With Summer starting on Friday I feel that it's important to address some summer safety tips for your pets. There are many new dangers that our pets are presented with during the summer, the first an most obvious is the heat. Our pets are very vulnerable to the hot temperatures associated with summer weather and we need to be aware of how they are coping with the heat. If you must leave your dog outside while you are at work or away, make sure that he has plenty of water that it is placed a shaded area. Don't leave the water in direct sunlight because it can make the water too hot to drink and cause algae and bacteria to grow. Also make sure that he has an area where he can go to that is shaded to get away from the heat. The same goes for cats that are outside during the day, make sure he has cool water to drink all day and make sure he has a cool place to get out of the sun. Heatstroke is a very real threat to our animals. Keep them safe.
A surprising danger during the summer is your neighborhood cook-out. You're probably thinking I'm crazy and saying "who doesn't have their dog with them at cook-outs?". I'm not saying that you can't have your pup with you during your cook-out, just be sure you follow a few safety guidelines. Things such as sunscreen, bug repellants, lighter fluid, charcoal, matches and alcohol are toxic to dogs. Also, make sure to keep dogs away from hot grills so they don't get burned. If you notice your dog feeling uncomfortable around so many people or the kids are not being nice to him, put him back in the house away from the commotion to let him de-stress. Please resist feeding your dog off of your plate and please urge your guests to not give into the "puppy eyes". Foods that are typical at a cook-out (burgers, steaks, hot dogs, potato salad, chips, etc.) are too fatty and too caloric for dogs and not good for their long term health.
Be aware of hot pavement as well during the summer. Asphalt is black which soaks up the sun's rays causing it to become much hotter than the air temperature. Before walking your dog on a hot day, feel the pavement to see how it is. If it is too hot for you to walk on, it is too hot for your dog. Walk your dog either in the morning before the heat of the day or in the evening after the sun has gone down and the pavement has had time to cool down. If you must take your dog out and the pavement is hot, put doggy boots on your dog. Of course you must first get him used to the feel of them and some dogs won't accept them at all. Another option is to walk your dog on a treadmill, that way your dog can get in his walk without having to go outside in the heat. This too is something you will have to help your dog get accustomed too. You can also take your dog for a swim. As with people, swimming is great exercise for your dog and they are kept cool in the water.
Coolant/Antifreeze! Keep pets away from coolant and antifreeze...period! They will be attracted to the sweet taste and smell of the coolant, but don't let your pet ingest this toxin. If you suspect your pet has ingested coolant call your vet immediately! Symptoms include:
- Drunken behavior
- Euphoria/Delirium
- Wobbly, uncoordinated movement
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Excessive urination
- Diarrhea
- Rapid heart beat
- Depression
- Weakness
- Seizures/Convulsions/Shaking tremors
- Fainting
- Coma
For more info go to antifreeze ingestion
Also keep pets away from toxins in the garden such as herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. All of these are toxic to all pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these things, call your vet immediately! Symptoms include:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anorexia
- Depression
- Seizures
- Muscle tremors
- Hypersalivation
- Constricted pupils
- Increased heart rate
- Lack of coordination (i.e., trouble walking)
- Respiratory failure (e.g., trouble breathing)
For more info go to insecticide poisoning
Bugs! We hate them and your pet hates them too. Summer time is prime time for annoying bugs. Ticks, mosquitoes, flies, fleas, bot flies, lice, midgets, black widows, tarantulas, bees, fire ants, centipedes/millipedes, the list goes on. Try to keep your pets free from these annoying and sometimes dangerous pests. Empty containers on your property that contain standing water (other than your pets water bowls). Standing water is a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes. Heartworm can be deadly to your pet but is very easy to prevent. Consult with your vet on the best product to give your pet to prevent heartworm disease. Most likely your pet will be tested for heartworm, if your pet is currently not on a heartworm prevention method, then your vet with consult with you on the best treatment/prevention method. For other pests like ticks, lice, fleas, and biting flies consider using a topical method. Again please consult with your veterinarian before starting a routine. On a ranch, it can be especially difficult to control the pest populations. Flies and ticks seem to be especially annoying with horses. Personally I employ 2 methods of pest control for my horse: liberal amounts of fly spray and a feed through fly repellant. I use a fly spray that deters 70 kinds of bugs and it works pretty well and the feed through repellent has garlic in it to prevent bugs from landing on him. Also, placing fly and wasp traps around your property is very helpful. Another method that I've seen helpful is fly predators. These little bugs will eat the fly larvae but won't bother the animals or people. Nothing is 100%, but prevention is so much better than doing nothing at all.
Snakes! Just as a general rule, keep your pets away from all snakes. I know some of you have snakes as pets, but you don't want your pet to get "used" to snakes. If you are hiking on a trail with your dog and you come across a snake, you don't want him to go up and smell it because it could be poisonous. Here in Northern California, rattle snakes are frequented in the hills and on trails. Now it is good to make sure your horse doesn't spook at the sight of a snake, but I don't think pets should be comfortable around them. If your pet has been bitten by a snake, call your vet immediately!
Foxtails! These annoying and potentially dangerous weeds are everywhere and they can embed themselves in your pet, and if not taken out, can cause infection. If you have foxtails on your property, inspect your pet daily to ensure there are no foxtails on your pets body. If your pet has an infected foxtail, take him to the vet immediately!
So I think I covered most of the big safety concerns for summer. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions on something I talked about, please don't hesitate to say something. I want to know what concerns you about your pets. I also want to help make sure that your pets have a wonderful, happy and safe summer. There's no reason why you can't have a great summer with your pet, just make sure to keep these safety tips in mind.
Go have fun with your pet this summer!
