INFO FEATURE
Miscellaneous Summer Health Factoids

Let’s start with the obvious. It’s summer, ergo, it gets hot.
-If your pet spends a lot of time outside, he/she will need plenty of available shade. Dog houses are not always a great idea because they can trap heat.
-Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a warm day. The temperature inside a car can rise to over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.
-Avoid strenuous exercise on extremely hot days. Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun’s heat is less intense.
-Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Dogs tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months.
-Keep dogs off lawns that have been chemically treated or fertilized for 24 hours (or according to package instructions), and away from potentially toxic plants and flowers. By the way, eating a lot of crab apples poses a potential health threat, so if you have a crab apple tree, rake up the fallen apples before they get eaten.
-Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes – which carry heartworm disease – are more prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to keep these parasites off your dog. (This is required for attendance at Kamp K9.)
-Many dogs like swimming, but some cannot swim or may not like the water. Be conscious of your dog’s preferences and skills before trying to make him swim.
-Many airlines will not ship animals during summer months due to dangers caused by hot weather. Some will only allow dogs to fly in the early morning or in the evening. Check with your airlines for specific rules.
-If traveling by car, keep your dog cool in the car by putting icepacks in his crate. -Make sure the crate is well ventilated.
-Make sure your pet always has an abundant supply of fresh water. “Fresh” is always specified because you don’t want your pet drinking stale water that has been out long enough to have things growing in it. This is especially true if your pet has a tendency to come into the house with parts of the great outdoors attached to his face.
-Speaking of such hygienic matters, here’s something that might not specifically relate to summer, but it comes to mind as I write: your pet’s food dish ought to be washed daily. Do you eat your meals out of dishes that haven’t been washed after their last use…and the use before that? You wouldn’t dream of it, would you? So why make your pet eat out of the equivalent of a laboratory petrie dish growing cultures? You’d be amazed at some of the food bowls I see coming in here with their dogs/cats. Sometimes I can’t make it through crust and down to the bowl until I’ve washed it with a scrubbing pad two or three times.
-A fun option is to provide your dog with a kiddie pool so he/she can cool off. Make sure it's placed in the shade so the water doesn't heat up from the sun. Also make sure to dump the water out each night so you don't leave standing water out overnight, which can harbor mosquitoes. Big ice blocks in the water is a great way to keep the water cold as well as entice your dog to jump in, because there's something to push around. Toys in the pool also make
good incentives. Kamp K9 has a few kiddie pools which are filled on the hottest days.
-Give your dog ice blocks to crunch on. For variety and a special treat, freeze broth and give your dog "pup-sicles"
-Soak a towel and freeze it. Put it in a shady spot which gives your pet a cool place to lie down.
-Get that sprinkler going!!! Some (not all) dogs like to try to catch the water coming out and this makes them wet helping to cool off.
-Make sure to brush them when they dry to ensure all knots are out! A knotted coat doesn't allow a dog to stay cool properly, and matted coats
are worse. The same goes for all other furry friends.
-Heat stroke takes place in a matter of minutes. It is characterized by a high body temperature, in the range of 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It is caused by exposure to high heat conditions, such as being left in an unattended vehicle or in a yard with no shelter. The symptoms of heat stroke are rapid breathing, lethargic behavior, unconsciousness, a body temperature above 105 degrees Fahrenheit or a combination of any or all of these symptoms. If not treated, heat stroke can cause serious injury resulting in brain damage or death. If your dog shows any of these symptoms, you must do the following immediately: Cool down the dog's core body temperature. Pour cool water all over the dog. Run a hose on the dog or immerse it in a tub of cool water. Place ice packs to the head, under the leg pits and in the groin area. If possible, have someone start your car and turn on the air conditioning while you are cooling off the dog. Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency vet clinic and tell them of the dog's condition. Once the dog is cooled off, immediately take the dog to the veterinarian.