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| Summer Health Tips for Dogs |
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Click to go: Articles > Summer Health Tips for Dogs
Here are some reminders that will help your dog stay
healthy and comfortable during the summer months.
Beware of summer heat
As the temperature climbs outside, it's important to monitor your dog to prevent
overheating. At temperatures of 85 degrees F, given specific humidity levels,
even short exposures can be considered dangerous and result in injury or death.
Common signs of a heat stroke include:
In the event of a heat stroke, seek veterinary medical attention immediately. Help
to lower your dog's body temperature by placing it in the shade with plenty of
ventilation and applying cool water to the hairless area on its stomach and the
pads of its paws.
To prevent heat stroke do the following:
Keep dogs on a leash
More dogs are hit by cars and involved in dog fights in the summer than in other
times of the year. To prevent these accidents, keep your dog on a leash at all
times.
Watch out for moldy food
Dogs allowed to roam may get into compost piles or trash cans and ingest
tremorgenic mycotoxins, which are toxins sometimes found in moldy food. These
toxins produce varying degrees of muscle tremors or seizures that can last for
hours, even days. Some dogs experience seizures so severe they result in high
temperature and death.
If you suspect your pet ingested moldy food, contact your veterinarian
immediately for treatment.
Check the dog's paws
A healthy dog's pads should be rough and feel like fine sandpaper. Running or
walking with a dog on hot pavement may burn its pads. As a general rule, if the
sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot on, it is too hot for your dog.
Monitor the distance you travel while running, rollerblading, or biking with a dog;
the distance may be okay for you, but is often too far for your pet. Allow your dog
to take breaks while exercising and check its pads regularly for sores, cracks, or
burns.
Prevent fleas and ticks
Fleas can cause medical problems in pets including flea allergy dermatitis,
tapeworms, hair loss due to scratching, and secondary skin irritations. Ticks can
transmit diseases; the most common are Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis.
Prevent fleas and ticks by treating your pet with a topical liquid flea and tick
preventative. Ask your veterinarian which treatment is most appropriate for your
pet. Seek a board-certified dermatologist for other skin aliments.
Harmful summer foods
Do not feed dogs corn cobs. Dogs cannot digest corn cobs and they will often
need to be surgically removed from their stomach. Raisins and grapes ingested
in large quantities can cause kidney failure in dogs.
If you think your dog has ingested these foods, contact your veterinarian
immediately.
Water safety
Do not allow your dog to drink from stagnant ponds. Bacteria and some forms of
algae in ponds can make your pet sick. Make sure your pet has access to clean
drinking water.
Protect your dog from drowning by never leaving it unsupervised around a
swimming pool. The best way to keep pets safe around a backyard pool is to
fence off the pool from the rest of the yard.
The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
healthy and comfortable during the summer months.
Beware of summer heat
As the temperature climbs outside, it's important to monitor your dog to prevent
overheating. At temperatures of 85 degrees F, given specific humidity levels,
even short exposures can be considered dangerous and result in injury or death.
Common signs of a heat stroke include:
- Rapid breathing and increased heart rate
- Discolored gums--dogs experiencing heat stroke will have dull gray or pink
gums instead of the red-pink color that normally exists - Disorientation--dogs may not be aware of their environment
- Refusal to obey commands
- Wild or panicked expression
In the event of a heat stroke, seek veterinary medical attention immediately. Help
to lower your dog's body temperature by placing it in the shade with plenty of
ventilation and applying cool water to the hairless area on its stomach and the
pads of its paws.
To prevent heat stroke do the following:
- Do not leave a dog in a locked car. Temperatures inside cars climb
quickly and heat buildup inside a vehicle only takes minutes, especially if
the car is parked in direct sunlight. Leaving windows open does not
adequately help to lower the temperature. - Avoid running with dogs during the day. Do it in the early morning or at
night. If the dog is not accustomed to running, start slow and exercise for a
few minutes and stop frequently for breaks and water. - Be mindful of dogs with dark fur or dogs with flat faces, such as Pugs or
Bulldogs. They overheat quickly and are at higher risk for heat stroke than
other dogs. - Never let a dog go without water. It is essential to hydrate your dog to keep
its body temperature at a safe level. - If a dog is left outside, avoid tethering to a fence or tree. Dogs often tangle
their chains, are unable to free themselves, and find themselves stuck in
direct sunlight. Place animals in enclosed areas that provide adequate
shade and a shelter. This will help the dog stay cool in the hot summer sun.
Keep dogs on a leash
More dogs are hit by cars and involved in dog fights in the summer than in other
times of the year. To prevent these accidents, keep your dog on a leash at all
times.
Watch out for moldy food
Dogs allowed to roam may get into compost piles or trash cans and ingest
tremorgenic mycotoxins, which are toxins sometimes found in moldy food. These
toxins produce varying degrees of muscle tremors or seizures that can last for
hours, even days. Some dogs experience seizures so severe they result in high
temperature and death.
If you suspect your pet ingested moldy food, contact your veterinarian
immediately for treatment.
Check the dog's paws
A healthy dog's pads should be rough and feel like fine sandpaper. Running or
walking with a dog on hot pavement may burn its pads. As a general rule, if the
sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot on, it is too hot for your dog.
Monitor the distance you travel while running, rollerblading, or biking with a dog;
the distance may be okay for you, but is often too far for your pet. Allow your dog
to take breaks while exercising and check its pads regularly for sores, cracks, or
burns.
Prevent fleas and ticks
Fleas can cause medical problems in pets including flea allergy dermatitis,
tapeworms, hair loss due to scratching, and secondary skin irritations. Ticks can
transmit diseases; the most common are Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis.
Prevent fleas and ticks by treating your pet with a topical liquid flea and tick
preventative. Ask your veterinarian which treatment is most appropriate for your
pet. Seek a board-certified dermatologist for other skin aliments.
Harmful summer foods
Do not feed dogs corn cobs. Dogs cannot digest corn cobs and they will often
need to be surgically removed from their stomach. Raisins and grapes ingested
in large quantities can cause kidney failure in dogs.
If you think your dog has ingested these foods, contact your veterinarian
immediately.
Water safety
Do not allow your dog to drink from stagnant ponds. Bacteria and some forms of
algae in ponds can make your pet sick. Make sure your pet has access to clean
drinking water.
Protect your dog from drowning by never leaving it unsupervised around a
swimming pool. The best way to keep pets safe around a backyard pool is to
fence off the pool from the rest of the yard.
The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
| Seasonal Pet Tips |
