Suffolk County Unleashed!

Summertime Pet Tips

An article by Dr Stuart Sobol, DVM

 The Obvious: Many hot weather tips are purely common sense. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same heat related problems as humans, ie. overheating, dehydration, and sunburn. Never keep a dog in a locked vehicle on a hot day as a car's temperature can climb very rapidly even with the windows left partially open. Keep your pet out of direct sun for prolonged periods, and allow for fresh water and shade. Allow your pet access to cool areas in the home especially during mid day hours, and exercise your pet early or late in the day when temps are cooler.

Heat Stroke: Heat stroke can be life threatening for dogs and cats. At risk include brachycephalic breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, boston terriers, lhasa apsos, shihtzus, and persian cats. Signs to watch for are rapid panting, hot skin, a dark red tongue and gums, and lethargy. If heat stroke is suspected, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on the belly, or wet the pet down with cold water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and you should get your pet to a vet immediately.

Pets and Their Fur: Keep your pet well groomed. Frequent brushing lets you check for fleas and ticks and minimizes matting which can cause skin problems in hot weather. Long haired breeds should have their fur shaved to approximately 1 inch, for if you shave the fur too short you run the risk of sunburn.

Outdoor Dangers: Avoid allowing your pet near areas that have been treated with insecticides or chemicals. Beware of antifreeze or other automotive fluids leaking from your vehicle, as animals can be attracted the sweet taste and ingesting a small amount is dangerous.

The Picnic: Keep pets away from picnic garbage- ingestion of corncobs, chicken bones and rib bones can be problematic for your pet. Ditto matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles, and insect coils.

The Beach and Swimming: Pets that swim in salt water should be thoroughly rinsed after swimming. Dogs should not be allowed to ingest excessive salt water as it can make them sick.

Open Windows: Please make sure there are no open, unscreened windows in your home through which animals can fall or jump. During the summer the number of cats falling from windows increases dramatically.

The Bugs: Fleas can be a very frustrating problem for pets and their owners. Scratching and hair loss are signs commonly associated with fleas. Ticks carry diseases and can cause allergic reactions when they bite. Consult a vet for the best ways to prevent fleas and ticks.

Heartworm Disease and Prevention: An infected mosquito transmits heartworm disease. Dogs must be tested each spring to ensure they are heartworm free. They should then take a monthly pill to prevent heartworm disease. Long Island has seen an increase in heartworm disease over the last few years.

Diseases: Diseases can flourish in hot weather. Parvo, feline leukemia, feline calici virus, and leptospirosis are all serious diseases that can be prevented with yearly vaccines. Rabies concerns increase in the summer as pets spend more time outdoors.

Have a fun and safe summer!

Questions regarding your pet? Dr Sobol welcomes any questions you may have at drsobol@wedopethousecalls.com

Dr Sobol is a licensed veterinarian currently residing in Suffolk County and is the owner/operator of We Do Pet Housecalls. He offers a unique service for those pets who don't do well in an office setting by visiting them at their home. If you are interested in personalized attention for your pet, please visit his site at www.wedopethousecalls.com or call 846-6032.

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