Alongside the joys of dog ownership, we often have to make difficult and responsible decisions, as the lives of our four-legged companions are frequently in our hands. Unfortunately, it is quite common that dogs (and cats) are brought to our clinic after having been involved in accidents. One of the most frequent—and often tragic—incidents is when an animal is hit by a car. This is especially heartbreaking when the accident is caused by the animal’s own owner, which, sadly, happens more often than one might think.

Most of these accidents could be prevented if owners took appropriate measures to ensure their pets’ safety. Let us review the most important steps dog owners can take to prevent such accidents, and what to do if the worst has already happened.

Why Dogs Do Not Belong on the Road

In many cases, accidents occur because a dog somehow gets onto the roadway and is struck by a vehicle. It is crucial to understand that roads are not designed for dogs, and the moment a dog steps onto the road, it is already in a dangerous situation. Drivers often have no chance to stop or avoid an animal that suddenly appears in front of them.

Owners tend to blame drivers and speeding vehicles, but the reality is that a dog simply has no place on the road.

It is also important to know that if a car is damaged as a result of hitting a dog, the dog’s owner is legally required to cover the damage. The situation is even more serious if a person is injured. Legal regulations clearly state that the owner is responsible for ensuring that their dog does not pose a danger to itself or to others. Therefore, guaranteeing a dog’s safety is not only a moral obligation but also a legal responsibility.

Outside the home, the safest place for a dog is beside its owner, on a leash, walking on the sidewalk. Even during a simple walk, tragedies can easily be avoided if the dog is always kept on a leash. This is important not only for the dog’s safety, but also for the safety of other pedestrians and drivers.

How Can We Protect Our Dog at Home?

At home, special attention must be paid to safety around the gate. Many people do not realize that dogs most often escape from their own garden and end up on the road—or even in front of their owner’s car, sometimes still within the yard.

Opening and closing the gate always requires extra care, especially if the dog is free in the garden. At such times, we must be extremely attentive inside the property as well.

One of the best solutions is to ensure that the dog is inside a kennel, the house, or another secure area when the gate is opened. It is worth the initial effort to train the dog to immediately go into the kennel when it hears a car approaching—and to always check that this has actually happened. This can prevent the dog from running onto the road or in front of the owner’s car when entering or leaving the property.

It is also very useful if the dog learns that it may only cross the gate with the owner’s permission. This so-called “gate rule” can be learned by the owner in a proper dog training school and then taught to the dog. In the long term, this significantly reduces the risk of accidents.

Unfortunately, we have seen tragic cases involving electric gates as well: for example, when an owner opened the gate remotely “for convenience,” and before reaching the gate, two stray dogs ran in and fatally injured the owner’s small dog.

What Should You Do If an Accident Happens?

If an accident does occur, the first and most important thing is your own safety. For this reason, the injured animal’s mouth should ALWAYS be muzzled or secured. After that, it is essential to consult a veterinarian and transport the dog to the clinic as soon as possible.

Even if the injury does not appear serious from the outside—or if there are no visible external injuries at all—internal injuries such as internal bleeding, a ruptured bladder, or damage to the spleen or liver can be life-threatening. Timely veterinary intervention can save a life, so never hesitate to seek professional help.

In such cases, the veterinarian will perform a thorough examination and will most likely carry out X-rays, ultrasound scans, and blood tests. The dog may receive intravenous fluids, pain relief, and other medications to stabilize its condition and support survival. Depending on the severity and nature of the injuries, this process may take hours or even days.

If the injuries are incompatible with life, then true help means not allowing the animal to suffer further and assisting it in passing away painlessly. This decision is also part of the owner’s responsibility.

Summary

A pet’s accident-free life largely depends on the owner’s attentiveness and sense of responsibility. Proper training and responsible pet ownership—such as using a leash, handling gates safely, and educating the dog—greatly contribute to preventing tragic accidents.

Never forget: our dogs’ safety is in our hands.

A Accidents involving dogs: How can we prevent them and what should we do if an accident happens? bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

In many cases, taking X-ray images is necessary. As part of our services, we send every X-ray image by email both to pet owners and to the referring veterinarian.

You can learn more about X-rays and how they work in the video below:

A What should you know about X-rays? bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

For further information and prevention advice, feel free to contact our veterinarians in Szeged.

