Common Sense Tips
for Pet Owners This Summer
Kate
Whitney
 I think I speak for most of
us when I say that summertime is a season
we yearn for as the Winter months seem to
move by so slowly. It’s the
time when we can bring out our shorts,
head to the beach, sit on the deck with
friends, and most enjoyably, spend some
quality time outside with our
dogs. Whether it’s an early
morning walk or an early-evening,
after-work stroll, spending time with our
pets is something that should be both fun
and safe.
I wanted to write this article as a
“reminder” for
everyone. Think of it as a
refresher. It may seem like common
sense, but too many people are still
making mistakes that are costing animals
their lives. After you educate
yourself by reading this article, share
the information with others. I feel
that we can never have too much knowledge
when it comes to learning about our
beloved pets.
If we take precautions, we can cut down
on the chance of something terrible
happening to our furry friends.
Don’t leave your pets in the
car: As the weather warms, we are
tempted to bring our pets along for a
ride in the car while we run errands or
travel. Even when parked in the
shade with windows open, the inside
temperature of a car can reach 120° in
only a matter of minutes. Pets who
are left in the car for only a brief
amount of time are susceptible to heat
exhaustion, heat stroke, brain damage,
and can even die. If you see a pet
in a car, be on alert and make sure the
pet’s owner returns shortly. If
not, seek help, you might just save the
life of the pet. The mistake of
thinking the owner will return soon could
prove to be a deadly mistake.
Be aware of the symptoms of heat stress
that are often caused by exposure to
extreme temperatures: heavy
panting, glazed eyes, rapid heartbeat,
restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy,
fever, dizziness, lack of coordination,
profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red
or purple tongue, and
unconsciousness. If the animal shows
any of these signs, as always, call your
vet. Also, try moving the animal to
a cooler place, put ice packs or cold
towels on the head, neck, and chest, give
lots of cool water or let the animal lick
ice cubes.
Make sure your pets are safe in the
car: Don’t drive with dogs in
the back of pick-up trucks or allow them
to hang their head out the windows.
Many people think there is nothing wrong
with these things. While the animal
might enjoy it, it is definitely far from
being safe.
Flying debris can end up in our dog’s
eyes, mouth, and ears. If you want
to roll down your windows, crack them
just enough, but not too much that the
dog can put her head out the
window. Animals in cars should
always be properly restrained as
well. Some people use specially
designed seatbelts or harnesses, while
others have secured crates.
In addition to the flying debris causing
injury, unrestrained dogs can suffer
serious injury and even death if the
driver of the car hit’s the brakes,
swerves, or is hit by another car.
Make sure your pet is wearing a collar
and ID tag, even if you don’t think
the pet will be out of the car.
Making your yard dog friendly:
Spring and summer is the time that people
are working in their yards and
gardens. Did you know that there
are more than 700 plants that can produce
toxic substances and harm animals?
In addition to plants, plant food,
fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal
if your pet ingests them. Also, be
sure to pick up any sharp gardening tools
that you might have been using.
 Make sure your dog is on a
heartworm preventative: This disease
is easily preventable. A
prescription for a medication such as
Heartguard or Interceptor is only
available through your vet. Some
people don’t have their pets on a
heartworm preventative because they think
it’s too expensive. This
proves to be a costly
mistake. Treatment for a heartworm
positive animal is expensive, painful,
and dangerous. Heartworm disease is
transmitted by mosquitoes and can be
fatal in dogs and cats. Heartworm
disease is exactly what it sounds
like. A dog is bit by a mosquito
carrying the infected larval form of the
heartworm. This larva then grows
into worms that inhibit blood vessels
within and surrounding the heart and
lungs.
Always have proper ID on your dog:
Your dog should always be wearing a
proper fitting collar that has an ID
tag. If you are unsure about the
fit of the collar, visit your vet or seek
the advice of someone who is trained in
animal care. An ill-fitting collar,
either too small or too big, can be
harmful so be sure that it fits
correctly. If you and your pet are
ever separated, the ID tag your pet wears
is going to come in very handy.
Another option to think about is having
your pet micro-chipped. It’s a
painless and quick procedure that injects
a tiny chip under the skin of your
pet. Should the collar ever fall
off or be taken off by someone, the
microchip will always be there and can be
scanned to view all of the owner’s
contact info.
Water: Make sure that your pet
always has access to fresh, clean, cold
water. Be sure to supervise your pet
when they are around bodies of water such
as pools and oceans.
Sunburns: Just like humans, pets
can get sunburns. Get a sunscreen
with a high SPF and apply it to your pet
if it is going to be outdoors a
lot. Focus on areas like the nose,
skin around lips, and ear tips.
Summer should be a carefree, fun
season. I hope these tips will make
for a very happy, enjoyable, and safe
summer for you and your pets. As
always, check with your vet before
changing your pet’s routine or
starting your pet on a new substance,
such as Heartguard. Lastly, on a
slightly different note, if anyone has
any suggestions for future columns please
let me know. I love receiving emails
from my readers!
Happy Summer!
*any factual
information was obtained from the website
of the Humane Society of the United
States.
If you are interested in adopting a puppy
or becoming a foster parent to a puppy
waiting for a home you can email Kate at Kwswingrite@aol.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
All
pictures and material are
(C) copyright, Valley Patriot, Inc., 2008
|
