Summertime and the living’s easy…unless you’re a pup! While hot weather can mean refreshing swims and beach walks for Fido, the season can also bring dangerous temperatures that can cause serious health issues such as overheating and sunburns. We’ve outlined some common summer hazards to be aware of during these hot months to keep your pooch safe and risk-free.
Open Water While some dogs are natural-born swimmers, others are not. To avoid the risk of injury or drowning, keep your water-averse dog away from pools and lakes where he could fall in, as well as the ocean (a high tide or rough waters can easily sweep a small dog under the current). If you’re bringing your dog on a boat, make sure you have a life preserver ready for him, just as you would with a small child.
Fireworks While nothing says 4th of July quite like fireworks, your dog may feel otherwise. Dogs are often sensitive to loud noises and could run off in fear or act out in aggression upon hearing the pops, cracks and booms that come with the popular Independence Day tradition.
Heat Just as humans can suffer heatstroke, dogs can be just as, if not more vulnerable to overheating and dehydration. To avoid overheating, limit walks and outdoor play to cooler times of the day (sunrise or sunset), provide adequate shade or a cool place to rest indoors, offer plenty of fresh water and never ever leave your dog alone in a hot car. Lastly, be aware of your dog’s temperament – while panting and drooling alone can be normal behaviors, if these symptoms are paired with pale gums, hyperventilation, rapid pulse, confusion, diarrhea, vomiting, or rectal bleeding, contact your vet immediately.
Fleas, Ticks and Bees The warm summer months unfortunately bring out annoying insects such as fleas and ticks, which love to attach on and bite your four-legged friend. Make sure to protect your pup (and your family and home) by applying medicated flea/tick ointment to Fido on a regular basis. If your pup does come down with either of these critters, it’s imperative to do a deep clean and take necessary measures to prevent the transmission of disease and other parasites. If your dog gets stung by a bee, you’ll want to remove the stinger immediately (if you can find it) and then make an emergency trip to the vet for monitoring and/or treatment of an allergic reaction.
Allergies Warm weather can also bring new pollen grains and other allergens into your dog’s environment. Seasonal allergies often cause intense itchiness in dogs, which can lead to hot spots, infections, wounds and hair loss from scratching too much. Talk to your vet about the best treatment options for your dog – depending on breed and severity of the symptoms, management could include oral steroid medication, specialty shampoos or ointments, or even immunotherapy (allergy shots).
Toxic Chemicals Certain products used more frequently during the summer months such as insect repellent, fertilizer, weed control, pool chemicals, or ant bait can contain dangerous chemicals that can pose a poison threat to your dog. Check the ingredients in all products before use, or ask your gardener or pool servicer for more information. If your dog accidentally ingests poison, call the Animal Poison Control Center hotline, available 24 hours, 7 days a week: (888) 426-4435.
We at PuppySpot believe that good health is a crucial part of responsible breeding, and a puppy’s good health begins with healthy parents. That is why we partner with the American Kennel Club to host health clinics to examine adult breeding dogs. The clinics are set up all round the U.S. and encourage breeders to … Continue reading PuppySpot & AKC Host Health Clinics for Adult Breeding Dogs→
We all want the best for our pets, and one way to ensure that your pets are healthy, happy, and safe is to keep an eye on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recall list.
Whether flying in-cabin as carry-on or flying in cargo, we’ve outlined the key steps you can take for safely and responsibly flying your dog. Follow these tips and feel good about bringing your pup on that next vacation.
It is always a pleasure working with the various chapters of Make-A-Wish®. Their wish managers and volunteers work hard to ensure the wishes of thousands of children are granted each year. Recently, Make-A-Wish has experienced quite an uptick in puppy wishes; that is where PuppySpot comes in! Thanks to a bit of coordination between Make-A-Wish … Continue reading Puppy Brings Joy to Mid-Atlantic Wish Child→
PuppySpot continues to work with the various chapters of Make-A-Wish to help grant puppy wishes for children with critical illnesses. Our first puppy wish of the year was granted with Make-A-Wish Central & Northern Florida. When they reached out to us, the chapter was working on a puppy wish for four-year-old Daniel, a resilient little … Continue reading A Special Surprise for Jacksonville Wish Child→
This year has brought on numerous challenges to many families. It will be a year many of us won’t soon forget. Now, it is time to put this year to rest. With 2021 comes a sense of hope, and that is what two Make-A-Wish families received just in time to bring in the new year. … Continue reading Double Wish Granting Brings Hope into 2021→
This past year has been challenging for many families. It has been particularly hard for one Make-A-Wish Southern Florida family. The Diaz family is not only dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are also in an ongoing battle with leukemia. Jaxon Diaz is a 6-year-old boy whose wish is to have a normal life. … Continue reading A New Best Friend for South Florida Wish Child→