Risks to Western US Rural Dogs - Cacti, Barbed Wire & Rattlesnakes

Dogs

Spikes, snags, and snakes: call it the trifecta of rural life with dogs. When my dogs and I moved to our mountain valley in 2001, I simply didn't realize the additional dangers the dogs might face. Learn from my mistakes. Your dog will thank you for it.

Cactus

An injury from cactus spikes can be tricky to treat. For example, some types of cacti break off with pressure, so dogs end up with a whole chunk of cactus stuck to them. I know it's tempting to grab the prickly plant with your bare hands, but I learned a better way to remove the spikes from my dog trainer.

Make a loop with your dog's leash around the cactus and use it to remove the offending plant from your dog. (It's usually tender paws that have come in contact with the spikes.) Simply fling the hunk of cactus off the trail.

If your dog's wound appears tender or he continues limping, you'll have to cut your walk or hike short. Once at home, use a magnifying glass and good tweezers to find and remove any remaining cactus needles. Wear protective gardening gloves to keep from transferring the thorns from your dog to yourself. If you tend to choose hikes in prickly areas, then carry a magnifying glass, tweezers, moist wipes, and antiseptic spray in your pack so that you can take care of things right on the trail.