Monsoon Pet Safety Guide for Delhi NCR

Every monsoon in Delhi NCR, vets see the same handful of issues spike, almost like clockwork. None of them are exotic — they’re mostly things a bit of routine attention prevents. Here’s what’s actually worth watching for.

Top of the list, by a distance: paw and skin infections. Dogs especially, walking through waterlogged streets twice a day, end up with damp fur and damp paws for hours at a stretch — and damp is exactly what fungal and bacterial infections need. If your dog is licking one paw more than the others, or you catch a smell that wasn’t there before, that’s usually the first sign, well before it looks serious. Drying paws and the belly properly after every walk, especially between the toes, heads off most of this before it starts.

Ticks and fleas also thrive in the humidity, and they’re not just an itch problem — they carry diseases that can get serious if caught late. If you’ve been loose about flea and tick prevention the rest of the year, monsoon is the one stretch where it’s worth being strict about it.

Then there’s what’s in the water itself. Puddles and standing water collect runoff from everywhere, and a thirsty dog on a walk isn’t picky about the source. Stomach upset from contaminated water is common enough this time of year that it’s worth just keeping fresh water available at home so there’s less temptation to drink from the street.

And the one that’s easy to dismiss: storm anxiety. Thunder and heavy rain genuinely distress a lot of dogs, and the instinct to comfort or, worse, scold the behaviour usually makes it worse either way. A closed, quiet indoor space during a storm — away from windows — tends to help more than anything you can say to them.

Most of this resolves with basic home care. It’s worth an actual vet visit if you see any of: limping or a paw your pet won’t let you touch, skin that’s raw or smells off, vomiting or diarrhoea past a day (or with any blood), lethargy or a pet that’s gone off food, or a tick embedded deep enough that you’re not confident removing it yourself.

Search vets near you, or if it’s come on suddenly, go straight to emergency vet care.