Pets afraid of the Arizona Monsoons

THE MONSOONS. TIPS FOR PETS WHO ARE AFRAID OF STORMS

Copyright Visual Harmony Photography

The Monsoons are here once again!

Is your Dog or Cat afraid of the Monsoon Noises? Many pets are. In fact some pets are so afraid that they need help from their veterinarian by taking a prescription sedative! Whatever you do, do not ever give your pet anything without seeing your veterinarian first! If your pet is so afraid and you’ve tried everything, then you may want to schedule an appointment to see if your vet can help.

Here are some Az Pet Experts Tips for the upcoming Storm Season.

If your pet/s is afraid, try these simple solutions.

• Desensitize or counter conditioning: you can do this by creating loud noises and making sure your pet gets a treat during these times assuring him that Loud is OK. You can buy a tape of Thunderstorms and play them periodically during the week. Start off with a low volume and eventually work your way up. This will help to condition your pet to respond in a Non-Fearful 
• way to noises that once scared him.
• Play Time” playing your pet’s favorite INDOOR game at the onset of the storm will help him prepare for the worst. Hopefully he will be able to associate that during a storm is when it is time to have fun inside! Give lots of Positive Reinforcement during this time inside.
• Calming tricks: while you go about your business with the thunder and lightning booming outside, maybe even singing and whistling, will convey to your pet that you don’t think it is a big deal.
• Create a “Safe Place” for him to go to. This can be a quite bathroom or bedroom, preferably the one farthest from windows and the quietest. A good rule of thumb to pick your pets “Safe Place” is to watch where your pet goes when he is frightened. Just because you think the bathroom is the “Safe Place”, doesn’t necessarily mean your pet does. If your pet hides under the bed like mine does, then make sure that your pet has access to that room. If you pet hides in blankets, or clothes on the floor, let him. Place a food and water bowl to assure him that he has 
• picked a safe and happy place to go when he is afraid. Make sure you do not confine your pet, let them come and go. Some pets need to be able to stay active when they are fearful. Hiding doesn’t always work for all cats and dogs.
• Crate Training. Some dogs do better if they are in their safe and sound Crate. Remember, dogs are Den Dwelling Animals; this is a good place to them.
• Turn on a Radio, Tv or Fan to help drown out the noise.

Most of all, Reassure your pet that you will be inside with them throughout the storm. Make yourself visible. If your pet needs you to hold him, then hold him. You can still implement or try any of the above examples.  Even puppies and kittens that start out not afraid can develop the fearfulness at an older age, so make sure to always notice how your pet is acting throughout storm season.

For even more…. Check out the Thunder Shirt! Just go to www.thundershirt.com

The Thunder shirt uses gentle, constant pressure to calm your dog, effectively aiding anxiety, fearfulness, barking and more.

Today there are even additional items to help calm a fearful pet, like the soft Happy Hoodie that goes around their head and ears.

Az Pet Professionals were given permission to use the following pictures by Happy Hoodies/Zoni Pets LLC.

Wishing you luck through the entire Monsoon Season!

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Protecting your dog in the hot summer

How to protect our dogs in the Summer Heat

Fur coats are hot! 
Fur provides some amount of protection from the sun but thick fur prevents body heat from escaping and promotes overheating. It’s a myth that shaving a dog’s coat makes him hotter. Shaving it to the skin can make him vulnerable to sunburn but cutting the fur to about one inch can help him stay cooler. If you don’t want to shave him brush as much undercoat as you can out and be sure no solid mats are there to trap heat and moisture.

Here are several Az Pet Experts Tips on protecting pets in the heat this summer. 

· Don’t walk or run your dog in the heat. That may seem obvious but we see it every day in the Arizona scorching heat! Try to take early morning short walks or late evening walks.

· Never, Ever, Ever keep your pets in parked cars! Or children for that matter!

· Be prepared for travel emergencies. What are some things that could happen if your car broke down while traveling with your pet and while you waited you used your only bottle of water? Try this:

· Try bringing a cooler with ice.

· Bring a battery powered fan.

· Have a towel that you can soak in the melted part of the ice in the cooler and place it over your pet’s head and/or body. 

Cooling an overheated Dog at home
We are all human. Even the worst mistakes can happen to people with good intentions. In today’s society we all have busy schedules, always on the go, and people forget when they rush. It can be a true tragedy. If you inadvertently leave your dog outside and find him overheated there are a few things you can do at home:

Move him indoors and cool him down slowly. Don’t plunge an overheated dog into ice water! This is usually what most people think they should do. This causes the peripheral blood vessels to contract actually trapping the overheated blood at the body’s core — just where it does most harm.  Instead, cool the dog slowly by placing him in cool water or by draping him with wet towels and aiming a fan at him. Offer him plenty of cool water. If you have a thermometer, cool him until his temperature reaches 103 degrees F (39 degrees C), then stop as it will continue to decline. As soon as you have him cooling transport him to us so we can monitor him. Even if he appears to have recovered he needs to go to the veterinarian because some delayed but deadly effects can still occur even days later.

