Avoiding Heatstroke
It is very important to limit and monitor your pet’s time outdoors during the hottest hours of the day. Dogs release most of their body heat through their footpads and by panting. Therefore they are not as efficient at cooling down as we are. Be especially cautious with dogs that have short, pushed-in faces (brachycephalic), puppies and elderly pets. The recommended time for outdoor activities is early morning and evening hours. Be sure to provide plenty of water, especially if your pet must be kept outdoors. Also make sure your pet has easy access to shaded areas. Remember, if it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot outside for your pet.
Signs of Heatstroke
Signs of heatstroke include (but are not limited to):
If you suspect your pet has suffered a heatstroke, seek Veterinary attention immediately! Use cool water, not ice water, to cool your pet. Ice cold water will cause vessels to constrict and impedes the cooling process. Assisted cooling should be stopped once the temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit- some pets can become hypothermic, to cold. Vital internal organs are affected by the elevated body temperature, so don’t think everything is fine once your pet is cooled and it “appears” OK. You shold still seek Veterinary care immediately. There is also a complex blood problem, called DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation) that can be a secondary complication to heatstroke that is potentially fatal.
Toxins
This is the time of year when we all want to enjoy our beautiful lawns. You should take caution of you use fertilizers or other chemicals on your lawn. make sure your pet doesn’t have access to these potentially toxin products. Always be on the look out for antifreeze. This sweet-taste (to pets) product can be life-threatening
Water safety
Most of us will spend some time relaxing near water, whether a pool, lake or at the beach. All dogs are not naturally good swimmers, especially if they have underlying heath conditions. If you have a pool remember that your dog may jump in and not be able to figure out how to get out. Never leave your pet unsupervised around water.
How are Heartworms spread?
Initially, adult female heartworms release their young, known as “Microfilaria”, into an animal’s bloodstream. Next, mosquitoes feed on the infected animal and become infected with microfilaria. Inside the misquito, the microfilaria matures into the infective larval stage. This process takes about two weeks to occur. Then, the infective larvae are transmitted to another susceptible animal (i.e. cat or dog) when the mosquito feeds again. In about six months, the infective larvae develop into adult worms within the animal. The life span of an adult worm in dogs can be up to seven years.
It’s a common misconception that indoors only pets and pets living in areas with minimal exposure to mosquitoes do not need protection against heartworm disease. it’s a known fact that, heartworm positive animals have been diagnosed in all 50 states. Also, mainly residing indoors does not protect your pet from infection. Think about this: If you can get bitten by a misquito, then you so can your pets.
Sign of Heartworm Disease?
Heartworm disease not only causes damange to the lungs and heart, but can also cause liver and kidney dysfunction as well.
Dogs that have been recently infected may not exhibit any signs of disease, while dogs that are heavily infected may eventually show clinical signs. These signs include a moderate, persistent cough, hesitant to move or exercise, fatigue after only mild exercise, decreased appetite and weight loss. Cats may exhibit clinical signs that mimic other feline diseases, such as feline asthma. Chronic clinical signs consist of vomiting, gagging, difficulty or accelerated breathing, lethargy and weight loss.
Prevention: The Best Protection
Although treatment for heartworm disease is successful in most dogs, treatment can be expensive for the owner and stressful for the pet. Because it is safer and more economical by far, prevention is always the preferred choice. Since there are no effective treatments for cats, heartworm prevention is very critical in cats.
There are a number of options available for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats. These include daily and monthly tablets and chewables, monthly topical and a six-month injectable available only for dogs. These methods are very effective, and can completely prevent heartworm infection when given properly. The added benefit of administering many heartworms preventatives is that they also provide regular deworming of intestinal parasite, such as hookworms or round worms.
Prior to any preventative program, animals should first be tested for heartworms. These tests are provided by your regular veterinarian, and require a small sample of blood to perform.
Treatment
In pets with pre-existing heartworm infections, treatment can be administered on an outpatient basis, but it is commonly recommended that your pet be hospitaized. During the recovery period, your dog’s exercise should be limited to lease walks. This reduces the chances of partial or complete blockage of blood flow through the lungs by dead or dying worms.
Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans. Some worms, for example, can be transmitted in the enviroment. Vector-borne diseases are
those transmitted by fleas and ticks, amoung other parasites, that infect people. In particular, ticks can transmitt a large number of “vector-borne” diseases in North America, including Lyme Disease,
Rocky Mountian Spotted Fever, Ehlichiosis, and Tularemia.
WHAT CAN YOU DO??
Responsible parasite control for your pets can reduce the risks associated with the transmission of parasitic diseases from pets to people. By following a few simple guidelines, pet
owners can better protect all members of the family
Use flea and tick preventatives year-round, especially in the Southeast.
DO NOT feed pets raw meats.
Minimize your exposure, as well as your pets’ exposure to high-traffic pet areas such as a public park.
Clean up pet feces regularly!
Vistit your veterinarian for annual testing and routine physical examination.
Administer deworming medications as recommended and directed by your veterinarin. Refrain from purchasing over-the-counter deworming medications, flea and tick preventatives.
Ask your veterinarian about parasites infection risks and monthly preventative control measures to keep your pets and family better protected year-round.
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