What Are the Health Concerns when Walking a Dog?

Watch for signs of stress or pain while walking. This is especially true for older dogs. Dogs cannot tell you by words that they are in pain; they can show you by action or inaction. Know how your dog reacts under normal conditions. Older dogs are prone to arthritis, heat exhaustion and cold. Over the past few years I realized my dog cannot walk long in very cold weather, and will start limping if he is on snow which is too cold for his paws. He also can no longer handle hot humid air in summer and you can see this in his breathing. When the air is cool though he can have the energy I knew when I first met him.

Know where you are and how long it would take to reach safety. One of the most important tips of dog walking etiquette when considering your dog I can give is to always know your position during your walk and know which direction to take to reach safety, and how long it takes to get there, should your dog need to get home. I found this out the other morning when, as we were walking, Rambo stopped suddenly and vomited. I was worried when I saw a pink hue in what he vomited and wondered if he was spitting up blood. This is when I looked around and tried to figure out the fastest route home and how long it would take to get there. Rambo just wanted to go home and lay down, and I knew this. I cut the walk short and we were home in ten minutes. If you are far from home, getting back to your car or a public establishment is the next best option. You can then call for help or give your dog first aid if needed.

To keep the risk of health problems down during your walk, keep your dog from picking up something. Watching for things which your dog may try to eat along the way, and then keep these items out of the reach of your dog, is important. Dead squirrels, birds, and garbage alongside the road are the three biggest concerns. Dogs can, and will, eat grass; but your dog may also try to eat the leaves of weeds or other plants which may be hazardous to them.

Take water with you. Dogs get dehydrated just like people. While dogs do not cool themselves by drinking water, they do maintain hydration this way. Hot weather or long walks can dehydrate a dog. Taking water for your dog to drink is a good dog walking etiquette tip when considering the dog. You need only take a 12 ounce bottle of chilled water with you and allow your dog to drink what they want. You can tip the open bottle far enough to where the water has a slow steady stream; place the bottle close enough to your dog so they can catch the water with their tongue as it comes out.

Do not pace your walk according to you, pace it according to the dog. People can walk faster than dogs. When considering the dog, dog walking etiquette would not tire your dog out because you wanted the dog to walk faster. Dogs can pace themselves, and know their own speed. My dog can move quickly if he chooses to; but most times he is happy moving at a slower pace because this is the most comfortable to him. I know I can go faster, but he cannot for a long period of time.