Not All Dogs Can Swim!
Although swimming is a great exercise in warm weather make sure your dog can swim first! Some breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and Pekingese, have the swimming ability of cinder blocks. Even good swimmers can drown in backyard pools if they don’t know where the steps are to climb out. Be cautious of your dog swallowing too much pool water that could aspirate into his lungs. Never leave your dog un-attended around the pool. 


Dogs and UV Rays
Dogs, especially light-skinned dogs and white dogs, can get sunburn and melanoma cancer just like people can. If your dog likes to be in the sun rub a sun block on his belly and the top of his nose, the most common sites for sunburn. Most sun block is safe especially if you put it in places he cannot lick. Distract him for several minutes after you apply the sun block. 

IF IT’S TOO HOT FOR YOUR FEET IT’S TOO HOT FOR YOUR PETS!

 

Thanks pet parents! We will continue to provide articles, tips and links to help you and your pets survive the hot summer!

Kim

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Pet dangers in the Summer

Summer pet dangers in Arizona 

 

 1.Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke in Dogs 

Fact: dogs do not sweat. Their only means to cooling off is by panting.

If panting does not reduce the body temperature the pet will develop Heat Stroke. The longer hair coat your dog has the more heat it holds. You can clip your dog’s hair coat short but not too short as they can also get sun burn and it acts as an insulator!

The color of your dogs coat also has an impact on his ability to reflect the sun’s rays. Black dogs of course absorb more of the sun’s rays than lighter colored coats.

What triggers Heat Exhaustion?

· age and condition of pet (overweight, geriatric)
· breed
· hair coat
· climate and duration of being kept outside in hot weather

The older dog, the younger dog and the short muzzled (brachycephalic) are among the highest at risk.

Short muzzled dogs include the Boxer, the Boston terrier, Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Pekingese, Shihtzus, Lhasas, Pugs, and many more.

If you own a short muzzled dog they should remain indoor pets in the heat! Heat Exhaustion can happen while you are out on a walk or in your own backyard. Short muzzled dogs do not have long enough air passages which can makes it difficult to breathe well. If overheated they can start to panic causing even more breathing difficulty!

Playful Puppies and adults dogs run around their backyards until they are tired and often don’t realize their bodies are already overheating! If they run around until they are overheated they may not make it back to the house for you to notice there is something not right with them!

Dog’s feet can burn too! If you need to exercise your dog it is best to do it in the early am hours before the sun becomes hot or the later evenings when the sun is going down.

FYI: the old, but truthful saying is:

“If the sidewalk is too hot for your feet, then it’s too hot for your pets. “

FYI:  Do dog’s like to run alongside a bike in the middle of the day in 100 plus temps?

“Dog’s are not having fun running next to your bike in 110 degree weather and they are in danger of heat stroke, exhaustion and collapse! “

What are the first signs of Heat Exhaustion? 

• Excessive Panting
• Rapid Breathing
• The skin on the inside of the ears becomes flushed and red.
• Bright red Mucous Membranes
• Noticeable agitation and distress
• Heat Exhaustion can quickly turn into Heat Stroke as indicated by the following:
• Weakness
• Staggering
• Muscle Tremors
• Fainting and/or loss of consciousness

If you’re pet shows any of the signs above you will need to to cool him down rapidly!

Spray your dog down with cool water. Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the dogs head. Place cool, wet towels over him and transport your pet to the nearest Veterinary Hospital ASAP!

We here about the tragedies every year. So please, in the heat of the summer limit your dog’s time outside. Make sure he is supervised and not forgotten! Be sure to provide shade and have available a constant water supply. Before you leave your house do a head count of all animals! It is easy to get sidetracked and forget a pet outside in today’s busy world!

Some dogs like to ride in cars but don’t, even for a second, leave your dog in a parked car in the Arizona summer time! If you do you may be charged with Animal Cruelty! The inside Temperature of a parked car can reach 105 degrees in less than 10 minutes!

2. POOL SAFETY!

Arizona has pools everywhere! If you have a new dog or puppy from the winter months it is very important to start familiarizing them now with pool safety! They may not even know what a swimming pool is! Your old and blind dog should never be outside without supervision!

If the pool hasn’t been used in the winter months it is easy to forget that your pet may not know what to do. Seeing his human family splashing around might entice him into jumping in. Make sure he knows what to do once he is in the pool. Dogs need to know where the steps are and how to get back out! Thank you for being a responsible pet owner!

Not only are dogs susceptible but cats are too. Cats have been known to be snoopy when outside. Sneaking into opened garage doors, opened shed doors and more.

So this summer please remember not only your own pets during the summer but all pets you see that could be in danger from being left outside or locked in a parked car, a garage, a shed or anywhere else! Keep your eyes opened when you walk through a parking lot and listen for any barking. You may just save a life from a reckless pet owner. Thanks pet friends!

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IS YOUR PET AFRAID OF THUNDER STORMS?

     THE MONSOON SEASON IS BACK!

Is your pet afraid of storms?

TIPS FOR PETS WHO ARE AFRAID OF STORMS

Is your Dog or Cat afraid of the Monsoon Noises? Loud thunder, lightening and wind? Here are some Tips for this summers storm season.

