January is officially Walk Your Dog Month, a time to celebrate our furry companions by getting outside and moving! This month is a great reminder for dog owners to prioritise daily walks with their pets, which are essential for physical and mental health.
The Mental Health Foundation highlights how pets can significantly boost our mental well-being. They provide comfort, companionship, and a sense of purpose, helping to lower stress, anxiety, and depression while improving our overall mood. Plus, pets can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation by offering social support. And let’s not forget: taking your dog for a walk keeps both of you active, which is great for mental health!
Throughout January, stay tuned for helpful tips from our resident vet, Chris Geddes (Marketing & Technical Lead at Accord Animal Health). He’ll share advice on dog walking safety, as well as essential care tips to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Let’s get moving and enjoy those walks together!
Walking you Dog
Try to get the amount of walking right for your dog’s age, breed, health and fitness
Generally, dogs enjoy regular exercise, so try to avoid leaving them in all week and then going on a three-hour hike at the weekend. This is especially important for growing puppies, dogs with joint disease or short-faced dogs that struggle with their breathing.
If your dog is slowing down, reluctant to exercise, or showing any signs of limping, get them checked out by your vet. People often put these signs down to “old age”, but there is always a cause, and treatments are available. Don’t forget about Accord Animal Health’s joint supplement PerNic Cox – ideal for very active dogs or those suffering from joint issues.
If you’re not sure how much exercise is right for your dog, ask your vet or veterinary nurse at your dog’s next health check
Think about safety
Consider if it’s safe to go out alone, tell people where you are going, and take your phone/personal alarm.
Dress yourself and your dog in hi-viz where appropriate – especially at dawn/dusk or on country lanes.
Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date is a good idea anyway, but especially if they enjoy playing with other dogs on their walks, you may want to check your dog is covered for canine infectious cough, also known as “kennel cough”.
Avoid extendable leads. They may seem like a great idea, but lead to so many accidents as the mechanism fails and dogs wander into the road. They also cause trauma to the neck when dogs run and reach the limit of the extension.
Beware of your own and your dog’s safety around other dogs. Watch other dogs’ body language and politely ask their owners to put their dogs on a lead if unsure. Be respectful of others and put your dog on a lead, too, where appropriate, even if your dog is friendly.
If going on a long walk, consider packing a first aid kit for your dog as well as yourself. For a longer walk, always take some water to prevent your pet from becoming dehydrated
Always ensure the contact details linked to your dog’s microchip are up to date and ideally have an ID tag on their collar or harness too – it can take a while to contact you through the chip if your dog goes missing. If your dog is a flight risk, consider a tracker on their collar or even hiring a dog safe field
Avoid walking through fields with cattle, even if it is a right of way, especially if the field contains a bull or cows with young calves. Always keep your dog on a lead around any livestock. In the EU and the UK, it is an offence for dogs to 'worry' livestock, which could result in a fine or worse.
Avoid allowing your dog to go into water that is known to have cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in it as this is toxic to dogs. Sometimes this will be obvious but not always. You’ll often hear about ponds and lakes locally that have this, or you may see signs warning you.
You may have heard of a condition called Alabama rot. Whilst we don’t yet understand how it is caused, it is recommended to wash mud off your dog following a wet and muddy walk, especially through woodland.
Take the weather conditions into account
In hot weather, take your dog out very early in the morning or late at night. Dogs can die from heat stress in hot weather, especially if they are not used to it, such as in the UK. They can also burn their pads on hot pavements. It’s better for a dog to miss a walk altogether some days than come to harm.
In cold weather, get your dog a coat if they feel the cold and bear in mind they have nothing on their feet, so avoid being out too long in snow and ice. Always wash their feet when you get home after a winter walk, in case dogs pick up grit or ice balls, which can be abrasive and corrosive.
Use reflective gear: High-visibility jackets, clip-lights, and LED collars can help ensure you and your dog are seen by others.
Be aware of your dog's body language: Signs of discomfort, such as shivering or reluctance to walk, may indicate it's too cold or wet.