With the arrival of good weather, we spend more time outdoors with our dogs, and of course the dangers for them increase. We should not be alarmed, but we should take into account certain precautions that we can take to ensure that we get through a few months of spring and summer without complications.
Spikes are one of these unknown enemies of dogs . Due to their shape, they fly very easily and it is very possible that they get stuck in the skin, ears or nose of our furry animals. They can be harmless and not go beyond a superficial scratch, but it is true that if they are kept nailed for many hours, problems can arise.
The most common is that they dig into the skin, and due to the abundant coat of dogs it is easy for them to go unnoticed, especially in areas such as the armpits or the pads of the feet. In these months, it is a good idea that we frequently check our dog’s skin , removing its hair (thus we will also detect possible parasites, another great danger that heat brings). If we find a spike and it is nailed cleanly and without any trace of infection, we can remove it ourselves and make sure that the dog does not lick the affected area , but before any complication we must go to the vet.
Another precaution that we can take is to trim the hair in the most complicated areas, such as the armpits . This way we will prevent it from getting tangled in the hair and subsequently nailing it, and if one remains, we will see it more easily.
As we said, that the spike sticks into the skin of the animal is the least of our problems. The real danger comes when they get into a hole, especially in the eyes and nose . In these cases, if we do not act quickly, serious complications can occur. In particular, the eyes are an extremely dangerous focus, as the dog can run the risk of losing it.
However, we should not be alarmed, but we should be attentive during our walks to any sign that something is bothering him, that he is walking strangely or limping, or that he suddenly becomes very nervous. And if you have any doubts, you know, go to the vet without delay.
