Dog Health Blog

Keeping Your Pet Safe In The Warm Weather Months
Copyright © Laurie Raphael
http://dogadditions.com

The hot summer months can pose a real threat to pets. Cats and dogs simply cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. As a responsible pet owner, you need to make sure that your pet is safe during these warm weather months. Here are some tips to help you and your pet.

Never leave an animal in a car: All pet owners should know the dangers of leaving any pet in a hot car, even if it is just for a few minutes. This especially applies to dog owners. Dogs love riding in the car and it is very tempting to let your dog ride to the grocery store with you. However, pet owners should never leave cats or dogs inside a car during hot weather. Even with the windows open, a car parked in the hot sun can reach sweltering temperatures. Pets left in hot cars can die within minutes or can suffer from severe dehydration. The best rule of thumb is the leave your pet at home in the cool air conditioner during the hot weather. You should also know that if you are a dog owner that allowing your dog a ride the bed of a truck could be very dangerous for a dog at any time of the year. One jolt can send your dog flying out of the bed of the truck, resulting in injury or worse. Even putting your dog unsupervised in the bed of a truck in a public place can be a recipe for disaster. Be extra careful with your pet during traveling. If you must travel with your dog or cat, secure your pet in the car and leave the air conditioning on at all times. Let your pets take frequent breaks on long trips and give them a chance to get a drink of water.

Be Careful Walking the Dog: There are many areas where the temperatures soar in the warm months. In places where the temperatures reach an all-time high, it is a good idea to walk your dog either in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are lower. During the summer, temperatures will be at the highest during midday. You should refrain from walking your dog during this time. Not only will you and your dog become hot and dehydrated, the hot concrete can burn your dog’s sensitive paws. When you do walk during hot weather, take along water for your dog and stop frequently to let your dog drink. Your dog will thank you for this.

Practice Proper Pet Grooming: It is always a good idea to keep your pet properly groomed, but it is especially important during the summer months. If your dog has very long fur, it is like wearing a fur coat in 95-degree weather. It is not comfortable to your pet. Also, keep an eye out for pets that have much of their fur trimmed off, such as poodles. Longhaired dogs can quickly overheat in the high temperatures. Poodles and other breeds with short cuts can get sunburned. Sunscreen does not protect dogs. With long haired dogs, regular brushing also helps remove the winter undercoat and can help your dog better regulate body temperatures during hot weather. Regular clipping of long hair can also help keep your dog cool. Even longhaired cats can benefit from a summer clipping. Longhaired cats are easily overheated, even if they do stay indoors.

Watch for Insects: Insects can be bothersome to your pet during the warm, summer months. Spring and summer are when fleas and ticks are the highest. Mosquitoes are also out during this time of year. It is always a good idea to make sure your dog and cat are getting their monthly flea and tick preventative. Your dog also needs to stay current on heartworm preventative, as mosquito bites can cause heartworms. Also, keep a first aid kit on hand for bee or wasp stings.

Outdoor safety: Summer is often when people spend a lot of times outdoors. Whether it is working in the yard, visiting the lake or swimming in the pool, you need to take extra caution when your pets are with you outside. If you mow your yard or put chemicals on the grass, be sure your pets are indoors and away from the dangers. Also, if your dog enjoys the water, keep a close eye on your pet. Most pets can swim instinctively, but it is always a good idea to watch. If you enjoy taking your dog out boating, you can buy life preserver vests for your dog to wear. You can never be too safe when it comes to your beloved furry friend.

About the Author:

For your dogs health:
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Author: David P Lee

As a dog owner, you want to be sure that you establish a healthy
and happy relationship with your new friend. Understanding how
to do that is the key to enjoying your pet. In this article, we
will discuss the five things that you as a dog owner should know.
After reading this article, you will have everything you need to
start creating the relationship you want with your dog.

First ‘need to know’ - Vet Visits

First of all, you are going to have to visit a veterinarian
sometimes. That is a given. Your new dog will need vaccinations,
checkups and he might get sick sometimes. Vets cost money and it
might be a good idea to check out pet insurance. The cost
depends on what procedures or treatment your dog needs. The main
thing is to realize that you will have to spend money on your
pet. So find out what you can expect to spend every six months
on vet bills, vaccinations, flea control products, etc and start
saving!

