Every year around the second week of June, my clinic gets quieter for about three days. Then it explodes.
The pattern is so reliable I could set my calendar by it. First showers arrive, pet parents do the sensible thing and keep their dogs indoors for a couple of days. Then everyone gets restless. The dog needs a walk. The rain has slowed. Why not. Out they go.
That's when the monsoon caseload begins. By the third week of June, my Saturdays start running into Sunday mornings. Tick fever, lepto cases, fungal infections, hot spots, fearful dogs who haven't eaten in three days because of thunder, the occasional snake bite. I've been doing this for ten years now and I can tell you exactly what to expect.
What I can also tell you is that most of it is preventable. Not all of it — monsoons are unpredictable and dogs are dogs — but enough that I want to share what I tell every one of my clients in mid-May.
This is everything you need to do before the rains arrive, and how to keep your dog safe once they do.
Why monsoon is genuinely dangerous for Indian pets
Before we get into the specifics, it helps to understand why this season is so much harder on dogs than the rest of the year.
Three things converge. Humidity goes up sharply — often above 80%. Temperatures stay warm but not blazing. And there's standing water everywhere, in parks, on pavements, in puddles your dog wants to drink from.
For ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, and fungal organisms, that combination is paradise. They reproduce faster, live longer, and find more hosts. Your dog walks through a damp patch of grass and picks up parasites that simply weren't there a month ago.
Add in the fact that wet fur takes longer to dry in monsoon humidity than people realise, and you have the conditions for problems that wouldn't happen any other time of year.
I'm not telling you this to scare you. I'm telling you so you take the prevention steps seriously, because most of what walks into my clinic in July could have been avoided with what I'm about to describe.
The big three: ticks, lepto, and fungal infections
These are the three illnesses I see most often during monsoon. Each is preventable. Each is dangerous if missed.
Tick-borne diseases. Ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are the two main ones in India. Dogs pick up ticks from wet grass, bushes, even from other dogs at the park. The tick itself isn't the immediate problem — it's the parasites the tick transmits when it bites.
Early signs are subtle. A dog who's slightly off her food. Sleeping more than usual. Slightly pale gums when you lift her lip. By the time you see clear signs — lethargy, vomiting, dark urine, nosebleeds — you're already deep into the illness.
I lost a young indie last June to babesiosis because the family waited four days, assuming she was just tired from the heat. She wasn't tired. Her red blood cells were being destroyed by the parasite.
If your dog seems off during monsoon, do not wait. Bring her in. A simple blood test takes ten minutes and tells us everything.
Leptospirosis. This is the one that scares me the most because humans can catch it too. Lepto is spread through rat urine in standing water. Your dog drinks from a roadside puddle or walks through contaminated water and licks her paws.
The vaccination protects against the main strains — this is the L in DHPPiL — and annual boosters matter. If your dog hasn't had her booster this year, please get it done before the heavy rains.
Symptoms include fever, vomiting, jaundice (yellow gums and whites of eyes), refusal to drink despite obvious thirst. Lepto can cause kidney failure within days. This is an emergency every time.
Fungal skin infections. Less dangerous, more common. Wet fur that doesn't dry properly, especially in skin folds, between toes, under the collar, behind the ears. You'll see red patches, hair loss, intense itching, sometimes a yeasty smell.
Most are treatable with medicated shampoos and topical antifungals. Some need oral medication. The key is catching them early — once a fungal infection has spread across a large area, treatment takes weeks.
Paw care — the part everyone underestimates
In May, the issue is hot pavement burning paws. In June and July, the issue completely reverses.
Wet paws that don't dry between walks lead to:
• Fungal infections between the toes
• Bacterial pododermatitis
• Painful cracking and softening of paw pads
• Foreign objects (thorns, glass) embedded because softened pads pick them up easily
After every monsoon walk, I tell my clients: dry the paws. All of them. Between every toe. Use a soft towel. If your dog will tolerate it, a hair dryer on cool setting works beautifully.
Wipe down the belly and legs too. Dogs who walk through wet grass pick up parasites and contaminated water on their lower body, then transfer it everywhere by licking.
If your dog walks through actual flood water — which happens often in Dehradun and across most Indian cities — bathe her properly when you get home. Plain water, mild dog shampoo. Don't skip this step. Flood water in India contains everything from sewage runoff to leptospires.
For dogs who genuinely refuse to walk in rain, please don't force them. Dogs hate wet paws as much as we hate wet socks. Indoor play, training sessions, puzzle feeders, hide-and-seek games — all of these substitute for a walk on the worst days.
