Pet safety in the SW March 01, 2009, 09:04:43 am Yahoo Message Number: 99718We'll be traveling in AZ and NM later this month with two dogs and we're wondering what advice you have for pet safety in those areas. I've read the archive posts about controlling temperature in the coach in the heat, etc. What about snakes and scorpions? Is it advisable to carry some sort of anti-venom kit? Are there other issues we should anticipate and plan for? Thanks in advance for your suggestions. Clarkie
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #1 – March 01, 2009, 10:32:32 am Yahoo Message Number: 99723wrote: I've read the archive posts about controlling temperature in the coach in the heat, etc. What about snakes and scorpions? Is it advisable to carry some sort of anti-venom kit? Are there other issues we should anticipate and plan for? --- If you've read past threads on this topic, you're already aware of ways to keep your dogs "cool" and protect them from too much sun and/or heat exposure, including providing plenty to fresh cold water, so I suggest watching out for the following when traveling in any "desert" areas, high, low, or in-between (lots of other places, too): Keep the dog(s) leashed when you're walking them (and I suggest staying on the trails and *not* allowing the dog to shoot off into the bushes to explore), but please don't stake or tie them outside of your rig when you're not there. Little dogs especially can be very attractive coyote snack food.Watch out for various burrs, stickers, and foxtails; some stickers, like the goat head, can do real damage to a dog's pads, and a hidden foxtail, espceially between the pads, can burrow deep and cause infection and worse. And, obviously, keep the dog well away from *any type of cactus*! Check the dog's feet, muzzle, ears, and fur for stickers after a walk, especially if the dog(s) are not smooth/short- coated.I've never been overly concerned about meeting up with rattlesnakes and/or scorpions, but it has happened. Rattlesnakes can't stand a ground temperature much over 100 degrees, so they spend the hot parts of the day under bushes and/or in protected rocky areas and come out to hunt in the evening; be very cautious when walking your dogs along the roadsides or on trails at this time. And, although rattlers can't handle hot ground temperatures, paved surfaces especially retain just the right amount of heat for their needs after the sun goes down; be aware. As for scorpions, don't poke around in rocks or holes (and don't let the dogs do this, either!) and don't leave your shoes/boots outside the rig. ;-) As far as carrying anti-venom, this is up to you and your vet; I never have felt this was necessary, but YMMV. Frankly, depending on the size/weight of the dog, the location of any snake strike on the dog's body, and the distance you were from the anti-venom, the effectiveness of administering any anti-venom might well be moot. In my experience, "stickers in the feet" (the dog's, not mine) are the biggest concern, but my dog has feet like a Hobbit and picks up quite a varied collection of "stuff" anywhere she walks.Enjoy your travels; you and the dogs will have a great trip!Joan
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #2 – March 01, 2009, 10:49:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 99724What about snakes and scorpions? I wrote a long reply to your question over on the Escapees RV Discussion Group where you posted it, too. Joan has given you some good information. Keep your dog on a leash with you at the other end and don't allow him to sniff under bushes where you can't see what's there first. As tempting as it might be, DON'T allow him to run free. IMO, Valley Fever, which is endemic to the Southwester, is more of a concern (I gave a link to an article in my reply over on the Escapees site), so don't let your dog sniff down rodent holes or around disturbed ground.Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #3 – March 01, 2009, 04:57:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99739QuoteIn my experience, "stickers in the feet" (the dog's, not mine) are the biggest concern, .... Joan Thanks, Joan, for this really helpful information. If I thought the dogs would keep "pet shoes" on it sounds like a good idea...but I suspect the shoes wouldn't last 30 seconds! We'll be careful. We always do keep them on a leash. Clarkie
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #4 – March 01, 2009, 05:03:00 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99741"pet shoes" ... it sounds like a good idea...but..."QuoteClarkie RichThe RV lot at the Albuquerque Balloon Fest is notorious for 'Goat's Head' stickers. All the dogs, including my Jiggs, come up with stickers nearly every day. There are areas there where Jiggs won't even go. You get to recognize the plants after a while and avoid them.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #5 – March 01, 2009, 05:03:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 99742QuoteI wrote a long reply to your question over on the Escapees RV Discussion Group where you posted it, too.QuoteIMO, Valley Fever, which is endemic to the Southwester, is more of a concern (I gave a link to an article in my reply over on the Escapees site), Quoteso don't let your dog sniff down rodent holes or around disturbed ground.Quote Linda Hylton http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=1167 http://earl-linda.blogspot.com/ Yes, Linda, I saw your reply over at Excapees and followed the link on Valley Fever. First time I ever heard of it and that's a really helpful article. Thanks bunches for the tip. These dogs are Doxies, so they'll want to go burrow in any rat hole they see. We'll be especially watchful to keep them from digging. I think I'll put them in harnesses just to avoid them slipping their collars. Clarkie
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #6 – March 02, 2009, 12:10:17 am Yahoo Message Number: 99763Clarkie, in addition to the excellent suggestions already posted here, I'd add a warning about fire ants, if they are in the areas you plan to visit. Especially for your low-slung doxies, fire ants can be a serious issue. You'll quickly learn to identify their large mounds, especially near electric power poles, and steer clear of them. The goats head burrs mentioned are horrible. When in areas that have them, I carry a pair of tweezers when walking the dogs. They are too painful to try to remove with bare hands.If you take the dogs out after dark, and are concerned about scorpions, you can carry a flashlight with an UV bulb, or black light blue (BLB) tube. Scorpions fluoresce under ultraviolet light and glow greenish or bluish. I spotted my first scorpion at an RV park near Kerrville, TX, when taking the dogs out at night. Fortunately, they were wearing harnesses, since they got yanked a foot up in the air when I flipped the black light on and spotted a small scorpion a foot from where we were standing. They could give the dogs a nasty sting.Sharon N.Crossville, TN
Re: Pet safety in the SW Reply #7 – March 02, 2009, 11:32:58 am Yahoo Message Number: 99776"If you take the dogs out after dark, and are concerned about scorpions, you can carry a flashlight with an UV bulb, or black light blue (BLB) tube."An even better tool is an ultraviolet LED flashlight, which gives a brighter beam and longer battery life. GoldenGadgets.com is a good source, with UV-LED flashlights priced from $5.99 up:http://tinyurl.com/anup55>orhttp://www.goldengadgets.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=uv&osCsid=76843f602a6b06c5f25156cafb7164f8&x=0&y=0>Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
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