Prevent Fishing Hook Injuries in Pets
Summer is prime fishing season here in Michigan, but with fishing comes fishing hooks. How can we keep dogs from getting tangled up with these hooks during our summer adventures? The team at Switzer Veterinary Clinic is here to help prevent summer pet injuries—including those that involve fishing hooks.
Summer Pet Injuries to Keep An Eye Out For
Spending time outdoors is one of the very best things about a Michigan summer, especially here on the shores of Lake Huron. But with more time spent outside comes more opportunity for injuries, especially:
- Paw pad burns from walking on hot sidewalks or on rough hiking trails
- Heat-related illnesses during hot, humid days (aka, all of Michigan’s summer days)
- Insect bites or stings
- Lake-related hazards
Yep, that’s right—living by a lake is downright amazing, but it also means unique lake hazards for pets to face. These can include sharp debris, rusty boat equipment, harmful algae blooms, and yes, fishhooks.
Any outdoor activity increases the chance of getting injured, but fishing hooks may be more common than others here in Alpena. Hooks can be left on docks or along trails, and curious dogs can easily get them caught on their lips, paws, or even worse—they can swallow fish hooks by accident.
Fishhooks can get embedded in your pup’s soft tissue, or even internally if they do get swallowed.
If your pet gets in a tussle with a fishhook, don’t panic and pull it out. Here’s what to do instead.
What to Do if a Dog Fishing Hook Injury Happens
A dog fishing injury can be terrifying, but they require loads of care. Hooks are sharp and barbed, and because of this, taking them out improperly can cause even more damage.
Here’s how to respond safely:
- Stay calm and keep your pup from touching the hook. Your dog will probably be in pain at this point, but you need to keep them as still as possible to keep the hook from embedding deeper. Your goal here is to calm your pup down and keep her from trying to pull it out.
- DO NOT pull the hook out. Fish hooks are designed to stay inside a fish, even when it is flopping around and struggling. (This is what the barbs help do.) Pulling barbs out can tear your pup’s tissue, and make the injury worse.
- Stabilize the wounded area. If the hook is dangling from your pet’s skin or mouth, gently wrap it with gauze to keep it from snagging and getting ripped out. Avoid manipulating the hook in any way.
- Immediately seek veterinary care. A fishhook in any part of your pet is considered an urgent veterinary situation, so reach out to your nearest urgent or emergency vet for help. If the hook was swallowed or is stuck in your pet’s throat, immediately seek emergency care.
A veterinarian will use special tools and procedures to safely remove the hook. After the treatment, follow every instruction from your vet to the letter to help prevent any infection, and keep an eye out for swelling, redness, or discharge that could indicate something is inflamed.
Saying Safe and Healthy with Your Alpena, MI Vet
Whether it’s a fishhook injury or another summertime malady, the skilled team at Switzer Veterinary Clinic is here to help. Reach out to us by calling (989) 356-4880 to schedule an appointment, and keep in mind that we do offer after-hours emergency care for our established patients.
Have a safe summer, friends!