With summer well underway in most of the country and finally starting here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s a good time to review a few of the summer dangers faced by our Pets. Luckily all of these dangers can be prevented with some forethought.
Probably the number one danger for most Pets is the heat. Almost everyone has heard how dangerous it can be to leave your Pet in a car. However, many of us don’t understand how quickly heat stroke can happen, and also don’t believe it will ever happen to us. Just a few minutes can be deadly to a Pet left in a car. The breeds most at risk are those with a short snout, such as Boston Terriers or Pugs. However, any breed can succumb to the heat so avoid all danger by refraining from leaving Fido in a parked car.
Another heat danger comes from jogging or running on hot pavement. We all know how much we enjoy our daily exercise routine with our Pets. In fact, they enjoy it so much that they will run on blisters, and even on burst blisters, appearing to ignore the pain they are in until the fun is over. Though blistering and other paw injuries can occur at any time of the year, they are certainly most common when the surface being run on is scorching. Therefore, pick a cooler time of the day or change your routine.
Paws are more prone to other injuries in the summer, especially in breeds with long paw fur, such as Cocker Spaniels. Grass seeds appear to be specially designed to get caught in long fur and then to burrow deeper, eventually burrowing into the skin, causing abscesses, draining wounds and severe pain. Make sure to check your Pet’s fur thoroughly anytime you come in from a long grassy area; you can check for ticks at this time too – another danger encountered more frequently in the summer.
Increased outdoor activity brings other dangers too, in the guise of barbecues. Certainly the smell of cooking must drive our furry friends insane at this time of year. However, with this olfactory nirvana, Pets are more prone to getting burned by trying to jump up at the barbecue. Furthermore, Pets have learned that hanging around the barbecue long enough will result in a tasty tidbit. However, the tidbit, no matter how tasty, can also cause dietary upsets, at the least some simple vomiting and diarrhea, at the most a condition known as pancreatitis, which can be potentially life threatening, especially if it goes untreated. So, refrain from letting your friend indulge and if a tummy upset does rear its ugly head, make sure to get to the veterinarian to ensure something more serious isn’t happening.
If the heat is dangerous, well so can the attempt to be cool. Pools and rivers are a big temptation, both as a cooling mechanism and to provide a sought after drink. However, there are dangers that our Pets, and often we, don’t take into account. Rivers and pools are a frequent cause of drowning, especially when an already exhausted dog takes the plunge only to find that the current is too strong, or there isn’t any way to easily exit a pool. Drinking from rivers can be a source of giardia, a parasite that causes a nasty diarrhea and requires veterinary treatment. Drinking from pools can be dangerous too, especially given the chemicals used to keep our pools clean. So make sure you know what is being used to keep your pool in good shape and don’t let your Pet drink from anything that might be a danger.
Summer is a time to enjoy and there certainly isn’t any reason why your furry friend shouldn’t partake in the festivities. Therefore, be sure to avoid any summer blues with a little planning and some small changes to your routine.