Allergies/Atopy -- Seasonal allergies affect many dogs. Signs include face or skin itchiness, ear infections, licking of feet, skin infections, and anal gland infections. Antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, shampoos and/or allergy testing/vaccines can be recommended by your veterinarian to help keep your pet comfortable.
Antifreeze -- Never permit pets to drink from puddles in the street or driveway. Antifreeze has a sweet taste that is inviting to pets and is extremely toxic in very small amounts. Call your veterinarian immediately if any ingestion is suspected.
Bees and Wasps -- Prevent your pets from chasing or attempting to play with a bee or wasp. With a bee sting, remove the stinger with tweezers. With a wasp sting, there is no stinger to remove. If the sting is near the mouth or neck, medical attention may be required. Animals, like humans, can have allergic reactions. (swelling or hives).
Cars -- Pets left in the car on a warm/hot day can suffer heat stress and ultimately fatal heat stroke within 10 minutes. Even in comfortable weather, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even in a shady spot or with the windows rolled down.
Car Travel -- If you are traveling with your pet, it is wise to familiarize yourself with veterinary clinics or emergency hospitals in the area you are visiting, before any need arises. See your veterinarian for suggestions to help decrease car anxiety or nausea before your trip if necessary.
External Parasites -- Warmer weather brings out undesirable pests such as fleas, ticks, mites and mosquitoes. Consult your veterinarian for recommendations for external parasite control.
* Use caution with over-the-counter flea medications for cats and ensure the age and size stipulations are appropriate for your pet.
First Aid Kits -- If activities include taking pets on hiking or camping trips, consider a first aid kit. Do not give over-the-counter medications to pets without veterinary advice.
Grill/Barbecue -- Prevent pets' access to foods cooking on the grill to prevent burns. Avoid feeding fatty foods and remember that corn on the cob is a common cause of blockage/obstruction.
* Quick starting charcoal is highly toxic because it is saturated with lighter fluid.
Heatstroke -- Our pets have a fur coat and cannot sweat to cool down, but must rely on panting to regulate their body temperature. Thus any pet can be at risk for heatstroke. Some animals are more vulnerable, including short-nosed breeds, overweight animals, and very young or very old animals. Learn to recognize the signs of heatstroke:
* At first animals will pant more, and may appear agitated or distressed.
* Panting will become excessive and breathing difficulty and drooling may also occur.
* A glassy-eyed appearance and dark or red gums will be noted.
* Lastly, body temperature could rise to a point where heat damage to the brain results in seizures, coma and ultimately death.
Stop progression of heatstroke as early as possible by cooling your pet down. Some cooling options include covering your pet with wet towels or giving a cool water bath. Do not use ice water to cool your pet. If your pet is alert, you can offer ice cubes. If you suspect heat stroke, seek veterinary attention immediately. Remember that prevention is always best so don't put your pets in situations where heatstroke is likely to occur.
Intestinal Parasites -- During the summer our pets have more chances to come into contact with intestinal parasites. Protect your pets by preventing their ingestion of dead animals and feces. Have fecal examinations performed regularly (two to four times during first year of life and one to two times per year in adults). Administer year-round, broad-spectrum parasite control with efficacy against heartworm, intestinal parasites with zoonotic potential, fleas, and ticks.
Jogging with Pets -- Jogging with a dog can be great entertainment. Only go early in the morning or late in the evening on temperate days. Always provide ample water throughout. Some dogs are not suited for this type of activity, so check with your veterinarian to see if this would be an appropriate form of exercise for your dog.
Lawn Care -- Keep pets enclosed when mowing to avoid injury. Prevent any exposure to yard and garden chemicals. Wait until after a good rain or watering to play on fertilized yards. "Cocoa mulch" should be avoided -- while it may smell irresistible, it is poisonous to pets.
Mosquitoes -- Along with summer come pesky mosquitoes. A mosquito bite could transmit heartworm disease to your dog or cat. Pets that are on heartworm prevention are protected against infection.
Poisonous Plants -- Many plants in our gardens or landscaping are potentially poisonous to our pets. Several sites you can refer to for more information are listed below.http://dogs.about.com/cs/disableddogs/l/blplants.html/.
Quiet -- Dogs and cats appreciate quiet places during summer parties, thunderstorms or fireworks. Talk with your veterinarian if your pet is particularly stressed by storms and fireworks.
Sun Burn and UV Rays -- Many dogs and cats love to sit in the sun. These pets are at risk for sun burn, especially pets with light or white coats. Limit sun exposure and/or use sun block on exposed areas and on the tips of ears, forehead and nose. One pet friendly sunscreen is Forever Living Aloe Sunscreen (SPF 30 and water resistant). Conversely, many (if not most) human sun block formulas are highly toxic if ingested. Prevent your pets from access to this risk.
Water -- Water, water, water. Make sure that your pets always have a fresh bowl of water available. They will drink more in hot weather so you will need to check and re-fill it on a regular basis.
Use these helpful tips to take advantage of this summer to enjoy plenty of fun activities with your pet, safely.
