Stay Cool, Avoid Heat Stroke

Ain't summer great?!!  It offers all those wonderful outdoor activities that our pets can join in with us!  However, I would like to be sure you are aware of the dangers hot weather can pose, as well as a few special situations that you may not have considered.

There are two categories of dogs (and cats, although, due to lifestyle, cats are generally at lower risk than dogs)  I would consider at increased risk for heat stroke by man's design.  Bracheocephalic dogs (you know, the ones whose eyes are even with the end of their noses) are not as efficient at dissipating heat through their respiratory system (panting).  Panting is the major mechanism in cooling a dog's body.  The second category is that of the dogs bred to tolerate cold climates.  These animals have thick, heavy coats.  Dark colored coats will also enhance heat absorption.

The very young or very old pet is certainly more sensitive to extremes in temperature.  Young animals do not have fully developed thermoregulatory mechanisms.  Those at the other end of the age spectrum do not generate or lose heat as readily.

The health status of an animal will contribute significantly to its ability to tolerate heat.  Examples are respiratory tract disorders, cardiovascular (heart) disease, obesity, previous episodes of heat stroke, hyperthyroidism, neurological disorders, certain medications, and obesity (I know I mentioned obesity twice, but there are so many overweight pets!)  If you think your pet fits any of these criteria, consult your veterinarian for advice.

Most importantly, in our humid climate, we have to consider the environment.  First and foremost, cars and hot weather are a deadly combination.  If the mercury climbs above 70 degrees and Fido must stay in a parked car, leave him at home.  While at home, if your dog is the outdoorsy type, provide free access to fresh water and well-ventilated shade.  Remember, just because an area is shady in the morning, it is not necessarily so in the afternoon, and vice versa.  High humidity can contribute to heat stress as well.  Your dog also needs proper acclimation to the heat.  Activity should be in the early morning or late evening, especially if your dog is not in good physical condition.

Finally, any combination of the aforementioned risk factors increases your pet's risk, so if your companion is a 14-year-old obese Pekingese with a cardiac condition who has an affinity for sleeping twenty hours a day on a sofa, beware!

I hope this information is useful and helps make our warm Wisconsin summer more tolerable for man and beast.  If you are concerned about your pets' particular situation, contact your veterinarian.  Be cool and safe.

Brian C. Ray, DVM

Thoughts on Nutrition

We often stress to our clients the importance of preventative medicine, and good nutrition is one of the easiest ways to insure a healthy pet.  Many problems we see can be helped with a better diet.

One of the easiest things we can do is feed dry food, which, along with regular home care, will help decrease dental disease.  Pets that are fed canned food need more dentals (and this will cost you more money).

An easy pitfall that many people fall into is to buy inexpensive pet food to save money.  In reality, though, these foods end up costing you more money over the course of a year.  These foods are inexpensive because many of the ingredients are cheap fillers.  More fillers equates to your pet eating more on a daily basis, which means more pet food per year than with premium diets.  (This also means more stools to pick up, and who wants to do that?)

We also have to consider the ingredients.  There is no reason that your pet's food needs sugar, sucrose, or corn syrup.  These are just sweetners that make poor food taste better.  Another unnecessary ingredient is food coloring.  This is just added to make the food look better to us.

Feeding premium diets provides better teeth, skin and liver function, and it is cheaper on a yearly basis.  It all starts when that new puppy or kitten becomes part of our family.  Feeding the appropriate puppy or kitten food will go a long way toward providing a lifetime of proper nutrition.

Todd Whitney, DVM

How To Be An Informed Owner

Zoonosis (zo-o-no-sis).  Not a very pretty word, now is it?  Wait 'til you know what it means!!  The World Health Organization definition is: "Those diseases or infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate mammals and man."  For our purposes, dogs and cats to humans, and specifically for this article, problems associated with parasites.  As veterinarians, we take an oath not only to maintain the health of animals, but through our activities to also ensure that interactions between pets and people is not a public health concern.  But we need your help.  In the following lines, we will discuss these concerns and how to avoid becoming a victim of zoonosis.

Most of the parasites we are familiar with are those living in our pets' intestines.  Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, giardia and coccideosis are all potential human pathogens.  The diseases are past in a fecal oral route.  I don't mean a poop sandwich, but minute particles of feces on our pets, in their mouths (have you seen the places your pet can reach?), in the soil, standing water, our floors, carpets, upholstery, bed linens, etc. etc. etc.  Multiply this by the many thousands of eggs shed daily by parasites and their ability to survive years in the environment under the harshest of circumstances.  It paints a daunting picture.  So what can we do?  Number one; stop the shedding of eggs into the environment.  Have your puppy or kitten dewormed, have adult pets' stool tested regularly (every 6 months), and use monthly products to prevent infestation.  (Heartworm preventatives are very effective.)  Pick up feces in the yard and litter box daily.  Wash hands and fruits and veggies.  Don't go barefoot, and do not drink water not known to be for human consumption.

The other important groups of parasites are those that live on the outside of the pet, specifically fleas and ticks.  Pets and people get tapeworms from ingesting fleas.  We are all aware of the threat of Lyme disease from ticks which can also spread related diseases of Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  If our pets are free of external parasites, then we reduce our own exposure.  Avoidance is simple due to the monthly flea and tick products currently available.  These products should be applied as early in the pet's life as the label allows and then used monthly forever!

Also, remember that our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. are most at risk and, as with so many other things in life, they depend on us to protect them.  Please help us help you keep the relationship between you and your pet a healthy one.  Bring us gifts of poop whenever you come to see us, and take parasite control seriously for the well being of both the pet and the human members of your family.

Brian C. Ray, DVM