SUMMER TIME PET TIPS

¨ Pets always need plenty of fresh water.  This is especially true in the hot summer months.  A 100-lb. dog, being non-active in a cool room needs about one and a half liters of water per day.  The same dog, this time active and outside on a 100-degree day, will consume up to ten times more water.

¨ Water should be fresh every day and be kept in an accessible place out of the sun.  Cool water is much more palatable and your pet is less likely to become dehydrated if there is cool water available.

¨ Make sure that there is shade available for your pet throughout the day.  Temperatures on the ground (at dog level) can be much higher than the air temperature.

¨ Feed and exercise your pet in the morning or the evening when it is cool.

¨ The summer months are the heart of the flea and tick season.  If your pet has fleas or ticks, it is important to take steps to eradicate these pests.  Remember that it is necessary to treat your yard and house as well.  Your veterinarian can help formulate a plan to eliminate these pests.

¨ Never leave your pet in a car even if the windows are left open.  Temperatures inside a car can reach lethal levels in a very short time. Also, it is the law.

¨ If you suspect that your pet is suffering from heat stroke or shock, call your veterinarian.  Cooling a pet with high body temperatures is important but should be done in a controlled fashion.  Your veterinarian is prepared to give the proper instructions and at times, hospitalization is necessary.

¨ Summertime is grass awn time.  These awns, sometimes called "Fox Tails", can become imbedded under pet's skin or inside the ear canal, leading to draining tracts, abscesses, otitis externa and even hearing loss.  If your pet is excessively shaking its head or scratching at its ears, contact your veterinarian.

 Something else to watch out for:

Foxtails are grass seeds that have an appearance similar to wheat. They are especially prevalent in summers following wet winters. As the grass awns become dry and brown, their attachment to the grass stem loosens. When an animal brushes against the grass, the awns become lodged in the animal’s hair coat and work themselves deeper as time passes. These awns can actually pierce the skin and pass into the body. More commonly, the awns become lodged in ear canals, vulvar folds and between the toes. This leads to pain, infection, hearing loss and other problems. Foxtail grass awns must usually be removed under anesthesia to ensure that the entire awn is retrieved. An antibiotic injection is given to the animal and antibiotics are sent home for longer-term therapy.

Spiders, bees, wasps, scorpions and centipedes are capable of delivering a painful or poisonous bite or sting. The good news is that most of these bites and stings lead to local swelling and pain without long term consequences. The exception is the Brown Recluse spider. This rare spider delivers a painful bite that leads to progressive tissue death. Ingestion of many of these spiders and insects can lead to rapid onset of severe diarrhea and vomiting. If you feel that your pet has been involved with these unsavory creatures, a trip to the veterinary hospital is in order. Treatment usually involves an injection and antihistamines. More severe cases may involve hospitalization or even surgical removal of dead tissue in the case of the Brown Recluse bite.

Colorado River toads are large toads seen only during late summer corresponding with our monsoons. These toads have glands within their skin, which produce a toxin that is released when the toad is disturbed. The toxin does no harm on skin but it does lead to some severe problems when contacting oral mucosa or if the toad is ingested. The most common sign of toad toxicity is severe profuse salivation. First aid involves flushing out the animal’s mouth with a hose or faucet. In most cases this is all the treatment necessary. If there is any chance that your pet has ingested any part of the toad an emergency trip to the veterinary hospital is in order. A good rule of thumb: The presence of a dead toad or continued strange behavior from your pet after rinsing the mouth warrants a trip to the veterinary hospital. Treatment is usually supportive in nature, as there is no anti-toxin.

Gila Monsters are poisonous lizards found around the Tucson area. Their saliva is toxic and their bite is forceful and prolonged. The pet is treated symptomatically with IV fluids and antibiotics. Treatment may be long term and include blood tests to gauge effectiveness of the treatment.

If you suspect that your pet has been bitten or stung, the safest bet is to call the veterinary hospital and ask advice. These emergencies are usually easily treated and recovery is rapid. Without treatment, some bites may prove fatal.