A Babesiosis in dogs bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

General Characteristics

With their distinctive and amusing appearance, pugs easily win people over. Their wrinkled little faces, short snouts, compact and muscular bodies, and large dark eyes are truly irresistible.

They love clowning around and being mischievous.

Despite their small size and short legs, they have a surprisingly high need for exercise.

Pugs are very loyal, love children, and are not aggressive at all.

At the same time, they also enjoy sleeping a lot—and, of course, snoring loudly, often to the amusement of their owners. (This, however, is mainly due to a health-related condition: brachycephalic syndrome.)

They are often stubborn and can get offended easily, yet they are very playful, intelligent, and well-balanced dogs.

Grooming and Care

Due to their physical characteristics, special attention is required when caring for pugs. Their skin folds must always be kept clean and dry.

Regularly check their ears and eyes, and consult your veterinarian if you notice any abnormalities.

Their coat can be kept healthy and clean with regular brushing.

Pugs do not require a large living space and adapt well to city apartments. However, they should be walked 3–4 times a day and played with daily. They reward this attention greatly, and it helps prevent obesity and various health problems. This is how we can be responsible and caring owners to our pug companions.

Feeding Guidelines

Regardless of the breed, it is essential that pets receive nutrition appropriate for their age, breed-specific body size, activity level, and health status. This is fundamental to maintaining a healthy life—for dogs as well as all other animal species.

Pugs are prone to obesity, but with proper feeding this can be avoided. Many high-quality professional dog foods are available for this purpose. If you prepare homemade food, their diet should consist mainly of meat, with smaller portions of vegetables and only minimal grains. Sugar, chocolate, and similar treats must be avoided entirely—no matter how much they beg!

Divide the daily food into several smaller meals to aid digestion. After eating, allow enough time for rest and digestion. Walks and playtime should ideally take place before feeding.

What Else Should We Pay Attention To?

A pug puppy purchased from a reputable breeder is not inexpensive, but it is well worth it. Such puppies are generally healthier and stronger, live longer, happier lives, and require fewer veterinary visits due to illness.

Even so, certain health issues occur more frequently in this breed, mostly due to their short skull structure. This can cause breathing difficulties, and their short snouts make them more sensitive to high temperatures. Pugs do not tolerate heat well. Walking in hot, humid weather is not recommended, as breathing becomes more difficult.

During extreme summer heat, longer walks should only be taken at dawn or late at night. During the day, only very short “relief walks” are advisable, as pugs are especially vulnerable to heatstroke.

Of course, every animal is unique.

Always consult your veterinarian regarding the proper care and lifestyle needs of your own pet.

A What Are the Characteristics of the Pug Breed? bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

Symptoms do not appear in every living being, but they can occur in, among others:

• humans
• dogs
• horses

Among humans, some individuals remain symptom-free even after infection.

Those who are less fortunate may experience symptoms depending on the stage of the disease, such as slowly spreading skin redness (Lyme rash), flu-like symptoms, joint inflammation (most commonly affecting the knee or elbow), nervous system involvement, kidney inflammation, or inflammation of the heart muscle.

In infected dogs, symptoms occur in approximately 50% of cases. These may include temporary or recurring joint inflammation and kidney disease.

Prevention is the most important measure—for both dogs and their owners!

Please consult your physician or veterinarian regarding appropriate preventive measures.

In the meantime, we are sharing two useful videos about Lyme disease with you:

A Lyme Disease bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

Human infections do not originate from pets, and likewise, based on current knowledge, this virus that causes illness in humans has only a very low probability of causing disease in household pets. Nevertheless, several questions may arise among pet owners, which we aim to address below.

Walking Your Pet

Regular physical activity and spending time outdoors remain important for pets, as these activities help strengthen the immune system and reduce stress. However, it is essential to pay attention to when and where we take our pets for walks.

Whenever possible, try to avoid contact with other people. Choose times when fewer people are outdoors in your area, and if feasible, opt for quieter locations such as open fields or forests.

Based on current research, the primary factors in the spread of human infections are direct human-to-human contact and droplet transmission (coughing, sneezing). Therefore, if meeting others cannot be avoided, keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters—not only between people, but also ensure that animals do not get closer than this to other animals or people.

