Regardless of the time of year many of us would like to be outdoors doing something, so would your dog. Being as we have four distinct seasons there are many things to consider for yourself and your pet. I am assuming that since you are reading this you are competent enough to take care of yourself so lets focus on your dog at this time. Outdoor dangers are most commonly going to be associated with extreme heat or cold. While we are going to talk about these in this article I would like to bring about some others that you may not have thought of.

Obviously extreme heat can cause serious problems. Stage one for any dog that is going to be outside for long periods of time is to provide a place to get out of the elements. Since your dog cant steal the keys to the boat and go water skiing to cool off you will need to provide a good dog house so he can at least get out of the sun. Not only will it be more comfortable for them to get out of the heat, it is possible for your dog to get sunburn. If your dog gets sunburn or any burn for that matter I recommend to bathe the burned area with a cool damp cloth or pour cool water on the dog. Do not put butter or ointment on the burns. I would use some aloe instead for its soothing effects. If you have a hairless dog or one with a light coat you can prevent sunburns by applying some sunscreen, especially to the nose and ears.  It is also very important to make sure the dog has plenty of fresh cool water. Try to exercise the dog in the cooler parts of the day like early morning or in the evening some time to prevent heatstroke. Some of the signs of heatstroke are staggering, collapse, vomiting, anxiety, and fever. If you suspect your dog has heatstroke contact your vet immediately and take the dog to them.  You can try to lower the dogs body temp by wrapping it in a cool damp blanket and offer a small amount of water. Do not force the dog to drink too much though.

In the extreme cold the dog will need to be able to get out of the elements as well.  In very cold areas you may have to provide a heated bed so they don't get too cold.  The dog should always have a regular bed regardless of time of year. I recommend having a heated water dish for any dog that will be in weather below 40 degrees. The water may not freeze in the dish but if it is too cold it can lower the dogs body temp very quickly. A high quality diet is a key in keeping their internal furnace burning efficiently.  In the colder months many dogs will need to eat up to 30% more food to maintain adequate body temperature and good health.

The hot and cold are pretty basic, just use some logic. I always say if you wouldn't be comfortable don't expect your dog to be. Now some of the other hazards not always thought of. What can your dog get into that may be bad for them. There are many plants that can cause illness or be fatal if your dog ate them. You may have not thought of this when landscaping your yard but did you know if your dog ate your hyacinth bulbs it could be fatal. While plants like the American holly are only mildly toxic your foxglove plants are severely toxic. There are many plants that are toxic to dogs (it may only be a certain part of the plant) so it is advisable to evaluate your yard if your dog has a tendency to pick on your landscaping. If you think your dog may have eaten a toxic plant or has been poisoned you should go to the vet immediately. Symptoms that you may observe are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mouth irritation, swelling, abdominal pain, and convulsions. 

There are many other outdoor mishaps that your dog can get in to. Pesticides and chemical fertilizers can be very harmful to your dog. This is why you need to consult the staff when purchasing these products. This is why at Zamzows we make our own fertilizers. Many of the common products out there are not safe for your pet or the environment. Another common outdoor chemical that your dog can find would be some spilled antifreeze. This is very bad for your beloved best friend, anytime you have spilled any or if your car leaks it, you need to clean it up immediately. 

My last piece of advice for this article is to keep a very accurate file for your dog. In this file you should have the contact numbers for your vet and a local veterinary emergency clinic in case your regular vet isn't open for 24 hour emergency service.  In my dogs file I have every bit of his health history, any injuries he has had, and his complete vaccination record. Any known allergies, and the dogs pet food information are handy also. I advise people to write down all poison control numbers and any other applicable resource phone numbers that you may need too. You never know when an emergency or outdoor hazard may get you so keep this file accurate and accessible.