Pet Health Tips

Pet Health for Winter and Summer

Pets can be affected by the change of seasons and weather just as much as people can, and just like people, their health needs to be taken into consideration. This is particularly important during the winter and summer months, when temperatures are extreme and their bodies will need to do the most adjusting.

• Pet Health for Winter and Summer
• Frostbite and Hypothermia
• Heat Stroke

Winter Health Tips for your Pet

1. A pre-winter checkup never hurts and will help determine if your pet has any medical conditions that may be affected by the cold. Some health conditions that may affect your pet's vulnerability to the cold are diabetes, heart or kidney disease, and hormonal imbalances. Elderly and very young pets are also highly affected by the cold.

2. Try to keep your pets indoors as much as possible during the winter months, only letting them outside only on a needed basis and then only for brief periods of time. If for some reason your pet requires an extended stay outside, be sure to provide a warm, sturdy shelter. Ideal shelters are raised off the ground, insulated or heated, provided with ample bedding, and a flap or door to keep snow or sleet out. In the event of severe cold or inclement weather, your pet should immediately be brought indoors.

3. Cats that spend a lot of time outside can be resourceful when seeking warmth and have been known to crawl up into vehicle engines. Before turning on your vehicle, be sure to check under the hood and make a lot of noise, either by honking the horn or rapping on the vehicle.

4. Pay attention to your pet's feet. When pets go outside, their paw pads may become magnets for salt, ice, and chemical ice melts. Any snow or salt should be removed from your pet's paws as soon as they come indoors. This not only prevents your pet's paws from becoming chapped and uncomfortable, but it also prevents your pet from ingesting potentially toxic substances.

5. When your pets are outdoors, be sure to provide them with a source of clean, unfrozen water. This ensures that your pet won't be tempted to drink from puddles for gutters, which may be polluted with chemical melts, oil, antifreeze, or other pollutants that may be harmful to your pet. In addition, be sure to use a plastic or ceramic bowl for your pet's water - metal bowls may freeze to your pet's tongue.

6. If your pet spends a lot of time out in the cold weather, they'll require more food. Extra calories provide the energy your pet will need to keep warm. On the opposite side of the coin, pets that must spend most of their time indoors due to the weather will have difficulty getting the exercise they need to burn off extra calories. For these pets, you may want to decrease their amount of food.

7. When your pets are indoors, be watchful when they are around heating devices such as the fireplace or space heater. Paws and tails can come into contact with hot surfaces, resulting in your pet burning themselves and possibly even knocking over the heat source, which could put the entire house in danger.

8. Elderly pets in particular require more care and attention during the winter months. The cold temperatures greatly affect their joints, making them stiff and tender. The resulting loss of coordination may make stairs a difficult obstacle for your pet and if possible, you should consider modifying your pet's environment to make it easier for them to get around. If your pet must use stairs, be sure stay directly behind them, ready to give support should your pet need it. Watch them carefully when they are outside; ice and slush are walking hazards and could cause a bad fall.

9. Frostbite:
If your pet spends a substantial amount of time outdoors during winter, they may be vulnerable to frostbite - paws are particularly susceptible. The initial symptom of frostbite is pale or grey tissue that is cold and hard to the touch. What to do if you believe your pet has frostbite:

• Quickly warm the affected tissue using a warm, moist compress and NOT direct dry heat (ie: heating pad, hair dryer). Upon thawing, the tissue will look red and flushed.
• Be sure you DO NOT rub or massage the affected tissue.
• Contact your veterinarian or emergency pet clinic for an immediate examination. Be sure to keep your pet warm during their travel by wrapping them in a dry, warm blanket or towel.
• Do not administer pain medication or any other medications to your pet without first consulting your veterinarian.

10. Hypothermia:
Your pet may also be susceptible to hypothermia if they spend a lot of time outdoors in cold weather, or if they have poor circulation which in turn makes them more vulnerable to the cold. Early signs of hypothermia include a lowered body temperature, shivering, depression, and lethargy. In later stages of hypothermia the heart and breathing rate will slow and your pet will stop responding to stimuli. Collapse and coma follow. Upon noticing these symptoms in your pet, it is imperative that you get your pet warm.

• Bring your pet into a warm room and wrap them in dry blankets or towels.
• Hot water bottles (wrapped in fabric to prevent burns) can be placed next to the pet to help. Hair-dryers are also useful.
• While warming, contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic for an immediate exam. Pets with severe hypothermia may need additional care such as warm IV treatments, or heart monitoring.

Summer Health Tips for your Pet

1. Never leave your pet in the car. During the summer, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to over 120°F, even if you have the windows rolled down. Remember, your pet is covered in fur. Days that may seem mild to you may be quite uncomfortable for your pet.

2. Always provide fresh, cool water, whether you have an indoor or outdoor pet. If you and your pet are taking part in outdoor activities or traveling, make sure to bring some water with you. Proper hydration is essential to keep your pet's body temperature at a safe level; letting your pet go without water can lead to heat stroke.

3. Beware humidity and overheating. Humidity makes it difficult for pets to effectively rid themselves of excess body heat. While panting helps, on particularly hot and humid days, pets can easily become overheated, particularly those already at risk:

• Elderly and very young pets
• Pets with thick or dark fur
• Dogs with snub noses (Pugs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, etc)
• Overweight pets
• Pets with poor circulation or cardiac disease
• Ill Pets

4. Make sure your pet isn't overexerted. Exercise is important and helps your pet stay cool, but overdoing it on a hot day may cause overheating. Keep walks at a gentle pace, provide water, and stop if your pet is panting or seems exhausted.

5. Keep your pet leashed when you take them out. This will help prevent your pet from becoming lost, running into traffic, fighting with other animals, or eating and drinking anything that may be harmful to them. While it is normally dogs that are leashed, cats can also be trained.

6. If you let your pet run around your yard unsupervised, be sure that it's enclosed and that any hazards such as the road or swimming pool are not accessible to your pet. Try to avoid tying your dog to a tree as chains and ropes tend to get tangled and your pet may wind up trapped in direct sunlight. Provide ample shade and shelter from the sun, as well as a bowl of fresh water. No pet should be kept outside for long on a hot day and if the shade disappears or your pet appears exhausted or uncomfortable, bring your pet inside.

7. Check your pet for parasites such as fleas and ticks. Fleas can cause various medical problems for your pet, including flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, and secondary skin irritations. Your pet may also experience hair loss from scratching. Ticks have been known to carry disease, the most common being Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis. Fortunately, there are a few preventative measures you can take to keep your pet flea and tick free. Talk with your veterinarian to find the treatment that is best for your pet.

8. Heat Stroke:
Heat stroke is a serious condition that occurs when your pet is no longer able to regulate their body temperature within safe limits. In other words, your pet has become overheated and cannot get rid of the heat fast enough. Symptoms of heat stroke:

• rapid panting and increased heart rate
• discolored gums (dull grey or pink)
• bright red tongue
• dizziness or disorientation
• weakness
• vomiting - sometimes with blood

If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, call your veterinarian or emergency clinic immediately! Pets can recover from moderate heat stroke within an hour when given proper veterinary care, while pets with severe cases of heat stroke can die if not given immediate attention. Prior to taking your pet to the veterinarian, there are some things you can do:

• Call your veterinarian or emergency clinic.
• Lower your pet's body temperature by wetting him/her with cool (not very cold) water, and use a fan to increase air movement around your pet. For small dogs, use lukewarm water.
• Check the rectal temperature every 5 minutes.
• Once the rectal temperature reaches 103°F, stop cooling and dry your pet thoroughly.