Monthly Archives: July 2015

Why Summer is the Right Time to Spay and Neuter Your Pets

It’s not just the mercury in your thermostat that rises during the hottest months of the year. In fact, summer is prime season for dogs and cats to have new litters of puppies and kittens. That’s why veterinarians and spay and neuter professionals across the country are advising pet owners on the importance of spaying and neutering your pet this season.

Still not exactly sure why you should spay and neuter your pets this summer? Here’s a look at the top three reasons to invest in this highly-important procedure before the end of the season:

Spaying and neutering prevents unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

As stated before, summertime is the top season for unaltered dogs and cats to reproduce. During this time of year, animal shelters become overwhelmed with litters of puppies and kittens whose owners simply couldn’t care for them; as a result, millions of these animals are euthanized. The number of stray animals spikes as well. While the idea of your pet having babies might seem cute for a time, it’s much more ethical to have him or her spayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering makes your pet more obedient.

Another reason why you should spay and neuter your pets? This procedure makes pets more obedient and better-behaved. Pets who are spayed or neutered are less likely to wander away from home. When an astounding 85% of dogs who are hit by cars are unaltered, the procedure could actually save your pet’s life, as well.

Spaying and neutering keeps your pet living longer.

Spaying and neutering, which removes the animal’s reproductive organs, is the only 100% effective way to prevent certain cancers and infections. Spaying, for example, prevents uterine infections and breast cancer, the latter of which is fatal for 50% of female dogs and 90% of female cats. As a result, you’ll be able to ensure a happier, healthier life for your pet.

Preventing Heat Stress and Injury in Pets

Your dog can’t tell you when he’s becoming overheated, so it’s up to you to keep an outdoor romp from turning into a dangerous medical situation.

It always amazes me when, every year as the temperatures rise, there are still reports of animals being left alone inside hot vehicles, despite the fact that the dangers of doing so are well-known. Animals that exercise too vigorously in the heat or cannot seek relief from it are also at risk for illness and injury as well. Not too long ago, I had a concerning experience like this with my own dog when I took him out for a little fun in the dog park.That’s why, as the dog days of summer arrive, I thought it might be helpful to review some simple facts about how the heat can affect our pets.

Balmy Weather? Still Deadly

It’s important to realize that dogs and cats can develop heat-related injury quickly when they stay inside a parked car or other vehicle. This can happen even when the windows are partially lowered, the vehicle is in the shade, or the outside temperatures seem relatively moderate. Many people do not realize just how quickly the interior temperature of a car can increase to deadly levels, even with some airflow provided by cracked windows. For example, on a 90-degree day, the temperature inside a closed car can climb to 109 degrees within just 10 minutes. In less than 50 minutes, temperatures in that same car can rise to above 130 degrees. On even a comparatively balmy 70-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach triple digits within 30 minutes (see table).

Heat toxicity can also occur in dogs that exercise too vigorously during periods of high heat, especially if the humidity is also elevated. Even dogs that are in good athletic shape and used to regular exercise can develop heat injury when out and about in extreme conditions. Heat toxicity, or heat injury, can run the gamut from heat exhaustion (which occurs in the early stages of a heat-related event) to heat stroke, which is a full-blown emergency that requires immediate veterinary intervention.

Temp Car

This chart was originally published in the journal Pediatrics. It also appears on the American Veterinary Medical Association site page about pet safety in cars. To better understand the factors that can cause a car’s interior temperature to skyrocket even when it is cool outside,read this article by Jan Null, CCM.

What Happens to a Heat-Stressed Pet?

During heat stress, the animal’s internal body temperature can increase rapidly, and fatal organ failure can follow. Since dogs and cats do not sweat (except on footpads and the nose) the way humans do, they cannot use this as a method to lower body temperature. Instead, dogs and cats try to regulate their body temperature by panting to help body heat dissipate. This response, however, is limited and easily overwhelmed under extreme conditions.

 

Signs of Heat Stress

  • Initial signs of heat toxicity include:
  • Panting
  • Excessive salivation (which is often thick and ropey)
  • Weakness
  • Collapse
  • Bright red membranes of the mouth, tongue, eyes, and sometimes skin in light-pigmented dogs
  • Vomiting and diarrhea can also occur due to damage to the gastrointestinal tract

Multiple organs can fail if the excessive heat retention is not relieved soon enough. These organs include the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, liver, heart, muscles, brain, and bone marrow. Heat retention causes the blood vessels to dilate, and a form of shock develops as the condition advances.

If the animal is in a state of collapse when found, it is imperative to get him to your local veterinarian or an emergency clinic immediately. Quickly cooling the animal for the trip with cool water from a garden hose may be helpful but do not immerse your dog in cold or ice water as this could lead to shock. If shock does develop, intravenous fluids and other medications may be needed for a few days upon arrival at the hospital.