Best Of: Pet Heat Stroke Guide

 

Keeping with the "Beat the Heat" theme, I received such great feedback on this blog.  So many people wrote to me thanking me for the information and explained how they didn't know a lot of it.  Once again, I hope this information is as helpful the second time around.

 

Petside Newsletter published an article a couple of days ago addressing pet heat strokes during the summer heat.  As the temperature continues to rise I will continue to address the issue of how to keep your pet cool.  There is some great information in here, I hope you all take a moment to read it.

 

Summer delivers myriad opportunities for Frisbee, pool, and vacation fun with your pet. But along with temperatures, the risk of pet heat stroke spikes during the summer.

Heat stroke, the medical name for a pet's inability to regulate her own temperature, is not just uncomfortable for your dog or cat; it can cause both temporary and permanent organ damage.

 

With the help of Nancy Peterson, cat programs manager at The Humane Society of the United States, we've compiled a guide to pet heat stroke.

 

Cool Cats and Damp Dogs

Keeping your pets cool and hydrated is the cornerstone of keeping them healthy during hot weather. Always be sure plenty of fresh water is available to your pet, both indoors and out. Place water bowls in a cool, shady place when you play with your pet outside, and don't tie up or confine your dog outdoors, since it can prevent him from finding the coolest spots in the yard.

 

Peterson also suggests putting ice cubes in your dog or cat's water bowl. The cubes can excite your pet's curiosity - and, of course, keep the water cool and inviting.

If you jog with your dog, do so only during the coolest part of the day and on the shadier side of the street. "Check the temperature of the asphalt, which can be hot on your dog's paws," Peterson reminds runners.

 

Pets and Parked Cars: A Dangerous Combination

Pets left in a parked car on a hot day face great risk of heat stroke. Our best advice: do not leave your pet in a parked vehicle, even for a short time.

"Even if you think you'll be back to the car in a minute," warns Peterson, "even if you've cooled the car down with the A/C, the car can heat up very rapidly when you turn the engine off."

Cracking open the window is inadequate to keep the car cool--plus it exposes your car and your pet to risk of theft.

"If you see a pet in distress in a parked car and can't find the owner, contact a local animal care agency or the police," Peterson adds.

 

When to Worry and What to Do

Obese pets, pets who have suffered heat stroke in the past, pets with respiratory or heart problems, very young and old pets, and pets with short muzzles have an increased chance of heat stroke.

However, all pets experience higher risk when they are dehydrated, overexerted, or in poorly ventilated spaces.

Excessive heavy panting in either cats or dogs can be a symptom of heat stroke.

Your pet may be suffering from heat stroke if her gums change color from bright pink to a brownish pink, or if her tongue becomes deep red or purple. Pets suffering heat stroke often act confused, weak, or disoriented, "almost like they're drunk," as Peterson puts it. Their eyes often glaze over, and their heart rate is more rapid than usual. They may vomit or pass out.

 

If you suspect your pet is suffering heat stroke, bring the pet to a cooler place, if possible.

Apply cool water (but not ice) to the pet's body, put cool towels on the head, neck and chest, and offer the pet cool water. Don't force your pet to drink if he is unable or unwilling, and don't let him drink an excessive amount of water, but only a little.

"Remember," Peterson advises, "you are trying to lower your pet's body temperature gradually, not all at once. You can have your pet lick ice cubes to cool off slowly."

Finally, bring your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible. "Even if your pet seemed to respond well to the cool water and towels," says Peterson, "don't take any chances. Make sure she is thoroughly checked over by a vet." 

To view the original article, bark on the link:  Bark!

Best Of: How To Help Your Dog Beat The Heat

 

The temperature continues to rise, so I had to include cool solutions in the Best Of week.  This was another blog that got a lot of hits and great feedback.  I hope that it can once again get important information to you and provide your pet some relief from the heat.

 

 

Summer is here and that means so is the heat.  I promised a few months ago in a blog titled It's Warming Up Outside, to give additional helpful hints on how to help your dog beat the heat.  There were several things mentioned in this original blog, but there is a lot more you can do, especially if you are going to be out on long walks or hikes.

