Seasonal Safety Tips for Your Greyhound

Car Travel

1. Crates are best but if your vehicle is too small for a crate, make sure your back seat is comfortable and uncluttered – nothing to fly around in case of sudden stops. You might also consider a safety seat belt that both restrains your dog in position and, if the worst happens, prevents your dog from becoming a flying object in the car or from being thrown from the car.


2. Car Windows, if open, should be just a crack. Don't allow your pet to ride with his/her head out the window exposing her/him to inner ear damage, lung infections, and injury from flying objects and bugs. Also with winter coming frostbite is always a concern even on the nose. Make sure the floppy ears are all the way inside the vehicle before closing the windows.


3. Leaving your hound - Never leave your animal alone in a parked vehicle in warm or cold weather. It can be a death trap in a matter of minutes.


4. Long car trips - Racing greyhounds are seasoned travelers and most love to ride in the car, van or SUV. However, if you are planning a long car trip, make sure your hound is one of these seasoned travelers by first, taking several short trips. Talking to your dog, praising and giving encouraging words will help ease any uneasiness.


5. Travel kit should include, collar and ID tags, information including your name, phone number, destination phone number, travel papers if needed, food, bowl, leash, a pooper scooper or plastic bags, grooming supplies, medication, dog first-aid kit, favorite toy, blanket or pillow, and rabies vaccination record. PLEASE include the anesthesia protocol for greyhounds as well!!


6. Jug of water from home – will help avoid possible stomach upsets

Halloween

1. No candy treats for your hound. Chocolate can be very dangerous as is tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers.


2. Plant decorations - Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset should your hound eat them and large pieces may cause intestinal blockage.


3. Decorations, candles, electric wires and cords in the mouth, can damage, burn, cut and deliver an electrical shock.


4. Costume - Exercise extreme caution if you plan to dress up your hound. Most, don’t like it and can express their annoyance in many negative ways such as becoming fearful, aggressive, extreme agitation and hard to manage.


5. Kids At the door - Unless you can ensure that your dog will react safely with the unexpected commotion at the door and will not bolt out of an open door, keep your hound in a separate room or in his or her crate.