YOUR PET AND HOT WEATHER - BE SAFE
According to the AAA, if it's 85 degrees outdoors, in 15 minutes your car's dashboard can heat
up to 170 degrees - even if you leave the windows cracked open. Leaving a pet unattended in a car
is now illegal in many places. Just remember that heat stroke in dogs can nearly always be avoided.
For more tips on traveling with your pet in a car go to
www.pettravel.com/passports_travel_by_car.cfm.
Monitor your pet's exercise in the summer. Some dogs know enough to stop playing endless
fetch games when they're too hot, but others keep on going. Dogs are not capable of cooling
themselves as efficiently as people. So, on very hot days, play with your dog outdoors early
in the morning, or after sunset.
Big dogs and those with pushed-in noses, like pugs, Shih Tzus, and Pekinese, are most susceptible
to heat stroke. Dogs with light-colored coats stay a little cooler than those with darker coats.
One fun way to cool your dog down is with the garden hose. A kiddie pool works for small or
mid-sized dogs. Don't forget to keep the water dish filled with cool, fresh water while outside
with your dog on hot summer days.
Some dogs actually get hotter today than days of past because they are not acclimated to the outdoors.
Many pampered pups spend their time inactive in front of the air conditioner, not outside like their
grandparents were.
During a heat wave, give your dog a frozen treat. Freeze chicken bouillon cubes in an ice-cube tray.
Keep the ceiling fans on. Moisten your pet's bandana and lightly freeze it for cooling the neck.
Always provide shade for your pet. Temperature levels can be 10-15 degrees cooler in the shade.
SO YOUR PET GOT TOO NEAR A SKUNK - WHAT TO DO?
First, get a clothespin… for your nose.
Next, scrub your pet with a solution of 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon
of liquid dish soap. Then, rinse thoroughly. Now, scrub with a solution of a quart of tomato juice
and a quart of water - and, rinse again. Finally, go out to dinner while the odor subsides. |
