What pet parent doesn’t want to spend more time with their four-legged friend? National Pets at Work Day is a great way to spend additional time with your furry friend, but before grabbing the leash and heading to the office, take some time to plan ahead. Before taking your dog around other people, dogs, or to an unfamiliar environment, analyze their personality, assure that their veterinary care is current, and make sure their appearance and manners are office-worthy.
Veterinary visit
Before heading to the office, take your dog for a trip to the veterinarian. Assuring that your dog is healthy is the first step in preparing for office life. A veterinarian will be able to perform a physical exam and any necessary diagnostic testing to check for signs of pain, infectious diseases, or other health conditions. Painful conditions could result in unprovoked bites, and infectious diseases could be spread to other dogs or coworkers.
Flea & tick prevention
No dog wants to be the one that brings fleas or ticks into the office. While these pesky parasites greatly prefer biting dogs to people, making sure that a dog is receiving a high quality flea and tick preventative regularly will prevent your dog from sharing these parasites with their four-legged officemates. Fleas can be a host for tapeworms that can infect dogs when ingested. Ticks can transmit a variety of diseases to both dogs and people, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, among others.
Intestinal parasite control
Dogs can have parasite problems internally, just as they can with fleas and ticks externally. Have a fecal flotation test run by your veterinarian to check for the presence of microscopic parasite eggs, since these are often not visible to the naked eye. Many of these intestinal parasites can be transmitted to other animals or to people, so prevention is key. Routine deworming treatments can be helpful, but there is no deworming medication that treats every parasite.
Vaccines
Vaccines are another tool to keep a dog healthy, as well as minimizing the spread of disease to other dogs or people. Before going to the office, all dogs should be current on their core vaccines, including rabies and distemper-adenovirus-parvovirus-parainfluenza (DAPP or DHPP) vaccines. Other common vaccines, such as bordetella, canine influenza, leptovirus, and Lyme, should also be considered depending upon an individual dog’s lifestyle and exposure to other dogs and wildlife.
Grooming
A smelly dog may not be a welcome addition to an office environment. So, in consideration for your other coworkers, a quick dip in the bathtub will go a long way. A thorough brushing and trim will decrease shedding, and a nail trim will minimize the risk for accidental scratches. Good hygiene goes a long way in making a good impression.
Housebreaking
Before even considering taking your dog to work with you, be absolutely certain that your dog is solidly housebroken. Accidents on the office’s rugs will not be looked upon kindly. Also have a potty plan for the day in order to take your dog outside for regular potty breaks and a bit of exercise.
Commuting
Dogs that get sick or extremely anxious in the car may not appreciate the car ride to work. Starting the day on a stressful note or cleaning the backseat of your car in the parking lot does not set the tone for a happy and successful day at work. If your dog is easily stressed by car rides or prone to motion sickness, they will be happier staying home.
Behavior
Recognizing proper behavior, signs of anxiety or aggression, and proper training are arguably the most important parts of preparing your dog for life at the office. Dogs that are even mildly aggressive towards other people or dogs should undoubtedly be left at home for everyone’s safety. Anxiety issues may not directly pose physical hazards to other people or animals, but will cause unnecessary stress on your dog. If a dog seems nervous around new people or unfamiliar settings, leaving your pup at home is for the best. Dogs that go to work in the office are expected to display good manners by staying quiet, following basic commands, and not running rampant around the office or jumping on unsuspecting coworkers. Energetic dogs or those that need another training course should be left at home for the day. Take note of your dog’s behavior around new people and situations, and try to determine if a day at the office is in your dog’s best interest.