|
Summertime Safety Heat stroke is probably the most common medical problem this time of year. Even on an 80° day, the interior of your car can heat up to 120 - 130° in just minutes - even with the windows cracked. The combination of high temperature and poor ventilation can be fatal. Sweating cools the skin surface through evaporation, but dogs and cats do not sweat. They control their body temperature primarily through panting. If the air temperature is too high, no cooling can take place. Pets with short noses such as Boxers, Pugs, Bulldogs, and Himalayan cats, and overweight or senior pets are especially susceptible to heat stroke. Jogging with your dog is also dangerous this time of year. Try to restrict this type of exercise to early morning. Many dogs will keep running, just to stay up with their owner. But heat and humidity will take their toll. Signs of heat stroke may include, body temperatures over 103°, excessive panting, staggering, seizures, diarrhea (often bloody), and coma. Heat stroke needs to be treated immediately. Reduction of body temperature is only the first step. Heat stroke patients also need to be treated for shock. Even though your pet may seem to be recovering from heat stroke, internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain may have been affected. Call the veterinary clinic immediately if you suspect heat stroke in one of your pets. Letting your dog ride in the back of an open vehicle is dangerous. If the dog must ride there, make sure he is securely tethered in the center, unable to reach the sides, and is able to sit or stand on a slip-proof, cool surface. And keep the trip short! Overheated cars often leave a pool of antifreeze on the ground. This is extremely poisonous and yet has a sweet flavor dogs and cats will like. Be sure to monitor your pets around parking areas. As tempting as it may be to treat longhaired dogs to a short haircut this time of year, it may not be the best idea. The coat acts as insulation against extreme heat and helps prevent sunburn. Any pet is susceptible to sunburn, especially those with a light colored coat and those with a light colored nose. Any pets that enjoy "sunbathing" while lying on their back can get sunburn on their belly since there is very little hair there for protection. Sunscreen can be used on pets, but make sure you read the label. You want to avoid any sunscreen product that contains zinc oxide and/or para-amino benzoic acid (PABA). Whichever brand you choose, be sure to keep your pet from licking it off. Sunscreen is not made to be ingested. Pets that live outside need extra attention in the summer. Aside from a good flea and tick control program and regular heartworm prevention, fresh cool water in a tip-proof bowl and lots of shade are an absolute necessity. The water must be checked and changed several times a day. Keep in mind that as the day goes by the shade moves across the yard. Tethering your dog in the shade in the morning does not mean that he will be in the shade in the afternoon. And, of course, shelter from inclement weather is also important. Dogs that spend a lot of time outside in the summer often suffer from fly bites on their ear tips. There are fly repellant products available, which are very effective but must be applied to the ear tips at least once a day. Check with your veterinarian or local pet store. Applying Vaseline to the ear tips is generally not an effective way to control the flies. Another result of flies, hot weather, and perhaps a small wound or a little stool on your pet's coat, is maggots. Not an uncommon summer occurrence, maggots are the result of flies being attracted to the area and laying eggs. Within 24 hours, maggots hatch out and begin to feed. They will feed on your pet's skin causing considerable damage quickly. Be sure to monitor the condition of your pet's coat and skin closely. If you find maggots, call your veterinarian right away. Swimming is another favorite summertime activity, but don't assume your dog is a good swimmer or even interested in swimming. Some dogs avoid water totally and some like it only if it's not very deep. A doggie life vest is an excellent idea if you are going boating with your pet. They are available at most pet stores and through pet supply catalogs. Also, remember your pet's ID tags. A lost pet can be heartbreaking. Being prepared through knowledge and preplanning is your best defense against the hazards of hot weather. Keeping you, your family, and your family pets safe and healthy is the result of good preparation. Meet Pig Kabalan
Pig, now 8 years old, has been a wonderful cat. He has a lot of traits of dogs that people seem to enjoy. He likes to sleep on his back and have his belly rubbed, comes to you when called, and loves to be around people. His affection and healthy appetite remind people of a Retriever or a Beagle. He also loves the great outdoors Pig not only is loved by people, but by the staff's canine companions as well. When Pig comes to visit the clinic, he is known to show them who is boss by actually stalking them out to attack; but yet, if they come to his house, he has been known to run and hide. Go figure. It's been said that it is not easy to know what a cat thinks or wants. That is probably why people seem to fall in love with them in the first place. Pig has been a loving member of Dr. Chris' family for many years, and hopefully will continue to do so for many more to come.
Fun Facts Bacteria have been found in some fascinating places; places that humans would consider totally incompatible with life. Recently scientists have found living bacteria deep beneath the ice of Antarctica. Colonies of microbes were found 12,000 feet below Vostok Station just above an underground freshwater lake. The most surprising part of this find is the fact that the site is totally without sunlight, the usual source of energy for life on Earth. How do the bacteria get energy without sunlight?? Another extremely surprising place to find life is deep below the surface of the ocean, and yet nearly 100 animal species have been found within the hydrothermal systems of the Pacific Ocean. These vents form where magma rises from deep within the Earth's mantle. Seawater seeps into the vents and is heated to over 650º F. The magma itself is over 2000º F. The water is supercharged with carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide gases escaping through "chimneys" which can grow as tall as 33 ft. There is absolutely no sunlight there, and the pressure at that depth is unimaginable. And yet bacteria thrive on the minerals and the heat emitted by these vents. And there are worms that live on the chimneys. Pompeii worms, which are about 8" long, can withstand temperatures as high as 221º F! Another worm called Riftia pachptila are over 8 ft. long! They have no mouth or anus, relying totally on a symbiotic relationship with the bacteria for their nutrition. Researchers have also identified mollusks and arthropods living within these hydrothermal systems. Like to swim and dive? Well, here are some interesting facts on animals that swim and dive for a living:
Did you know…
Answers to the questions:
© 2002 East Hilliard Veterinary Services. All rights reserved.
Site design by David J.W. Lauridsen, Jr. |
|
"The Pig" is the first cat that Dr. Chris and her husband obtained in Columbus. He actually picked them to be their pet by being the first kitten to greet them and staying with them when they went to look at a litter of kittens in a private home. They did not realize his unique feature, his eyes, until they got home; 1 blue eye and 1 yellow eye. Pig's original name was Sox, but Dr. Chris' husband nicknamed him Pig because of his bottomless stomach. Sox only would recognize the name Pig so it stuck. Since Pig has a healthy appetite, he became overweight, and then consequently became diabetic at age 4. He has been getting twice daily insulin injections for 4 years now and has been a trooper through it all.
Cats are usually not the easiest creatures to stabilize once they become diabetic, but Dr. Chris got lucky and he stabilized within a month. He has had his insulin raised only once within the 4 years he has been sick. Within the last year his face and chin became itchy and started breaking out. He has since been diagnosed as having a food allergy and is now on a hypoallergenic diet. He is doing well on the new diet, and his diabetes remains stable.
and is the only cat of the 3 that Dr. Chris owns that she trusts to stay in the yard and/or follow you around without being on a leash. He also is wonderful with her 2-year-old son, Nicky, who sometimes gets a little rough with him. He still hangs around him and wants to be near him even though Nicky may pull his foot or tail.