Summer Safety Tips For Pets

Depending on where you live, your pets may welcome the warmer weather, however, the summer heat can be dangerous. Make sure your pet's summer season is as fun and safe as possible with these very important Summer Safety Tips. Please feel free to share with your pet parent furends!

* Never Leave Your Pet(s) in Your Vehicle! Once parked, your vehicle can go from comfortable to a sweltering oven in no time. In a hot vehicle, your pet's temperature can also rise rapidly. It only takes minutes to reach dangerous levels leading to heatstroke and even death. Parking in the shade and leaving the windows open is NOT a good option. If you are running errands or going places where your pets are not allowed, please leave them at home.

* Be Mindful of Hot Pavement! Blacktop pavement and even concrete can cause serious burns on your pet's feet. The same applies to summer hikes when trails are exposed to the summer sun. Touch any surfaces with the palm of your hand before you let your dog walk on them. If it is uncomfortable to the touch, it will be uncomfortable for your dog, too. Consider getting booties for your dog to protect his paws from hot pavement and sharp objects on the hiking trails. 

* Always Make Sure Your Pet Has Cool, Clean Water Available. Dogs, and even cats, drink more on hot days, and water warms up quickly. Add some ice cubes to their water dish to keep the water cool. 

* Do Not Force Your Dog Into the Water if She is Frightened. Some dogs do not like to swim. If your dog likes to swim, do not leave her unattended. Bathe your dog afterward to remove all sand, mud, or chlorine. Also, be sure pool chemicals are stored safely out of reach of curious pets.

* Do Not Allow Your Dog to Hang Out of the Window of a Moving Vehicle. Objects such as insects, rocks, or tree limbs could seriously injure your pet, or he might fall or jump out if you are stopped or need to brake suddenly.

* Do Not Allow Your Animals to Ride in the Back of a Pick-Up Truck. They could be thrown out or they may jump out. Also, riding in the back of a pick-up truck is now illegal in many states. Our best advice is to be safe and just don't do it.

* Bring Your Pets Inside if There is the Possibility of a Thunderstorm. Loud thunder may frighten them or they could be struck by lightning. They may also become agitated and injure themselves while trying to get away from the loud booms. Please never leave your pets outdoors unattended or unsupervised unless you have an enclosed yard that is safe and protected from predators (including humans)! Even then, walk the yard frequently to check for any possible escape routes or hazards your pet might be exposed to. 

* Do Not Walk Your Dog Near Fireworks. Besides the obvious danger, the loud noise can be very scary and may cause your dog to take off (with the leash still attached, which can also be dangerous) and become lost. July 5th is the busiest day of the year for shelters holding lost pets and trying to find their humans.

* Have Your Dog Checked for Heartworm and administer a breed-appropriate heartworm preventative. Be sure to do your homework as many pet meds can cause unwanted side effects or even death.

* Check Your Pets Daily for Fleas and Ticks. Talk to a veterinarian about preventing these pests from infesting your pet. Again, please do your homework! There are many wonderful natural, non-toxic remedies available to pet parents. 

* If Your Pets Like to Relax in the Shade of a yard or deck, watch out for yellow jackets, bees, toads, and snakes. Bite or sting symptoms are usually swelling of the face or affected areas. Once stung or bitten, the pet’s skin may start to look wrinkly or bumpy. This is a first indicator and, if not treated by a veterinarian, could result in death due to toxins taking over and shutting down the animal’s body or causing airway swelling and suffocation.

* Know the Signs of Heat Stress. In these warm summer months, it is best to be aware of the signs of heat stress by exposure to extreme temperatures. Check for signs of heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, restlessness, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, and unconsciousness.

If Your Pet is Overheating:

* Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area.

* Apply ice packs or cold towels to your pet's head, neck, and chest, or immerse him in cool (not cold) water.

* Let your pet drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes.

* Take your pet directly to a veterinarian.

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Raven Hannah is a self-described animal whisperer, lifelong pet parent, and owner of HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & TheGiftedPet.com. She is certified as a holistic consultant, aromatherapist, Reiki practitioner (for animals and people), and pet nutritionist. She encourages others to celebrate animals as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled! 

When Raven isn’t busy being a slave to her very demanding senior cats or helping her favorite rescues with fundraising projects, she is most likely working on growing her businesses and raising awareness in an effort to make this world a better place for all creatures.

Feline Urinary Tract Conditions ~ What Does Diet Have To Do With It?

Problems that affect a cat’s lower urinary system often prevent the bladder from emptying correctly or may even cause fatal blockage of the urethra, the tube connecting the bladder to the outside of the body. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. 

Infection, trauma, blockage (stones, mucus plugs), inflammation, and other metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus are all causes for disorders of the urinary tract. Male cats, because of their longer urethras, are more prone to developing life-threatening blockages when a stone or plug lodges in the narrower end of the urethra near the opening. 

Stress is also an important factor in the development of urinary tract disorders. 

Cats may urinate frequently, usually in small amounts and oftentimes outside the litter box when infection or moderate to severe inflammation is present. Sometimes blood can be seen in the urine. Male cats who sit in the box for long periods of time or vocalize when trying to urinate need to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. 

Very often the culprit is Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). Once called Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS), FLUTD is not merely one problem, but a collection of clinical symptoms that may have more than one possible cause. Symptoms of FLUTD include frequent or painful urination, bloody urine and frequent licking of the urinary opening. One key to treating FLUTD is to determine the root cause, which may include bladder stones, urinary tract blockage, infection or cancer. If the cause of these symptoms cannot be determined, the cat is considered to have bladder inflammation (cystitis).