Skin and coat care during the rains
Bathing during monsoon is its own debate. Some pet parents bathe weekly because their dog comes home wet anyway. Others avoid bathing because they assume the dog is already wet enough.
What I actually recommend: bathe only when your dog genuinely needs it. Maybe every two weeks during monsoon, three if your dog stays mostly indoors. Use a mild antifungal or antibacterial shampoo if your vet recommends one for your specific dog.
What matters more than frequency is drying. A dog who's been bathed and air-dried in monsoon humidity stays damp for hours. That's worse than not bathing at all. Towel dry thoroughly, then use a hair dryer or fan to finish.
Brush your dog daily during monsoon. This serves three purposes. It lets you spot ticks or skin issues early. It distributes natural oils that help repel moisture. And it removes loose undercoat that traps humidity against the skin.
For dogs with long ears or floppy ears — Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, many indie mixes — check inside the ear once a week. A yeasty smell means an infection is starting. Catching it on day one is a five-minute fix. Waiting until your dog is shaking her head and crying takes much longer to treat.
Walking strategy when it won't stop raining
Indian monsoons rarely give you a perfectly dry hour. You learn to work with windows.
What I tell my clients:
• Walk during dry breaks even if they're short. Twenty minutes of dry walking is better than nothing.
• Aim for paved areas with less standing water — main roads dry faster than parks.
• Avoid stagnant puddles completely. Carry a small bottle of clean water; if your dog tries to drink from a puddle, offer the bottle instead.
• Use a rain coat for dogs who tolerate it. Many do, especially short-haired breeds who get cold quickly.
• After every walk, follow the drying routine I described above.
If outdoor walks become impossible for a few days during heavy rain, that's okay. Substitute mental stimulation. Hide treats around the house. Teach a new trick. Use puzzle feeders for meals instead of bowls. Mental work tires dogs almost as much as physical exercise.
For toilet training during heavy rain, designate a covered balcony spot or a sheltered area. Most dogs can be taught to use this on demand if you're consistent.
Diet adjustments — small changes that help
Monsoon affects appetite in many dogs. The drop in temperature compared to May, the humidity, the lower activity levels — all of these reduce hunger.
Some general principles:
• Slightly smaller meals, more frequent if your dog will eat them
• Slightly warm food can encourage a reluctant eater
• Add extra probiotic curd to support gut health, which takes a hit during monsoon
• Reduce raw foods if you usually feed any — humidity makes bacterial growth on uncooked food much faster
• Always serve fresh water, change it twice a day, and never let your dog drink standing water outside
A pinch of turmeric in food acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and slight immune support. Half a teaspoon for a medium dog, once a day. Don't go overboard — large amounts can cause GI upset.
If your dog stops eating for more than 24 hours, that's not just a monsoon mood. That's a vet visit. Loss of appetite is the earliest sign of most monsoon illnesses.
Thunder, fireworks, and anxious dogs
This part doesn't get enough attention. Monsoons in India come with thunder, sudden cloudbursts, and in some regions, leftover firework noise from local festivals.
Many dogs develop noise anxiety. You'll see panting, pacing, hiding under furniture, refusing food, sometimes shaking. Severe cases will try to escape — and bolted dogs during monsoon often end up lost because their scent trail washes away.
What helps:
• A safe quiet space. A blanket-covered crate, a bathroom, somewhere small and enclosed.
• White noise or calming music. Several Spotify and YouTube playlists are designed for anxious dogs. They actually work.
• Distraction. Long-lasting chews, puzzle toys, food-stuffed Kongs.
• For severe anxiety, talk to your vet. There are safe anti-anxiety medications and supplements that can be given before a known storm.
• ID tag and microchip if you haven't already. If she does bolt, you want her returnable.
Do not punish a scared dog. Do not force her out into the rain to "face her fear." Both make the anxiety worse, sometimes permanently.
Mosquitoes and heartworm — the silent monsoon threat
Heartworm doesn't get talked about enough in India. It's transmitted by mosquitoes, which means monsoon is peak transmission season. By the time symptoms show up — exercise intolerance, coughing, weight loss — the worms have already caused significant damage to the heart and lungs.
Prevention is monthly. Tablets like Heartgard or topical treatments cover heartworm along with other parasites. One tablet costs less than a tank of petrol and prevents a disease that costs tens of thousands to treat if it develops.
If you've never started your dog on heartworm prevention, please talk to your vet about it now, before peak mosquito season. A simple blood test confirms she doesn't already have it, then you can start the monthly protocol.
