, the hot sticky days and my personal love of the air conditioner and I bet my dog feels exactly the same way! The thing is though, we cannot spend the entire summer inside – we have to get out and live, and most of all have fun. As a Silky Terrier, Izzy loves to dig and explore, lie in the morning sun and check out anything that wriggles along. In the Summer even these activities can place her at risk of illness or injury. I don’t want to be anxious about Izzy’s safety (that wouldn’t be good) however, like with anything, if we are aware of the potential risks, we can reduce exposure or be prepared to respond to a crisis! This article will not go deep in to each hazard, rather touch on them and recommend how to reduce any risk your dog is, or could potentially be, exposed to.
HAZARDS It is important to note, that the following dangers may also impact your own health and wellbeing if the danger is still present. First, assess the danger, before removing or responding to your dog. Remember that, if your dog is injured, you may be faced with aggression and be exposed to a potential bite injury, however do not muzzle a dog who has an injury to the face, is vomiting or has breathing difficulties.
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DOG WORLD Febuary 2022
BITES AND STINGS Oh joy! Only today I saw a warning notice on the side of the road asking residents to report sightings of fire ants. This ant is aggressive and the last thing we want is for fire ant nests to be disturbed in our own backyards. These ants are known as our most dangerous ant. Bites produce intense pain and itching. A single sting can produce symptoms of anaphylaxis in just a few minutes – of which can be life-threatening to those allergic to the venom. Please stay clear. If injury occurs, wash bite area/s with soap and water. Place wrapped ice pack on wound and seek Veterinary help. Report sightings of fire ants immediately to Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) on 13 25 23. The next ant on our most dangerous list is the yellow crazy ant. This ant doesn’t bite, oh no, it sprays formic acid! This acid may burn or irritate skin and eyes of animals and people. If sprayed with the acid, wash the area thoroughly. If in the eyes, flush with saline and seek medical / veterinary care. Stop your dog from licking the burn if at all possible. Please stay clear. If injury occurs, wash sprayed formic acid area/s with cool, clean water. Seek Veterinary help. There is a current management trial on Council Land in the Stafford Heights area to determine if Yellow Crazy
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First Aid:
