Dog Care Tips
Taking Care of Your Dog During the "Dog Days" of Summer
Diamond begs: Take care of your dog this summer!
Although we think of our dogs as part of our family, too often, simple rules of dog care are forgotten in the summer. The following are some reminders to keep your pet healthy and happy.
Never, ever leave your dog in a parked car during warm months. If you take your dog for a drive in the summer, make sure to have plenty of water available and use the air conditioner. Even if the car is parked in the shade, temperatures inside can reach 120 degrees. Also, be careful of excessive exercise in hot weather. Don’t leave your dog outside during the summer unless there is ample shade and plenty of fresh water available. Dogs that overheat can easily get heat stroke which can be fatal.
If you do take your dog for a ride, do not let him stick his head out the window. A dog can easily be injured by object getting in their eyes or rocks being thrown up by cars ahead of you. If you have to stop suddenly, your pet can be thrown against the window frame. Never let your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck. They can be thrown around, injured by flying objects or in the case of an accident thrown out of the truck.
Be careful where you take your dog for a walk. Pavement heats quickly and can burn the dog’s paws. Try to walk on grass or dirt.
Watch your dog carefully around water-swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the beach. If a dog falls in and can’t get out of the water they can drown from exhaustion. Make sure the dog doesn’t swim out too far when at the beach or by a lake. They don’t know their limitations and can get out too far to make it back. If you are playing with your dog in the water, don’t exhaust him by too much exercise.
Make sure all your dog’s shots are up to date and that he is treated for protection against fleas and ticks. There are many wild animals out and about during the warm weather. Don’t let your dog roam unattended on summer evenings. He could tangle with a porcupine or get into a fight with other animals which could end in severe injury. Keep him on a leash or in a suitable enclosure.
Never, ever leave your dog in a parked car during warm months. If you take your dog for a drive in the summer, make sure to have plenty of water available and use the air conditioner. Even if the car is parked in the shade, temperatures inside can reach 120 degrees. Also, be careful of excessive exercise in hot weather. Don’t leave your dog outside during the summer unless there is ample shade and plenty of fresh water available. Dogs that overheat can easily get heat stroke which can be fatal.
If you do take your dog for a ride, do not let him stick his head out the window. A dog can easily be injured by object getting in their eyes or rocks being thrown up by cars ahead of you. If you have to stop suddenly, your pet can be thrown against the window frame. Never let your dog ride in the back of a pickup truck. They can be thrown around, injured by flying objects or in the case of an accident thrown out of the truck.
Be careful where you take your dog for a walk. Pavement heats quickly and can burn the dog’s paws. Try to walk on grass or dirt.
Watch your dog carefully around water-swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the beach. If a dog falls in and can’t get out of the water they can drown from exhaustion. Make sure the dog doesn’t swim out too far when at the beach or by a lake. They don’t know their limitations and can get out too far to make it back. If you are playing with your dog in the water, don’t exhaust him by too much exercise.
Make sure all your dog’s shots are up to date and that he is treated for protection against fleas and ticks. There are many wild animals out and about during the warm weather. Don’t let your dog roam unattended on summer evenings. He could tangle with a porcupine or get into a fight with other animals which could end in severe injury. Keep him on a leash or in a suitable enclosure.
Safety Tips for Dogs
Sadie wants you to be safe!
Vacations and Holidays are a time of celebration and joy for us, but they can offer potential hazards to our pets. A partial list of things potentially dangerous to pets follows:
Aluminum Foil
When ingested, aluminum foil can cut a dog’s intestines, causing internal bleeding and
In extreme cases, death.
Bloat
Bloat (gastric torsion and stomach distension) is a serious life-threatening emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is relatively common among deep-chested or large breeds such as Bassett Hounds, Dobermans, Great Danes or German Shepherds. Many experts believe that feeding a large meal within 2 hours of exercise, severe stress, eating quickly, changes in diet and gas-producing foods may trigger this emergency. Symptoms include: unsuccessful retching, pacing, panting, drooling, an enlarged stomach/torso and or signs of distress.
