Summer Health & Safety for Man's Best Friend

by Ann Marie Kennon

Pets are known to lower blood pressure and benefit us emotionally. However, summer can be deadly for them. Most people already know it is unsafe—not to mention illegal—to leave an animal in a car in hot weather. The inside of your car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even if parked in the shade.

We spoke with Dr. Nathan Carlton, DVM and he shared some things you may not be aware of that can affect furry friends.

HEAT

Brachycephalic dogs are those with squashed-in noses—think boxers, bulldogs, and Boston Terriers. These dogs have a compromised airway from birth, and a combination of genetic problems can cause sudden death from heat stroke. The best advice for these breeds is to keep them indoors during hot summer days; let them out for elimination purposes and bring them right back inside, and be sure they have access to plenty of fresh water.

PARASITES

“One reason I love Central Texas is the abundance of wildlife we have here,” he says. “I love seeing possums, squirrels, deer and of course, the armadillos that live here. One thing I don’t enjoy as much are the bugs.”

Dr. Carlton says the number of dogs and cats in vets’ offices with ticks this year is significant, so you’re not alone if you’re battling these little freeloaders. He even has clients whose horses are suffering with ticks in their ears; one suffered the death of a mature adult cow from a disease transmitted by ticks.

While most people typically think of ticks as huge, blood-engorged things that are easily visible, and there are plenty fitting that description, we do have some that are so much smaller.

The blacklegged tick can transmit Lyme disease and is actually found in Central Texas. These guys are tiny; Dr. Carlton found four of them in a single cat’s ear earlier this month. The larval stage is only as long as the width of the “D” in an American dime. There are new flea and tick preventives that help keep away ticks, so talk to your own vet about what is recommended.

Most people are aware of intestinal parasites that infect dogs and cats, but few are aware of another parasite called giardia. This little guy is spread through fecal contamination of water or food. There are a lot of monthly flea and heartworm preven tives available for dogs and cats, and some prevent certain types of worms, however, there are no monthly preventives that keep your dog or cat from contracting giardia. If your dog suddenly has severe diarrhea be sure to take her in to the vet. Giardia can be cleared with a short course of anti-parasitic and de-worming medications.

HUMAN CONCERNS

The doc says along with ticks, we have kissing bugs, so named because these blood-feeding insects enjoying sucking blood from around our mouths (they are actually attracted to the CO2 we exhale). After feeding, the bug leaves a parasite that can migrate into a person’s blood stream. The same problem occurs in dogs. Some people and pets will clear the infection without any issues, while others can develop serious heart, liver, and colon problems.

The best way to prevent the problem is to keep kissing bugs out of your house. Turn lights off at night as they are attracted to light, and hire a good exterminator.

Even a veterinarian has animals he is not fond of... rattlesnakes for one. Dr. Carlton says their bite can be fatal to pets if the animal is small, or the bit occurs on the face.

Swelling caused by their bite can occlude the airway, and snakes’ mouths are full of bacteria that can lead to infections. Plus, the pain caused by a bite is truly excruciating.

Unlike people, most animals are bitten in the face when they investigate the snake. However, if your pet is bitten on an appendage, do not apply a tourniquet to a bite area. Tourniquets trap the toxins and can cause major problems when they are removed. There is a vaccine that will help reduce the affects of an envenomation.

“I have seen dogs bitten without this vaccine, and with the vaccine. My opinion is that this shot does reduce morbidity in the vaccinated dogs, however the dogs still require antivenin. There are also snake avoidance classes out there that I highly encourage pet owners to seek out.” Dr. Carlton recommends identifying an after-hours veterinary clinic in your area you can take your pet in the event of an emergency.

LIVESTOCK & FARM ANIMALS

Texans love farm animals as much as we love our cats and dogs. Dr. Carlton also has advice for hobby and FFA farmers to understand the needs and benefits in our diverse universe of companion animals.

Can you share some benefits and concerns for specific animals?

Farm animals enrich our lives by providing meat or eggs but they can also help us by providing an agricultural exemption for the land. Those benefits are a great way to lower your tax burden but there are a lot of things to consider first.

Make sure you have a facility prepared to care for them. Cattle are a common choice in Central Texas and they are easy to own but what happens if one is sick? How will you vaccinate and deworm the animal every year? If you own 20 cows you will have 20-25,000 pounds of animals to corral, so setting up a good set of working pens with a functioning head gate and squeeze is essential. Without those items you won’t be able to vaccinate, let alone work on one when it is sick.

How much space is needed?

Animal units (AU) are a way to describe the carrying capacity of a piece of land. One AU is a full-size cow-calf pair; one horse is usually

1.3 AUs. You may have four goats per AU for full-sized meat goat breeds or perhaps six pygmy goats per AU. The total AUs for your land depends on soil type and annual precipitation. Fortunately, we have a general landmark—stocking density is typically lower west of I-35 than on the east side. A good starting point is one AU for every four acres on the east side; one AU for every eight acres on the west. You may need to adjust based on the amount and condition of the grass through the seasons. For instance, you could run four large goats on a five-acre lot on the east side of town but drop to two for the same size lot on the west side. It may be tempting to have more, especially this time of year when it seems like there is plenty of grass for many animals. Always remember, come August, there won’t be much to eat on the ground and in winter you may be in the same spot. Even if you are okay feeding them hay you will want to keep the density low to prevent over grazing and heavy parasitism.

What are some basic health concerns to keep in mind to keep animals healthy?

All animals need fresh water and some shelter. If you have cattle and there are no trees around to keep them out of rain and sunlight you might consider putting up an over-

hang or lean-to. Vaccinations are a great way to keep away some easily preventable diseases like over-eating disease in goats or blackleg in cattle. Deworming every year will help reduce death losses and improve the gains you see on your animals. I recommend working with a vet to figure out a good vaccine and deworming schedule for your livestock.

How do I know if my animal is sick and needs a vet?

Sometimes it is obvious a cow with a laceration or lame goat, but sometimes the signs are less obvious. If you see your goat pressing his head against the fence or hear her grinding her teeth, that is a problem of pain. In general, if you are at all worried about the health or welfare of your animal, call a vet early. There aren’t many food animal vets around so a late-day call means less chance he or she will be able to get to you.

Do my farm animals need stimulation for good emotional health?

Yes. Farm animals are prey species so they do better in groups than alone. I also think it is a good idea to be around your animals as much as possible. This way they are used to you and can be easier to handle when it comes time to calve or vaccinate.

Are there animals I should not raise together?

Generally, we do not raise goats and sheep in the same area. Both are susceptible to copper poisoning, sheep more so than goats. Both species need loose mineral to supplement their diet, but if you feed a goat-based supplement with sheep in the area they will eventually develop copper poisoning. Housing chickens and turkeys is also not a good idea. Turkeys can transmit blackhead and other bacterial diseases to chickens.