It’s August already. It seems like we have hardly had a summer at all here in southern Ohio. It has rained, and rained, and has been cool for this time of year. High school football will be starting in about a month, and the kids will be back in school. Time flies.
There’s some good information in this month’s issue. I hope you enjoy it. As always, your comments, questions and suggestions are welcomed.
Heat Stroke in Pets
Dogs and cats of all breeds are sensitive to the effects of heatstroke and can fall victim to it in less than one hour, yet many of the symptoms may not be obvious to the average pet owner.
1. Dogs and cats do not sweat – the only way they can get rid of excess heat is through panting.
2. Exercise with your pet before the heat of the day. Limit activity on hot days.
3. Working breeds, long-haired breeds, pug-nosed breeds, obese animals and enthusiastic dogs are especially vulnerable to heatstroke.
4. The daily rule for water is: Provide one ounce of water for every pound the animal weighs.
5. Provide water in a bowl before any activity and frequently during the day. If you’re thirsty, so is your pet.
6. Never leave an animal outside without access to plenty of water and shade. If it is too hot for you to be outside, it is too hot for your pet as well.
7. Never leave an animal in an unventilated vehicle.
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Signs of heat Stroke:
1. Standing listless or lying on its side unresponsive
2. Very rapid panting or hyperventilating
3. Have thick, ropey saliva hanging from the tongue and mouth
4. Gum tissue and lips will be tacky and dry
5. Gum color will be blood red in early stage and turn grey-blue as shock sets in
6. Seizures or coma occur as the brain overheats
If you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke, cool your pet’s head and body with room temperature water and take him to the veterinarian immediately. If left untreated, heat stroke can lead to prolonged hyperthermia and cause irreversible brain and kidney damage. Information provided was by William H. Craig, DVM, Chief Medical and Underwriting Director of PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance.
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And the Survey Says …
With the downturn in the economy and people seeking more comfort from their pets than ever, Petside.com (http://www.petside.com/) recently partnered with The Associated Press (http://www.ap.org/) to poll Americans on their attitudes towards their furry friends.
Here are some of the things they found:
*Half of pet owners value animals as much as people in the family
*43 percent believe their dog or cat has their own sense of style
*Single people of both genders, but especially single women (66%), were more likely to say that their pet is a full member of the family.
*Only 46 percent of married women shared the same viewpoint.
*43 percent of respondents admitted to feeding their pets people food at least sometimes, with more dog owners doing so (48%) than cat owners (40%).
*36 percent of cat owners allow their furry friends to sleep in the same bed with them, as opposed to 29 percent of dog owners.
*Almost half (49 percent) of respondents have given at least one of their current pets a human-like name, including 51 percent of dog owners and 50 percent of cat owners.
For more information go to: www.petside.com/petspoll
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Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet® Contest
Nominate your veterinarian for the third annual Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet® contest, conducted by Morris Animal Foundation (MAF).
The national short-essay contest honors America’s veterinarians for their dedication to helping animals and strengthening the bonds we have with our pets. The nationwide essay contest runs through Aug. 31.
For rules or to nominate your veterinarian online, visit www.ThankYourVet.org. To receive a printed copy of the rules call 800-243-2345. One national winner and five regional winners will be selected by a panel of judges. Winners will be contacted by Nov. 1, and will be honored before their peers at the January 2010 North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla.
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Pet Water Safety
Everyone in the pool … or lake. “All pets instinctively know how to swim,” says Dr. Mark Stickney, Director of General Surgery Services at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. However, they must be watched. “Dogs will usually self-regulate when they need to stop swimming, but if they are in the pool and they don’t know where the steps are or are unable to get up them then it can become a problem,” he says. He says it would be a rare cat that would swim willingly, but it is possible for them to be chasing a bug and fall into a pool and not be able to get out. Watch out for pool covers. If a dog unwittingly walks onto one, he can get tangled in it and drown.
While chlorine levels in pools are typically safe for both humans and pets, chlorine can cause some eye irritation and discomfort. “If your pet’s eyes get irritated you can use regular saline solution to flush them out,” he says.
Water exposure can also cause some dogs to get ear infections so it’s important to watch for that as well.
“Make sure that if you take your pet on a boat that you have a lifejacket (made for the dog) on them,” he says. If the animal falls out of the boat they could hit his head or might not be able to get back into the boat so they will need the jacket to help them stay afloat.
AUGUST 2009 SUBSCRIBER AND CUSTOMER SPECIALS
This month’s special exclusively for customers and subscribers is clean and simple.
20% OFF all orders of $25 or more.
You can order as many times as you like during August, and save 20% on every order of $25 or more.
And you still receive free catnip balls, and a free 32 oz. spray bottle of Spot, Stain & Odor Eliminator with every order. And a free bottle of Odor Eliminating All Purpose Cleaner too if your order is over $50.
There’s no coupon code to remember, just click and save.
http://www.odorbgoneproducts.com
Thank you!
