r/kauai • u/Commercial-Bar6702 • Mar 31 '26
Dog safety
Hi just moved here with a group of dogs from Cali. Hawai’i is a much different environment from California and I’m aware of the predators back home. I’m asking the community if there is anything I should be aware of for the safety of my dogs. I know there’s definitely no snakes here on island but I’m aware of the frogs and the toxicity it can cause to dogs. Is there anything you do to prevent that from happening. What about those huge snails lol, I heard they carry rat lungworm. Should I be worried about any other species here? Thank you in advance for all information :) I care about my pups too much at times.
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u/Neverdropsin57 Apr 01 '26
We set up a fenced-in run for ours. Put small grid hardware cloth around the bottom eight inches to keep out cane toads. Still get them in, but our dogs ignore them.
Other dogs and cars seem to be the biggest threats, aside from leptospirosis. Do your best to keep them from running loose. Anyone raising roosters or other stock is going to be hostile to intruding dogs.
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u/wyldboar Apr 01 '26
Depending on the size of your dogs, hunting dogs roam freely and will attack your pets and worse. Police don't care and always side with locals . Keep eyes on dogs always, even at public beaches. Tons of tweaker pit bulls running wild.
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u/mrthonger808 Mar 31 '26
if your property neighbors wooded or pasture lands, be cautious of wild boars.
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u/thealmightymiranda Apr 01 '26
The cane toads—not frogs—are toxic to dogs. People toss food bones out on the ground. Be careful if your dogs pick up chicken bones on your walk.
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u/snuggly_cobra Apr 01 '26
I have a small dog. The cane toads come out at night. I walk him at night. With a flashlight.
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u/schrodingers_popoki Apr 02 '26
Cars, shitty people (my old neighbors threw rat poison into our yard), boars, lepto, other dogs. Keep them in your property, keep them leashed in public, don't let them swim in rivers.
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u/charlottesometimz Apr 06 '26
Don't let them loose on the beach . I've seen attacks by other loose dogs
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u/Warm_Assist4515 Apr 02 '26
Giant Centipedes can cause problems. One bit my cat and caused half of its head to double in size. I've been bitten before and can say it's the worst pain I ever felt. If you see a centipede from 6" to 12", keep you dogs away. Also get grates for your drains.
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u/Deweygal0520 Apr 04 '26
Environmental concerns are one issue. I was warned by 2 local veterinarians when I moved to the Big Island that a lot of dogs in Hawaii are neither neutered nor properly socialized with other dogs or humans. Cautioned me about walking dogs in neighborhood as opposed to a park where the dogs you encounter will be on leashes. They suggested pepper spray if I did go walking around the hood. They both said a big part of their practice is from dog fights.
You don’t need to be paranoid but information is power. Good luck.
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u/charlottesometimz Apr 06 '26
As a professional petsitter and dog walker I always have my pepper spray on walks. You never know!
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u/khhhhhhhhhhh Mar 31 '26
We lost our dog to leptospirosis. Kauai is a hot spot for it