As a pet owner, the wellbeing of your furry animal should be your top priority. Some ways to ensure that include providing them with a clean and safe environment, feeding them a well-balanced diet and maintaining their health at all times.

In addition to these responsibilities, you should also do your best to protect your pet from any outside dangers they may come across on their daily walks to the park. This is especially important to do if you live in a busy state like California where these four-legged animals are exposed to all kinds of hazards on the streets.

The truth is both cats and dogs are very curious creatures who like exploring everything around them without realizing they may be getting themselves into trouble. Therefore, it basically comes down to you to prevent any potential outdoor dangers from happening.

Here are five ways how you can keep your buddy safe while enjoying the outdoors.

Find a local vet

Before you start going on your outdoor activities in the streets of California, make sure you have a local vet you can rely on to give your pet immediate care and treatment in case of an emergency.

Because these vet visits can be pricey, it is advised that you also obtain pet insurance that would cover the costs of any medical treatments. To find the best pet insurance in California, you should analyze and compare different insurance providers so you can buy the best coverage plan for your pet at a reasonable price. This is a great way to provide your pet with the best services while saving your money.

Follow the rules of park etiquette

One of the great things about living in California with a pet is that you can take your furball to numerous pet-friendly parks. However, exploring the wonders of these parks comes with following a few rules which are essential to prevent your four-legged friend from getting injured while outdoors.

For example, if you take your pup to a dog park, make sure you get to know their playmates so you can be on the lookout for any potential altercations with other animals. Don’t just toss them in there and wander off.  

Also, another strict California pet regulation you should follow is always to keep your dog on a leash while strolling in the park.

Beware of insect bites and parasites

Other outdoor dangers you should be aware of are insect bites and parasites. There are different kinds of ticks, fleas or gastrointestinal worms found in tall grasses or dense vegetation which can easily stick on your pet’s coat and cause skin infections and other severe health diseases.

Therefore, an effective way of preventing this from happening is to avoid taking your bud to those outdoor places that seem unsafe so you don’t expose them to such hazards.

In case your pet wanders off to such areas, don’t forget to check them for any insect bites and parasites. If you see anything unusual, try to remove it immediately by turning it counterclockwise.

Protect your pet from the heat

If there is one thing that California is most famous for, it is the warm weather all year round. However, while this can be a great thing for people, it can be potentially dangerous for pets. The reason for that is because exposing furry animals to extreme temperatures can cause a heatstroke which may end with tragic results if you don’t practice basic heat safety.

Some ways you can do that include always carrying water with you to freshen up your pet inside and out, providing ample shade so they can cool down after those long hot strolls and never leaving them alone in a parked car.

Final thoughts

It is no secret that cats and dogs are curious creatures who like to wander around in nature and explore different things. However, during these adventures, they can come across various hazards which can lead to serious health complications.

Therefore, it is crucial that you practice outdoor safety at all times to prevent the occurrence of such hazards.

If you don’t know how to do that, just follow the tips from our post and keep your pet safe while enjoying the outdoors.