Help keep your pets safe and happy this summer!
Fireworks/Loud Noise Phobias:
1. As long as your dog will not overheat, try a Thundershirt – they work very well by themselves but sometimes a dog will need other things
2. Put Cotton balls in the ears – make sure to remove the cotton balls after the noise is gone, or if your pet is extremely bothered by them.
3. Ask your veterinarian a few weeks before firework use is anticipated for an anti-anxiety medication – they will help you choose a SAFE and effective sedative.
4. Check out Through a Dog's Ear for audio to help your dog's noise phobias. http://throughadogsear.com/canine-noise-phobia-series/
Barbecue/Party Time:
1. Avoid feeding bones to pets – they are a choking hazard and can cause severe esophageal damage, severe vomiting, diarrhea, intestine impactions and tooth enamel wearing. Ask friends and family to please refrain as well.
2. Avoid feeding human food to pets – human food is rich and ingestion of high fat and sugar foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, bad gas and even pancreatitis in some sensitive pets.
3. Make sure all bones, rinds, dirty paper and plastic dinner wear and scraps are safely discarded where pets cannot get into them.
4. Make sure that grills are monitored by a person at all times to avoid burns and ingestion of hot drippings.
5. Plan ahead of time and ask that food aggressive and inter-dog aggressive dogs be left safely at home to avoid incidents at group events.
Ticks/Fleas:
1. Before you leave for camping and hiking trips with your dog, please discuss appropriate flea and tick prevention with your veterinarian – these are parasites that can carry diseases and impact your dog's health.
2. If you find a tick(s) attached to your dog:
Other Tips
Fireworks/Loud Noise Phobias:
1. As long as your dog will not overheat, try a Thundershirt – they work very well by themselves but sometimes a dog will need other things
2. Put Cotton balls in the ears – make sure to remove the cotton balls after the noise is gone, or if your pet is extremely bothered by them.
3. Ask your veterinarian a few weeks before firework use is anticipated for an anti-anxiety medication – they will help you choose a SAFE and effective sedative.
4. Check out Through a Dog's Ear for audio to help your dog's noise phobias. http://throughadogsear.com/canine-noise-phobia-series/
Barbecue/Party Time:
1. Avoid feeding bones to pets – they are a choking hazard and can cause severe esophageal damage, severe vomiting, diarrhea, intestine impactions and tooth enamel wearing. Ask friends and family to please refrain as well.
2. Avoid feeding human food to pets – human food is rich and ingestion of high fat and sugar foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, bad gas and even pancreatitis in some sensitive pets.
3. Make sure all bones, rinds, dirty paper and plastic dinner wear and scraps are safely discarded where pets cannot get into them.
4. Make sure that grills are monitored by a person at all times to avoid burns and ingestion of hot drippings.
5. Plan ahead of time and ask that food aggressive and inter-dog aggressive dogs be left safely at home to avoid incidents at group events.
Ticks/Fleas:
1. Before you leave for camping and hiking trips with your dog, please discuss appropriate flea and tick prevention with your veterinarian – these are parasites that can carry diseases and impact your dog's health.
2. If you find a tick(s) attached to your dog:
- Firmly grasp the head with tweezers and gently pull it free from the dog's skin.
- Call your veterinarian and discuss the risk of Lyme disease in your area and discuss testing.
Other Tips
- Leave your dogs home on warm days! Even with the windows rolled down, the inside of your car acts like an oven, resulting in dangerously high temperatures in a matter of minutes. If you don’t plan on taking your dog out of the car with you, do him a favor and leave him home!
- Make sure your pets have access to shade and lots of cool water. We are not used to the hot weather in this area, and neither are our pets. Shade, cool water, and air conditioning or fans will help you keep your pet safely cooled in higher temperatures.
- Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest time of day. Take your dog on her daily walk early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are lower.
- Keep your pets away from chemicals and toxic plants. Chemically treated lawns, rat poison, and certain plants can make your pet sick. Check the ASPCA list of toxic and non-toxic plants if you are unsure if a certain flower or plant may be dangerous. If you think your pet may have ingested something noxious, err on the side of caution and have him seen by a veterinarian.
- Prevent burns. Prolonged exposure to asphalt or hot sand can burn your pet’s paws. Additionally, pets with short hair, white fur, or pink skin can sunburn – limit exposure or apply pet safe sunscreen to areas with thin hair or exposed skin.
- Never leave your dog unattended in water. Make sure there aren’t any strong currents, and that there is an easy way for your dog to get out of the water if she tires. Lifejackets are a great way to help keep your pet safe while swimming or boating, and can be found at most pet supply stores.