From the 1st October until the 31st March be fully aware that this is the Hunting Season in rural areas, where hunters with their hunting rifles and dogs go looking for foxes, rabbits, boar and wild fowl.  Be under no illusion that they will shoot at anything moving!  From experience Sundays and Wednesdays are a no go area with regards to taking your dog for a walk and if you do, do NOT let them off their leash. If your dog is of a nervous disposition, then the gun shots during this period are going to terrify him.  Moose, bless him, is supposedly a Gun Dog, but when he hears the sound of rifle shots ricocheting around the mountains he is a nervous wreck!  Once the Hunting Season is over then the next danger is Poison.  During the months of April. May and June the Poison is supposedly laid for the foxes who, in order to survive, hunt for rabbits and wild fowl.  Legally, those who put Poison down are obliged to inform their local Town Hall (Ayuntamiento) so that signs can be put up informing people of the danger. This very rarely happens.  So, again, do not let your dog off the leash.  If you see plastic bottles or plastic carrier bags hanging from trees such as Almond Trees then this is an indication that Poison has been laid.  Be aware, also, that poisoned bait can sometimes be found on urbanisations to keep down the feral cat population.

So what do you do if you think your dog has been poisoned? You will see your dog start to stagger about with a glazed look in its eyes. At this point time is so very important! If you think it happened within the last 30 minutes then you can open its mouth and put salt in it.  Then water, plenty of it but DO NOT use a hosepipe as this may cause the water to enter the lungs.  Repeat this process, salt, water, more salt, and more water by which time your dog will be starting to vomit which is what you’re waiting for. Telephone your Vet IMMEDIATELY and say you’re on the way with a suspected case of poisoning. Have a sample of the vomit and your dog, of course, with you and your Vet will make you priority. Make sure somebody goes with you to hold your dog whilst you’re driving.  If your dog showed signs of having been poisoned more than 30 minutes ago, then DO NOT apply the salt and water treatment as the poison will have entered the blood stream. Just get to the Vet as soon as possible!