Indoor entertainment for monsoon homebound days
Sometimes the rain just won't stop and your dog is staring at you with that "I need to do something" face. Here's what actually works:
• Snuffle mats and licki mats — turn meal time into a 20-minute brain workout
• Frozen Kongs stuffed with curd, peanut butter (xylitol-free, please check), and kibble — keeps her busy for an hour
• The towel game — roll up treats inside a towel and let her unroll it to find them
• Indoor fetch with a soft ball
• Basic obedience refreshers — sit, stay, paw, lie down — short sessions, plenty of treats
• Teach a new trick. Spin, weave through legs, ring a bell to go outside. Dogs love learning.
Twenty to thirty minutes of focused mental activity tires most dogs as much as a forty-five-minute walk. Use it.
Your pre-monsoon checklist
If you do nothing else from this article, please do these:
• Confirm annual boosters are current, especially DHPPiL (covers leptospirosis)
• Start or refresh tick prevention — Bravecto or Nexgard tablets give three months of protection per dose
• Start monthly heartworm prevention if you haven't already
• Get a quick vet check if your dog is over 8 years old or has any chronic condition
• Check your dog's microchip details and update if you've moved or changed phone numbers
• Stock up on antifungal shampoo, paw wipes, and ear cleaner
• Save your vet's number on your phone and find out their monsoon emergency hours
• Note your nearest 24-hour vet for genuine emergencies
When to rush to the vet — not the next morning, now
These signs need same-day attention during monsoon, not "wait and see":
• Loss of appetite for more than 24 hours
• Vomiting more than twice in a few hours
• Pale, yellow, or muddy-coloured gums
• Lethargy that's noticeably different from normal
• Dark or red-tinged urine
• Excessive panting unrelated to heat
• Repeated head shaking or scratching at ears
• Limping that doesn't resolve in a few hours
• Difficulty breathing
• Refusal to drink water
Trust your gut. You know your dog better than anyone. If something feels off, it usually is. Vet visits for things that turn out to be fine are not a waste — they're how we catch the things that aren't fine in time.
Things people ask me
My dog refuses to walk in rain. Is that a problem?
Not really. Some dogs hate wet paws. Compensate with indoor enrichment and a quick toilet trip during dry breaks. As long as she's getting some movement and not gaining weight, she'll be fine until October.
Should I shave my dog's coat for monsoon?
Generally no. The coat actually helps regulate body temperature in both heat and rain. Shaving disrupts this and can lead to skin problems. A neat trim of the belly, paw pad fur, and around private areas helps with drying after walks, but a full shave does more harm than good.
Is it okay to bathe with antifungal shampoo every week?
Only if your vet has prescribed it for an active issue. Otherwise no — these are medicated products and overuse can dry the skin and trigger more problems than they prevent.
Can my dog catch lepto from my house?
The risk is low if your home is sealed against rats and you don't have standing water inside. Outdoor risk is much higher — public spaces, parks, and flooded streets are where transmission happens. Vaccination protects against most strains.
My dog ate something off the road during a walk in the rain. What should I do?
Watch closely for the next 24 hours. Vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, lethargy — any of these means a vet visit. If you know she ate something dangerous (chocolate, raisins, an unknown plant), do not wait for symptoms. Call your vet immediately.
Is monsoon a bad time to bring home a new puppy?
It's not ideal, but not impossible. The main risks are infectious diseases at a time when the puppy isn't fully vaccinated yet, plus the difficulty of toilet training in heavy rain. If you're adopting from a good shelter that's vaccinated and dewormed your pup, you'll be fine. Just be extra vigilant in the first month.
A final note for new pet parents
Your first monsoon with a new dog can feel overwhelming. Every drop of rain brings a worry. Is she too wet? Did she pick up a tick? Is she eating less because of the weather or because something's wrong?
It gets easier. By your second monsoon, you'll have a routine. By your third, you'll be the experienced one helping a friend with their new puppy.
The key is to prepare early, watch closely, and don't hesitate to bring your dog in when something doesn't feel right. The cases that go badly during monsoon are almost always the ones where families waited.
And if you want to connect with other Indian pet parents going through the same monsoon worries — sharing what's working, asking quick questions, finding nearby vets when you need one urgently — that's exactly what we're building at PawVerse. The community has been especially active during the rainy months, which makes sense. Pet parents need each other most when the weather turns.
Stay dry, stay safe, and please get those vaccinations done before the rains really set in.
This guide was written by the PawVerse Veterinary Team and reviewed by qualified veterinarians. It offers general information for Indian pet parents and is not a substitute for personalised advice from a vet who has examined your pet. Always consult a veterinarian near you for guidance specific to your animal.