No Dogs In Nature Reserves

Dogs need exercise and what better way than to take them for a walk, especially in Singapore’s many green parks and spaces? However, our nature reserves are off-limits to dogs for good reasons.

Apart from the many ways in which dogs can affect the biodiversity of the nature reserves, there are also several possible natural hazards a domesticated animal like a dog could face there.

Ticks and Insects
Insects such as ticks and mosquitoes are natural inhabitants of our nature reserves. Ticks may carry diseases such as ehrlichiosis and babesiosis while mosquitoes transmit heartworm infection.

Tick bites – as well as the bites of other insects such as fire ants – often cause skin conditions such as dermatitis.

The sting of other insects such as from bees and wasps can result in skin irritation or serious injury to your dog. Most dogs get stung in the face as they investigate hives. But sometimes, a dog may snap at the insect, resulting in a sting in the mouth or throat. These are hazardous as an allergic reaction could cause swelling and block your dog’s airway.

Your dog may get leptospirosis if it comes into contact with the urine of an infected animal, such as a rat, or with urine-contaminated soil or water. Leptospirosis can cause diseases such as kidney and liver failure in dogs.

Bodies of fresh water can also prove hazardous to dogs if they contain blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria are microscopic bacteria that is highly toxic when swallowed by your dog. It will cause diarrhoea, vomiting and even death.

Of course dogs may also drown when swimming in any large and unfamilar bodies of water, such as those found in nature reserves. 

Dogs are curious animals: they like to sniff and taste things they find on the ground. In a nature reserve, this behaviour could prove risky for your dog. 

The faeces of wild animals may contain parasites such as intestinal worms. When a dog ingests worm eggs or larvae in infected faeces, it will cause intestinal infection. When a dog eats a foreign object such as litter, stones or even sand, it could cause gastroenteritis and intestinal obstruction, which might require surgery.

Some plants are toxic to dogs and an owner may not be quick enough to stop their dog from ingesting a poisonous fungus or plant. 

Unfamiliar Terrain and Creatures
The nature reserve has broken branches and sticks, as well as stones with sharp edges and made from abrasive material. A dog that is unfamiliar with navigating the terrain may find itself with injured paws that could become infected.

And while we can make sure we are properly attired with long sleeves and suitable footware before entering a natural environment such as the nature reserve, an over-excited dog may charge into dense shrubs and risk sustaining wounds or injuries to its face, such as scratches on its eyes.

When a dog comes face to face with a wild animal it could get injured. If threatened, monitor lizards, wild boars and snakes, for example, may defend themselves by attacking.

Help protect our natural heritage by being a responsible visitor when visiting our nature parks and nature reserves.

For More Pet Information
To learn more about the ins and outs of responsible pet ownership and animal welfare follow @AnimalBuzzSG or visit the Animal & Veterinary Service webpage here. 

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