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Pets, Pets, Pets
Summer 2006 is not over yet. The SPCA is working full time, following up on those, like that Central Islip lady charged with cruelty for ignoring her heat stricken dog lying near death in her yard, people who disregard common sense and compassion about heat hazards for pets. After an encounter last week with an irrational man who told me that he was going to go away for 3 weeks, and since no one would take his dog, he was going to leave the dog in his yard with a big bucket of water and hope he survived, I realized that while we were looking for where this guy lived, some summer pet warnings needed repeating. Here goes: A dog or cat can suffer from heat stroke too. This can quickly result in multi-organ shut down, brain damage and death. Signs include heavy panting, rapid pulse, glazed eyes, unsteadiness, vomiting, and /or a red or purple tongue. You must lower your pet's body temperature immediately, by moving the pet into shade or air conditioning; soaking cool (not cold) water over the body; applying cool towel or ice pack compresses to the animal's head, chest, or inner thighs; and giving them small sips of water. Get the pet to the vet or animal emergency hospital ASAP or sooner.
Be careful when exercising your pets on a hot dayespecially those older, ill, obese, heavily coated, or short-nosed (brachiocephaplic breeds like Pugs or Persians). Limit any short walks to early morning or evening. Remember that the asphalt gets hot too, and can burn pet's paw pads. Provide plenty of cool water and shade for pets for any time they are outdoors. Make sure indoor areas are cooled or wellventilated also, but check your screens. Cats are more apt to jump, fall or escape via windows in the summer. Dogs riding in backs of pick up trucks are a danger to themselves and other motorists. This is illegal in many states. Canine passengers should be in the cab or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck. Practice pool safety for pets too. Don't allow your pet free access to the swimming pool even if Fido can dog paddle. Boating dogs need life jackets too. Be cognizant of over heating car radiators and poisonous, antifreeze puddles on the drivewaytiny amounts of ingested ethylene glycol can cause kidney failure and death. Pets can get sunburned too. Light pigmented pets are more susceptible to skin cancers, especially on the nose or ear tips. Mosquitoes and fleas are out there in swarms. Make sure your dog is blood tested first, and then protected against heartworm mosquitoes every month. Heartworm is a deadly, yet completely preventable disease. Also shield your pets from flea invasions. The newer products make flea bombing and spraying no longer a necessary chore. Deserving dogs and cats at Oyster Bay Town Shelter (677-5784) Miller Pl. Syosset are just waiting to spend the rest of the summer and the rest of forever with you. "Luke"#060749 is a well-behaved Lab/Dalmatian who knows commands and likes kids. "Fritz" #060726 is a stray, senior mini Schnauzer who needs some TLC, and probably dentistry. See more photos on the shelter's Petfinder site. More cats: two handsome fellows"Aspen"the gray tabby in the lobby window & "Mikey" the magnificent cream & white longhair . More dogs: "Megan" #060654a Border collie/Lab; "Jake" #060731a 10 month Chessie mix; "Apollo" #060704a Shepherd with floppy ears. Last Hope's Fix-A-Feral Program631-425-1884 (key into the stray/feral hotline).
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