Heatstroke

Know the warning signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, wheezing and body weakness.

If your pet has any of these signs, immediately place it in a cool, shaded area and pour cool water over it.

Keep an eye out for animals left in cars with cracked windows as this does not allow sufficient cool air for dogs to pant efficiently. Alert store owners, call animal control or the local police to help remove the animal(s) to a safe, cool location.

Things that go BOOM! in the night--and middle of the day, too

With the warm weather of summer comes the excitement of thunderstorms. Unlike some humans, pets are not fans of thunderstorms. The same can be said for fireworks. How can you help your pet cope with thunderstorms and fireworks? Here are a few tips:

• Be aware of the early signs of anxiety that accompany a thunderstorm, like pacing or trembling.



• Create a safe place for your pet to escape to when the thunder or fireworks start. Pets may seek out a small den-like space like a crate, under the sofa or bed, or a closet. (I know of a large dog that preferred the second shelf of the pantry--after clearing off all that was stored on the shelf first!). If your pet doesn't have a hiding spot, consider creating something and getting them familiar with it before the thunderstorms or fireworks start.



• Play a game with your pet instead of cuddling or stroking. This may not fit with our first instinct to respond with care and comfort, but it will distract from the stressor. It also helps them associate the stressor with positive things like play and treats.

A final word about fireworks: never use fireworks around pets. Lit fireworks can result in burns or trauma to curious pets. Unused fireworks can be hazardous because they may contain potentially toxic substances like arsenic and other heavy metals.

Spay/Neuter Fact or Fiction?

There are lots of commonly held beliefs about how spaying or neutering will change a pet. Here are some of them and whether they are based in fact or simply fiction.

• Spaying or neutering will make my pet lazy. FICTION Spay or neuter surgery does not make an animal lazy. It reduces the urge to roam, which may result in a cat becoming more docile which may appear to some pet owners as 'laziness'. There are benefits of a more docile cat, including less fighting behavior which reduces the likelihood of abcesses and contracting blood or saliva-borne illnesses, e.g., feline leukemia.


• My cat will no longer be a good mouser if I have it spayed or neutered. FICTION Hunting skills, playfulness, general activity levels, and vocalizations do not typically change following surgery.


• Dogs can be spayed or neutered as early as six weeks old. FACT In fact, it is far better to do the surgery at a younger age. This is also the case for cats.


• It a good idea to let a dog have one litter before having her spayed. FICTION There is no benefit to this. Spaying a dog before her first litter is easier and safer, and drastically reduces her risk of developing mammary (breast) cancer.


• Spaying or neutering helps cats and dogs live longer, healthier lives. FACT Pets live longer and healthier lives when they have been spayed or neutered. They are less likely to roam and so less likely to be hit by a car or contract a disease. They are less likely to get several forms of cancer.

For more information on low cost spay/neuter options in Isabella, go to: www.hatsweb.org/spay.html.

Spay or Neuter: It's the Responsible Thing to Do

If there were a Top Ten list of things a person could do to be a responsible pet owner, spaying or neutering your pet would be at the top of the list. Why is spaying (surgery for female animals) or neutering (surgery for male animals) the responsible thing to do? Here are several reasons:

1. It helps reduce companion animal over population. Did you know an unspayed female cat, her mate, and all of their offspring, producing two litters per year, with 2.8 surviving kittens per litter, can add up to 370,092 animals over seven years? This is a conservative estimate, since cats can have more than two litters per year. Most of these animals will not find homes. Many will die as they struggle to survive on their own, or may be euthanized when shelters become overcrowded.

2. Spaying or neutering your pet will help them have a longer, healthier life. A dog's life can be extended by 1-3 years, a cats by 3-5 years. Altered animals have a very low or no risk of mammary gland tumors/cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian and testicular cancer, and uterine cancer.

3. Altering your cat or dog makes them a better pet by reducing their urge to roam and decreasing the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt when they roam.

For more information on local resources to assist with getting your cat or dog spayed or neutered, go to: http://hatsweb.org/spay.html.