1.  Water!  Water is absolutely key.  Make sure if you are going for a long walk (greater than 30 minutes), especially if it is in the heat of the day, you are stopping every 10 - 15 minutes to give your dog water.  If you are out on a hike, you should be stopping in shade to water your dog and check that they are not overheating.  If your dog has diarrhea or keeps wanting to stop and lie down, turn around and go home or back to the car, the hike is over and your dog is already dehydrated.  There are a few different types of portable and collapsible water bowls, it is really up to you which one you use.  They are very handy to keep in your car, backpack or even in your back pocket.

2.  Protect the paws!  The pads on your dogs paws are very sensitive, though some dogs will develop a natural resistance to hot pavement, gravel or grass, most will have a hard time walking on hot surfaces, especially hot pavement.  You can get dog boots or dog paw protectors to put on your dog and they work well.  However, if you have a dog that doesn't like things going over their feet, you can slather on paw wax before your walk or hike.  If you opt for the wax, beware that you will need to wipe your dogs feet before coming back into the house as it makes a bit of a mess.

3.  Cool your dog's core heat!  I can't stress the importance of cooling your dog after a walk or hike.  Dogs with a heavy coat are going to need a little extra help cooling their core so they don't over heat, the same goes for dogs with a high drive and dogs that are just heat sensitive.  The best way to cool their core is to put on a cooling vest or have your dog lie on a cooling bed.  This will cool them slowly rather than rapidly and run the risk of cooling them down too fast.

4.  Cool, fun and sweet treat!  Give your dog some doggy ice cream, they will love it (and you).  If your dog doesn't take to the ice cream, you can just give them ice, most dogs find it fun to crunch on the ice and it will help with the cooling.

5.  Pace yourself!  It is really important to set a pace that is appropriate for your dog.  In cooler weather your dog may have a fast pace, in the heat you should slow down a little so they don't tire so quickly or overheat.

I hope these tips will make your summer a little better.  Just remember to think about your dog before you decide to take them with you on your day out.  It is always nice to have them with you during hikes or beach days, but the weather may not make it so nice for them.

For more information about Bark & Clark, bark on the link:  Bark!

Best Of: Fun Friday

This is a personal favorite of mine!  For one, I was in such a bad mood and thought about doing this big rant instead of "Fun Friday".  But instead, my dog did something silly and it made me think of this video that I had recently become obsessed with, so I watched it and realized that had to be the blog that day.  So, I hope this brings you a joyful day as it continues to lift my mood often or just make me laugh. 

As I walked around my neighborhood this morning I was angered by all the fliers, food and other miscellanous trash that was scattered throughout all the sidewalks from last night's Art Walk.  I love that the event brings so many to Downtown, I just wish they would respect our neighborhood, afterall, we live here!

So in an effort to put myself in a better mood and to share something that has had me laughing for the past two weeks since a friend forwarded it to me, I decided to keep today light and fun.  There is a Youtube video that is viral that I just have to share.  I am sure you have all seen it by now since I have seen it on Facebook, GMA, and so many people have emailed it to me.  But I just can't get enough!  It is the Ultimate Dog Tease.

The dog's face is just so adorable and the voice over matches perfectly.  I hope this sends you into the weekend on a happy and fun note.





Happy Friday!  Have a fun and safe weekend and don't forget to do something fun with your dog.

Best Of: Pets Battling The Bulge

With summer here and everyone wanting to strut their bikini ready bodies around (pets included), I wanted to revisit one of our highest rated blogs.  This blog received the second highest amount of hits of all the blogs I've ever done.  With such a high interest, I had no choice but to include it in the best of week.  If your pooch has some extra pounds to shed, join us for the Summer Strut Pooch Parade, it is great way to get some exercise.

 

In the latest Petside.com newsletter there is a great article covering pet obesity.  Much like their human counterparts, pet obesity is on the rise.  According to the latest released survey from the American Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 53% of cats and 55% of dogs in the United States are currently struggling with being overweight or outright obese.

The veterinarians consulted in the article speculate that the reason is simply lack of education on the owner's part.  That due to the economy many middle class pet owners are not going to the vet as often and therefore their vets are not getting the opportunity to educate them on the dangers of obesity, proper diet, or advise on weight loss.

I personally believe that another contributing factor is people giving too many treats and not understanding to balance that with food.  I see this all the time in training sessions.  Owners have the best intentions, they just don't understand that if you are feeding a lot of treats, that should be considered when determining their food allowance for the day.  Another contributing factor is table scraps.  I am not opposed to feeding dogs "human" food, but if you give your dog chicken, for instance, as a treat, it should be prepared in a way that is healthy for them.  Remember, dogs can't have certain things that we can.  

