As a Cape May County  resident, I love being and living at the shore and enjoying everything our area has to offer. As a local veterinarian for over 27 years I get concerned about the same health concerns I see every year during this season.

Heat Strokes. Every year, usually on excessively hot days, several cases of heat stroke present. Most often, larger dogs are the victims but any pet is susceptible if conditions are right. The classic is an animal left in a vehicle, but often a pet innocently going in the yard can still over heat. The most common cases may be overweight patients who aren't able to cool themselves off adequately. If your pet overheats, hosing them down with cool water  to lower their body temp may save their life . Then  veterinary care should be received as soon as possible.

 Fleas. Every summer, many patients present with flea infestations. However, often some pets present with anemia or lack of enough red blood cell to deliver adequate oxygen to their body, requiring emergency transfusions. Fleas are the most common carriers of tapeworms to our patients. Fleas also carry the organisms which cause cat scratch fever and plague, both zoonotic diseases, or disease which can affect our pets and humans.  Plague is seen in the western United states and is spreading east. Flea control is usually both safe and effective using a number of products available.  Although flea allergies are widespread, as a long time practicing veterinarian, I can honestly state the newer  available products has significantly reduced the amount of suffering my patients have experienced due to these parasites. Fleas can be a year-round problem, but the late summer and fall are the worse times of their infestations.

Ticks.    Like fleas, ticks can be a year-round problem but most severe infestations are noted in spring, summer and fall .Ticks carry multiple diseases to our pets, particularly our canine patients. Many of the organisms our pets get can also affect us. Lyme disease is the most common in our area, but also Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma are seen.  Effective parasite control is important not only to prevent disease transmission to our pets but to our families as well.  As a pet owner, I always have at least one pet sleeping in bed with me. As a veterinarian, I understand the importance of parasite control on my pets to ensure both their safety and comfort and my own.

Heartworms. All dogs should be on Heartworm preventative year-round. A comment I hear is "he's an inside dog. " Mosquitoes are the carrier of Heartworm and they can be both inside and out. Current Heartworm preventatives usually also help to protect against roundworms and hookworms, parasites which can in some cases be transmitted to humans.    The once monthly preventatives have greatly reduced the cases of Heartworm we see although we still treat cases  each year.

Cats DO get Heartworm and often the first sign in a cat is sudden death. There are several products which not only protect cats against Heartworm, but other parasites as well. 

Discuss your questions with your veterinarian on how you can best protect your pets during this great season of the year.  Prevention is always the best way to keep our friends healthy whatever season of the year it is.

With Summer upon us and hot temperatures all around, it's important to remember our furry friends.

Bunnies especially need to be kept cool during the hot heat of Summer. Heat is deadly to rabbits and when the temperatures creep above 80, heat stress becomes a real concern. Overweight rabbits are more susceptible to heat stress as well - another good reason to help your bunny trim down before the hottest months are here.

Some Cool Ideas!

• Freeze water in a soda bottle and keep them in the cage as a giant ice cube for bunny to lean against. Keep a few bottles in the freezer so they can be rotated out.
  

• Gently mist bunny's ears and fur with clean water.

• Place two squares of ceramic tile or marble in the cage. It will remain cooler than the air temperature and will be a cool place for bunny to rest. We have plenty of extra tiles so if you need some, please let us know!

• If your rabbit spends time outdoors, please be sure to provide shade and keep him out of direct sun during the hottest times of the day.

- House Rabbit Society