Feel the Heat: 10 Potentially Hazardous Summer Hotspots for Pets

“Having your furry family members tag along on summer vacation is becoming more popular with pet owners, but it also adds an extra level of responsibility,” says Dr. Jennifer Maniet, DVM. “Just be sure to prioritize your pets’ needs when making your plans. Make sure they will have access to plenty of clean water, shady places to cool down, and above all else, constant supervision. Summer goes by quickly and the last thing you want is to spend time and money treating potentially avoidable medical emergencies.”

Here are some common summertime risks to help pets and their parents surf safely through the season.

Fetching The Waves

The dog days of summer are best spent on the beach, but don’t let your guard down. Snacking on sand can cause intestinal blockages in pets, and lapping up too much salt water can lead to dehydration, disorientation and seizures related to salt toxicity.

Heading For The Hills

The mountains offer a multitude of possible mishaps for pets, from tiny ticks to run ins with the local wildlife. Be prepared for cuts, scrapes, and possible broken bones that can come with pawing through uncharted territory.

Lapping The Lake

While pets may love a leap in the lake, many standing water sources harbor a host of intestinal parasites and bacteria that can cause illnesses like giardiasis, algae poisoning and skin rashes, and infections like leptospirosis.

Hitting The Pool

Some pups love a dip in the pool, but too much chlorine can irritate pets’ sensitive eyes and skin. Also, watch out for dry drowning, where pets unknowingly inhale water, and later develop life-threatening issues such as pulmonary edema.

On The Road

There’s nothing cool about leaving pet in a hot car. Temperatures in cars can climb quickly, putting your pets in serious jeopardy — and turning your carefree summer into a deadly dilemma.

Look Out: Cookout

A backyard barbecue is heaven to hungry pets; just be sure to keep them away from onions, chocolate, grapes and other harmful eats, or nonfoods like charcoal briquettes. And no gnawing on bones: They can do serious damage to your pet’s intestinal tract.

Barking About The Park

Dog parks were made for playful puppers, but watch out for overly aggressive biting behavior. Remember, it’s all fun and games until someone tears a cruciate ligament — so take plenty of breaks and don’t let doggo overdo it.

Playing With Fire

Fur and fire are not a good mix, so keep pets away from campfire sparks; a bad burn can require immediate first aid. Tasty tip: don’t forget to keep those s’mores ingredients (especially chocolate) where hungry pets can’t find them!

Festing With Furry Friends

Street festivals present a plethora of potential pitfalls, like ground scrounging and noise anxiety from fireworks and music, along with the risk of losing your pet in the crowd. The cost for that? Priceless.

Dining Outdoors

Food that isn’t a normal part of your pet’s diet can cause serious tummy troubles — and booze is always bad news. Avoid trash and litter, which can be abundant when refreshments are nearby.

Courtesy of Petplan

10 Strangest Items Swallowed By Dogs

My mother’s Schnauzer mix, Sha Sha, eats just about anything. I didn’t quite believe just how often she would quickly snap up everything in her sight until a few weeks ago when she swallowed a quarter and a nickel in the blink of an eye. The vet advised my mother to watch her for the next few days as the coins would likely pass. It’s a very common issue among dog owners and it doesn’t only happen with puppies. The majority of dogs do grow out of the need to eat inedible objects. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what a puppy would eat so it’s best to be vigilant about where you dog is allowed to freely roam. Many dogs and puppies have been known to swallow seemingly unsuitable items, which you might not find in any way enticing or preferable, but they do. Check out this list of the strangest things swallowed by dogs as witnessed by the ASPCA :

10 Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

The frigid temperatures around the country are not just inconvenient; they can be incredibly dangerous for our pets. It's important that pets are kept warm and protected from harsh temperatures. Experts say frostbite can set in in less than 15 minutes, and animals are not exempt from this despite their furry coats. While frostbite is bad enough, hypothermia is the most dangerous hazard when the weather gets this cold. Signs of hypothermia include “violent shivering followed by listlessness, a rectal temperature below 95°F (35°C), weak pulse, lethargy, and coma.” It can become fatal very fast. It goes without saying that every dog and cat needs to be indoors during cold temperatures like these. I would argue, however, that dogs and cats need to be indoors during any cold temperatures. If you are cold, they are cold, simple as that. Outdoors is no place for pets.

10 Most Common Medical Conditions That Send Dogs to the Vet

No one likes going to the vet, especially our dogs. Like many others, my dogs can sense when they are going way before we get there. They get nervous and hyper. Some dogs whimper endlessly at the vet’s office while countless others have fear-induced accidents right in the office. While regular check-ups and vaccinations are a necessary evil, we can try our best to keep our pups in optimal health thus avoiding another dreaded trip. Veterinary Pet Insurance compiled a list of the 10 most common medical conditions that send dogs to the vet. Some are unavoidable while others may be caught early on. Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM points out that many of the conditions that most regularly require vet visits “can be stopped early or successfully managed in partnership with a veterinarian. To prevent some of the discomfort that so many pets experience from common diseases, the place to start would be by checking them regularly for developing problems.” Check out the full list here at Babb

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