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Summer Safety Tips
By
Dr. Jennifer Baumgardner
San Juan Veterinary Clinic, LLc
249-4490

As summer starts and we all begin to enjoy the benefits of Colorado’s outdoor recreations and take those long needed summer vacations, it important to think about your dog’s safety and needs. There are many problems that can arise in the summer the following are a list of a few safety tips to remember.

1. First we all realize that SW Colorado gets very hot during the summer. It is imperative that all animals have access to water at all times. Heat exhaustion is very critical and can lead to death in dogs. Although being locked in a car is a more common scenario for heat exhaustion, dogs tied out with no access to water or shade can just as easily succumb to the heat. Baby pools, large buckets of water, keeping your dog trimmed short or shaved down, and ice blocks are all easy ways of keeping your pet cool.

2. Foxtails and grass awns are very abundant in the summer. These are the dried seedlings that grow in weeded areas. The grass awns stick to dogs and cats hair and can easily migrate into the skin, to the ears or wedge between teeth. We commonly see infected feet, ears or even mouths due to grass awns and foxtails. Ways to prevent these problems include: shaving down or having your pet trimmed regularly, keeping your yard free of the weeds, or daily brushing and combing of your pet’s hair to remove foxtails before they have a chance to migrate. If you notice your dog licking a swollen paw, shaking or scratching his ears, or pawing at his/her mouth you should seek a veterinarian’s attention immediately.

3. Often because the weather is so nice in the summer, we tend to take our pets on outings more often. When transporting your dog it is essential to evaluate their safety. If your dog is in the back of an open bed truck, he/she should be secured to a tie down or in a dog crate (Many dogs are treated every year for broken bones, concussions, laceration etc from jumping out of a moving vehicle.)

4. Next, we as a public tend to be weekend warriors - working all week and playing very hard on the weekend. Remember when involving your pet in activities that they may not be up to sitting all week and running for hours on the weekend. This is especially important to remember for older dogs that might have arthritis. Consult your veterinarian for arthritis medications to carry in case of aggravated injuries while playing.

5. When camping or hiking, as important as it is to carry a first aid kit for yourself - you should keep materials necessary for your dog. A first aid kit should include water, a good antiseptic (chlorhexidine scrub, or betadine solution), and bandage materials. Also with extensive hiking, consider boots or foot covers to prevent footpad lacerations caused by rocks and rough terrain. At your next annual visit I recommend that your veterinarian show you how to place a bandage properly.

6. If you are going to travel with your pet, you should carry his/her records or your veterinarian’s phone number. This will assist an out of town veterinarian in case of an emergency. You also might consider having your veterinarian place a microchip in your dog, this will allow for permanent identification, incase he/she becomes separated from you. Microchips are placed under the skin by your veterinarian and the id number is registered with a national database through the AKC. If your dog should become separated from you anywhere in the country, it can be scanned and its ID number will be traced back to you immediately.

7. Swimming is a favorite past time of many dogs (especially retrievers), you should consider the size of the dog and body of water before you let your dog swim (many dogs have been pulled under the current of local irrigation canals) Also you should clean your dog’s ears routinely if they are aggressive swimmers. Large amounts of exposure to water increase your dog’s risk of ear infections. You should consult your veterinarian for a good ear cleanser and learn how to clean their ears before starting this regimen.

8. Because animals are at increased exposure in the summer to mosquitoes, fleas and ticks depending on where your live and where you are vacationing it is important to consult your veterinarian for medication to prevent problems. Fleas and ticks carry diseases and cause skin problems - there are many products that can prevent their infestation. Mosquitoes can carry heartworm disease as well as the West Nile Virus. It is very important to discuss your pet’s risks with your veterinarian. (Positive cases of heartworm disease in dogs, flea infestation, tick infestation, and West Nile virus in a horse have all been identified already this year in Montrose)

Posted: June 12, 2004