#2 Tip - Who’s The Top Dog?

Dogs do like to pretend to be in charge of everything but the
truth is that you are the boss so you have to set rules
consistently and enforce them. Dogs are intelligent creatures
and are able to follow rules. They are also able to casually
break them and pretend not to know better. If you are not strict
with them over some misbehavior, they will continue behaving in
that way. In some ways, you can treat a dog like a child. Be
patient but firm.

Third ‘need to know’ - Routine Is King

Dogs like routines. They like habits and they like things done a
certain way. They know what time they get fed, what they are
expected to do and when they can expect a walk. Meal times
should be consistent and the dog needs to sleep in the same
place every night. Even if you find routines dull, your dog
finds them comforting.

#4 Tip - Exercise and Food

We require food and exercise and so do our dogs. You should feed
your dog healthy food and not too many treats or table scraps.
Save those for a special occasion or to reward your dog for
something special. Your dog needs exercise to maintain a healthy
body and stay free from diseases.

#5 Tip - The Excited Puppy

Watch your puppy, if you have ever had a toddler, you will
notice the semblance. For puppies and dogs, everything they can
get their mouth on becomes a chew toy. Shoes, clothes,
television remotes, electrical cords, and anything that is
within their reach becomes a new chew toy. It is important to
keep these things out of their reach and teach them that their
actual chew toys are the only acceptable chew toys. Be sure that
you keep a healthy supply of chew toys available for your dog.

About the author:
David Lee is the owner & designer of several pet sites. Find
info on dog food recall, German Shepherd puppy or cat furniture.

Author: Judy Wellsworth

The Pomeranian is a cute little breed of dog similar to other
little breeds. They make wonderful housedogs because of their
loving nature and the way they behave when around people. They
act like a little child who wants everyone to know they are
welcome. These fluffy little dogs can be a bit aggressive if
their owner is upset or in trouble.

Their cute fox like face and pointed ears with soft and silky
looking hair make them a beautiful show dog as well as a house
pet. The eyes are blackish colored with a bright glimmer of
shine. The teeth are very sharp yet thin by nature. The tail
resembles the tail of a Pekinese as it crusades forward over the
back of the dog. The average height is up to twelve inches with
a weight of about fifteen to twenty pounds.

The top Pomeranian dog health problem is the teeth. This
concerns owners because if the teeth break or fall out, the dog
will have no way to consume food. Feeding hard dog food helps to
strengthen the teeth and gums, but many people make the mistake
of feeding only soft dog food, which does not benefit the teeth
or gums in any way. The overall health of the teeth needs to be
clean and you need to take every precaution against tooth decay.

The Pomeranian dog breed does suffer some health problems, but
not all bloodlines are at risk. The Pomeranian dog health
problems might be a slipped stifle or dislocated patella, which
is a small bone by the knee joint. The slipped stifle affects
the movement of the dog and can cause pain and depression in the
little dog. If you notice signs of leg problems, contact the vet
for further tests to determine the exact cause of the problem.

The Pomeranian dog health problem during birth can be
saddening if proper knowledge and care is not given. When a
female is ready to give birth, a vet may be required due to the
size of the female. The puppies will be extremely small fitting
three puppies into a man size hand is common. Extra care for the
puppies because of their size requires helping the mother with
daily care of the puppies. These puppies require extra care
until the age of three months in order to properly grow and
achieve adulthood.

The ears and eyes need cleaning on a daily business. This dog
breed loves to go for walks, but like all little dogs, they do
not need to take long walks, as they tend to get tired because
of their short legs. These little pups strive with love and
touching as they grow into beautiful little companions.

The Pomeranian dog health problem follows suit with other canine
breeds. They are susceptible to many other health conditions
such as skin disease, allergies, infections and parasites.
Keeping the dog healthy requires proper grooming and diet along
with exercise.

About the author:
You can also find more information on
dog health symptoms and diagnose dog illness symptoms. AboutDogHealth.org is a comprehensive resource to help dog owners identify their dog’s illness symptoms and treatment options.