The summer months are a welcome change for both pets and pet owners, but the dog days of August pose a distinct set of risks to your pet.
“If we're exercising our pets in the hot weather, especially during the middle of the day, we can see signs of heat stroke,” says Dr. Shannon Murphy, a veterinarian at an animal hospital in Dartmouth. “They may develop symptoms of weakness, labored breathing, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, and it may progress to things like seizures, collapse and coma. So, it is life-threatening.”
Dr. Murphy says the summer months are the busiest time at her clinic, and that heat stroke is one of the most common—and most preventable—summer-time diagnoses.
“When you’re doing your errands during the summer months, its best to just leave your dog at home, and with regards to exercise best to take them for their walks and out to play in the morning or late evening and avoid those peak summer hours,” she says. “If you are concerned that your pet is showing signs of heat stroke, we would suggest applying cool water to your pet and getting them into a cool, air conditioned area, and get them to your veterinary hospital immediately.”
Bugs, bacteria and parasites also pose serious risks to your pet’s health.
“Stagnant water puddles can be dangerous,” says Dr. Murphy. “They can contain things like toxic algae and parasitic infections like giardia, which can cause severe diarrhea in dogs, or bacterial agents like leptospira, which can result in kidney and liver disease.”
Dr. Murphy says it's important to bring your own water when you're out for a walk, and to give your pet a once-over when you return home to check for fleas and ticks.
However, there are also risks associated with activities closer to home.
“There are a number of dangers when our pets are attending barbecues. If they’re eating rich, fatty or spicy foods that they’re not used to ingesting, we can see things like vomiting, diarrhea, and even pancreatitis which can be quite severe and life-threatening.”
Summertime snacks like chocolate, grapes, raisins, and onions are toxic to dogs. Leftover corn on the cob and meat bones can also get lodged in the digestive tract and cause major damage.
Cat owners should also be aware of the danger in their pets ingesting certain plants.
“If you have a pet cat, it's very important to avoid lilies,” says Dr. Murphy. “They're very toxic to cats, and can cause liver failure and death, even with the ingestion of a very small part of the plant.”
By keeping an eye out for these dangers, you can keep your pet healthy and happy.
