How to Avoid Summer Hazards for Pets

by Steve Dale

Dalmation | iHaveNet.com

You can have hot fun in the summertime with your pets, but if the heat is on, your pets could potentially be in danger.

"In general, dogs aren't able to deal with the heat as well as people; that's mostly because for all intents and purposes they don't perspire - they pant," says Dr. Sheldon Rubin, president of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association. "Darker-colored dogs have a tougher time of time, and so do larger dogs. Cats who are outdoors and seeking to keep cool can get into trouble, too."

Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe in summer:

DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS:

Instances of dogs becoming ill and even dying after being left in hot cars are avoidable. According to the AAA Chicago Motor Club, if it's 85 degrees outside, even if the windows are open a crack, the dashboard of a car can heat up to 170 degrees in less than 15 minutes.

In many states, counties and cities, it's illegal to keep a pet shut inside a hot car, so the law may be on the side of the good Samaritan who calls the police. In some places, this law (like many animal cruelty laws) is enforced more strongly than in others. Certainly, if a car is parked outside a store, simply fetching the owner can save a dog's life.

EXERCISE:

"Some dogs play fetch, and simply know when enough is enough; they stop," says Rubin, of Chicago. "Others will fetch forever because they want to please us. It's your job as an adult to step and say, 'enough, the game is over.' This is why an adult in the household need to be aware of pets' activities. If dogs appear too hot, they probably are."

For dogs who are left in the yard for any extended period of time - not the best idea in the first place - shade and water are necessary, says Dr. Richard Dixon, Rome, GA

If you run with your dog, even a short distance, your best bet is an early morning jog, or hit the track after sunset when temperatures have dipped and the sun isn't shining. Be sure to bring water along for your dog (and for you).

CATS IN TREES:

Where's Sheriff Andy Taylor when you need him? In most places, if you call the local sheriff or fire department to fetch a cat up a tree, you'll only hear a bemused chuckle. If you manage to convince emergency personnel to respond, you'll likely be charged a fee.

Be patient. Veterinary clinics rarely report treating cats who've fallen from trees. Emergency rooms, however, do treat people who've fallen trying to rescue their feline friends. Entice your kitty with a can of tuna left at lower branches or at the base of the tree. Walk away and let hunger overcome fear.

SKUNKS:

Step 1: Get a clothespin - for your nose. Step 2: Scrub your pooch in a solution of one quart hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda and one teaspoon liquid dish soap. Step 3: Rinse. Step 4: Scrub the pet again, this time with a solution of half tomato juice and half water as needed. Step 5: Rinse. Step 6: Go to the movies while the odor subsides. (Or go back to Step 2 and buy an over-the-counter products available to help fight skunk stench.)

ASPHALT:

Hot asphalt can literally scorch dog paws. "Each year, I treat blistered paws," says Dr. Stephen Brammeier, St. Louis, MO. On a leash, the dog has no way to run off the asphalt, and you may not realize your pet's paws are frying.

LAWN PESTICIDES:

"Most lawn pesticides aren't especially dangerous to pets as long as the treatment is thoroughly dry when the pets are on the lawn," says Dr. Steven Hansen, executive director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center, Urbana, IL. If your pet happens to roll on a freshly treated lawn, don't wait for symptoms (such as lethargy, depressed appetite, foaming from the mouth). Give the dog an immediate bath using gentle dishwashing liquid, followed by a shampoo made for dogs.

Increasingly veterinary oncologists are researching potential long-term effects of repeated exposure to lawn pesticides, even when the pesticides have dried.

RODENTICIDES:

Pets who've eaten rodent poison may emit a sour gassy smell and have sudden muscle tremors or bleeding from the nose or bloody stool. If you notice any of these problems, see your veterinarian immediately. It's helpful to know exactly what kind of rodenticide the dog swallowed.

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