Dog Care

Below are some summer dog care tips we’ve compiled to help make life for both you and your dog happier and healthier.

Problems with Fleas

Biting and scratching on your dog’s lower back, tail, and abdomen are the most common signs of flea infestation and a dermatitis will often flare up in these areas. Eggs may be laid on your dog but usually fall off the dog and into the environment where conditions are right for them to develop into adult fleas. Consequently, it is possible to have a serious flea problem although you have only identified a few fleas on your dog. Egg and larval stages can survive in your home all year and in your yard from spring through late fall (even year long in warmer climates).

Flea control involves treatment of the pet and the environment by means of shampoos, sprays, dips, spot-ons, powders, oral medications and collars. Your vet can recommend the most appropriate flea prevention/treatment program to ensure good dog care. Fleas also carry tapeworms so be sure to ask your vet to check your dog for these intestinal parasites as well.

Ticks

Ticks are another parasite that are a common problem for your dog during the warmer summer months. Ticks are not only an irritant and nuisance to your dog but may also transmit several debilitating diseases. Many flea treatment and prevention products will also help with control of ticks.

Additional dog care tips include suggestions that owners of dogs with substantial exposure to ticks should also ask their vet’s advice about the Lyme disease vaccination. It is also suggested that you consult your vet to show you the proper way to remove ticks from your dog (it is not a good idea to try to do it yourself).

Heart worm Disease

Heart worms are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes and can potentially be fatal to your dog. Have your dog tested for heart worms by your vet and ask about recommendations for heart worm preventatives which are often easy and inexpensive to provide. The fact that your dog only goes outside to urinate and defecate does not eliminate the risk of this disease. Mosquitoes are everywhere, so provide good dog care and protect your dog from them!

Pesticides and Lawn Care Products

Many products are potentially toxic to your dog. Be sure to store pesticides and lawn care products where your dog cannot access them. After treating lawns and outside areas, restrict your dog from these areas until exposure danger has passed (check product labels for details). Remember that many types of summer foliage can also be toxic to your dog. Do your best to prevent your dog from having access to eat any potentially harmful plants.

Housing and Travel

High temperatures are no more comfortable for your dog than they are for you. Heat prostration is a common cause of summer illness that can kill many beloved pets each year. If your dog spends a substantial part of its day outside, be sure that you provide a cool, shady spot for it to escape the heat and plenty of cool, clean water to drink. Some of the worst summer tragedies involve pets that are left in vehicles in the sun with the windows partially or even completely rolled up. Temperatures inside a car rapidly climb to more than one hundred degrees and can cause death sometimes in as little as ten minutes!

For more information visit http://www.animal-world.com.