Posts Tagged: Pet Safety

If you’re one of those jolly types that starts humming Christmas carols long before December, you’ve probably already envisioned how you want to spend the holidays with your pet. There’s so much more to do together than ever before, thanks in large part to the growing acceptance of pets in public places. This means loads of choices regarding how best to spend your time together this holiday season. If you need a little help narrowing down the list, we’ve got some ideas on how to joyfully (and safely) spend the holidays with your pet.

As a general rule, pets adopted from animal shelters are already microchipped. Because the practice occurs prior to adoption, and the chip is hidden beneath the skin, it’s possible to forget that it exists. Until, that is, a pet’s chip is called upon to identify their owner. A practice with an enormous impact on both pets and people, microchipping your pet sets the standard for responsible pet ownership.

If there’s one thing that Texans know, it’s how to survive the heat. Learn how to prepare your pet for hot days, too, with Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital’s favorite tips for summer pet safety. 

Summer Pet Safety Considerations

When enjoying time with your pet this summer, it is a good idea to be aware of potential pitfalls that can ruin your good time. Take notice of:

• Table scraps at outing and barbeques
• Motor vehicles
• Unattended swimming spots that can be drowning hazards or harbor algae
• Dirty water that can irritate the skin or cause gastrointestinal problems
• Parasites like fleas and heartworms
• Sunburn
• Damage to paws from hot pavement, sand, etc.
• Overheating

How to Prepare Your Pet for Hot Days

Pets can become acclimated to the heat. Allowing them to have short, supervised stints outdoors can help them to gradually tolerate longer outings.

If you are wondering how long your pet can stay out in the sun, the answer can vary quite a bite among individuals. Pets that are overweight, very old, very young, have a short nose, or have health problems are at greatest risk of heat exhaustion. Choosing to center your activities around the cooler parts of the day is helpful. 

Avoid shaving your double-coated pet. Fur provides protection from the sun, and, believe it or not, actually insulates against the heat.

Any time you head outdoors with your pet, be sure that they have access to shade or shelter and a supply of cool, fresh water. Never leave your pet outdoors unattended for any length of time and remember that even a minute alone in a vehicle is too long.

Heat exhaustion, or heat stroke, is a very real danger for pets in the summer months. It can have devastating consequences.

It is important to recognize early signs that your pet may be overheating. As body temperature rises, animals often:

• Become restless 
• Pant
• Have increased heart and respiratory rates 
• Drool
• Experience vomiting or diarrhea

If you notice these things, it is definitely time to get your pet out of the heat. Unchecked, these symptoms can progress to weakness, incoordination, gasping for air, seizures, coma, and even death.

It is important to contact us immediately if you are concerned that your pet may be overheated. Cool towels may be placed under the belly and on the paws to help bring the body’s temperature down, but the animal must be treated by a professional as soon as possible.

Keep yourself and your pets cool this summer and avoid an emergency situation. A little planning can help to avert a major crisis.

March 20-26 is National Animal Poison Prevention Week. As an opportunity to raise awareness of all the possibilities out there (in nearly every household, neighborhood, or situation), this is a crucial moment in time. Pets are exposed to all sorts of toxins and highly vulnerable to their far-reaching and widespread effects. Pet owners and veterinary professionals share the obligation to prevent terrible outcomes, and pet poison prevention week is the perfect time to focus on animal welfare and pet safety. 

“I want to take my pet to the emergency hospital for the holidays!” said no one ever. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here for you with all of our pet safety tips for the holidays to help keep things merry and bright and far away from the animal hospital. 

It’s Pet Diabetes Month, and what better time for Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital to take a minute and remind our pet loving readers how to be sure that they have a healthy pet? A good pet wellness plan can help to prevent pet diabetes as well as many other health issues.

If you have known anyone who has lost a pet, you know the extreme heartbreak that ensues is incomparable to anything else. Because pets are naturally curious and want to explore their surroundings, it is important to ensure that they have a way to be found if they become lost. The quick solution is to apply a pet collar with an ID tag, however, these can easily break, fall off, or can be removed by others. 

Though it is hard to believe, approximately 10 million cats and dogs are lost or stolen each year. Microchips are a permanent ID solution that has helped countless families reunite with their fluffy loved ones. 

Our veterinary team would be happy to help explain more about the benefits of microchipping at your initial visit. In the meantime, here are some of the microchip basics.

Your pet doesn’t care about Valentine’s Day, but what doesn’t escape their notice comes in a heart-shaped box. Indeed, chocolates are ubiquitous this time of year and pets have a certain proclivity for seeking them out. Once you put away all the goodies, what’s left? You can still celebrate this annual celebration of love by making your very own DIY pet treats. With our recipes for heart-shaped yummies, your pet can safely participate in the holiday. You might even be surprised at how satisfied your pet will be!

Super Bowl parties are typically full of loud noises, lots of people, and lots of tempting food. While fun for humans, they can be a stressful and hazardous environment for your pets. Even for pets who enjoy spending time around lots of people, too much excitement can be nerve-racking and cause anxiety. For pet owners looking to throw a party, the team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital has put together these pet safety Super Bowl party tips. 

The pets we share our lives with are pretty predictable (despite significant evidence to the contrary), but then again, so are we. Whether bi-pedal or four-legged, we like certain things to happen at particular moments of the day, or week, or month. Creatures, as it were, of habit.