Pet care tips for the summer

Summer is just around the corner, a time to enjoy the sunshine and outdoor activities. If you have a pet, it is also a time to take precautions to keep your furry friend safe this summer.

If your pet hasn’t been to the vet recently, a wellness check is advised to see if there are any health issues to be addressed.

Rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats are required by state law, so make sure your pet is up-to-date. Distemper and Parvovirus booster vaccinations are strongly recommended for dogs; check with your vet. You might want to consider a Lyme vaccination (for ticks) for your dog if you live in a wooded area, go camping, or are in a high grass area. Cats need feline booster shots for feline distemper and leukemia.

PestsSummer is the beginning of the mosquito season. Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in dogs and cats. A fecal check is recommended for dogs. Even indoor cats can get heartworm, so ask your vet to check them, too. #147;Just one bite from the wrong mosquito can lead to heartworm,#148; said Dr. Donald Arnat of Arlington Park Veterinary Hospital. #147;Prevention is easier than treating.#148;Fleas and ticks are another summertime problem.Flea collars, sprays and powders can be effective, but #147;spot on#148; products are more effective. This is a topical application that is applied directly to your pet#146;s skin. These products are usually used once a month, beginning in the spring and continuing until there is a heavy frost. For ticks, there are numerous common treatments available from your vet, including Advantage (for cats and dogs) and Advantix (for dogs only).If the tick has already attached itself to your pet, you need to get a forceps to grab the tick at its head and gently pull it away from your pet#146;s skin. #147;You don#146;t want to squeeze the tick,#148; Arnat warned. #147;Any infectious things it was carrying would be injected directly into your pet#146;s body.#148;Several products, like Frontline and Revolution, treat both fleas and ticks. Work with your vet to find the product that works the best for your pet. #147;Don#146;t use dog products on cats, or vice versa,#148; Arnat advised. #147;Dog products are highly toxic to cats.#148;Heat-related problems Pets with heart disease, lung disease and obesity issues have a harder time in the summer#146;s heat. So do elderly pets and very young pets. Dogs with flat faces, such as Boston bull terriers, pugs, and Pekingese, as well as Persian cats, can#146;t pant efficiently in the heat. Keep these animals cool and out of the sun on hot, humid summer days. No parking Never leave a pet in your car, even with a window open. The temperature inside of a car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes. #147;Panting in dogs and cats is the primary way to get rid of excess heat in their body,#148; explained Arnat. #147;If overtaxed, shock and other problems will result.#148;Signs of heatstroke and heat exhaustion include panting, difficulty breathing, salivating, weakness and acting dazed. In severe cases, the pet will suffer seizures and collapse. Death often follows. To treat heatstroke, put your pet in cool water. Ice cubes on his belly and/or feet will help get his temperature down. Normal body temperatures for dogs and cats range from 100 to 102 degrees. Problems begin with a body temperature of 104 degrees. Call your veterinarian immediately so he can treat your pet for shock and heat exhaustion.ExerciseWhile walking is good for your pet (and you), slow your pace to avoid overheating.#147;People who run with their pets should run in the morning; it#146;s a safer time, as it is cooler,#148; Arnat advised. Blacktop surfaces can be especially hot and may lead to severe burns and blisters on your pet#146;s feet. This is true even at night as blacktop retains heat from the day.Bring them inside If your pet is outside during the summer, make sure that he has shade from the sun and plenty of fresh water, given on a regular basis. Heat causes rapid dehydration. Elderly, very young and sick animals should definitely stay inside on hot, humid days. #147;If there is excessive heat, it#146;s preferable to keep pets inside in air conditioning,#148; said Arnat. If your pet has long hair, your vet or groomer can clip or trim the hair. Don#146;t shave your pet down to the skin, as that invites severe sunburn. Make sure that when you open windows for fresh air that the screens are in good repair. Animals see something outside and often want to go after it. Screens can keep your pet safely in the house. #147;High-rise syndrome#148; refers to cats falling from open windows. This can cause extreme trauma. Cats don#146;t always land on their feet and even if they do, bruising of muscles and tendons occurs, to say nothing of broken bones. #147;If you have double-hung windows, open them at the top,#148; suggested Arnat. #147;You still get air flow without the danger of your pet going through the screen.#148; ChemicalsNow is the time to fertilize your lawn and work in the garden. Beware of chemicals that are around! Insecticides are especially toxic to pets, as are ant bait and slug bait. Weed killers with the chemical 24-D are a proven link to cancer. Cocoa mulch in your garden contains theobromin; while it may smell nice and chocolaty to humans, at the very least, it will sicken dogs and may result in death. Immediately contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your pet has ingested any poisonous substance or plant. Outdoor activitiesNot all dogs are good swimmers, so watch carefully if your pet is around swimming pools. A pet that gets in the pool and can#146;t get back out may drown. Chlorine is irritating, drying and toxic to the skin. Spray your pet down thoroughly with fresh water if he does take a swim in the pool. Swallowing chlorine is harmful and may cause gastrointestinal distress. When you barbecue, heat from the grill can cause burns and lighter fluid is highly toxic, so monitor your pet at all times. While you may not feed your pet from the table, your guests might want to give him a treat. Onions, grapes, raisins and chocolate are human treats that are toxic to pets. Alcoholic beverages should never be given to pets. Even though Fido and Fluffy may beg, don#146;t give them rib bones, steak bones or chicken bones which may cause problems.Fireworks may be fun for humans, but they#146;re not fun for pets. They may result in burns or other trauma to your pet. Even used products have heavy metals, like arsenic, in them. If your pet chews them, it can cause problems.#147;Loud noises and thunderstorms can be a time of high anxiety for pets,#148; Arnat said.#147;Try not to sit with them and calm them; this heightens your pet#146;s fear, as he feels there really is something wrong because you#146;re comforting him.#148;Instead, Arnat suggests finding a favorite toy, treat or game for your pet. He will learn to associate the loud noise with something fun. If the anxiety persists, check with your vet. A tranquilizer or anti-anxiety medicine may be needed. 31563156Your pet is probably as happy as you are that summer is around the corner, but on extremely hot or humid days, itÂ’s best to keep them inside with the air-conditioning.