Summer Health Concerns For Dogs

feature 1, heat, Summer, heat, summer - By Staff Writer on Monday, June 14, 2010 - 14:56

Summer is a great time for dogs to run and play, but as temperatures rise you need to make sure your dog is safe and healthy.  Below are a few of the common health issues dogs encounter in the summer season.

Dehydration
Three-fourths of a dog’s body weight is water and even a minor loss in water level can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is serious and can lead to heat stroke. Signs of dehydration are:

• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Sunken, dry eyes
• Dry mouth tissues
• Increased heart rate
• Slow capillary refill time (color should return to gums immediately after pressure is applied)
• Loss of skin elasticity (in the skin turgor test, skin on the back should return immediately to normal position when pulled up and released)

If you think your dog is dehydrated do the following:

• Take it to a cool location
• Give it cool water and an electrolyte pack if available
• If symptoms are severe rush it to a vet

It is always best to prevent dehydration by making sure your dog has adequate water at all times, so make sure to bring some to the dog park or on walks with you.

Heat Stroke
This is when your dog’s body temperature rises well above what it should normally be causing hypothermia. A body temperature of over 107° can lead to
sudden death or severe illness. Be watchful of your dog in the summer, particularly when it is humid, and never leave it in a car or unventilated place in direct sun. If you think your dog is experiencing heat stroke, take it immediately to the vet for treatment.

Sunburn
You think you are the only one who needs that sunblock? Think again!!
Dogs get sun burns also, and just like with humans this increases their risk of skin cancercancer is a group of diseases caused by cells that transform from normal cells into malignant ones. The malignant cells grow and form tumors and can shed and travel to other areas of the body. When they do travel and spread in other areas they are said to metastasize. These cells draw nutrients and disrupt the normal functioning of the body which can ultimately lead to death..
Dogs with lighter, thinner or no hair are most likely to get a burn but any dog can get one particularly on their nose or tips of the ears. We suggest you slather some SPF 15 on your
pup when you are coating yourself and not keep Fido out in the sun for extended periods of time. The sun is the strongest between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

Paw Burn
As the temperature rises, sidewalks and asphalt get hot and can lead to
your four-legged friend getting a paw burn. We suggest you test the sidewalk yourself
before you take Max out for a long walk. Rule of thumb is if it’s too hot for you it’s too hot
for him! If he looks like he is limping he may have a burn and need to be carried to the vet,
check his paws carefully.
 

Giardia – Summertime is the time for giardia to flourish and it is not uncommon to have outbreaks in neighborhoods and dog runs. Giardia is a protozoa or single celled organism that lives in the intestines. Some dogs are carriers and show no symptoms while others become ill from it. If your dog is experiencing diarrhea, bloody or mucousy stool, take him to the vet to be tested and treated if needed. Because it is transmitted through the stool it is very important that everyone cleans up after their dog, always – never leave home without your poop bag!

Fleas, Ticks and Mites
Dogs can share more then just slobber and dirt in the dog parks, they can transfer external parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites which can transmit all sorts of diseases. We suggest speaking to your vet about protecting your dog from these gross little creatures. If your dog does get a tick, you can find out how to remove it properly

Heartworm 
Like malaria heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes.  The parasitic worm lives in the right ventricle of the heart and can cause serious illness and death. By the time signs and symptoms begin to show might already be too late. It is extremely important you talk to your vet protection.

Hotspots
Common in the summer, these patches of moist eczema are typically round in shape red swollen without hair, ooze fluid and are incredibly itchy  They occur when normal bacteria builds up and cause an infection on the skin. Hotspots can arise quickly and are caused by matted dead hair, allergies, or behavior. We recommend you keep your pups well groomed in the summer and even shaved if Fluffy has a tendency to get them. In the event that your pooch does get one, we suggest you take him to the vet ASAP for some antibiotics to prevent the spread of the infection as the itch will cause dogs to chew them to the p point of self-mutilation.