How to keep pets cool, healthy during hot summer months
It is important to provide fresh food and water at all times, but especially during hot weather. Keep water in a bowl or bucket that won’t tip over and leave the pet without water while you are away.
Food and water bowls should be kept clean by washing with soap and water daily and with bleach twice each week. During hot weather, pets do not usually want as much food, so it is better to provide smaller amounts of fresh food twice a day rather than leaving food out where flies and other insects can get to it.
While outdoors for an extended period, pets must have a shady and sheltered area to protect them from the weather. A doghouse can provide some protection from the heat, but often the inside temperature increases quickly. Placing the doghouse or pen in an area shaded by trees will provide a much cooler resting area than leaving it in direct sunlight.
Dogs and cats, especially ones with dark coats, are very susceptible to heat stroke. Dogs and cats don’t sweat and must cool themselves by panting. Panting for short periods of time is OK, but panting for prolonged periods is equivalent to hyperventilation for a person.
Never leave a pet in a parked vehicle on a spring or summer day, not even for a few minutes. On a relatively cool 75 degree day, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 120 degrees very quickly. Even though your pet loves to go with you, make the responsible decision and leave your pet at home.
Another common problem during summer months is flea and tick control. There are some relatively simple solutions. Applying a product such as Advantage or Frontline once a month usually keeps these pests under control. Advantage is only good for flea control, but Frontline controls both fleas and ticks.
Flea collars are only good at killing fleas underneath the collar and are essentially worthless. Powders, sprays and dips, in addition to often being toxic, are not much help for long-term control. They kill the fleas or ticks for a day or two, but offer little benefit after that.
A few final tips:
1. While on vacation, make sure a responsible person is caring for your pets.
2. Have a collar with the pet’s name and your phone number or address attached to the pet’s collar at all times. Many animals become lost and end up at the shelter simply because they are not wearing any form of ID.
3. Never feed dogs grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, chocolate or foods containing onions. Grapes and raisins can cause vomiting and diarrhea and kidney failure. Onions can cause anemia and kidney failure. A few ounces of macadamia nuts may cause vomiting, fatigue and paralysis to rear legs.
4. Don’t feed your cat or dog milk unless you have continually done so since they were weaned from the mother. Most animals become lactose intolerant once they are on a milk-free diet and if suddenly given milk, they will experience diarrhea, bloating and cramping. A good practice is to strictly limit the amount of “people food” that is given to any dog or cat.
Upcoming events: The Humane Society has a number of upcoming events planned to help raise money for general shelter operations. On March 27 – Murder at the Mansion at Falcon Manor; April 10 – bake sale at Three Star Mall; and May 8 – wrestling, a wholesome family type event planned at the fairgrounds. Please plan to attend these events in support of the shelter.
Note: The shelter needs help defray the $600 cost of insurance and rent of the fairgrounds for this wrestling event. Anyone willing to help should call the shelter at 473-5720.