5 tips for a safe Midsummer celebration with your dog
Midsummer is a wonderful Swedish tradition and it is wonderful to have your dog with you in the celebrations! Please think a little extra about the following tips to make sure your dog has a good time during the celebrations.
1. Leftovers
The Midsummer table often contains a lot of fatty and salty food. A dog that does not normally eat a lot of leftovers can get a bad stomach and suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea if they get to taste too much of the good stuff. Please inform guests that they should not feed your dog. Your dog may need to be kept away/tied during the meal to avoid the risk of chewing up leftovers that are dropped on the ground. Corn on the cob, leftover bones, onions and desserts containing chocolate are examples of things that can cause major problems if ingested by the dog.
2. Snake bites
Snake bites are common in the warmer part of the year and can be a life-threatening condition for your dog. Most commonly, your dog will be bitten on the bone or around the nose. Signs of viper bite include severe swelling over the bite area, decreased general condition, acute lameness and pain. A bitten dog should be kept as still as possible until it can be examined by a veterinarian, as the venom spreads more rapidly through the body with activity. If you suspect that your dog has been bitten, go to the vet as soon as possible.
3. Ticks
Are you celebrating Midsummer in a tick-infested area, such as the Stockholm archipelago? Make sure your dog is protected against ticks before you leave. Visit your vet in good time to get a prescription for tick repellent or buy an over-the-counter alternative from the pharmacy. If you remove the tick from your dog within 24 hours, there is very little chance that it has had time to transmit disease to your dog. Therefore, go through your dog's skin and coat towards the end of the day and remove any ticks with a tick remover.
4. Heat stroke
Heat stroke affects many dogs every year who are exposed to prolonged heat. During the celebrations, make sure your dog has a shady place to lie down and that it always has access to fresh water. Check on your dog regularly and be alert for symptoms of heat stroke. Don't leave your dog in the car!
5. Other dogs
If there are other dogs with you, it's a good idea to keep an eye on them, even during playtime. Give them a chance to get acquainted, preferably in a neutral place. Make sure there are no situations where they need to compete for food, water or toys to avoid fights.
If you are celebrating Midsummer in a different location, it may be wise to check in advance where the nearest open veterinary clinic is. Bear in mind that many clinics close over Midsummer and you may have to travel some distance to get help.
