Monsoons this year have been quite on the mixed bag emotions for all of us, so has it for our street dogs. Here are a few tips you can try to safeguard your street dogs:
1. Safe space away from rains: Giving them shelter in apartment car parking with permission seeked from owner, building them tiny home prototypes on the side of the roads or in parks with the help of friends and localities, temporary shelter inside your independent houses. Speaking to restaurant owners and asking them to give shelter for them outside their shops or construction sites.A single tarpaulin sheet tied between two trees can do the magic as well. This is to ensure they get dry safe spaces away from the rains to rest.
2. Tick & Flea Prevention: We all know that something as tiny as a tick can cause something as fatal as tick fever in dogs. For a daily or weekly healthcare you can use natural tick and flea preventions consistently. If some street dogs allow dry form, Sprinkling anti tick flea powder, diatomaceous powder (human food grade), neem powder can be helpful. If the street dogs are ok with touch for a longer time please go ahead and remove with your hands. You can also use a tick remover tool or a tweezer to pluck them out. Few street dogs will be fine with apple cider vinegar sprays ( please remember to use 1:2 portion, 1 part of apple cider vinegar and 2 parts of drinking water). Some street dogs are fine with apple cider vinegar drops added into their food but always try this prior to adding into their whole food else they might not eat. There are also brands that make non chemical anti tick and flea powders please try them as well. Speak to your vet if you have to resort to chemical tick flea preventive medications.
3. Monsoon wounds: Many street dogs are prone to skin infections during monsoons. These get further worse when not taken care of at the right time and make home for maggots and flies. Calendula ointment is known to help heal these wounds fast. If you find maggots on your street dogs please take them to the vet immediately or reach out to rescuers and caretakers who can guide you to treat them yourself. To help dry the wounds Negasunt or Neosporin is helpful. Please also keep scavon cream or spray, himax ointment or Alluspray for topical application on wounds in case the wounds need antiseptic sealing.
4. Reflective Collars: Many street dogs are victims of road accidents. During monsoons the visibility for cars also reduces and drivers might miss spotting the animals on the road. To avoid this, please put reflective collars on your street dogs. Some street dogs also go missing during monsoons so please do not hesitate to write your number on the collars to help a kind human to call you once they spot your street dog.
5. Food and Water: Please ensure your street animals are fed. If you cannot feed them, always seek help from localities or trustworthy people who can help the street dogs to stay fed and happy. Let them have access to clean water. Organizations like WFV do give out bowls for street animals and birds. Ensure you clean the bowls daily and place fresh water. You can also ask people to keep just a bowl of water outside their apartments.
6. Deworming: Monsoons invite gastro issues and worms into inhouse dogs and street dogs equally. Please ensure to deworm your street dogs as well as inhouse dogs every 3-6months. You can also try natural dewormers like dried and powdered pumpkin seeds, R56 homeo drops, diatomaceous earth human grade powder can be added into their food and mixed well. Seek vet’s assistance to administer deworming tablets based on dog's weight. Worms are infectious so let's keep everybody safe.
7. Vaccination: Seek help from municipal corporations or rescuers to help vaccinate your dogs ( anti rabies + 7 in 1 ). Keep them safe from waterborne diseases that can spread in no time. Many clinics also run low cost vaccination drives for street dogs so staying updated with this information can be helpful for your community animals as well.
8. Seek help: If you are worried for your street dogs but don't know where to begin helping them, please speak to rescuers, street animal caretakers, visiting vets or NGO’s. If there are severely injured animals but you do not know how to help them, please report these cases to your nearest caretaker or shelters to help the animal in need. Understand that we are all almost always hands full with our street animals and rescue cases so please be mindful and kind while seeking help and not criticize them when they ask for some time. If their hands are full, seek guidance from them on how you can help the animal yourself. Keep a list of visiting vets, shelters and helpline numbers in your city.
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