Posts in Category: The Great Outdoors

Summer means the weather is warm enough for snakes to come out and enjoy the sunshine, which can be a problem for your pet. 

Here in Indiana, we have four venomous snake species in the entire state: copperheads, cottonmouths, eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, and timber rattlesnakes. In Fort Wayne, your pet is more likely to run into an eastern massasauga rattlesnake than any of the other three venomous species. Copperheads, cottonmouths, and timber rattlesnakes don’t come into this part of the state.

Thankfully, snake bites are rare, and you probably won’t see venomous snakes at home or out on camping adventures with your pets. But it’s a good idea to be prepared for snake bites in dogs and cats. At Dupont Veterinary Clinic, we’ve got tips for what to do if you suspect that your furry friend has suffered a snakebite. 

Camping is a beloved summer activity for many families, and Indiana is home to a wide variety of scenic spots to pitch your tent. Including the family pet can make the experience even more memorable. After all, who doesn’t relish the sight of a happy pup frolicking through the woods or along the lakeshore?

Camping with pets is not without some risks, however. Careful planning and preparation is necessary for a safe and enjoyable experience for your pet, and your team at Dupont Veterinary Clinic is here to help you get set up for success!

Since dogs explore the world around them through their nose and mouth, it makes sense that they try to taste as much as they can. Socks, table food, feces, and more round out the canine palette. Some of their choices are, well, less than “choice,” but as long as they aren’t harmed by their explorations, it’s usually okay (provided you can get beyond the gross factor). At the top of the list of brow-raising antics is eating plant matter. Dogs eat grass (and other green things) for many reasons, but does that mean it’s safe?

Many of our pets seem to act like they’re impervious to the negative effects of cold weather, but overexposure to ice, snow, and frigid ground conditions can have serious consequences.

Similar to the defenses against scorching pavement in summertime, winter paw care takes our attention to a whole new level. Without a daily approach to injury prevention, damage to a pet’s feet can stand in the way of a high quality of life.

Enjoying Winter’s Charms

It can be simply magical to walk your dog in the snow. Many breeds are built for cold conditions, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need special attention before, during, and after time spent outdoors. Without a doubt, all animals are subject to damaging effects of cold weather and require proactive care.

The winter thaw is on the horizon, and as we move toward the warmer weather of spring we’re preparing for a new season of creeping, crawling, and flying bugs. Of these, perhaps the most annoying, and potentially deadly, is the mosquito.

With their bite, mosquitoes can transmit a dangerous parasite to pets known as heartworm. Found in all 50 states, complications from heartworm infection can include exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, collapse, and even sudden death in dogs and cats. It’s important to make sure we understand the dangers of heartworm disease in pets, first.

It’s tick season here in our neck of the woods, and although summer is winding down, the tick population is definitely not. If your pet spends a lot of time in the great outdoors, you probably know that ticks are a problem to be prepared for.

But have you ever had to remove a tick

There are a lot of common misconceptions about this process, so we thought we’d spend some time going over the basics, as well as things not to do.

Tick Dangers

Most of us know that tick bites are painful and uncomfortable. They’re also dangerous. Tick bites can transmit debilitating diseases to humans and pets, such as: Continue…

Many of us have come across a wandering stray dog or cat and wondered what to do. If you find a stray pet, keep in mind that the animal may be lost and have loving owners frantically searching for him or her. If a pet has been lost for several weeks, they will be dirty, skinny and have fleas, even if from a wonderful home. Although you may not want to sound a false alarm, it’s likely that the pet needs help and you should take action if possible.

Dupont Veterinary Clinic applauds your desire to help animals in need, which is why we have outlined the steps you can take if you ever do find a stray pet.

If You Find A Stray Pet

Approach carefully – When lost and confused, even animals from good homes may run away from you or bite. The pet may also be injured, and in pain. If you’re at all concerned for your own safety, call animal control or the police for assistance. Speak calmly, and try to lure the pet with food into a carrier or your car, or restrain him with a leash. Continue…

Through all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and well into the cold gray days of winter, it’s understandable that we get a little stir-crazy. This is also true for our pets. Cabin fever can set in without a little imagination and enrichment for indoor and cold weather activities.

The Dupont Veterinary Clinic team has a few tips and tricks for some incredible activities for you and your pet, to chase away those winter blues.

Continue…

The dog days of summer can inspire us to escape to the great outdoors for some fresh air and fun. If you’re a nature-loving pet parent, camping with a pet might seem like the ultimate way to relax on a weekend.

In preparing for such an excursion, you probably have a number of ‘must-haves’, like bug spray, sunscreen, and marshmallows on your packing list. Similarly, there are many precautions to take to keep your best fur pal safe while on the lake, in the woods, or wherever your sense of adventure leads you.

Pre-Camping Pet Checklist

From Hoosier National Forest and State Parks to the many beautiful, inviting lakes, Indiana has some amazing campsites to offer a family and their Fido. Continue…