Awareness
and precautions prevent summertime pet disasters.
For most
of us, we look up one day and it is suddenly summertime. With
this change of season for you comes some changes for your dog
or cat too.
There is a spike in the number of lost dog reports during the
summer. Many dogs are terrified of thunder, and will run away
in a blind panic trying to find a place to hide. The fourth
of July sees a spike in lost dog reports of its own due to loud
fireworks. Humans can help their dogs by being close at hand
to provide assurance and comfort, and to make sure their pets
do not hurt themselves. Dogs have been known to jump through
plate glass windows or to even suffer fatal injuries trying
to escape thunder.
Warm weather
is when many people travel with their pet. Make sure that the
hotel you have chosen is pet-friendly well in advance. Http://www.pet-friendlytravel.com
offers a search engine specifically for pet travel facilities,
and is an excellent resource. The entire vacation can be ruined
if your family is turned away at the desk.
If the family
dog suffers from motion sickness, Dramamine can be given to
help (call your vet for the proper dosage first). Your vet can
also recommend travel medications specifically designed for
traveling pets.
Also when
traveling with a pet, it is an excellent idea to have your pet
micro chipped beforehand. The procedure is no more painful than
a shot, costs less than $50, and could save your pets life.
Most animal shelters and humane societies scan stray animals
for these chips, and it will provide the information needed
to reunite you and your pet.
If you are
away and have left the pet with a sitter, call daily.
In northern
climates, the warm weather brings wild animals into more frequent
contact with domestic ones. In southern climates such contact
is year-round. Rabies is more prevalent during this time period
up north, and pet owners should keep their pets up to date with
rabies booster shots. This is also the law almost everywhere.
Southern
climates have other challenges. Dr Bart Bryan DVM of Independence
Veterinary Clinic in Charlotte wants pet owners to be aware
that heartworm prevention is year-round. “In this climate, mosquitoes
can be out in January as well as July,” he warns, “and pet owners
need to be aware that heartworm treatment is not seasonal.”
Common wild
animals such as possums and raccoons usually do not attack domestic
pets for food. They are trying to drive a rival predator from
their territory so they can have more to eat for themselves.
Surprisingly, this danger of attack is greater for cats than
for dogs, but all pets need protection from contact with their
wild cousins.
Conversely,
domestic animals will sometimes bring home wild ones. These
captures are usually babies, injured, dead, or sick. Pet owners
should not try to handle such animals by themselves; they should
contact the wildlife control department of their local police
or government immediately.
Dogs, especially
smaller breeds, can have a hard time getting out of a swimming
pool. Plastic baby pools can be a deathtrap for a small dog,
and are the worst offenders.
Check the
collar on your pet. It should only be tight enough to prevent
the head from pulling out, and no tighter. A too-tight collar
can restrict the panting pets need to cool themselves, or can
cut into the skin. Your pet may have gained weight over the
winter, tightening the gap. Take choke collars off when not
being used for walking or training.
It is flea
and tick season, and time to treat for them. Fleas can cause
anemia in the worst cases, and ticks carry Lyme disease. Both
pests cause misery. If you find a tick on your pet, remove it
with tweezers, and swab the wound with alcohol. There is never
a need to use flame to burn out a tick.
A dog can get heatstroke by being tied up in direct sun. Having
a bowl of water is not enough as the water can get spilled,
consumed, or get hot in your absence. Deep shade is necessary
for the well being of outdoor dogs in summer.
Take your dog for walks in the cool of the morning or evening,
never in the full heat of the summer day. Joggers should consider
not running with their dogs, humans have a far greater heat
tolerance than canines, and heatstroke will happen to them much
faster.
Going to the beach with your dog? Take a pair of scissors.
The burrs that grow along the beach are very difficult to remove.
Sand fleas may also be a problem, so give your dog their flea
and tick treatment as scheduled. Take along a supply of plastic
bags to clean up after your dog.
Seasonal to-do list
-
Buy your pet a new collar once a year. The material of choice
is woven nylon, which is tough, hygienic, and soft to the skin.
It also comes in high-visibility colors for safety. Remember,
the collar is more for your pet than for yourself, and your
dog does not have a fashion sense.
- If you
have a dog run that uses a cable and pulley system, take it
all down every other year or so and discard. As the materials
corrode from exposure, they could catch or otherwise lock in
position.
- Take your
dog for walks, not runs. If this is your habit, it may be better
for your pet to temporarily stop during the hot season, and
take it up again when things cool down.
- Trim your
dog’s coat shorter than you normally would, but do not shave
it off. Fur provides protection from sunburn.
- If you
have not had your pet into the vet in a year, take them in anyway
for an annual wellness exam. Pets are tough, but they cannot
tell you if anything is wrong.
