Bird Dogs - Health Matters

Avoiding Medical Mishaps on the Road

- Dr. Shawn Wayment

The internet and social media have turned us bird dog enthusiasts into interstate travelers. We have bird dogs and feel the need to travel to chase and complete the slam on the quail or grouse species that North America has to offer. Some of us travel more than 24 hours by truck and trailer with our bird dogs in tow.

Here are some bird dog traveling health tips that might help prevent ruining your travels or might even keep your bird dogs out of the veterinary hospital.

Pre-season conditioning of your bird dogs would seem like a no-brainer to most upland hunters, but I see sore dogs every year after a long weekend of hard hunting. Condition your dogs prior to the hunting season and get their feet toughened up prior to your trip.

Have your veterinarian do a thorough exam and make sure they are healthy prior to the hunting season. Annual blood work may catch subclinical conditions that your bird dog may have and help start any therapy to prevent a chronic disease.

Finally, make sure they are up to date with their immunizations and paperwork necessary for interstate travel. The Department of Agriculture has an easyto-follow page that will link you up with state-level agriculture departments where you can learn about any special regulations for taking your dog into the states where you will hunt.

Ron Coiro, DVM, is a sporting dog veterinarian who owns Smithaven Veterinary Hospital in St. James, New York. Coiro travels all over the country to chase game with his bird dogs, Labradors and beagles.