By Patricia Ellison
If you’re having sunny weather it can be oh-so enticing to get outside with your dog and have a good time. There are so many things you can do from throwing a Frisbee or stick to hanging out at the beach. But, are you aware there is a danger that your dog will get sunburn, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. The good news is that you can prevent these things from happening to your dog.
Sunburn Protection
You might not have even thought it but the sun can burn your dog. Particularly sensitive areas are the nose, ears, and lips. If possible keep your dog in the shade between the hottest hours of the day. These are usually between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If there is no shade available you can put sunscreen on your dog’s nose and other sensitive areas.
It is not safe to put sunscreen on your dog’s lips. Just keep an eye on them to be sure there is no sunburn. Any blistering needs to be examined by a veterinarian.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Have you ever left your dog in a parked car? If so, it’s definitely time to stop. In fact, leaving a dog in a car is the number one reason that dogs get heat stroke. They can also develop it if they are too active on a very hot day and don’t have a shady spot to go to.
If your dog is overweight or has a history of lung or heart disease you need to be extra careful. Older dogs are particularly susceptible to getting heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Leaving your dog in your air conditioned home is best if you are going to be out running errands. If you must take your dog with you, leave them in the car with the air conditioner still running, preferably with a human with them.
Try not to take your dog exercising with you. Some people like to take their dogs power walking, jogging and cycling. Call it a day if your dog falls behind or seems overly hot or tired.
Be especially careful with dogs that live outside, these owners need to provide a shady area for them to go during the day. Ventilated doghouses and umbrellas that can do the trick.
It is best to keep older dogs inside no matter what when it’s very hot. You might even want to keep a fan on your dog to make sure he stays nice and cool.
Finally, keep an eye out for danger zones such as hot, black pavement, the bed of a truck, or beach sand. If you allow your dog to be on these areas he might get blisters. Stick to grassy areas if at all possible.
Water is Essential
Be sure there is clean, cool water available at all times. Giving your dog water is one of the number one way that you can prevent heat problems. This will stop dehydrations and other heat problems in their tracks.
Enjoy The Season But Use Caution
Yes, we all look forward to summer days and enjoying the sun after the chilly days of winter, but it is entirely up to us to use caution and keep our children and pets safe from the dangerous effects of the summer sun.
About the Author: Patricia Ellison is an experienced Chihuahua Breeder and dog lover, her kennel is located in Chiloquin, Oregon. Patricia provides vital dog care and training information to dog lovers worldwide at Patz-Dogs.com Although she exclusively breeds and sells Chihuahua, info is provided on many breeds
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=379377&ca=Pets
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Protect Your Dog From Lyme Disease
By Jeff Nenadic
Lyme disease is a disease that affects the pets. It has recently been accepted and recognized and infects the pets. It is a dangerous disease which is known to cause paralysis in advanced stages. Hence, one should be aware of this disease so that timely medical help can prevent your beloved pet from further suffering. Humans too can be affected by this. Pets are more prone to this disease from spring through fall.
The Lyme disease is common in Northwestern and Midwestern parts of US. Over 40 states have reported numerous cases since 1975. The carrier of this disease is deer tick which is transmitted to pets from white-tailed deer and white-footed mice. The deer tick can not hop or fly on its own and needs to be carried over. It waits on the grounds among the plants in wooded areas or tall grassed areas where the deer, mice and ticks are found in abundance. The ticks then stick to the bodies of these animals whenever they pass by.
These ticks generally stick and bite the head, ears, feet and neck of the dog. Unfortunately, the bite is not like the bees and mosquitoes and causes no pain. Thus, it is difficult to detect the disease until advanced stages. At times, the full bodies of the pets can be infested by ticks and yet the pets do not show any sign of pain. Hence, one has to be alert and get the dog regularly checked up.
Lyme disease symptoms include fever, sluggishness, plus sudden lameness accompanied with pain, warmth and swelling in the joints of the pet. At times, the tick bite can cause inflammation of the skin and round areas around the bite are formed. However, this can go unnoticed due to the thick fur and coat of the dog. If you suspect anything amiss, consult the vet immediately as an early treatment is good and beneficial for the dog. As the disease advances, both rear and front limbs are attacked. Later on, both the chest and respiratory muscles are attacked. At times, the respiratory muscles can become non-functional which can suffocate the dog. As the disease progresses, paralysis occurs and the hospitalization of the dog is inevitable in the advanced stages.
You can always learn more of this disease from the amazon.com site which has a host of books, literature by using search phrases like Lyme disease dogs. You can also modify your searches by your choice like rank, name, price etc. This can be done via the drop down option available on the search page. In case, you are short of money, you can always note the names of the books you liked from the Amazon site and search your public library for them or even more books. You can then borrow them and read them in the spare time at home or office. You can also search ebay.com for a host of information (books, cassettes, videos etc.). You can check out the prices at the price comparison site, MySsimon.com. Besides, you can also perform an online search via google.com.
About the Author: Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - check for current specials on chew toys online.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=379789&ca=Pets
Lyme disease is a disease that affects the pets. It has recently been accepted and recognized and infects the pets. It is a dangerous disease which is known to cause paralysis in advanced stages. Hence, one should be aware of this disease so that timely medical help can prevent your beloved pet from further suffering. Humans too can be affected by this. Pets are more prone to this disease from spring through fall.
The Lyme disease is common in Northwestern and Midwestern parts of US. Over 40 states have reported numerous cases since 1975. The carrier of this disease is deer tick which is transmitted to pets from white-tailed deer and white-footed mice. The deer tick can not hop or fly on its own and needs to be carried over. It waits on the grounds among the plants in wooded areas or tall grassed areas where the deer, mice and ticks are found in abundance. The ticks then stick to the bodies of these animals whenever they pass by.
These ticks generally stick and bite the head, ears, feet and neck of the dog. Unfortunately, the bite is not like the bees and mosquitoes and causes no pain. Thus, it is difficult to detect the disease until advanced stages. At times, the full bodies of the pets can be infested by ticks and yet the pets do not show any sign of pain. Hence, one has to be alert and get the dog regularly checked up.
Lyme disease symptoms include fever, sluggishness, plus sudden lameness accompanied with pain, warmth and swelling in the joints of the pet. At times, the tick bite can cause inflammation of the skin and round areas around the bite are formed. However, this can go unnoticed due to the thick fur and coat of the dog. If you suspect anything amiss, consult the vet immediately as an early treatment is good and beneficial for the dog. As the disease advances, both rear and front limbs are attacked. Later on, both the chest and respiratory muscles are attacked. At times, the respiratory muscles can become non-functional which can suffocate the dog. As the disease progresses, paralysis occurs and the hospitalization of the dog is inevitable in the advanced stages.
You can always learn more of this disease from the amazon.com site which has a host of books, literature by using search phrases like Lyme disease dogs. You can also modify your searches by your choice like rank, name, price etc. This can be done via the drop down option available on the search page. In case, you are short of money, you can always note the names of the books you liked from the Amazon site and search your public library for them or even more books. You can then borrow them and read them in the spare time at home or office. You can also search ebay.com for a host of information (books, cassettes, videos etc.). You can check out the prices at the price comparison site, MySsimon.com. Besides, you can also perform an online search via google.com.
About the Author: Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - check for current specials on chew toys online.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=379789&ca=Pets
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