Seasonal Tips

Summer 2008

HOT WEATHER TIPS

(source: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a parked car, truck or van can quickly become a furnace on a hot day - and overheating (heat prostration) can kill an animal. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.
Always carry a gallon of cold water and a bowl for your pet.
Don't force your animal to exercise after a meal in hot, humid weather. Exercise in the early morning or the evening, and keep walks to a minimum.
Never leave your dog standing on hot asphalt. His body can heat up quickly and his or her sensitive paw pads can burn.
Do not take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water to drink. Rinse him or her off after being in the salt water.
It's smart to provide plenty of shade and a well-constructed doghouse for animals staying outside. Bring your dog inside during the hottest part of the day, and make sure he has plenty of cool water. Keep cats indoors.
Be extra sensitive to old and overweight animals in hot weather. Snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and Shih-tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible. Persian and Himalayan cats and cats with the above medical issues should be treated likewise.
Avoid walking your dog in areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Be alert for coolant or other automotive fluids leaking from your vehicle. Animals (dogs and cats both) are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888/4ANIHELP if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.
Bring your animal to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up, including a heartworm test for your dog if he's not on year-round preventative medication. Ask your doctor to recommend a safe pest-control program to combat fleas and ticks.
Keep your animal wel-groomed to stave off summer skin problems. Shaving a heavy-coated dog's hair to a one-inch length helps prevent overheating. Don't shave the hair down to the skin, however, or you will rob your pet of protection from the sun. Cats should be brushed often.
To prevent escape and accidental falls, make sure all windows in your home are properly screened.

Spring 2008

Prevent Parasite Infestation in your cat with Feline Revolution!

We at Tender Heart Veterinary Care would like to make you aware of a serious threat to feline welfare: parasites! Many people with cats think that parasite protection for their pets is unnecessary. Unfortunately, that is not true. The fact is, all cats, indoor and outdoor alike, can be at risk for a whole host of parasitic infections. Cats are exposed not just to irritating pests like fleas and ear mites, but also to more serious threats like heartworm disease, hookworm and roundworm. In the case of hookworm or roundworm, this can pose a serious threat not just for your cat, but for your family as well.

Fortunately, parasitic infections can be easily prevented. A broad-spectrum parasite preventative applied once monthly not only protects both your cat and your family, but it provides peace-of-mind. Perhaps that is why both the Centers for Disease Control and the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommend that protective measures against parasite infection become standard practice. We all need to join in the fight to ensure that no more cats go without proper protection.

We hope you'll agree that when it comes to parasites, prevention is the best medicine. That is why we recommend Feline Revolution for all of our feline companion animals. Revolution protects cats against fleas, heartworm disease, ear mites, hookworms, and roundworms; by doing so, it protects your home from flea infestation and your family from internal parasites that may be transmitted from your cat. Please join us in helping to prevent these threats.

As summer comes to an end, we want to make sure our pets are kept safe for the winter.

Make sure your pets are not allowed access to hazardous chemicals such as antifreeze and other common chemicals found in garages.
Please be sure to use paw/pet safe salt when de-icing your walks and driveways.
Outdoor pets should always have access to adequate shelter and warmth.
Outdoor water dishes should be changed often to ensure that water is available and to prevent ice formation.
With the holiday approaching, you should make sure your cats and dogs do not have any access to electrical cords, tinsel, or string decorations, as these all pose many hazards.
As always, no chocolate or onions for our beloved dogs!

We wish everyone a safe Fall and Winter!