As the cool weather slowly fades and the mercury rises, families begin preparing for another summer filled with outdoor fun. Children and adults will spend more time outside playing with their pets.  Summer  holidays are perfect for barbeques, picnics, and pool parties. To make the summer more enjoyable, be aware of various summertime hazards that can result in injury or illness to your pet. Preventing these hazards can help maintain the carefree days of summer.
 

OUTDOOR THREATS

Keep your pet leashed when you leave your yard.  Taking your pet outdoors increases the likelihood of meeting other animals, so use a leash for his safety and theirs.  A fight with another pet, or with any smaller animal, can result in cuts, lacerations, or severe puncture wounds. If left untreated, wounds can become infected and complicated. Even something as small as an abrasion can be a perfect place for flies to lay their eggs. In a very short time, these eggs hatch and become maggots. Keeping your pet clean and treating any skin injuries as soon as possible is crucial in avoiding maggot infestations. Also protect your dog from mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks! Call us for the safest products to use.


TABLE SCRAPS

It may be tempting to give your pet all those picnic or barbeque leftovers, but try to resist the soulful begging. Instead of including him in your festivities, you may cause gastrointestinal upset, which can result in vomiting and diarrhea.  Pets are not used to the high fat foods that are commonly associated with picnics and parties.  Mayonnaise and other dairy based items can be particularly bad; dogs do not have the necessary enzymes to digest dairy products and spoilage can cause food poisoning. Even if you feed your pet non-dairy items like fried chicken or hamburgers, their pancreas may not be prepared for those foods.  The pancreas can become inflamed, leading to pancreatitis, abdominal pain, anorexia and vomiting.  Not only do table scraps pose a threat but so does the charcoal and lighter fluid used to barbeque.  Ingesting ash or charcoal can result in significant stomach irritation.


GASTROINTESTINAL FOREIGN BODIES

At picnics and parties we use a variety of disposable items, such as styrofoam and plastic utensils. Unfortunately, pets may ingest some of these items, leading to gastrointestinal obstruction. Another concern is playing with small balls such as SuperBalls or racquetballs. Many dogs love to play fetch with these but if they are too small, the ball can become lodged in the throat and obstruct the airway. Make sure the toys you use are too big to be swallowed or stuck in the throat.


HEAT ILLNESS

Heat stroke is typically caused by exercise in a hot environment or by confinement in an environment where normal heat dissipation mechanisms are impaired (locked in hot car or building).  Heat stroke can be prevented by restricting exposure to high environment temperatures.  Minimize activity on hot humid days, and limit sun exposure during the mid-day hours.  Pets should be walked or exercised in the early morning or late evening during the coolest times of the day.  Pets should be kept in a well-ventilated area.  Animals should never be left in a car or confined in a small enclosed space with limited ventilation and no protection from high environmental temperatures for any reason at any time.  The most common symptoms of heat stoke include difficulty breathing or excessive panting, collapse, weakness,  vomiting or diarrhea, and an elevated body temperature.  If you suspect your pet might be over-heated take him to your veterinarian immediately.


WATER SAFETY

water is often a major part of outdoor family activities.  Usually water activities are fun, relaxing and entertaining, but tragedy can occur without proper caution.  Pets can drown in lakes and pools just like people.  Even if your pet seems to want to keep playing fetch in the water, at some point you will need to take a break.  Older dogs weaken more quickly, even if they are excellent swimmers, and when exhausted swimming and keeping the head above water more becomes more difficult.
 
Be on the lookout for stagnant pools of water.  Do not let your pet drink from this type of water source.  Many types of pathogens can be ingested and cause your pet serious illness.


FISH HOOKS

Fishing is a popular spring and summer activity.  Be aware that the bait you use to catch fish is also tempting to your pet.  Many dogs and cats have eaten bait – along with the hook and line.  Your pet might also step on a hook, which will result in embedding of the hook in the skin.
 
The most important thing to remember regarding swallowing a hook is NOT TO PULL THE LINE.  This will result in setting of the hook and increasing the chance that your pet will require surgery to remove it. Tie the line to your pet’s collar to prevent him from swallowing more of the line and contact your veterinarian.