Beat the heat
If you walk outside, try to do so in the morning or evening when it’s cooler. In the mid day-sun Pets outdoors, on cement or blacktop can overheat easily. If you have questions or concerns about a Pet that you suspect is overheated we suggest contacting a veterinary care facility immediately for assistance. Here are other tips from the Humane Society to help keep Pets cool.
Prepare for emergencies and natural disasters
Try to keep Pets in a secure area of the house or yard during the summer hurricane, thunderstorm and tornado seasons. Pets that are frightened often run away making it more dangerous and difficult for them to survive or find their way home to family. If your family has an emergency plan-good for you-just make sure to include your Pet in the plan you have in place. To gauge how prepared you really are, it might be fun to take the Humane Society’s disaster preparedness quiz.
Food and water priorities
Higher temperatures often cause many Pets to drink more water and eat less food. Keep plenty of water available in a spot that’s easy for your Pet to access. It’s wise to have a contingency for Pets that like to tip over their water containers. You could try the heavier containers like ceramic or special metal bowls shaped to make tipping more difficult. Food also spoils faster in the heat, so if your Pet is eating less, cut down on the amount you feed daily so the food is not left out to spoil. Leftover food can also attract insects or other critters that are abound in the warm weather.
Water safety basics
Swimming, boating or backyard ponds can provide great relief for a Pet that is feeling the heat. Pets can easily tire or panic while in the water putting them at risk for a serious or fatal accident. Adding a ramp for easy departure from the water is a great safety measure for your Pet when there is not a shallow, easy-access exit onto dry land. Water ramps for Pets are manufactured and can be found online or you can make something at home. Pet lifejackets are great if your Pet is out on the water where you are both away from shore. Here are some additional water safety tips for Pets.
Avoid troublesome foods
Picnics, family gatherings and barbeques are great fun for everyone. However, it’s wise to keep an eye on any food items that are not good for Pets. Some, such as chocolate, are more obvious, like but this list also includes some less obvious options such as bones that can splinter or lodge in a Pet’s throat. Also on the no-no list are onions, grapes, raisins and some forms of garlic, which are toxic to dogs. Securely dispose of food packaging such as the plastic wrappers that contain hot dogs, since they smell great to Pets but are very bad for them to eat. Here’s some additional information on other foods and toxins to watch out for.
Party right
Before taking your Pet out and about, be sure they are easy going and up for the happy adventure you have in mind. Parties and events can be overwhelming for some Pets. Pets who tend to shy away from hectic activities generally enjoy staying at home where it is safe, and they feel secure. Taking a shy or fearful Pet to a noisy public place is likely a formula for an accident to occur. Avoid putting your Pet in a situation where they are afraid and their natural instinct to flee or bite is called into the equation. Instead work with a Pet trainer to socialize and train your Pet at their individual speed so you both can enjoy the journey, destination and activities. Here are some general tips on dog-park etiquette to help make your outings more enjoyable for all.
Stop fleas and ticks
At home or out on adventures your Pet can run into fleas and ticks and these pests then hitch a ride back to your car and home. Seek advice from your veterinary professional team on what flea and tick preventive medications are safe and effective for your Pet, family and their activities. Try to be diligent about checking all labels since many dog flea/tick products are toxic to cats and possibly other small Pet species.
Intervene early when itchy skin flares up
Summer can be a big and long itchy season for Pets as dermatitis flare-ups are likely to increase. You should get your Pet checked by a veterinarian as soon as you suspect an itch flare up. Early intervention can prevent a small problem, which could lead to a major one that is much more costly to correct and oftentimes lengthens the duration your Pet is under the weather.
Trips to the vet
Pre-cool your vehicle before putting your Pet in the car for a ride. Car trips can be stressful under normal circumstances and if the car is hot and your Pet is in the back where air-conditioning takes time to circulate, it is similar to being in an oven. Too much heat is bad for a healthy, calm Pet and even worse for a sick Pet or one that is stressed.
Here’s to a fun, safe summer for all!
What is the difference between yearly rabies shots & the 3-yr. shots? Which do you recommend? Also,what about the other shots?
July 16th, 2009 at 11:00 amWhat vitamins do you recommend for a 5-6yrs. old terrier mix?
And last, my dog has caculus on his teeth. What is the safest way to have dental cleanning done by a vet? Should I take him to a vet or to a vet/dentist?
Thank you for the input. I’m worried about all this with my pet and he needs care.
Hi Yolanda,
There is no difference in the actual vaccination between the 1 and 3 year rabies. All states as far as I am aware required the first rabies vaccine to be boostered in 1 year. Then whether that 2nd vaccine is good for 1 or 3 years depends on the incidence and risk of exposure to rabies in a particular area. You would need to check with your veterinarian to find out whether your state requires rabies to be given yearly or every 3 years after the initial vaccination.
Your veterinarian is the best person to recommend a vitamin supplement that will work best for your dog. It would depend on what you are currently feeding him, general overall health and somewhat on the activity level of your Pet.
Dental cleanings are very important for the health, comfort and overall longevity of your Pet. All dental cleanings are done under general anesthesia. I would first recommend you have your regular veterinarian assess your Pet’s dental health. Unless there are unique problems a veterinary dental specialist is probably not necessary but you can ask your veterinarian about that at the time your Pet is examined. You should ask the vet questions as to whether they perform bloodwork prior to anesthesia, how they monitor Pets under anesthesia (ECG, pulse oximetry ect) and other things they do to make the procedure as safe a s possible. Depending on how bad your Pet’s teeth are and whether any teeth need to be pulled etc. your vet may put your Pet on antibiotics and pain medications before or after the procedure.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:44 am