Heath Tips for Huskies, Malamutes and Sled Dogs
Below are some useful suggestions to help prevent your husky from falling ill. Some of them may seem obvious, but better safe than sorry!
- Never let your Dog Drink from Puddles or Standing Water
- Nasty chemicals from vehicles, farm run-off, other toxins and harmful bacteria may all be present. Chemicals such as Anti-Freeze in particular may be present in puddles in car-parks or along roads and pavements. Even a very small amount of Anti-Freeze in a puddle can make a dog very sick, or even prove fatal if the dog drinks it. It is a good idea to take a bottle of water and a collapsible water bowl along with you on walks and when out and about. Stopping to give your husky a drink every so often will keep it more comfortable and lessen its inclination to drink from puddles they stumble across.
- Beware of Garden Hazards
- Certain plants and their fruit and seeds are very dangerous to dogs. Even on sticks from certain trees (laburnum, for instance) can make your dog very sick indeed. Conkers from horse chestnut trees, yew bark leaves and berries, mushrooms and toadstools, and bulbs are among the many things found commonly in gardens that can poison your dog. Huskies and sled dogs have a tendency to dig, and may come across blubs buried out of site. Supervise your dog when it has free run of any areas with potentially hazardous plants in them. See our page on Dog Safe Gardening for more information.
- Never Leave a Husky (or Any Other Dog!) Unattended in Public
- Not a direct health risk, but worth mentioning just the same - DO NOT leave your husky or sled dog TIED UP OUTSIDE A STORE!. No matter if you 'just need to pop in for a minute or not', it's just not worth the risk. 'Dog-napping' is common these days, and attractive, desirable dogs like huskies are a prime target. Thieves can put a dog in their car in 10 seconds - we've known people who've seen their own dog being stolen but were too late to do anything by the time they got out of the store. DON'T TAKE THE RISK WITH YOUR DOG!!!