Park Hill Vet: Staying Cool
Have Fun In The Summer Sun, But Watch Out For These Hazards
By Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ
For the GPHN
Summer is officially here and while we all want to have fun in the sun, the season also offers some potential pet health hazards.
Number one is preventing overheating. Always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh clean water and a shady place to cool off from the sun when outside.
Never leave anyone in a car – it is illegal in Colorado to leave a pet or child in a hot car. Because the inside temperature of a car rapidly increases and can lead to fatal heat stroke in a short time window for children or pets, please remember to leave pets at home and take the kiddos into the store with you on any day where the temperature is over 70 degrees.
And, owners of French Bulldogs, Pugs and other smoosh-faced breeds, remember their air-conditioning abilities from panting are much less than their full-nosed friends. That makes it easier for them to overheat on walks and during hot, hot days.
Sunscreens are needed protection for us humans, but their ingredients can pose a health threat to pets. Keep sunscreens out of reach if they contain any of the following:
• Salicylates: Not a concern in small amounts but ingestion of large volumes can lead to respiratory issues.
• Zinc Oxide: Found in both sunscreens and diaper rash creams, zinc oxide can lead to vomiting and potential allergic reactions.
• Coconut and Coconut Oil: Small amounts of coconut containing products will likely not be a problem. But in larger volumes it can be upsetting to the digestive tract, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. Coconut water is high in potassium and should not be given to pets.
Rodenticides: There is NO safe rat or mouse bait that will not harm dogs and cats (or small children). The majority of rodenticides cause death by stopping the body’s ability to clot blood. This leads to the death of the mouse, other rodents or pets from internal bleeding. And these baits are flavored with sugar, so they attract dogs and puppies, though rarely cats.
Remember, grapes, raisins, onions, and chocolate can all cause significant problems and a potential trip to the vet emergency room. The sweetener Xylitol, which can be found in gum, baked goods, candy and many more products, can lead to life-threatening insulin release that can be toxic to the liver and cause dangerously low blood sugar. Macadamia nuts can cause a marked toxicity in dogs, causing vomiting, tremors, depression, weakness and elevated body temperature.
Make sure that “special” food products containing marijuana are also out of pet reach. Finally, bones from barbequed meats should also not be given to pets. These bones are brittle and likely to splinter, causing potential choking or injury along the digestive tract.
Have fun in the sun … after protecting your pets!
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more info visit www.parkhill-vet.com.