Avoid Summer Hazards for Pets
By Steve Dale
Dogs don't deal with the heat as well as people
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.
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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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By Steve Dale
Here are five relative newcomers to the pet world. Perhaps their exotic appeal is bringing a little of the wild world into our concrete jungles
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By Steve Dale
Ticks, and the diseases they transmit, are now in all 50 states. And experts concur that their numbers are rising. Dr. Dwight Bowman, a veterinary parisitologist at Cornell University, says that a general increase in wildlife numbers -- including deer, wild turkey, raccoon and other animals -- intersecting with suburbia likely has the most impact
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By Steve Dale
By Steve Dale
Steve Dale welcomes questions/comments from readers. Although he can't answer all of them individually, he'll answer those of general interest in his column. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com; he can be heard Sundays on WGN Radio, 8 to 10 p.m. CST (www.wgnradio.com to listen live), and hosts the nationally syndicated "Steve Dale's Pet World" and "The Pet Minute." He's also a contributing editor to USA Weekend
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