Do not allow others to pet your dog or cat. Just as handshakes should be avoided, viruses may also adhere to an animal’s fur and be transmitted through touching. In the current situation, thorough handwashing before and after petting your own animal is especially important.

After returning from a walk, if you consider it necessary, you may gently wipe your pet’s fur and paws with a cloth dampened with soapy water.

Very important: Despite images circulating online, do NOT put a mask on your pet. Not only is it ineffective, but it can also be harmful if the animal panics and becomes distressed or uncontrollable.

Quarantine

If someone is required to remain in quarantine, walking the pet cannot be avoided. If you have a private garden, this can be easily managed. Otherwise, ask a nearby family member or acquaintance—who is healthy and not part of a high-risk group—to help.

If the person assisting is not an immediate family member, ask them not to pet the animal, and only touch the leash, which should be disinfected before and after the walk.

Visiting the Veterinarian

If it becomes necessary to take your dog or cat to the veterinarian, this should ideally be done by someone from a lower-risk age group. If possible, this person should explain the animal’s symptoms to the veterinary staff outside the clinic, hand over the pet there, and after treatment, receive the animal back outdoors before taking it home.

Once home, the pet’s fur may be wiped with soapy water before allowing them back into the living space.

Take Care of Yourself and Each Other!

We hope we have helped to dispel common concerns and uncertainties. If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

A The Virus and Pets bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

How can we prevent unwanted litters?

Should we choose surgery or a medication-based method?

At what age should this be done?

Will my pet’s behavior change after neutering/spaying?

Do you neuter/spay animals other than dogs and cats?

In the video, our veterinarian, Dr. Antal Rengei, answers these frequently asked questions from pet owners about neutering/spaying.

A Neutering/Spaying – Frequently Asked Questions bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

Where is the puppy kindergarten located?

The sessions are held in the courtyard and premises of the Kisállat-Ambulancia Veterinary Clinic.
Exact address: 6724 Szeged, Körtöltés utca 23, Hungary.

At what age can a puppy attend puppy kindergarten?

One of the most sensitive and receptive periods in a dog’s life is the early socialization phase, which lasts from about 3 weeks to 3.5 months of age.
This is why we recommend starting puppy kindergarten as early as 7–8 weeks of age.

At the same time, this is also a medically sensitive period, as the immune system is still developing and maternal antibodies are gradually disappearing. Therefore, special care is required during group sessions.

Only puppies that have been examined by our veterinarians, properly dewormed, and treated against parasites are allowed to join the group. This ensures a safe and healthy environment for all participants.

Why doesn’t the puppy kindergarten last longer, for example until 7 months of age?

Our “puppy club” is essentially more like a nursery than a traditional dog school.
By the age of 3.5–4 months, puppies often outgrow this course both physically and mentally.

However, everything they learn during this period makes life together many times easier later on.
From this age onward, we recommend continuing training in a junior puppy group, and later in a dog school designed for adolescent dogs.

Should all family members attend together, or is it enough for one person to bring the puppy?

During puppy club sessions, puppies learn from each other under supervision, following their own “dog rules,” while owners begin learning to understand dog behavior and communication.

This is the key goal: to truly understand your dog’s language.
Therefore, we recommend that all family members attend, so everyone can develop together. This leads to a much happier and more harmonious 12–15 years of life together with your pet.

What does a session look like and how long does it last?

Sessions are led by our experienced assistant Évi Orsy, who has been conducting puppy classes for 6–7 years.
Classes take place on Saturday or Sunday mornings and last approximately 1 hour.

She guides the exercises, teaches both puppies and owners, and answers questions that arise.
(Please call on Friday to register and receive the exact time.)

Since learning is most effective when everyone is a little hungry , puppies should arrive without having eaten. Owners should bring plenty of small treats in their pockets, as puppies will happily and enthusiastically perform tasks for rewards.

A collar and short leash are required so puppies can begin getting used to gentle guidance.

How can I register?

You can inquire and register by calling the clinic at +36 62 543 855.

First, your puppy must undergo a screening examination, during which we:

• perform a health check,
• administer necessary parasite control,
• and begin the required vaccination series.

After this, your puppy may join the puppy kindergarten.

What are the benefits of puppy kindergarten?

The more environmental stimuli a puppy experiences during this early socialization period, the more confident, balanced, and adaptable they will be throughout their life.

