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The summer heat has descended quickly as always. As the temperatures rise, we pay extra attention to our children and families as they run and play on the hot summer days. But did you know that animals, just like humans, are susceptible to heat stroke and heat exhaustion when not properly hydrated and shielded from the heat?
The signs of heat stroke/exhaustion in animals are very similar to the signs for animals: restlessness, lethargy, salivating, vomiting and loss of coordination. To keep your pets safe this summer, there are certain precautions that you can take such as:
* Provide shade and plenty of cool water whenever your pets are outside.
* Avoid extra exercise during the hotter times of the day.
* Always allow your pet to get wet with cool water after being outside.
Like people, animals can also get sunburned. Apply sunscreen on the tip of the nose and the ears if your pet's skin is light-colored. Sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer. Ask your veterinarian about which brands you should use for your pet.
When taking your pet for a walk, remember that paved surfaces can be extrememly hot. Try to allow your pet to walk on grassy areas as much as possible. Special pet shoes are made for pets that can help prevent injury to your pet's paws due to heat or the texture of the walking surface.
For long outings, make sure to take some kind of water supply for your pet or consider leaving your pet at home. Amusement parks and outdoor events for people are not designed for pets, and stress elevates body temperature. Older and overweight animals are less able to dissipate heat build-up, as are short-faced dog breeds (pugs, bulldogs, etc.) as well as those with heart problems.
Enjoying time with your pets is wonderful. However, remember that your pets are living animals just like you and require simple things like cool water and a cool bath. Have fun in the sun and keep cool! |
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 HCPHES Veternary Public Health has issued an alert regarding the rise of canine distemper in the Harris County pet population. Earlier this year several raccoons were presented to HCPHES displaying signs of distemper and over the past two weeks approximately 20 dogs have been presented with symptoms of distemper. Symptoms have varied from slight nasal discharge to muscle tremors. There is a strong indication that there is a distemper virus outbreak in the community.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious and serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies and dogs. The virus also infects wild canids (e.g. foxes, wolves, coyotes), raccoons, skunks, and ferrets.
You can help decrease the risk of distemper by:
- Keep all dogs and ferrets up to date on vaccines, even if those animals will not encounter other animals
- Keep pet food and water bowls inside as much as possible to prevent raccoons from eating and drinking out of them
- Seek immediate veterinary care for sick dogs
More information regarding canine distemper can be found at the American Veterinary Medical Association |
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Time to Scrub Down  Grooming is for more than just looks. Did you know that grooming is important to your pet's health and well being too? Yes, everyone loves a well-groomed pet, but the reasons go much deeper than just the fact that the animal looks pretty/handsome. When an animal is properly groomed, the animal is also clean. This means that all of the dirt, grime and bad oils from an animal's coat have been washed away with proper shampoos and soaps. Washing an animal's coat properly helps avoid skin-irritating rashes on the animal and its owner or friends. Since animals also attempt to bathe themselves by licking their fur, any harmful germs within their coat can be ingested and cause internal illness.
An animal's fur coat is not the only important item to be groomed. Nails are a big concern as well. Untrimmed nails can cause an animal to become not only mildly uncomfortable, but so uncomfortable that they deter from participating in exercise or play. Without the proper amount of physical activity every day, pets can become not only unhealthy and overweight, but depressed.
Make sure to have your pet properly groomed by a professional at least once a month, especially during summer months when heat and sweat can encourage germs and bacteria to grow.
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Play with Your Pet 
Playing games with your pet is important for social skills as well as fun for everyone. Not only does playing encourage your pet to get up and move around (which we all need during the day) but it also creates a bond between you and your pet. Whether you dangle a string for your cat or hide a treat in a treat ball for your dog, everyone benefits. Daily activity is important for the health of every pet and helps encourage self confidence. Have an old pair of sneakers? Leave your shoelaces untied and dance around in front of your feline friend for a little dosey doe! Finished drinking all of the water in that bottle? Slip some peanut butter inside for a tasty dog treat. The game of fetch with dogs is a classic, but every dog likes a game they can taste and crunch. Hiding treats and playing other games in which items are hidden helps keep your pup alert to different smells and situations. Let your dog work their super sniffer by hiding a piece of turkey under a few toys outside and see how long it takes them to find it. Kids are great at helping with hide and seek games for animals as well. Somehow, they are always able to think of the little places that everyone forgets about, so let them in on the fun and enjoy play time as a whole family! |
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