| A Note from Not Home Alone |
| Hot weather - paw care, pets in cars... | July 18, 2010 |
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Greetings!
 I know you'd never think of leaving one of your companions in a parked car on a hot day, but what should you do if you see someone else's pet suffering? Read Pets in Parked Cars for suggestions from the ASPCA on ways you can respond.
The ASPCA is also the source of the tips on caring for your pet's feet in hot weather. Because our pets walk around "barefoot" all the time, it can be easy to forget that their paws may need special care when the temperature rises.
Even in their own backyards, pets can suffer from heat stress. Do you know how to recognize it and what to do if it occurs? The snout-to-tail assessment you learn in a PetSaver class will enable you to recognize warning signs early. Knowing pet first aid will save you from standing by feeling helpless in an emergency and may save your pet's life. Read details about the PetSaver class at the Quick Link to the right - then get in touch with me to schedule a class. It's one of the best gifts you can give to the pets you love.
Christina |
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| Contact Us | | PO Box 145
San Dimas, California 91773-0145
714-501-5330
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| Summertime Paw Care
These tips are written specifically for dogs but may also apply to any pet with padded feet and toenails.
Check out ASPCA's top paw-care tips to help keep your pet on all fours:
Summertime Sores: Imagine stepping barefoot onto hot pavement. Ouch! It is important to remember your pets's paws feel heat extremes, too. To prevent burns and blisters, avoid walking your pet on hot pavement or sand. Signs include blisters, loose flaps of skin and red, ulcerated patches. For minor burns, apply antibacterial wash and cover the paw with a loose bandage. For serious burns, visit your vet immediately.
Pamper With Pedicures: Your dog's nails should just about touch the ground when she walks. If her nails are clicking or getting snagged on the floor, it's time for a pedicure. Ask your veterinarian or a groomer for advice about what types of nail trimmers are best for your dog and how to use them properly.
Snip and Trim: Trim paw hair regularly to avoid painful matting. Simply comb hair out, especially from between the toes, and trim even with the pads.
Clean In Between: Foreign objects can become lodged in your pet's pads. Check regularly between toes for foxtails, pebbles, small bits of broken glass and other debris. These pesky items can usually be removed with a pair of tweezers.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: A dog's pads can become cracked and dry. Ask your veterinarian for a good pad moisturizer and use as directed. Avoid human hand moisturizer, as this can soften the pads and lead to injury.
Deep Paw Massage: Similar to giving a human hand massage, a paw massage will relax your dog and promote better circulation. Start by rubbing between the pads on the bottom of the paw, and then rub between each toe. Your dog will be forever grateful for the extra TLC!
Slow and Steady: If you're about to begin a new exercise program with your dog, start off slow. Paws may become sensitive, chaffed or cracked, particularly when starting your dog out on hikes and runs.
Apply First Aid: It's not unusual for dogs to suffer cuts or other wounds from accidentally stepping on glass, debris or other objects. Wounds that are smaller than a half inch in diameter can be cleaned with an antibacterial wash and wrapped with a light bandage. For deeper paw cuts, see the vet for treatment.
Practice Prevention: To reduce the risk of injury, keep your home and yard clear of pointy bits and pieces. Be conscious to avoid hazards such as broken glass and other debris when walking your dog. And keep this simple tip in mind-if you wouldn't like to walk on it barefoot, neither will your dog!
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Pets in Parked Cars
This story from the ASPCA highlights the extreme dangers of leaving ANYONE in a parked car in the heat:
As many parts of the country struggle with recent heat waves, we've all seen the disturbing news reports of pets, mostly dogs, dying from heatstroke as a result of being left in parked cars. Just last week, a Bronx, NY, man left his Maltese in his van - with the windows cracked - while he went for a swim at a state park. The temperature inside the van climbed to 140 degrees and despite intervention by park police, the dog didn't survive.
Even on a relatively mild 85-degree day, it takes only 10 minutes for the interior of a car to reach 102 degrees - and within 30 minutes, the inside of the car can be a staggering 120 degrees. Leaving windows open a few inches does not help.
Furthermore, when it comes to the body's ability to cool itself, canine physiology is vastly different from ours. While humans have sweat glands all over our bodies that help regulate our body heat, dogs cool down mostly by panting, which is much less efficient than sweating. In only a short amount of time, a dog with a high body temperature can suffer critical damage to his nervous system, heart, liver and brain.
At least 14 states (including California) and many municipalities have enacted laws to address the problem of animals left in cars in extreme temperatures. Under these laws, police, animal control agents, peace officers and others may be authorized to enter a vehicle by whatever means necessary to remove an animal. "I would recommend that if your state doesn't have a specific law addressing animals left in hot cars that you still call law enforcement, because it may be considered animal cruelty under your state or local laws," says Jill Buckley, Senior Director of ASPCA Government Relations & Mediation.
If you're out and about on a hot day and see an animal alone in a car, you should immediately try to find the car's owner. If you have no luck, or if the owner refuses to act, contact local law enforcement and/or animal control.
"The important thing is to get the dog out of the car, keeping in mind that you shouldn't put your life in danger, either!" says Buckley, who keeps a few copies of the ASPCA's Pets in Hot Cars flyer in her glovebox to give out when appropriate.
You can print out the flyer using the Quick Link above. Share it with everyone you know who has pets of any kind. - the education of their humans is pets' best defense. The flyer also offers hot weather traveling tips.
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A final thought - The hot weather also brings with it the threat of wild fires. Do you have a preparedness plan in place for fires or other natural disasters? See the OTHER STUFF page at my web site for links to helpful sites - then get prepared.
Christina Dunlap
Not Home Alone Pet, Livestock, & House Sitting |
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