While fresh air and exercise are beneficial to woman, man and beast, you should keep in mind certain precautions for your animals.  They will help to reduce unnecessary vet bills and preserve the safety of your pets.

Never let your animals run free in the neighborhood.  Aside from leash law and liability issues, there is no such thing as a “street smart” animal.  A car will eventually hit any dog or cat that is allowed into the street or can escape from your yard, unless it dies from something else sooner.

Dogs off a leash are likely to run through brush and barbed wire and get foreign objects in their ears and lacerations on legs and eyes.  If they meet up with other dogs, a fight may ensue or they may form a pack of dogs and attack and kill smaller dogs and cats.  I have been presented with all of these situations at my hospital.  I am not saying to never let your dog off of its leash, but when doing so, do it in your yard or other area where you can supervise the pet.

I know there are barn cats, outdoor cats and indoor/outdoor cats, but cats will generally live longer and healthier lives – indoors.  Most of the bad things that happen to cats happen outside.  Outside, they are more prone to disease, especially such diseases as feline aids, leukemia and feline infectious peritonitis.  Likewise, they will eventually get into a fight with another cat and get wounds that will abscess and require a trip to the vet’s office.  If they are really unfortunate, they will get attacked by a dog or coyote and may not survive.  Finally, cats that spend a good portion of their time outdoors are more likely to develop parasites such as fleas and tapeworms.

Do not let your dog ride loose in the back of a pickup truck!  They will eventually get bounced out.  Broken legs and torn knee ligaments are common results that will necessitate a trip to the orthopedic specialists.  You can expect a bill in excess of $1,000.00 in most cases if your pet makes that trip.  If you must travel with your pet in the back of a pickup truck, house the animal in an animal carrier that is secured to the bed of the truck.

Keep your pet out of the trash, whether it is the outdoor or outdoor garbage cans or bathroom wastebaskets.  Garbage can poisoning can cause serious vomiting and diarrhea if you are lucky and greater problems if you are not.  Discarded medicines or open medicine bottles can be attractive to your pet.

Remember that larger dogs and cats can reach whatever foods you leave out unattended on the kitchen counters and tables.  Cats may be too finicky to indulge, but your dog will not.  Bones and meat trimmings often do not agree with the intestinal tract or internal organs of your pet that is only accustomed to eating dog food.

While many of these suggestions may appear to be obvious, I can tell you I have seen many clients bring me their pets that have experienced these consequences.