Summer: A Pet Survival Guide

Fleas

The warm Summer and Autumn months are ideal for these unwelcome visitors! A female flea lays as many as 50 eggs per day on your pet! that’s about 1,500 eggs in her lifetime! Warning signs which may indicate a flea infestation include:

• Black specks on your pet or in your pet's bed could be flea dirt, which is dried blood excreted by the adult fleas.
• Tapeworms - Dipylidium canium. If the flea happens to be ingested by your pet whilst grooming, a tapeworm is released and continues to develop into the adult worm within the intestine of your pet.
• Agitations/scratching - your pet will become very restless, annoyed and will scratch excessively, this can lead to a severe dermatitis especially along the back area.

Effective, safe products for flea control are available from your veterinary surgeon.

Ticks

Ticks are second only to mosquitoes throughout the world in transmitting infectious disease to humans and animals.

Ticks may act locally to cause irritation and inflammation as well as transmitting diseases such as Lymes and Ehrlichiosis. Both diseases are already endemic in this country, are transmitted by Ixodes ricinus, the most common UK tick and both have zoonotic potential (the potential to infect man).

When travelling in Europe with your pet, be aware that there are several different species of ticks and many other exotic diseases your pet can bring back such as Babesiosis (a life threatening anaemia which may need a transfusion).

Your pet's risk of contracting these diseases can be reduced by regularly applying licensed tick and flea products available from your vet. If you believe that your pet is suffering from any of the above conditions, consult your veterinary surgeon, and advise the vet if your pet has been to Europe.

Hot Dogs!

A dog regulates body temperature primarily through respiration as they cannot sweat like we do. Clinical signs include excessive panting, a fast heart rate and a muddy coloured gums; without treatment fitting and a coma will follow. Normal body temperature is 101.5°F, once over 105°F a number of physiologic events can occur that make it even more difficult for the animal to regain control of its temperature. If the temperature exceeds 108F, irreversible cellular damage starts to occur.

Heat stroke is an emergency that requires veterinary assistance, but you should initiate treatment in most cases:

• Submersion of the dog in cool water will start to bring the temperature down quickly. Avoid extremely cold water or ice since they cause the blood vessels in the skin to constrict. The groin area has large numbers of superficial vessels that will allow for more rapid cooling of the blood. The dog should be in a well-ventilated, shady area to allow for evaporation of the water.
• Evaporation cools body temperatures very effectively. Keep the air conditioner on or the windows open.

Keeping their Cool

Everyone is aware of the risks of having a dog in a vehicle in the summer, but there are some less obvious risk factors that we all need to be aware of. Even moderate environmental temperatures can be very significant when there is little or no ventilation. Factors increasing your animals susceptibility are obesity, brachycephalic breeds (short nosed), dehydration and very old, sick or young animals.

Always consider leaving your pet at home on very hot days but if you have to travel ensure constant access to cold water and open windows for ventilation or switch on the air conditioning. Remember that even if you leave your car in a shaded area the sun will move and the temperature will rise rapidly.

Sunburn

A type of sunburn commonly affects cats with white ear tips and white noses. This condition develops over a number of years, starting with reddened looking skin and progresses through to solar dermatitis with scab formation and finally to squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer. Applying a waterproof, sensitive total sunblock daily will help prevent this. If you think your cat has any of these symptoms contact your vet straight away.

Fly Strike and Rabbits

In the summer and early Autumn your pet bunny is at risk from maggots which hatch from the eggs of blowflies. Eggs can be laid within minutes of exposure and hatch in a matter of hours depending on the temperature. Rabbits with wounds or soiled hindquarters are most at risk. Ensure you check your rabbit for eggs and soreness twice a day and keep the living areas clean and dry. Preventative products are available from your local vet.