Bones
Bones from steak, veal, pork, turkey, chicken, game birds and ribs can be hazardous. Dispose of all bones carefully in a covered garbage can that your dog cannot open.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains an element toxic to dogs called Theobromine. Even an ounce or two of chocolate can be lethal to a small dog (10 Lbs or less) Larger quantities and poison or kill even a medium or large dog. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Keep all chocolate in a closed cupboard or another place inaccessible to your dog. Don’t leave boxes of chocolate on tables or counters where an enterprising dog can get at it.
Corn Cobs
Corn cobs can cause partial or complete intestinal obstruction. Never allow your dog access to corn cobs, dogs have died after eating corn on the cob. Dispose of cobs carefully in a place where you dog cannot get at them. If you put them in a compost pile, bury them.
Fireworks
Never expose your pet to firecracker noise or displays unnecessarily. They can cause tremendous fear to companion animals and in comes cases can result in long time phobias. Keep dogs indoors during fireworks if possible and if you have to walk the animal make sure it is leashed and you hold on to the leash tightly. Dogs can be frightened enough to bolt if they are exposed to the noise of fireworks. Inside, you can mask fireworks noise with ‘white’ noise as from an air conditioner, as well as music, the radio or television.
Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
A dog’s normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 and 102 degrees F. Leaving a dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the windows cracked) can cause heatstroke within minutes. Heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time, To cool off an overheated dog, wet the dog’s body and paws with cool water, then fan. If the dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Poisonous Plants
Dogs (and cats) can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Keep all unknown types of plants and any plants suspected of being poisonous out of reach of your pets. Spray the plants with Bitter Apple for plants. A list of potentially hazardous plants can be accessed on the web at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control.
Aluminum Foil
When ingested, aluminum foil can cut a dog’s intestines, causing internal bleeding and
In extreme cases, death.
Bloat
Bloat (gastric torsion and stomach distension) is a serious life-threatening emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Bloat is relatively common among deep-chested or large breeds such as Bassett Hounds, Dobermans, Great Danes or German Shepherds. Many experts believe that feeding a large meal within 2 hours of exercise, severe stress, eating quickly, changes in diet and gas-producing foods may trigger this emergency. Symptoms include: unsuccessful retching, pacing, panting, drooling, an enlarged stomach/torso and or signs of distress.
Bones
Bones from steak, veal, pork, turkey, chicken, game birds and ribs can be hazardous. Dispose of all bones carefully in a covered garbage can that your dog cannot open.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains an element toxic to dogs called Theobromine. Even an ounce or two of chocolate can be lethal to a small dog (10 Lbs or less) Larger quantities and poison or kill even a medium or large dog. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity and seizures. Keep all chocolate in a closed cupboard or another place inaccessible to your dog. Don’t leave boxes of chocolate on tables or counters where an enterprising dog can get at it.
Corn Cobs
Corn cobs can cause partial or complete intestinal obstruction. Never allow your dog access to corn cobs, dogs have died after eating corn on the cob. Dispose of cobs carefully in a place where you dog cannot get at them. If you put them in a compost pile, bury them.
Fireworks
Never expose your pet to firecracker noise or displays unnecessarily. They can cause tremendous fear to companion animals and in comes cases can result in long time phobias. Keep dogs indoors during fireworks if possible and if you have to walk the animal make sure it is leashed and you hold on to the leash tightly. Dogs can be frightened enough to bolt if they are exposed to the noise of fireworks. Inside, you can mask fireworks noise with ‘white’ noise as from an air conditioner, as well as music, the radio or television.
Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
A dog’s normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 and 102 degrees F. Leaving a dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the windows cracked) can cause heatstroke within minutes. Heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time, To cool off an overheated dog, wet the dog’s body and paws with cool water, then fan. If the dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Poisonous Plants
Dogs (and cats) can become extremely ill or even die from eating poisonous plants. Keep all unknown types of plants and any plants suspected of being poisonous out of reach of your pets. Spray the plants with Bitter Apple for plants. A list of potentially hazardous plants can be accessed on the web at www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control.