Dog owners, stop doing this before taking Fido for a walk, expert warns

Most dog lovers know that regular exercise is a must for keeping their furry friends healthy. But one expert is urging owners to ditch a common habit — because it could actually put their pet’s life at risk.

Professional dog trainer Adam Spivey recently took to Instagram to issue a warning that surprised many pet owners: don’t feed your dog right before a walk.

“One of the most dangerous things you can do as a dog owner is feed your dog and then take them for a walk,” he said

He said if it’s so important to take your pet for a walk then give them at least 45 minutes to an hour before doing any physical activities but reassured everyone there’s no need to stop your dogs moving around at home.

“I’m not saying they have to sit there and do nothing. They can move around” he explained.

 

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The warning sparked debate online, but many dog owners backed him up with personal stories.

“One of the most dangerous? But nobody’s ever heard of it?” one commented.

“I lost the most amazing dog to bloat. It is no joke,” one added.

“I saw a post about this three years ago when I had not long had my staffy, I’m super glad I saw it, as I used to feed her n take her for a walk,” another commented.

“Might hasten to add it’s more common in certain breeds ie Poodles, GSD’s (deep chested dogs) but should always treat all dogs as though they could potentially get it.”

Spivey isn’t the only expert sounding the alarm. In a viral TikTok video, vet nurse Jade (@jade.the.vet.nurs) issued a stark warning about the dangers of one of the most popular dog games: playing fetch with sticks.

In a video shared to TikTok, Jade the Vet Nurse issued the warning and told her viewers how thrown sticks can even lead to death in some cases.

“I am afraid to say that sticks can actually be very dangerous for your dogs and they are not a suitable toy for your dogs,” she explained.

The vet nurse went on to say that when you throw a stick in the air, it will often spin and sometimes land with one end of the stick stuck into the ground and the other end sticking upwards.

“What happens when your dog comes running towards it at a really high speed, they use their mouth to grab it and basically this bit [the top end of the stick] can go through the roof of their mouth and into their brain which will be fatal,” she elaborated.

@jade.the.vet.nurs Please don’t throw sticks for your dogs❗️ Sticks can be very dangerous for dogs to play with causing trauma to the inside of their mouth or leaving splinters inside your dogs oesophagus, stomach and/or intestines needing surgery to remove them. In rare and unfortunate cases, once thrown some sticks can get lodged in the ground at a dangerous angle meaning when your dog runs towards it at a high speed they can end up impaling themselves through the roof of their mouth which can either be exceptionally painful or even fatal. Overall sticks are not a good or safe toy for your dog to play with and I encourage you to find a safer alternative. (Note: all of my content is based on my own personal opinions, research and experiences and does not reflect that of the entire veterinary industry.) #vet#vetnurset#veterinarynursen#rvnt#vetnurseadviceg#dogg#dogtokg#dogsoftiktokg#dogparentg#dogownertipsi#sticksg#dogtoyn#dontu#educatep#fyp ♬ original sound – Jade The Vet Nurse

From bloating risks to stick injuries, these are dangers most dog owners never consider — but should. With just a few small changes to your routine, you can help keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy for years to come.