Silent Heroes: Honoring War Dogs This Memorial Day - The Daily Treat: Animal Planet

Silent Heroes: Honoring War Dogs This Memorial Day - The Daily Treat: Animal Planet

Summer Safety Tip #5

Swimming Pools
Each year, puppies, dogs and small children accidentally drown in backyard swimming pools when left unattended. To help prevent such a tragedy, always keep fenced-in pools locked securely when not being used, and keep companion animals and small children away from unenclosed and unoccupied pools.

Summer Safety Tip #4 Heat Exhaustion

Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion

Parked cars: Leaving your dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the window left a few inches open), can cause heatstroke within minutes. Note: Leaving your dog in a car parked in the shade does not assure that your dog will not become seriously overheated. Shaded cars may still get very hot due to the the greenhouse effect, and the sun may also move enough to change shaded areas into sunny ones. Dogs left in parked cars also risk being harrassed or stolen.

Airplane Travel: To help prevent your dog or cat from overheating when traveling by airplane, avoid transporting your companion animal in the cargo section of the plane during hot weather. (Always take into consideration both the departure and arrival temperatures.) If your must transport you dog or cat in the cargo section, take a direct, early morning or late evening flight whenever possible, as layovers, delayed take-offs, and mid-day travel (when the temperature is hottest) can all pose an increased risk.

General Info: Heat exhaustion is often caused by over-exercising or running with a dog during hot weather. Both heatstroke and heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time.  Short muzzed and thick-coated breeds and mixes are particularly vulnerable, although any breed may be at risk. Always bring cool water along when walking, running or hiking with your dog during hot weather. To cool off an overheated dog, offer him plenty of water, then wet the dog's body and paws with cool water, then fan. A dog's normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 degrees(F) and 102 degrees (F). If the dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Summer Safety Tip #3

Open Windows, Fire Escapes and Rooftops During hot weather, many people leave a few windows open in their home to help create a nice cool cross-breeze. If you have a dog or cat at home, be certain to install secure window screens (or safety bars) in any of the windows which will be left open, as many companion animals fall out of windows, and fire-escapes every year and are often seriously injured or killed. Also, if you allow your dog access to your building's rooftop, make sure the sidewalls which enclose the rooftop are high enough to prevent your dog from being able to fall or jump off, and make sure that you accompany him.

Summer Safety Tip #2

Protect Your Dog From Being Stolen
Companion animal theft is unfortunately a serious problem in this country. The number of companion animals that are stolen from backyards and from outside stores and supermarkets increases dramatically throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. Even the "safest" neighborhoods are not immune to this growing problem. The bottom line is: never leave your dog unsupervised if there is ANY risk that your dog could be harrassed, poisoned or stolen.

[For more info, read "Stolen For Profit", by Judith Reitman; Pharos Books]

Summer Safety Tip #1

With warmer weather arriving...so are potential hazzards and discomforts for your canine companions.
I will be bringing you a series of helpful hints over the next 2 weeks that will help you and your pooch prepare for the summer season.

 Tip #1  Fireworks
Avoid exposing your puppy or dog to fireworks noise, as fireworks can result in serious (and often longterm) phobias. Unfortunately, in many communities, firecracker noise often begins weeks before the July 4th holiday. Keep evening walks with your dog very brief, and never leave your dog outdoors in your yard or property if there is any risk of exposure to firecracker noise. When indoors, try to disguise outdoor noises with music, television, air conditioners and "white noise" machines