Pet Preparedness, Summer Edition

Though this week is unseasonably cool, Summer is on its way! Are you and your furry friends ready?

Immunize Before Going Outside

Warmer weather means being outside more, and while we love to be in nature, more outside activities can mean more exposure to different infectious diseases. Lyme disease from ticks? There's a vaccine from that. Parvovirus from the environment where dogs or wildlife visit? Yep, we have a vaccine for that, too! Influenza from dogs in close proximity, like boarding, grooming, or dog parks? Vaccines are available to help prevent it. Our New Puppy and New Kitten visit posts talk about vaccines in more detail - click here for dogs and click here for cats.  It's important to have your pet seen annually to discuss their lifestyle risks and determine which vaccines are best and most necessary for them.

Summer Scratching

We're all itching to get outside, but hopefully that's the only itch your pets are feeling. We recommend year round flea, tick, and heartworm prevention for our pets to keep the bugs away. Not only does it protect against these external parasites, heartworm prevention also helps control intestinal parasites (worms!) that infect our pets.

Keeping bugs off your pet also keeps them out of your home! Carrying fleas and ticks inside can expose humans to the discomfort and diseases they can carry. Keeping your pet protected can also help keep your human family safe as well.

In addition to parasites, itching can be brought on by seasonal allergies. If you're pet get's itchy this time of year, it's time to call and make an appointment to discuss options to help keep your pet comfortable!

Bow-wow and Bon Voyage

Heading away on vacation requires planning and that includes your pet! Whether they're going with you or having a staycation of their own, we want you to be prepared!

Just like packing a suitcase for yourself, we recommend having a checklist for your pet. The ASPCA has a great article here that goes into detail about some of the things you should consider packing up! In addition to this, we recommend making sure your pets always have labeled collars and carriers with your contact information should they ever get separated from you. You can also talk to your vet about having them microchipped (or having the one they already have scanned to confirm the information is up to date!) so that your information stays with them permanently.

Before you set off, be sure you review any medications your pet is on and make sure you have enough to get through your trip and a few days beyond. While some medications can be called in to a human pharmacy, others need to come from a veterinary source, which may hard to get to you when you're away from home.

Heel! It's Hot Out!

It's easy to forget that if we're hot outside, our pets are even hotter. Between thick fur and the inability to sweat (with the exception of their paws, and dogs cool off some by panting), we need to take extra precautions to help keep our pets cool.

To help protect your pets, try to limit their time outside at the hottest parts of the day, aiming to keep activities to the early mornings or evenings. If you must be out during the hottest points, make sure pets have ample access to shade, airflow if possible, and plenty of fresh water at all times. Try to keep in mind that dogs live entirely in the moment, so play time can be all encompassing for them. As such, it's important to make sure they take frequent breaks, because they won't necessarily know to stop and rest on their own. If you don't think it will be possible to control these things, it's best to leave your furry friend at home where it's cooler.

Though it's aimed towards those of you who like to run, this article from the AVMA has some great tips for any outdoor activities with your pet.

Things that Go Bang!

There's not much I love more than curling up on the couch with my cat and listening to a storm come through. Unfortunately, my dog does not appreciate the sounds of wind and thunder quite like I do. Noise phobia is common for dogs and this time of year is full of scary sounds, like thunder, fireworks, and gunshots.

While we can't always know when these sounds may take place, having a plan for how to handle them is important. I recommend having a white noise machine playing in the room your pet spends the most time in. While it certainly won't drown out the sounds, it does decrease the stark difference between silence and the loud noise, making it less startling for your pet. Most behaviorists don't recommend using the TV or radio because there is quite a bit of silence throughout programs. Noise machines provide a steady sound to help comfort your pet.

If your pet is crate trained (the American Kennel Club has a brief article describing crate training here), placing a towel over the side that faces a window during a storm can help reduce anxiety brought on by the flashes of lightning. You can provide them with enrichment during this time as well, such as a puzzle toy. Some people find success with Thunder Shirts, but do be considerate of the temperature of your home to be sure your pet is not too hot in this.

Finally, for pets who cannot settle during noise events or who are at risk of hurting themselves due to their fear, I strongly recommend making an appointment to talk to your vet about anxiety medications. Most cases can be managed with short acting anxiety medications, but for some dogs with extreme phobias that affect their quality of life, long acting anxiety medications may be more suitable.