Michigan State Animal and Vet Science info
Protecting Your Pets; A small number of domestic animals have become
infected with West Nile virus
Dog owners can provide protection to their pets from mosquitoes and
other biting pests by using repellent products approved for use on dogs.
These products are commercially available from veterinarians and protect
against mosquito bites, which can transmit WNV and heartworms; and ticks
bites, which can transmit Lyme Disease. Safe use requires closely
following label directions.
Our recommendation is to protect your pets the same as you would protect
yourself: protect from mosquitoes by remaining indoors during the
periods around dusk and dawn when the mosquitoes are most active, keep
windows screened, use approved mosquito repellents (talk to your vet),
and eliminate mosquito-supporting habitat around your home.
Keep your horses cooler, less stressed, and happier when hauling in hot,
humid conditions The long road beckons: It's summer, and all kinds of
diverse opportunities await you and your horse--shows, competitions,
sales, trail riding, equine vacations, and more. Some events are just a
couple of hours away, while others involve many hours, perhaps even a
few days, of trailering.
by: Marcia King
theHorse.com 7/1/08
Pets in Hot Cars
You've probably heard news reports of dogs suffocating inside cars on
warm days. Here are suggestions for educating people about leaving pets
in cars, and what to do if you see a pet in distress.
The dangers:
It takes only minutes for a pet left in a vehicle on a warm day to
succumb to heatstroke and suffocation. Most people don't realize how hot
it can get in a parked car on a balmy day. However, on a 78 degree day,
temperatures in a car parked in the shade can exceed 90 degrees -- and
hit a scorching 160 degrees if parked in the sun!
Even when the outside air temperature is in the 60s, temperatures inside
some vehicles can reach the danger zone on bright, sunny days. So many
experts recommend not to leave pets or children in parked cars even for
short periods if the temperature is in the 60s or higher.
Rolling down a window or parking in the shade doesn't guarantee
protection either, since temperatures can still climb into the danger
zone. And if the window is rolled down sufficiently, the pet can escape.
Plus if a passer-by claims he or she was bitten through the car window,
the pet owner will be liable.
What about leaving the dog in the car with the air-conditioning running?
Many people do this, but tragedy can strike -- and it has. For example,
in 2003, a police dog in Texas died after the air-conditioning in the
patrol car shut down and began blowing hot air. The air system's
compressor kicked off because the engine got too hot. Many cars,
including modern models with computerized functions, are prone to the
same problem. In August 2004, a North Carolina couple lost two of their
beloved dogs, and nearly lost their third dogs, as result of a similar
failure. They had left bowls of water and ice in the car, and the
air-conditioning on, during their shopping trip of less than 30 minutes.
Animals are not able to sweat like humans do. Dogs cool themselves by
panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated
air to breathe, animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly
die of heatstroke. Just 15 minutes can be enough for an animal's body
temperature to climb from a normal 102.5 to deadly levels that will
damage the nervous and cardiovascular systems, often leaving the animal
comatose, dehydrated and at risk of permanent impairment or death.
Educating others:
For copies of "Hot Car" flyers, and for educational posters to give to
store managers to post in their windows to remind people that "Leaving
Your Pet in a Parked Car Can be a Deadly Mistake": contact the Humane
Society of the United States at 202-452-1100 or dlauer@humanesociety.org.
What You Should Know About Pets and Your Household
Click on image to download brochure
Click on image to download brochure
Dogs: The Danger of the Hot Summer
Dog owners, in particular, love to share all of their summer activities with their furry friends. Pets go along to the shopping mall, to loll on the beach, to the Art Fair in the park and Venetian Festival on the Bluff. And dogs love to be with their People--even if it puts their lives at risk. Yes, puts their lives at risk. That happy, endearing, tongue-lolling grin may also be a warning of impending heat stroke, and just as with people, severe heat stroke will cause nausea, loss of How come they call these dog days?consciousness, irreparable brain damage, and, finally, death.
On an 85 degree day, the temperature inside your car, even with the windows open a bit, will climb to 102 degrees in 10 minutes! After half an hour, it will go up to 120 degrees or even higher! On a 90 degree day, temps in that car can top 160 degrees faster than you can walk around the block. We won't even talk about the back of a pickup truck, "in the fresh air," with no shade. If you really love your dog, leave him at home, in a nice, cool, place, with plenty of fresh water to drink.
In fact, if it's an exceptionally hot day, keep your dog or cat in the house with you, a fan, and/or the air conditioning, maybe even some frozen-bullion dog treats (low-sodium beef or chicken bullion cubes dissolved in water and frozen in an ice cube tray). When your dog has to go out, monitor him. Don't let him play hard or lie on the deck in the sun too long. That ground heats up fast, the shade offers little protection when the temps top 90 and the humidity soars, and your vet can tell you all sorts of horror stories about well-meaning owners who let their dogs out "just for a minute," got involved in something else--and forgot Fido. Some people leave a wading pool full of cool water out for their dogs to splash in--which is OK, as long as your dog likes water, and the water in the pool isn't sun-warmed to tea temperature. Even then, a general rule is, if it's too hot outside for you, it's too hot outside for your pet.
Animal Safety
Pets and Disaster: Be Prepared
The following information has been prepared by the Humane Society of the United States in cooperation with the American Red Cross
Our pets enrich our lives in more ways than we can count. In turn, they depend on us for their safety and well-being. Here's how you can be prepared to protect your pets when disaster strikes.
Be Prepared with a Disaster Plan
* Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets
* Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit
* Know What To Do As a Disaster Approaches
For more information
More Resources:
Car Safety and Travel: Paw Rescue Dog Tips-Car Safety
First Aid: Paw Rescue Tips-First Aid
CPR and Mouth-to-Snout Resuscitation
Keeping dogs cool in hot weather
Poison Emergency 24-Hour Hotlines:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
1-888-4-ANI-HELP or 1-888-426-4435
National Animal Poison Control Center
1-800-548-2423