Just like in any town, Sleepy Hollow’s pet owners sometimes experience the need to see their vet due to an unforeseen accident. These dog accidents usually stem from their environment, a particular activity, or another dog that’s managed to come into contact with yours.
Whatever the reasons, it’s interesting to speak to vets to see which accidents are most common and how you, as a dog owner, can prevent them from happening. Here are the eight most common dog accidents in the town of Sleepy Hollow.
Road Related Accidents
At the top of the list of dog accidents in Sleepy Hollow are road accidents. Dogs have a way of getting overly excited when going on a walk, and this can often lead to running out into the road and getting hit by a vehicle. If you do live in the city, find a policy that offers you comprehensive dog insurance in NYC since this happens a lot more than we would like to admit.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to make sure your dog is well-trained to walk on a lead and good at listening when you call them or tell them to stay. Stay away from main roads if at all possible. You can also invest in some great harnesses that help you to control larger dogs.
Dog Fights
One of the most tragic and severe accidents that can occur to a dog is an unfriendly encounter with another dog. Dog fights are brutal and often result in lacerations, bite wounds, and blood loss. It’s difficult to prevent a dog fight from occurring outside your property, but in terms of your home, make sure your dog is safely fenced in and well-socialized around other dogs.
Walk Related Injuries
Walking and hiking are a favorite pastime of many dog owners in The Big City. Mountainous areas and rocky terrain can pose a risk to your dog if they allow excitement to take over their most recent adventure. Paw lacerations can occur when a dog is walking over sharp rocks or broken glass, and it’s not unheard of by vets to see dogs with broken bones or sprains from a walk.
Toxic Ingestion and Choking
Dogs are naturally curious creatures, so it’s common for vets to hear about how their dog ate something they shouldn’t have and choked or got poisoned as a result. Puppies are especially susceptible to this potentially deadly curiosity, while older dogs are a little more discerning about what they can eat (or chew) and what they should stay away from. Apparently, curiosity didn’t just kill the cat! So be sure to train your dog on what they can eat and what’s safe to chew.
Bug and Snake Bites
Sleepy Hollow has hundreds of potentially dangerous spiders, snakes, scorpions, and centipedes. But mosquitoes and ticks can be even more deadly than these. Vets often see dogs come in to receive treatment for all kinds of bug bites, whether parasitical or otherwise.
Your surest way to prevent this from happening to your dog is to keep up with their tick and flea prevention. As for other bugs, you can keep a first aid kit for dogs in your home in case they encounter a venomous creature.
Burn Wounds
It’s hard to imagine why a dog would burn themselves, but this actually happens more than you might think. Stove tops and hot barbecues are most often to blame for dogs receiving burn wounds, but even campfires can be a reason. Once again, good training is the best way to keep your dog from jumping up on your stove, licking the barbecue grill, or getting dangerously close to any fire.
Porcupines
There’s an age-old rivalry between curious dogs and porcupines, and so far, the porcupines have come out on top almost all of the time. Just about every veterinarian has seen a poor dog with quills stuck to their face or body, and removing them is a horrible experience for your poor dog.
Fortunately, this is a lesson your dog will only need to learn one time. But if you frequent places where porcupines can be found, keep an eye on your dog’s curious gaze upon the wildlife.
Drowning
One of the most horrible accidents that occurs with dogs is falling into swimming pools and not being able to get out. All dogs can swim, but only for so long until they drown out of exhaustion. But you can train your dog to find its way out of your pool by guiding them to a step or shallow area. If you’re not around and you do have a pool, make sure your pool is covered, or your dog knows how to navigate it if they happen to fall in.
Final Thoughts
Keep your dog safe by practicing caution, as mentioned here. If all else fails, make sure you have the means to visit your vet for whatever reason. After all, your dog is bound to get into some kind of trouble sooner or later.