Summer Precautions

In the Summer temperatures reach into the 90s and 100s. Such intense heat is not only dangerous for humans, but for pets as well. Here are some tips to protect your pets during summer heat waves.

Cars are potential death traps During the hot summer months because inside temperatures can climb to more than 120 degrees in just a few minutes, even on a mild sunny day. It's best to leave your pet at home while running errands during hot weather. In an emergency, if you absolutely must leave your pet in a car, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Open the windows and vents as wide as possible without providing an escape route, or, put your pet in a well ventilated cage inside the car and open the windows fully.
   Provide fresh water
   
• Check the car every ten minutes.

If your pet is panting, has a staring or anxious expression, does not obey commands, has warm, dry skin and a high fever, rapid heartbeat, or is vomiting, lower the body temperature quickly, with cool water either by immersion or by spraying thoroughly with a garden hose. CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY. Our hospital is open or has emergency referral service 24 hours a day.If your pet lives outdoors, make sure there is adequate shelter for protection from the midday sun and heat. Outdoor kennels should be well ventilated and in a shaded area. There should always be some shade for the pet to get out of the sun.Also, make sure there is plenty of fresh drinking water available to your pet. The bowl should be placed in a shaded area where it cannot be heated by the sun.

Exercise Exercise is important, but overexertion during hot weather commonly causes heat stress. Avoid excessive exercise during hot days (good advice for humans, too).And, keep your pet well groomed. Long hair and hair mats need to be clipped to help cool the animal.Other summer concerns West Nile Virus - public health update.

Fourth of July and your pet: FIRECRACKERS are a danger to all pets-both physically and psychologically. Do not take your pets to the fireworks-We have seen many emotionally frightened pets as a result of fireworks. Below is an e-mail received July 7. 2000.

"Last night was July 3rd and neighbors were setting off fireworks for several hours. This morning, we couldn't find one of our cats and then about 11:00am, he finally turned up but he had an injury to his eye. He apparently had been so frightened by the noise and commotion that he ran through the woods and must have ran into a twig which injured his eye. A small piece of the twig was actually still in the eye socket when we first found him.
Hopefully, he'll be ok but next year, we're making sure all our cats are indoors from July 3rd to July 5th."

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Pet First Aid: Cats and Dogs

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