Over 10 years of experience and hundreds of puppies have proven how valuable this program is—even for owners who are not raising their first dog, and especially for first-time dog owners.

All of this takes place in a medically safe environment, under professional supervision, ensuring the best possible outcome for both puppies and owners.

If you still have questions, here are some real feedback quotes from owners:

“Fantastic group sessions—important for both owners and puppies.”

“I would make this mandatory for every new dog owner.”

“Fantastic for both owners and puppies. Early socialization is extremely important.”

“A safe and reliable place where puppies can socialize and owners receive valuable advice.”

“We learned the basics of socialization—after this, dog school was much easier.”

“Professional, friendly, and a great atmosphere.”

“Helped me understand my puppy’s behavior.”

“The best foundation for learning, socialization, and a strong dog–owner bond.”

“Exactly what I imagine an ideal puppy kindergarten to be—friendly, well-organized, and carefully supervised.”

“Especially valuable that puppies get to know the veterinary clinic through positive experiences.”

“We learned a lot, had fun, and made new friends—both us and our puppy.”

“Évi’s expertise and dedication benefit every puppy.”

“Extremely useful, informative, and enjoyable.”

“Perfect socialization for dogs and helps owners truly understand them.”

“A groundbreaking and excellent idea.”

“A huge help for early socialization.”

“Great support after puppies are separated from their families, helping them continue social interaction.”

“Helps puppies get used to the clinic so they aren’t afraid later.”

“Patient, understanding guidance for both dogs and owners.”

“The best possible start for a harmonious life together.”

“Our dog loves going there.”

“Very helpful for building a healthy relationship and proper social behavior.”

“The instructor is attentive and kind—the basics are taught exceptionally well.”

A Puppy Kindergarten – Frequently Asked Questions bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

A Ebzárlat 2020. bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.

Source: Pixabay

How can kennel cough be recognized?

Kennel cough is an upper respiratory disease in dogs, involving inflammation of the trachea and bronchi. It spreads easily, which is why dogs that are not kept alone and regularly interact with other dogs are particularly at risk. Not surprisingly, it is most common in autumn and early spring.

The most characteristic symptom is a dry, spasmodic cough. Other common signs include:

• nasal discharge,
• sneezing,
• loss of appetite,
• gagging or retching,
• mild fever or even high fever.

The disease is usually caused by several pathogens acting together. Although kennel cough is generally not considered a severe illness, recovery often takes several weeks, and complications may occur during this time. Puppies and elderly dogs are especially vulnerable.

For this reason, prevention is extremely important in order to avoid discomfort and complications for both our pets and ourselves.

Who can be affected?

Dogs of any age can be affected, especially those that regularly come into contact with other dogs—whether during walks with friends’ dogs, playtime in parks, dog training classes, competitions, or exhibitions.

Contact with an infected dog can easily transmit the disease to healthy animals. Dogs can infect each other even from a distance of 2–3 meters through coughing or sneezing.

What should we do if symptoms appear?

If you notice symptoms in your dog, consult a veterinarian immediately, as medical treatment is necessary.

The most important part of recovery is rest, and depending on the severity of the disease, medication may also be required. Your veterinarian will provide detailed guidance regarding the appropriate treatment.

How can kennel cough be prevented?

As in most cases, prevention is the best solution.

Annual vaccination can provide immunity and is strongly recommended for dogs that regularly socialize with other dogs. In addition, proper nutrition and vitamin supplementation play an important role in strengthening the immune system.

Kennel cough is more likely to occur in short-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds, such as Pugs, Bulldogs, and Boxers, so extra attention should be paid to prevention in these dogs.

Source: Pixabay

Additional preventive measures

If you learn that kennel cough has appeared among dogs in your environment or social circle, it is best to avoid contact with them for a period of time.

It is also important to know that even dogs that have already recovered may shed pathogens in their feces for months, potentially spreading the disease. Therefore, isolation from group settings should be maintained even after recovery.

Prevention is not only important for dogs’ health—in rare cases, kennel cough can also pose a risk to cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and very rarely, humans.

For these reasons, always follow preventive recommendations, and if symptoms appear, contact your veterinarian immediately.

A What You Should Know About Kennel Cough bejegyzés először Kisállat-Ambulancia Kft.-én jelent meg.