Dog Parks

After seeing the end results of some pretty horrific dogfights secondary to dog park visits I decided to share the California Veterinary Medical Association recommendations for dog park safety.  While dog parks can be fun they aren’t for every dog and they harbor some serious risks such as bites and exposure to infectious diseases.

   

The CVMA has the following recommendations for keeping your dog safe while visiting a dog park: 

• Make sure your dog’s vaccination status is current
• Make sure your dog is socialized and gets along well with other animals and people
• Keep a very close eye on your dog at all times
• Make sure small dogs and big dogs are separated
• Bring water for your dog to drink
• Have your veterinarian check your dog regularly for parasites
• Talk to your veterinarian about any precautions you should take with your dog

Some other things to consider

• Promptly pick up and properly dispose of any feces
• Don’t take your dog to the park when it’s sick or recovering from an illness