Pet Tips

Dr. G.PET TIPS BY

VetNaturally

With summer fun comes some dangers for our pets. Here are several tips to help you and your furry bestie have a safe summer. Follow VetNaturally on FB or Instagram for reminders!

1. Provide plenty of water and shade and always place the water in the shade so it stays as cool as possible. 2. Try freezing some treats in a block of water. When you put the frozen block of water out, the ice will melt, and your dog can have a cool treat ( blueberries, bananas, organic dog treats). Provide regular drinking water in addition to this frozen treat. 3. If your dog or cat has a dark coat they are more heat sensitive because dark fur absorbs more heat. Monitor these pets more carefully. 4. If your dog has a double coat (huskies, labradors, golden retrievers) they will be more prone to heat stroke because their coat is thicker. Monitor these pets more carefully. 5. Don’t shave your pet’s hair off for the summer! Hair is a natural skin protectant. Shaving your pet’s coat will decrease their sun protection. It will also slowly destroy your pet’s arrector pili muscle. This muscle lifts the hair off the dog and allows a layer of air between the surface of the hair and the skin-serving as an insulated barrier from the sun. 6. When walking your pet, choose a cool time of day. The time we recommend at VetNaturally is right as the sun is coming out or setting. Additionally, before you and your pet hit the sidewalk, VetNaturally recommends that you place your hand on the sidewalk for 10 seconds. If this temperature is comfortable for you, it is okay for your pet and won’t harm the pads on your pet’s paws. 7. Be sure to monitor your dog’s footpads and interdigital spaces. Walking around on the street and grass has many dangers for your pet. Sticks, broken glass, branches, twigs, and the like can often lodge in the paw. Animals can’t just pull out a splinter. They will bite at the area, limp, or worse: suffer in silence. Check the feet regularly. 8. Fleas and ticks are in full force during the summer months. Apply a veterinary approved product to protect your pet from getting bitten and from bringing the tick or flea into your home. 9. Make your Fourth of July plans now with respect to your pet. Doggie day care will fill up quickly, so booking in advance is a must. If you will be home with a firework phobic pet, make plans to help them. Acupuncture, aqua-puncture, appropriate essential oils and certain Chinese herbs can all be helpful for pets scared of foreign firework noises. If your dog has severe anxiety with fireworks, he may need veterinary recommended and approved sedation. 10. Activities for your pet like jogging and walking, as well as allowing them to sit in a poorly air-conditioned car for only a few minutes can become deadly for pets in Louisiana. Due to harsh summer temperatures, heat stroke is a serious danger to pets. Be cognizant of overheating signs: open-mouthed breathing, heavy panting, thickening or lack of saliva, red gums, and the last adaptation is a LONG curled tongue. When you begin to see these signs, your pet is getting overheated and needs attention at once. Also any breed with a short nose (bulldog, pug, French bulldog, etc) is much more sensitive to heat in general, so taxing activities in the heat are particularly dangerous for these breeds. Print a copy of these important tips, tape them to your fridge, and have a safe summer! Much love, Dr G