What Can Happen If a Cat's Lower Urinary Tract Problems Go Untreated?


Untreated urinary problems can cause partial or complete obstruction of the urethra, preventing a cat from urinating. This is a medical emergency that can very quickly lead to kidney failure and/or rupture of the bladder and can prove fatal if the obstruction is not relieved right away.

What Does Diet Have To Do With All Of This?!

Switching your cat's food from dry to wet is one of the key factors in preventing urinary tract infections. Cats in the wild obtain most of their moisture through the ingestion of live prey. They were not designed to drink large amounts of water. Also, most commercial dry cat food formulas have a high carbohydrate content which contributes to abnormal metabolic processes in the body. 

A good quality canned food is important to maintain proper urinary tract habits. Now, before some of you start groaning, there are indeed good quality canned foods available to you from a handful of companies! The one I prefer is from a small, employee-owned company that has a holistic veterinarian as their nutritional expert and product formulator for cats AND dogs. 

Cats should also be supplied with fresh, clean, filtered or purified water daily. Tap water often contains chlorine and fluoride which are detrimental to the body and should never be offered to animals.

For more information on a purrfect line of food, treats, and supplements, log onto:

www.PremiumCatFoodStore.com

If you would like more information on holistic therapies to keep your cat happy and healthy, please feel free to send me a message via the 'Contact Me' page!

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.

Keep Your Cat Cool This Summer!

Cats love to sprawl in the sun, but too much heat can cause serious health problems. Protecting cats from extreme heat is critical to helping them stay healthy and happy. With a little pre-planning and ingenuity, you can keep your cat cool this summer.

How do cats keep themselves cool?

Humans sweat, dogs pant, and pigs wallow in the mud. What do cats do to keep cool in the summer? In general, cats need to maintain an internal temperature of 101-102 degrees. So although many cats' wild relatives, such as tigers and jaguars, live in hot climates, house cats do their best to keep cool by sweating through their paws, licking their coats, and even panting if they are hot enough.

Primarily, though, they just dial down the energy levels. What's the point of rushing about in a frenzy when it's hot? Instead, they find a cool, shady spot with plenty of water nearby where they can snooze the day away. Cat parents should go with the flow here, making shade, water, and calm days always available.

How to tell if your cat is too hot.

Cats do not tolerate heat well. Signs of heatstroke in cats include vomiting, stumbling, and rectal temperatures above 105. Earlier indicators of heat-related distress are restlessness, drooling, and a slightly elevated rectal temperature.

If your pet is showing early signs of heat stress, move him or her to a cool place with plenty of water, a fan, and other cooling agents. Cat parents who sense their animals are already experiencing heat stroke, however, should contact the closest cat emergency clinic.

• Tip: check your hard floors for wet paw prints, a sure sign the cat is sweating.

How to keep indoor cats cool in hot weather.

Beating the heat doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. If you run the air conditioner in your home all day, your cat should be fine. Be sure to have a backup plan, however, in case of a power outage or other breakdown while you're away.

Are you using a window unit or portable air conditioner? If so, add a fan pointed directly at the cat. This system can help pull the cool air right down to the floor where the cat lives.

Other tips to keep your cat cool this summer include petting her with a wet cloth, scheduling playtime for the moderate mornings and evenings, and keeping curtains closed and drawn. Most importantly, never leave a cat, dog, or other pet inside a car, not even for a quick errand. Temperatures can rise dramatically in the space of minutes. Should you spot a dog or cat alone in a car,  you can follow the Humane Society's directions for intervention.

How to keep your cat cool without air conditioning.

Creative tips on how to keep cats cool without A/C include:

• Creating a cool retreat with a cardboard box and an ice pack wrapped in a towel. We suggest you make your own ice packs using water and avoid the gel-filled commercial ones that tiny claws can puncture.
• Fill your cat's water dish with fresh water and add some ice cubes to keep the water cool while your out. 
• Try making popsicles for cats by freezing a low-sodium chicken broth or tuna brine.
• Most specialists recommend against cutting your pet's fur, but we do suggest regular brushings to keep the coat at its optimum thickness.

How to help special cats stay cool this summer.

Kittens, senior cats, outdoor cats, and feral cats can all face special challenges with staying cool.

• Kittens - These little guys love to play, so try to encourage calmer activities when it's hot.
• Senior cats - Make sure these special friends get their exercise when the sun is low. Also, help them stay cool by serving cold treats or try giving them a raised cat bed for naps.
• Outdoor cats - Place their beds in shaded areas, keep the water bowls filled with fresh water, and toss in plenty of ice cubes. A lickable ice block can be a long-lasting treat even on the hottest days.
• Feral cats - If you feed feral cats, be sure to keep wet food moist as it will dry out in the heat. Take up uneaten food within 30 minutes since it attracts bugs and can spoil. As with outdoor cats, keep the water bowls filled with fresh water and ice cubes. Those who help with TNR programs may want to take a break from that work since a feral cat can easily become overheated and die in a trap.  

Final thoughts.

Keeping cats cool in the summer is a major part of being a good pet parent. Have you tried other ideas we didn't mention? Let's all work together to keep our pets happy and healthy during the dog days of summer.

* Portions of this article excerpted from Modkat, PetMD, and the Humane Society.