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With spring's arrival, it is inevitable that you are going to be spending more time outside with your dog. Now is the time to prepare him for the outdoors so the both of you can enjoy the spring and summer seasons. By taking note of the following information, you can prevent or catch problems before they become serious issues.

Taking care of your dog is an all year round, life long responsibility. Seeing as such, you should keep a detailed medical file for each of your pets to remind you when important dates are coming up including vaccinations, grooming, and other seasonal events. A little organization can go a long way to help when the time comes. Be ready with answers for any questions your vet may have, by being prepared, and save yourself time, and potentially money.

Parasites

Parasites proliferate in warm weather, the warmer it gets, the more of them that there are. With a little planning and proper medical care, your dog can be kept parasite free. Ticks, fleas, heart worms and intestinal worms are the primary culprits. Talk to your veterinarian about what medications they may have available to prevent these parasites from infesting your dog and eliminate any that may be present already.

Fleas

Preventing fleas is much easier than treating an already established flea infestation. Topical and oral medications are very effective in keeping your pet's flea problem to a minimum. If fleas are allowed to proliferate, the environment, home and yard, must be treated in addition to the pet. Once they have settled in, it can be very hard, and expensive to get rid of them. A little work to prevent them from coming in the first place is ALWAYS worth the effort.

Some types of worms are transmitted through fleas. To avoid getting these types of worms, you have to avoid the fleas that spread them!

Ticks

There are topical and oral medications available to prevent and treat tick infestations. If a tick is found, careful manual removal with a tweezers or tick removal instrument is recommended. Ticks can carry lime disease, which makes early prevention or removal very important.

Heart worms

Though common in certain parts of the world, heart worms are a preventable parasite. For dogs at risk of infection, based on geographical location and lifestyle, monthly oral preventative is strongly recommended. Since mosquitoes transmit heart worms, the risk of heart worm infection is increased in the warmer months. It is recommended that dogs in the United States be on year-round heart worm prevention. To determine your dog’s exact risk based on your geographic location – Please discuss with your local veterinarian.

Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms, hookworms, whip worms, coccidia and giardia are common intestinal parasites. At least once a year, you should have a fecal sample microscopically evaluated for these parasites. Early treatment can reduce the chance of serious illness.

There are monthly medications available that help prevent some of these parasites from developing, speak to your vet and decide if these medications would be right for you. Even if your dog is on medication to prevent parasites, annual fecal evaluation is still recommended. It is important to have your dog’s fecal matter checked after an infestation of fleas also, as fleas can spread some types of worms.

Vaccination

In addition to parasite control, preventing contagious disease is also recommended. In the spring, dog parks become quite popular places. With this mix of dogs, contagious diseases are easily spread. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to keep your pet vaccinated, especially if you are going to let it interact with other animals. Don’t be a part of the unnecessary spread of illness and disease that happens every year. There are vaccines available to help reduce your dog's risk of acquiring diseases such as distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, kennel cough and rabies, just to name a few. Speak to your veterinarian about how to make sure you are caught up on yours.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is essential in maintaining any animal’s health. As the temperatures rise, some of our dogs become more active, and as a result need a higher caloric intake to keep them regulated, and happy. If your dog is not as active and tends to get sluggish in the heat, reduce his caloric intake to prevent unwanted weight gain. Feed this highest quality food you can afford. See your veterinary for specific recommendations.

Exercise

In the spring, outdoor activities tend to increase. Some people don't realize that after a long winter of being cooped up, exercise must be started at a slow pace, and increased over time. Your pet is not prepared for long excursions outside after a long winter in some cases, and if your dog exercises too quickly, his muscles, heart, lungs and internal heat control cannot keep up. Be aware that due to this lack of understanding, springtime is the most common time for heat related illness, including heat stroke. Give your dog a chance to warm up, just like you would do for yourself, and treat him right.

Grooming

In the springtime, some owners of long-haired dogs choose to have them professionally groomed, trimming their hair even to the point of shaving. These owners feel that their dogs greatly benefit with less hair during the heat of the spring and summer. Other owners prefer to leave their dogs natural.

Talk with your vet to see if your dog’s skin can handle a short cut, trim or shave before deciding on any new style. In all dogs, routine combing and brushing is a must. As the thermostat rises, shedding will often increase, and this can lead to more accumulation of hair and mats. Prevent tangles and mats by giving your pet proper grooming. This is also a great way to spot a parasitic infestation early!

Training

The popularity of dog parks is increasing, and when properly used, dog parks can be great fun for you and your dog. Without appropriate preparation, dog parks can result in illness or tragedy. In addition to exposure to contagious diseases, dogs without proper obedience training can be a threat to other dogs. In an attempt to join a pack or play, some dogs become aggressive and a fight may ensue. Be a responsible pet owner. If you choose to expose other animals to your pet, be sure they will be safe by taking your pet to training classes. Springtime is an excellent time to begin obedience training or take a refresher course. An obedient dog is a happy healthy dog.