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Animal ATTRACTION |
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August 2009
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I thought I was just about going to DIE after this morning's run. I got out the door by 7:15 to run, but after only 15 minutes I knew this was going to be a tough one. By the time I got home after another hour, I was soaking wet, tired, and dehydrated. I'm used to running in heat, and I'm not furry like my dogs, so I can only imagine how they would feel if I dragged them out the door to run with me: MISERABLE. In fact, I'd wager my older girl, Bailey, would probably get heat stroke (you can see a list of the symptoms of doggie heat stroke http://www.cap4pets.org/HeatStroke.html">here). Your dog does need exercise, but in my humble opinion, running is not the thing for Fido right now. Take him for a walk! You can get a personal "petcast" from The Weather Channel at this website - which, by the way, said the best time to take my Golden out today would have been between 6 and 10 this morning. In the meantime, read over the following checklist of hot weather tips for your pets from Dr. John August, a professor in Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: * Watch the inside of cars. If you would not keep a child inside a hot car with the windows up, why would you place your pet in the same situation? "It's not uncommon for the temperature to reach 120 degrees or more inside a car on a hot summer day," August says. "Just as with a child, you should never leave a pet in a car during the summer. Even just a few minutes can be deadly." * Airline travel is tougher on some pets than others. "Dogs such as bulldogs, Pekingese and Pugs, and cats such as Persians, these animals have shorter noses than most other breeds and they can have difficulty breathing on an airplane and often they are more susceptible to heat stress. If possible, try to take a direct flight early in the morning instead of one that has several stops." * Don't shave your pets, thinking it will keep them cooler. "It's not a good idea to shave your pet. Animals can get sunburn just like humans can. If you give your pets plenty of fresh water and shade, they should be okay, but we don't recommend shaving them unless they have had skin problems," August says. * Watch your animals around lakes or swimming pools. "Not all dogs are natural swimmers, and certainly most cats aren't," August explains. "You should supervise your pets around water just as you would a child. It's not uncommon for dogs or cats to drown." * Beware of mosquito bites. "Mosquitoes are very prevalent this time of year, and they transmit heartworms, which can then be passed on from one pet to another," notes August. "Also, this is the worst time of year for fleas and ticks, and there are plenty of good products available from your veterinarian to control them." * Fire ants on the attack. Just as they bite people and cause welts and swelling, fire ants can cause problems for your pets. "If you see a fire ant mound in your yard, get rid of it for your pet's sake," August believes. "Animals don't like fire ants any more than we do." * Fertilize your lawn with care. "If you use fertilizer, it's not a bad idea to keep your pet away from that area until it's been washed into the soil," August says. "Also, insecticides and pets don't go together. They can make a pet ill or even cause death. 3 CommentsLeave a comment |
I have been trying to figure out how much my new one year old sheltie mix "puppy" can safely run. He doesn't want to WALK - as he drags me down the street. While I am trying to train him, it's been hard to get him to walk. If he acts like he wants to lay down and rest, I let him and I carry a water bottle he can drink out of my hand. I guess common sense helps - if his tongue is hanging out, it's too hot! So far, we have not gone further than a mile... about 15 minutes. If I was to take advice from some people they are indicating they can stand it 45 minutes. Heck, I can't take it that long! Two or three hours after the walk - he is ready to go outside in the backyard where he can chase the squirrels and birds. He seems to like the heat?!!! Are certain breeds more able to tolerate heat than others?
Ok - now - they have meds for the fleas, but what can we do for the mosquitoes on the dogs? I have been told not to use Human spray as it may contain DEET which is toxic to the dogs. Any vets out there want to comment?
Also in Houston you have to check the K9's ears very often, the humidity makes it ease to develop ear infection because of the constant levels of humidity on their ears. Wash their ears and then dried them the best you can, check them often because can get out of hand easily.