Hot Weather Tips for Your Pets

(Courtesy of the ASPCA) (ASPCA) -- We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being over-eager in hot weather can spell danger, ASPCA experts warn.   "Most people love to spend the warmer days enjoying the outdoors with friends and family, but it is important to remember that some activities can be dangerous for our pets," said Dr. Camille DeClementi, Senior Toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. "By following a few simple rules, it is easy to keep your pet safe while still having fun in the sun." Take these simple precautions, provided by ASPCA experts, to help prevent your pet from overheating. And if you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, get help from your veterinarian immediately. 

  #1 Visit the Vet  A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe flea and tick control program.

#2 Made in the Shade  Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to notover-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it's extremely hot. 

#3  Know the Warning Signs  Symptoms of  overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. They can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. 

#4  No Parking!  Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. "On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace in no time-even with the windows open-which could lead to fatal heat stroke," says Dr. Louise Murray, Vice President of ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital. Also, leaving pets unattended in cars in extreme weather is illegal in several states. 

#5  Make a Safe Splash  Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset. 

#6  Screen Test  "During warmer months, the ASPCA sees an increase in injured animals as a result of High-Rise Syndrome, which occurs when pets-mostly cats-fall out of windows or doors and are seriously or fatally injured," says Dr. Murray. "Pet owners need to know that this is completely preventable if they take simple precautions." Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured. 

#7  Summer Style  Giving your dog a lightweight summer haircut helps prevent overheating. Shave down to a one-inch length, never to the skin, so your dog still has some protection from the sun. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. As far as skin care, be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals. 

#8  Street Smarts  When the temperature is very high, don't let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close the ground, your pooch's body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum. 

 #9 Avoid Chemicals  Commonly used flea and tick products, rodenticides (mouse and rat baits), and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Keep citronella candles, oil products and insect coils out of pets' reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance. 

#10  Party Animals  Taking Fido to a backyard barbeque or party? Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol.

Meeting And Greeting

Proper Greeting For Dogs

​When introducing dogs for the first time it’s important to remain calm and be patient.  One mistake that is often made when introducing two dogs is rushing the process. As humans, we often encounter people that may “rub” us the wrong way and we don’t instantly bond with; it’s the same with dogs, we can’t expect them to be best buddies in a matter of minutes. Making sure that the two meet on neutral ground is important and should help the dogs remain calm and without territorial behaviors. If you know that your dog has a favorite toy or gets grouchy sharing, don’t bring the toy for the initial meeting, as this could ignite a fight. ​Making new friends for your pup can be a fun
and rewarding experience. Dogs can play a role in encouraging friendships and meeting new people. They get people out of the house for exercise and motivate owners to become more involved in rescues and shelters. If a first time introduction doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d like, don’t fret, try again in the future. As an example, when my two

Face-to-Face Greetings can quickly lead to fights between
unknown dogs.

Walking dogs together is a great way for them to socialize in
a controlled environment.

rescues met for the first time, my “gets along with everyone” girl was growling and snapping at the other one.  We ended up taking them outside and walking them together as a pack, while maintaining a safe distance. After a the first night of monitoring their interactions we realized that Millie, our lovable girl wasn’t being aggressive, but was teaching Wonder how to play and interact with another dog. Wonder had spent the last 4 months of his life in a crate at an animal hospital and lacked social interaction with other dogs. When he met Millie, he played like a puppy, biting her ear, and tugging at her. Millie corrected his play by teaching him bite inhibition. They are now best friends and love to play keep away by chasing each other around the house. ​While this is just one example of an introduction, it’s important to know the temperament of each dog. While I knew that Millie was a happy-go- lucky kind of girl who is vocal, not aggressive, Wonder seemed like an eager, crazy wild thing that didn’t understand or respect the social norms when meeting other dogs. Humans often shake hands with a person when they meet for the first time, for dogs this translates into sniffing. It may seem and look silly, but nose to tail is the proper meet and greet. Both should remain on leashes, under the control of their owner. This should take place on neutral territory, if possible, with each dog having an eye on their owner for commands or cues. You never want to put a dog in a situation where they may fail (i.e. a tight space where they can’t escape from the other dog).  After the initial sniff and greet, I highly recommend going for a walk. If the dogs looked relaxed after a while, ears back, looking around, rather than staring down other dog, you can try to walk the two side by side, while both leashed and you in control.  Slow increments of exposure go a long way in developing trust with the new dog, and in the owner. Another thing to remember is that when you’re walking with your pup and you see a loose dog, or an owner that wants their dog to play with yours, feel free to say “no”, or say “we’re in training right now”.  As a dog owner it is your responsibility to speak up for you dog, to tell the other (sometimes insistent) owner to back off and not engage in dog play. I know that I’ve been in some sticky situations with my pups, and telling someone else that your dog doesn’t play well with others may feel embarrassing or shameful, but in the end you are making the right decision by protecting and speaking up for you dog, who may not be ready to face the world. -K Paige