Plans are in the works to develop a dog park in South Valley.
Its location has not yet been selected. Dog parks are popular with
the canine set.
Plans are in the works to develop a dog park in South Valley. Its location has not yet been selected. Dog parks are popular with the canine set. They provide an open area where a pooch can exercise free of a leash. Dogs run loose at full-speed and have a great time.
Local dog owners have been hoping for a park like this for some time. Many of these facilities already exist in the greater Bay Area, but none close enough to South Santa Clara County. As a result, some dog people let their pooch run free on public school grounds or city park land (often after dark to avoid an encounter with law enforcement).
And there’s no doubt about it, many dogs love to run. Leash walks are okay, but a good romp really gets the blood flowing. So developing a dog park, an area where active dogs can run free, sounds like just what the doctor ordered.
But there are some inherent dangers in dog parks. Safety risks exist whenever two dogs encounter each other for the first time. So before you take your pooch to the park or any public place, here are a few things you should consider.
First, be sure your dog is protected against contagious diseases such as distemper, parvovirus and rabies. Proper vaccinations can prevent all of these, and they are an absolute must if you have a dog. Your furry friend could be exposed to any of these viruses at a public place and if he is not properly protected, the results could prove disastrous, even fatal.
Second, remember that anytime two dogs get together, there is always a possibility of conflict. Avoid what one veterinarian has identified as “Dog Park Rage.” If you see another dog running loose at the park, keep yours on a leash until you are sure, absolutely sure, the two dogs can get along together. If either yours or the other dog shows any signs of aggression, don’t let your pooch loose. Don’t invite trouble.
A sad incident was reported just a few weeks ago when a small Norwich Terrier was mauled to death by a large dog at a popular San Jose park. Conscientious owners could have prevented this tragedy if only they had been more careful.
Finally, make sure your favorite furry friend is protected from fleas and ticks. Yep, these parasites will be there at the park, just waiting for their next victim. If you don’t use proper flea protection, your dog may end up as a meal ticket for one of these bugs. He could come home with an itchy skin problem or worse.
Dog Parks. A great idea for the South Valley, right? I think so. But be careful if you take your pooch to the park. Always, always, always … be careful.
Q: We recently took our little terrier, Pompei, into the vet for an ear problem. He was itching a lot. Turns out, he has allergies and a yeast infection in his ear. How common is this? How does it happen?
A: Yeast is a very opportunistic organism found throughout our environment, and it can infect ears very easily. Dogs with allergies or other skin problems are more prone to ear infections, but any pooch can get a yeast-caused ear infection called otitis.
Yeast loves to set up its home in a warm, dark, and moist environment. The ear canal provides the best of all of these, so clearing a yeast infection can be a bit difficult in some patients. Here are a couple of suggestions for your little guy. You’ll need to treat Pompei for his allergies.
Anything that makes a dog itchy can predispose that pooch to ear problems. Skin allergy problems are somewhat common and controlling them can be difficult. You might have to visit a Veterinary Dermatologist, a specialist in skin diseases, for help with this one. But it will be worth the trip. Healthy skin will help to prevent recurrence of his ear problem.
More importantly, keep water from getting into Pompei’s ears. When you bathe him, place a cotton ball in each ear to prevent moisture from getting into his ear canals. (Remember to remove these cotton balls after you are finished with his bath!)
And if he likes to run through the sprinklers or jump in a pond or swimming pool, treat his ears periodically with ear medication containing a drying agent. Ask his veterinarian what might work best for him. Follow these steps and more than likely, Pompei won’t have to battle yeast ever again.
Pete Keesling is a veterinarian at San Martin Veterinary Hospital and co-hosts Petpourri, a weekly show about pet health on KTEH in San Jose and a bi-weekly column for The Times. If you have any questions about pet care, please mail them to The Times, Attn: Vets, 30 E. Third St., Morgan Hill, CA 95037.
