Spring Dog Care Guide: Nutrition, Grooming, and Parasite Prevention Tips

Spring Dog Care. As the vibrant season of spring arrives, it brings a fantastic opportunity to enhance the well-being of our beloved furry companions. Our dogs also benefit from tailored care this season as we adjust our routines and habits with the changing weather. 

From adapting their diets to tackling shedding and guarding against parasites, this comprehensive guide will walk you through essential tips to ensure your dog’s health, happiness, and enjoyment throughout the blooming days of spring. Here are some small tips to make the arrival of spring more pleasant for them.

Nutrition and well-being: diet change

Spring also brings rising temperatures, so it is a good idea to change our friend’s diet. Changing the diet from the winter is advisable because our dog’s daily needs change during warmer periods, as he is more active.

Spring food must contain carbohydrates, vitamins A and E, proteins, folic acid, and trace elements.

• Protein, an essential macronutrient for our dog, helps maintain his muscle mass and keeps him active. Foods containing protein include chicken, turkey, ox, tuna, lamb, pork and eggs. Protein should cover more than 50% of the diet. Without protein, it would be impossible to stay alive, as it contains all the essential amino acids for life. The dog’s body needs 22 amino acids but can only synthesise 12. The essential amino acids are histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, arginine, and valine. Quality proteins do not cause kidney problems, whereas if the quantity is low, the kidneys will suffer because they will have to work harder to digest and metabolise.
• Vitamins A and E are necessary for the body’s functioning, and their concentration must be adequate, as is that of minerals. Folic acid (or vitamin B69) performs critical functions for blood formation and the immune system. There are specific food supplements to increase this vitamin.
• Trace elements (magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, sodium, selenium) stimulate enzymes and support the dog’s mental maintenance, digestion, cardiovascular and respiratory system. They help combat anaemia, dermatitis, and respiratory and urinary tract disorders.
  • Manganese: Anti-allergic par excellence helps combat disorders such as anaemia, arthritis, dermatitis and eczema.
  • Iron activates the enzymes that produce red blood cells. Its intake improves lethargy, anaemia, and arthritis.
  • Copper, related to iron, collaborates in the production of red blood cells. It intervenes in the enzymes that absorb iron.
  • Zinc: performs hormonal functions. Its administration is recommended for muscular pain, thyroid disorders, and infectious states.
• Carbohydrates are essential during pregnancy and lactation of the dog. According to some studies, incorporating carbohydrates into the diet gives puppies a much better chance of survival.
• Listed below are some foods that contain carbohydrates:
  • Pasta: should be well cooked and lightly seasoned, combined with meat, which should always be in larger quantities in the diet.
  • Bread: Stale bread is preferred because of the yeast that may cause the dog’s stomach to ache.
  • Rice and cereals: These are also recommended to be eaten well cooked, although there are various conflicting opinions on this.

A change in quantity as well

Outdoor Activities: With the sun shining, it’s time for outdoor fun! Discover engaging activities with your pup, from frisbee games to agility training.

In addition to changing the food, the quantity must also be adjusted. If the energy expenditure is more significant, the amount of food will also increase. However, remember that every dog has its history, so it is essential to always consult a veterinary surgeon, who will be able to advise you on the right food plan for your furry friend, with complete and balanced food.

Water requirements must also undergo an adjustment. As they do more activity, they will need to take in more water, so they should always have a bowl full of water available. It is advisable to place it away from sunlight, in shaded areas, to keep it as cool as possible and to change it frequently.

Moulting in spring: What happens to our dog’s coat?

The physiological moulting of the dog in spring is an entirely regular occurrence. It is triggered by the photoperiod, i.e. the lengthening of daylight hours.

Between April and May, the dog begins to lose its winter coat and puts on a new one, in line with the milder temperatures. The dog moult lasts about 3-4 weeks, but this varies from dog to dog depending on its breed and state of health.

During the moulting week, brushing the pet more frequently (daily for long-haired coats, every other day for short-haired coats) is recommended to remove all dead hair. If left on the animal’s body, it forms hanks that lead to annoying consequences for our four-legged friend. As the mass of hair created does not allow the skin to oxygenate, irritation and dandruff can develop.

It is recommended that great care be taken when grooming, i.e., when the dog, especially the cat, licks its coat to clean it. At this stage, they may swallow large quantities of hair that irritate the intestine. Specific complementary foods help precisely expel ingested hair.

Bathing, even at home and not necessarily in specialised centres, can be regenerating for our dog and give him relief during this transitional phase. Gentle cleansing wipes can also be used if, for logistical reasons, you do not have the opportunity to bath your dog or for a quick clean-up after a walk.

Posts: ticks, fleas and mosquitoes

Parasite prevention should be carried out all year round; however, spring is when it is impossible to do without it.

It is essential to always check your dog or cat’s coat when returning from walks to locate parasites. Ticks, for example, are present everywhere, both in the city and the country, and they are dangerous for humans because they can carry infectious diseases.

Spring and Summer are a great time to explore the outdoors with your canine friend.

The most dangerous is Babesiosis, an invasion of red blood cells that can cause severe fatal anaemia. Fleas, wingless insects, feed on the blood of mammals and can cause allergic dermatitis. Like ticks, they can affect pets on a standard outdoor walk.

Mosquitoes are vector insects that lead to the development of essential diseases. Their bite, both on animals and humans, brings irritation and hypersensitivity.

In dogs, these annoying little animals act as vectors of nematode worms, leading to a diagnosis of subcutaneous or cardiopulmonary Filariasis. Remember that, if left untreated, Filariasis can lead to death.

Anti-parasitic solutions

Countless anti-parasitic products are available on the market. An anti-parasite collar is recommended from early spring until the end of summer. It mainly helps fight fleas and ticks, although there are also collars to keep mosquitoes away.

Anti-parasite drops for external use provide ample protection from fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and parasites.
Their effect acts on the parasites before they can sting our dog, reducing the risk of transmission of Leishmaniasis.

Anti-parasitic treatment is recommended all year round. In spring, however, we must pay special attention to our pets to prevent possible infestations.

There is also a vaccine (exclusively for veterinary use) to combat leishmaniasis. Vaccination is very simple: a single injection to be repeated annually, and protection is guaranteed within a month. It is essential to point out that vaccination is not 100% effective but reduces the probability of the disease by stimulating the animal’s immune response.

About Filaria, there is also a vaccine for veterinary use that, with a single injection, covers the next six months and the previous month, hitting the mosquito-injected larvae before it is too late. Also, against malaria, there is another ‘weapon‘ in tablet form, which can be taken once a month with a retroactive effect. These are chewable tablets with a pleasant taste for the dog.

Caring for our pet is proper and necessary for its and our well-being. Of course, not only in spring but every day of the year, accompanied by a great deal of pampering.

Outdoor activities

With spring and fine weather onset, we start spending more time outdoors again. We will resume long walks, even in wooded areas, especially when the heat sets in.

When spending more time outdoors, it is recommended that we go out with everything our dog needs: hygienic bags, plenty of water, and, why not, even some biscuits to give as a reward during activity games.

The activities are endless. Here are just a few ideas:

• Frisbee and ball, our friends’ favourite.
• Agility dog, for those dogs with an acrobatic and hyperactive disposition;
• Flyball, having our dog run on a course of hedges to jump over, and at the end, there is a ball to retrieve and carry.

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