Home | Staff | Services | FAQ's | Pharmacy | Library | Links | Directions | Pet of the Month | Contact

• Very young and older pets
• Pets with a previous history of heat stress
• Short-nosed breeds
• Overweight pets
• Pets with cardiovascular or respiratory disorders

Help prevent heat stress by:

• Providing plenty of clean, fresh water for your pet at all times
• Providing adequate ventilation and air circulation when pets are kept in kennels or pens
• Providing shade cove when pets are outdoors
• Avoiding excessive exercise of pets during hot weather
• Never leaving pets in parked vehicles

Some signs of heat stress are profuse panting and salivation, staring or an anxious expression, failure to respond to commands, warm dry skin, high fever, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, muscular weakness or collapse. If your pet has heat stress try to reduce his temperature by gradually immersing your pet in cool water, spraying with cool water, or applying ice packs to his head and neck. Then take your pet to the veterinarian immediately.

Heartworm Disease - This mosquito-transmitted disease can be fatal to your dog. Have your dog tested for heart-worm s by your veterinarian. If your dog’s test is negative, ask your veterinarian about heartworm preventatives, available in chewable or pill form and given daily or monthly. In many areas it is recommended that dogs be on heartworm preventatives throughout the year.

Fleas & Ticks - Watch for signs of these parasites that are particularly prevalent during warmer weather. Discuss the various methods of fleas and tick prevention and treatment with your veterinarian (powders, sprays, collars, etc.). Be sure that any product you use is safe for your type of pet (dog or cat). If your pet becomes infested with fleas, you must treat your pet and your pet’s environment. If you notice a flea problem in your home be sure to dispose of vacuum cleaner bags after each use. It might become necessary to obtain special products from your veterinarian to rid your home of fleas.

Some ticks can transmit disease such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Any tick found on your pet should be removed promptly and completely. Using a tissue or tweezers, placed next to the skin, gently pull the tick from your pet’s skin, making sure to remove the head and mouth parts. Have your veterinarian show you’re the correct way to remove ticks.

Bites & Stings Unusual swelling or soreness may be signs of a bite or sting. Contact your veterinarian immediately.

Vacationing When planning your vacation it will be necessary to decide on your pet’s care and whether to leave your pet or take him along. Your pet’s personality and length and distance of your trip are important considerations in making this decision.

Leaving Your Pet Behind
Boarding your pet or hiring a pet sitter are options if you decide to leave your pet behind. In either case, here are some general tips:

• Ask you veterinarian or other pet owners for recommendations of reputable boarding facilities or pet sitters.
• If boarding, visit the facility to meet the people and to check the safety and cleanliness of the operation. If hiring a pet sitter, meet the sitter in your home to see how he/she and your pet interact.
• Make reservations well in advance of your trip. Many facilities book/fill up early, especially over holiday periods.
• Be sure your pet is current on all vaccinations required.
• If your pet is on medication, be sure to leave an ample supply and clear, complete instructions.
• Leave explicit instructions on feeding and a supply of your pet’s regular food. If leaving your pet with a sitter, discuss your pet’s exercise routine.
• Be sure your pet wears a collar with identification tags. Cats should have special safety collars.
• Leave information on your veterinarian including office and emergency numbers.
• Be sure to leave a number where you can be reached.

Taking Your Pet Along

• Call ahead to be sure your pet will be welcome at the hotels, motels, homes or parks where you will be staying.
• Be sure your pet has all required vaccinations and a current health certificate. Take along his medical records.
• Take along your pet’s regular food, any special medications, a supply of water and, if space is available, his bedding and favorite toy(s).
• Be sure your pet has a collar with an identification tag with your name and telephone number (including area code). A photo of your pet is important in case he is lost while vacationing. Keep your pet confined in a cage/crate or on a leash at all times.
• If traveling in a vehicle with your pet, it is safest for you and your pet to keep him confined to a carrier. Never let your pet ride with his head out the window or in the back of a truck.

Pets, Plants, And Potential Hazards

Help keep your pet safe form hazardous plant consumption during the summer months when plants and flowers are abundant. The following information and list of toxic plants is printed with the permission from the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC), a non-profit, cost-recovery program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois in Urbana, IL 61801. The NAPCC has a wide range of information specific to animal poisoning, not only from plants, but also pesticides, drugs, medications, metals, cleaning products and other poisonous substances. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, you should call your veterinarian or you can call the NAPCC. This is not a free call. (see list of phone call charges below.) Be ready to provide:

• Your name, address and phone number.
• The substance(s) your pets have been exposed to, if known.
• Information concerning the exposure
(the amount of substance(s), the time since exposure, etc.).
• The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of pets involved.
• The problem(s) your pets are experiencing.

Telephone numbers for the NAPCC are:
1-800-548-2423 ($30 per case, credit card only; free follow-up calls until problem is solved.)
1-900-680-0000 ($20 for 5 min, $2.95 per min thereafter)

A note of caution: Plants are often sprayed with insecticides and treated with fertilizers. These products may mask or alter the adverse clinical signs observed in the animals exposed to a hazardous plant. Even non-toxic plant material may cause physical irritation to the gastrointestinal system and subsequent mild stomach upset. Also, sometimes small animals ingest plant material as a result of a developing illness; therefore, the signs of illness following plant ingestion are not always plant induced. Plants often incriminated as causing allergic dermatitis or skin rashes in humans may or may not cause similar problems in animals.

The following list of potentially hazardous plants is no way complete; However, it does represent the most commonly kept plants. Accurate identification of the plant in question is essential. Local floral shop and plant nursery personnel are valuable sources of information regarding plant identification.

To obtain a more complete list of plants, both toxic and non-toxic, including their scientific names and associated problems/hazards, write the NAPCC, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801. Enclose a check for $10 payable to NAPCC.
Compliments of your veterinarian and Ralston Purina Company.