These are also days where we not only have to start transitioning our personal wardrobe and start spring cleaning but we also think about our family's safety during these upcoming hot and sunny months. This should include preparing for our pet's care as well.
Recently, I was out doing yard work for the first big landscaping project of the season – weeding, edging, tilling, etc. While doing yard work I normally allow my little dog, Marty McFly, to supervise. Marty enjoys lying out and sunning himself while I do all the work. But Marty also sunburns easily. Yes, he has fur, but he also has a very naked belly which I protect with low SPF sunblock to prevent a nasty sunburn each time we are out in the sun.
Marty also seems to have a hypersensitivity to my lawn. He breaks out with intense itching the day after yard work if I don't make him stay off of the grass. This itching can lead to secondary skin infections, so that means that my dog gets to lie out on a beach towel with sunscreen on a regular basis.
Admittedly, most people don't have a sensitive little flower for a dog like I do. However, it is still important to keep our pets' needs in mind as the good weather brings with it specific health risks and concerns.
Among other things, nice weather carries with it increasing pollen counts, which can cause allergic reactions in dogs and cats. Our pets don't often have the itchy, watery eyes and sneezing that pollens cause in humans with hayfever or seasonal allergies. Instead, our pets often exhibit seasonal allergies with flare ups of skin diseases – hair loss, itching, licking, ear problems and skin infections. Itchy dogs and cats are commonly seen in our veterinary clinics beginning this time of year.
Insects and spiders can also cause allergic reactions in our pets. These reactions can happen quickly, just as in people who have allergies to bee stings or spider bites. Facial swelling, difficulty breathing, hives or skin lesions at the site of a sting or bite are all worthy of medical attention on the part of the owner. I always recommend that owners have a supply of Benadryl (or generic diphenhydramine) in their first aid kits. Benadryl is not only good to relieve some allergic reactions in human family members, but it is also often useful for our pets' medical emergencies.
Good temperatures and sunny days also tend to bring about an increase in the number of what we in the veterinary world call "HBCs"(or "Hit By Car"s). Dogs and cats tend to roam more when the temperatures are nicer. It's likely due to the influence of "springtime love hormones," plus the fact that the lack of harsh climates tend to encourage Fido to keep going instead of returning home and seeking shelter. Unfortunately, these runaway pets often end up on the side of the road. Keeping your pets within securely fenced-in yards, on leashes or even on safe tie outs can help keep your pet safer and out of the emergency room.
So while planning your summer activities, make sure to keep your pets' safety in mind along with the rest of the family. They rely on you for many things to help them stay healthy and safe throughout the whole year. There are sure signs that summer is finally near - the grass is turning green, the days are lasting longer, and Marty McFly can be seen kicking back on his beach blanket on the lawn. Marty's out, party's out!
By Dr. Marisa Tong
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