If your pet/s are afraid, try these simple solutions.

· Desensitize or counter conditioning: you can do this by creating loud noises and making sure your pet gets a treat during these times assuring him that Loud is OK.

You can buy a tape of Thunderstorms and play them periodically during the week. Start off with a low volume and eventually work your way up. This will help to condition your pet to respond in a Non-Fearful way to noises that once scared him.

· Play Time” playing your pet’s favorite INDOOR game at the onset of the storm will help him prepare for the worst. Hopefully he will be able to associate that during a storm is when it is time to have fun inside! Give lots of Positive Reinforcement during this time inside.

· Calming tricks: while you go about your business with the thunder and lightning booming outside, maybe even singing and whistling, will convey to your pet that you don’t think it is a big deal.

· Create a “Safe Place” for him to go to. This can be a quite bathroom or bedroom, preferably the one farthest from windows and the quietest. A good rule of thumb to pick your pets “Safe Place” is to watch where your pet goes when he is frightened. Just because you think the bathroom is the “Safe Place”, doesn’t necessarily mean your pet does. If your pet hides under the bed like mine does, then make sure that your pet has access to that room. If you pet hides in blankets, or clothes on the floor, let him. Place a food and water bowl to assure him that he has picked a safe and happy place to go when he is afraid. Make sure you do not confine your pet, let them come and go. Some pets need to be able to stay active when they are fearful. Hiding doesn’t always work for all cats and dogs.


· Crate Training. Some dogs do better if they are in their safe and sound crate. Remember, dogs are Den Dwelling Animals; this is a good place to  many of them.

· Turn on a Radio, TV or Fan to help drown out the noise.

Most of all, Reassure your pet that you will be inside with them throughout the storm. Make yourself visible. If your pet needs you to hold him, then hold him. You can still implement or try any of the above examples. Even puppies and kittens that start out not afraid can develop the fearfulness at an older age, so make sure to always notice how your pet is acting throughout storm season.

For even more…. Check out the Thunder Shirt! Just go to www.thundershirt.com. The Thunder shirt uses gentle, constant pressure to calm your dog, effectively aiding anxiety, fearfulness, barking and more. If you don’t have time for to purchase one you can always use a blanket and cuddle or some pets even like wearing one of your non-constricting T-Shirts. If you do that, please make sure you don’t leave your pet alone while wearing it.

Good Luck! Hoping the Storm Season Passes soon and without a hitch for your pets!

KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE IN THE SUMMER HEAT

How to protect our dogs in the Summer Heat

· Fur coats can be hot! Fur provides some amount of protection from the sun, but thick fur prevents body heat from escaping and promotes overheating. It’s a myth that shaving a dog’s coat makes him hotter. Shaving it to the skin can make him vulnerable to sunburn, but cutting the fur to about one inch can help him stay cooler. If you don’t want to shave him, brush as much undercoat as you can out, and be sure no solid mats are there to trap heat and moisture.

· Don’t walk or run your dog in the heat. Take early morning, short walks or late evening walks

· Keep your dogs out of parked cars!

· Be prepared for travel emergencies. What are some things that could happen if your car broke down while traveling with your pet and while you waited, you used your only bottle of water?

· Try bringing a cooler with ice

· Bring a battery powered fan

· Have a towel that you can soak in the melted part of the ice in the cooler and place it over your pet’s head and/or body

· Cooling a over heated Dog at home. We are all human. Even the worst mistakes can happen to good people. Busy schedules, on the go, people can forget and it can be a true tragedy. If you accidentally leave your dog outside and find him overheated there are a few things you can do at home:

 Move him indoors and cool him down slowly. Don’t plunge an overheated dog into ice water! This is usually what most people think they should do. This causes the peripheral blood vessels to contract, actually trapping the overheated blood at the body’s core — just where it does most harm. 

Instead, cool the dog slowly by placing him in cool water, or by draping him with wet towels and aiming a fan at him. Offer him plenty of cool water. If you have a thermometer, cool him until his temperature reaches 103 degrees F (39 degrees C), then stop, as it will continue to decline. As soon as you have him cooling, race him to the veterinarian. Even if he appears to have recovered, he needs to go to the veterinarian because some delayed but deadly effects can still occur even days later.

· Not All Dogs Can Swim! Although swimming is a great exercise in warm weather, make sure your dog can swim first! Some breeds, such as bulldogs, French bulldogs and Pekingese, have the swimming ability of cinder blocks. Even good swimmers can drown in backyard pools if they don’t know where the steps are to climb out. Be cautious of your dog swallowing too much pool water that could aspirate into his lungs. Never leave your dog un-attended around the pool.

· Dogs and UV Rays. Dogs, especially light-skinned dogs and white dogs, can get sunburn and melanoma cancer just like people can. If your dog likes to be in the sun, rub a sun block on his belly and the top of his nose, the most common sites for sunburn. Most sun block is safe especially if you put it in places he cannot lick. Distract him for several minutes after you apply the sun block.

Thank you for visiting our Blog, letting us care for your fur family and thank you for being responsible pet owners! To schedule your pet’s exam call 480-987-4555