Hot dogs, cool cats - keeping pets healthy in warm weather

Ranger Rick, July, 1995 by Carolyn Duckworth

Summertime can be fun time for your pet. But beware of hot weather hazards! Here are some tips to help keep your cat or dog healthy and happy in hot weather.

BEAT THE HEAT

* Outside: If your pet is outside a lot, make sure it has a shady area and plenty of cool water.

* Hot Cars: Never leave a pet in a parked car in warm weather. Cats and dogs can quickly get overheated or even get heatstroke and die. Check with your vet for more information on how to avoid heatstroke.

* Cool Walks: Exercise your pet in the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler. Hot pavement can burn a pet's feet.

* Beach: If you take your pet to the beach, keep it off the hot sand. Put up an umbrella so it has some shade. And give it lots of fresh water to drink.

* Boats: A life jacket for Fido or Fluffy? Not a bad idea when on a boat. But a better idea is to leave your pet at home. An animal overboard often means an animal drowned.

* Pools: A deep swimming pool can be a problem too. Once in, your pet may not be able to get out. It may also swallow some water, and pool chemicals can be harmful.

POISONS AND PESTS

* Lawn Chemicals: Dogs and cats can get poisoned from eating grass treated with weed killer and other chemicals. They may even get sick just from licking themselves after they've walked across treated grass.

So if your pet starts vomiting, gets diarrhea, or quits eating, it may have been poisoned. Call the vet right away.

* Fleas: Prevent fleas if you can. Make a bed of cedar shavings for your pet. The cedar smell keeps away many pests.

If your pet gets fleas anyway, check with your vet. Ask about a safe powder that you can put around your house. (It brings fleas to their knees!)

* Ticks: These pests can get a tight grip on your pet before you know it. Check your animal every day. If you find a tick, slowly pull it out with tweezers and put it in alcohol to kill it. Don't ever touch a tick--it can carry diseases. Check with your vet about using a special collar that keeps ticks away.

* More Pests: If a skunk sprays your dog or cat, you can get rid of the stink. Try soaking your pet's fur with tomato juice or vinegar mixed with water. If your pet gets bitten or stung by an insect, spider, snake, or scorpion, clean the bite area well and put ice on it. If you think your pet is getting sick from a bite, call the vet.

TROUBLE-FREE TRAVEL

* Checkup: Before a trip, have your pet checked by a vet. Ask for a health and rabies certificate to take with you. If the vet thinks the trip would not be good for your pet, leave it with friends, family, or a kennel your vet says is OK.

* Car Trip Tips:

--Give your pet a small meal two hours before the trip, and then feed it again at the end of the day.

--During the trip, give your pet some cool water to drink as often as you can.

--On hot days, use the air-conditioner if your car has one. Keep your pet in a shady part of the car--away from direct sunlight. Also, you can put ice in a plastic bag on the floor of the car for your pet to lie on.

--Don't let your pet stick its head out the car window. Dirt and insects flying by can hurt its eyes, nose, and skin.

* Airplane Trip Tips:

--Ask the airline for its rules about pets ahead of time.

--In summer, fly your pet during the morning or evening to avoid the midday heat.

--When you arrive, pick up your pet as soon as you can.

Have a furry nice summer!