Gun Dog

Summer Hazards that every Dog Owner Needs to Know

Normal summer activities that may be dangerous for your bird dog and that you need to know about.

July 08, 2026 By RuthAnn Lobos, DVM CCRT CVAT

As a veterinarian and bird dog owner, I know there is not truly an off-season. It may feel like a quieter stretch between spring work and the push toward fall birds, but the choices you make in these hotter months can have a real impact on your dog’s health, conditioning, and readiness when the season opens. For hard-charging pointing dogs, retrievers, and flushing dogs, summer brings a unique set of risks. The combination of heat, altered routines, travel, backyard gatherings, water training, and more time outdoors can create problems that range from mild stomach upset to genuine emergencies. The good news is that most summer hazards are preventable if you know what to watch for....

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Summer Hazards that every Dog Owner Needs to Know

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Since 1973, Petersen?s Hunting has been the most trusted brand solely devoted to the pursuit of big-game and adventure sport hunting.
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Summer Hazards that every Dog Owner Needs to Know

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Guns & Ammo Established in 1958, Guns & Ammo, presenting content covering the complete spectrum of firearms, accessories and related products, is the most respected media brand in the firearms field. Subscribe

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Hunting Since 1973, Petersen?s Hunting has been the most trusted brand solely devoted to the pursuit of big-game and adventure sport hunting. Subscribe

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North American Whitetail When it comes to providing the most comprehensive, cutting-edge information on the pursuit of this continent?s undisputed king of big game, North American Whitetail stands alone. Subscribe

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Bowhunter For over 40 years, the most elite and dedicated sportsmen have turned to Bowhunter for the most comprehensive experiential ?voice-of-authority? content. Subscribe

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Wild Fowl As the preeminent brand for avid 'water-fowlers', Wildfowl provides best-practice hunting advice, habitat reports, flyway forecasts, conservation programs and updates on issues affecting waterfowl populations nationwide. Subscribe

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Gun Dog For more than three decades, Gun Dog has maintained its status as North America?s premier authority on upland bird dogs and retrievers with content that provides comprehensive coverage of these hard driving sporting dogs. Subscribe

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Guns & Ammo
Established in 1958, Guns & Ammo, presenting content covering the complete spectrum of firearms, accessories and related products, is the most respected media brand in the firearms field.
Subscribe

Hunting
Since 1973, Petersen?s Hunting has been the most trusted brand solely devoted to the pursuit of big-game and adventure sport hunting.
Subscribe

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When it comes to providing the most comprehensive, cutting-edge information on the pursuit of this continent?s undisputed king of big game, North American Whitetail stands alone.
Subscribe

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For over 40 years, the most elite and dedicated sportsmen have turned to Bowhunter for the most comprehensive experiential ?voice-of-authority? content.
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