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SUNSHINE, BEACH, VACATION! Summer is finally here! Time to hit the waves, time to let rover show you off at the dog park, and it's certainly time to go for those long car rides to.. nowhere:D. Summer is such an amazing time for you and your furry friends. Make sure you guys have a fun and safe time for the next 3 months.
1. Dehydration - A very easy and simple way to keep your furry friends cool this summer is keep the water bowls full. They can't fill their own bowl or tell you that they are thirsty, so just anticiapte their water consumption. As a rule of thumb put atleast double what they would normally drink on a hot day, or put two big water bowls out; that way if they knock one over, they have a back up.
2. Doggy car rides - I know it is fun to drive around with your best friend. Multiple times a week I pack up the dogs and take them for a ride. Errands and dogs don't mix. A dog's normal body temperature is between 101 to 102.5 degrees. A dog can only cool off by panting and through the pads in its feet. This makes dogs especially vulnerable to heat-related illness. A dog can only withstand high body temperature for a short amounts of time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or death. So when in doubt leave the guys at home if your running errands.
3. Snakes - Summertime is when all the snakes like to come out and sunbath. They will be in the ponds, parks, trails, pretty much everywhere in this region. This time of year we see multiple snake bite cases a week, so if you have a courious dog like mine, be careful. Snakebites can be potentially deadly, even if the snake is not poisonous. Patients can die from an infection or allergic reaction caused by a non-venomous snakebite. Poisonous snakebites are medical emergencies that are potentially fatal if not treated immediately. Identifying poisonous snakes: There are many poisonous snakes. Some of the most common include rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads, and coral snakes. Symptoms: Symptoms of a poisonous snakebite vary depending on the specific snake. In general, symptoms may include bleeding, bloody discharge from the wound, fang marks in the skin, swelling at the site of the bite, severe localized pain, diarrhea, burning, convulsions, fainting, dizziness, weakness, blurred vision, excessive sweating, fever, increased thirst, loss of muscle coordination, nausea, vomiting, numbness and tingling, increased heartbeat, and dead skin or blistering near the bite site. Feel free call if you are ever suspect of a snakebite.
ways to help feral kittens
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Spring has sprung, and with it comes kitten litters springing up all over town. You and your clients may be seeing kittens that appear alone and ready for adoption. But not so fast, says Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies, a national advocate group for stray and feral cats. "Should you come across kittens, you may be tempted to pick them up and bring them home with you, but that might not be in the best interest of the kittens," Robinson says.
If you find a litter, the organization suggests you stop and think first: Determine the kittens' age, wait to see whether the mother is coming back, and only then get advice on catching and neutering the animals as appropriate.
1. Figure out the kittens' age.
You're thinking of future adoption, but it may already be too late to socialize some kittens. If people don't handle kittens in their first few weeks, oftentimes these young feral cats may not be suitable for life as pets. Check out Alley Cat Allies' online guide for keys to determining kittens' age.
2. Find out whether a mother cat is caring for the kittens.
An unattended litter may be abandoned—or the mother may be out hunting food for them. For those with time, Alley Cat Allies recommends waiting and observing for an hour or two.
If the mother doesn't return, decide if the kittens are young enough to be socialized (see above) or whether they should be trapped, neutered, and released. Kittens that aren't weaned will require bottle-feeding and round-the-clock care.
If the mother comes back, it's best for the kittens to remain with her until they're weaned. If mom is friendly, consider trapping her, picking up the kittens, and bringing the whole family indoors to a confined area until the kittens are old enough to be adopted—typically at 8 weeks of age. If the mother is feral, leave the family outside and provide shelter, food, and water. When the kittens are weaned, place them in foster care for adoption.
3. Neuter to ensure no more kittens.
Alley Cat Allies supports trap-neuter-return programs as the best way to lower feral and stray cat populations. "The cats are humanely trapped and taken to a veterinary hospital or spay/neuter clinic to be vaccinated and neutered," Robinson says. "Socialized cats and young kittens are put up for adoption. Feral cats are 'eartipped' and returned to their colony."
