Most dog owners love to watch their dog play with other dogs. With close owner observation and control of these interactions, they can help build proper socialization skills and be beneficial for our pets. There are several risks to these situations though.
Taking our dogs to areas where many other dogs go increases the likelihood of exposure to parasites. Dogs (and people in bare feet) walking on the ground where an infected dog has defecated in the past may become infected themselves, even if there is no longer any visible sign of the feces. Dogs with respiratory infections can pass those infections to other dogs through coughing or sneezing. Being properly vaccinated helps lower the risk of severe infection, but does not rule it out. Dr. Wayne Johnson and the staff at Birdneck Animal Hospital in Virginia Beach are happy to educate you on vaccinations and discuss which vaccines are best suited for your pet's lifestyle.
Also, dogs may respond aggressively to one another, sometimes causing severe physical damage. To our perspective, this often appears to occur for no reason. The dogs are often responding to smells, body posturing, or actions that we don't perceive. Every veterinarian has heard over and over "My dog has never done that before".
Enjoy your time with your dog in social situations, but be wise about taking precautions. For further advice contact Dr. Johnson and his staff at 757-355-5694.