I think these are very sad statistics, I wish people understood just how dangerous and unhealthy it is for your pet to be overweight.  It is not just their heart and other organs you have to worry about, their joints and hips especially become a big concern.

I encourage you all to read this article yourself, just bark on the link:  Bark!

Best Of: Top Ten Dog Friendly Cities

 

Every year Petside.com puts out their Top 10 dog friendly cities and I always look forward to seeing which cities are chosen and why.  I thought since we are entering August and last minute vacations are still being planned, why not include this as one of our "best of's".  Maybe you will see a place that inspires a vacation with the pooch!  Enjoy.

 

Petside.com has put out their Top 10 Dog Friendly Cities for 2011.  Before I run down the list, let me explain how this was determined.  Because if you are like me you were looking for certain cities that never appeared.  So this is how they determined this year's list:  Number of Dog Parks, Number of Major Pet Stores, Approximate Number of Vets, Pet Friendly Events, and Pet Policies of Note.

Based on the criteria listed above, here are Petside.com's Top 10 Dog Friendly Cities:

     10.  Phoenix, Arizona

       9.  Sacramento, California

       8.  Fort Worth, Texas

       7.  Charlotte, North Carolina

       6.  Tucson, Arizona

       5.  Denver, Colorado

       4.  Minneapolis, Minnesota

       3.  Seattle, Washington

       2.  Dallas, Texas

       1.  San Diego, California

So, if you are planning a vacation with your pooch in the US for this summer, here are the cities that (based on the above criteria) would be the friendliest to visit.

To see the details of each city chosen, bark on the link:  Bark!

Best Of: Summer Strut Pooch Parade

Today is the beginning of my "vacation", so I have decided that I will do a best of for my blog.  So be sure to stay tuned to see all the amazing topics we have covered and fun we have had.

I am going to start out with the Pooch Parade announcement.  Even though the event hasn't happened yet, I have a feeling this will be the best one yet!  I launched the Summer Strut Pooch Parade one week ago today at the 5th Annual Dog Day Afternoon and officially announced it on this blog the next morning and spots are filling up fast!   So make sure you RSVP today!

Summer time is here, so grab your dog and come celebrate in Downtown!  It brings me great pleasure to announce Bark & Clark's Summer Pooch Parade!

Please join us for Summer Strut Pooch Parade on August 16th @ 7pm.  This parade will be back in the Historical Core, strutting through our tree-lined streets, practicing good manners and stopping in at Pussy & Pooch for a break and fabulous & tasty snack.  After our stroll and lesson, it's our turn for adult refreshments and treats at the fantastic Portofino's on Main.

Aside from the obvious we'll all have, this is a great opportunity to learn about how to handle your dog downtown and in general with other dogs and humans.  This workshop's focus is on basic obedience to help your dog focus on you - not the innumerable distractions around. We'll also work  on manners specific to the city, such as sitting at all intersections before crossing; sitting for introductions and the proper way to greet other dogs.  Last but certainly not least, we address the ongoing battle of teaching owners the proper places to potty their dog and how to clean it up!


We teach Uptown manners for Downtown dogs! This class is so fun, it's more like an outing... So let's take a stroll through the city and focus on doggy's ability to deal with the public, the lively city and all the other pooches out and about.

I am so excited about this Pooch Parade, I hope I will see you all there!  Be sure to RSVP by August 12th because space is limited. $40

To sign up for our next Pooch Parade, give us a bark:  Bark!

How Much Is That Doggy In The Window...

The cute puppy in the window costs quite a lot.... and not just money!  Dogster Blog had a great blog Friday, it is a call to action for all of us dog lovers.  The blog was to make us aware of a new campaign the ASPCA has started to discourage people from buying puppy mill puppies at pet stores.  Below is the heart of the blog, read it and decide if it is time for you to get involved.

...apparently there is a huge disconnect in a staggering number of people’s heads when it comes to puppy mills and pet stores. Many are aware of the harsh conditions at the puppy plants but don’t realize they wind up turning into the cogs in the mill machine when they pay for that cute puppy in the window. It’s only later, when they run into the typical genetic or behavioral/socialization problems that they realize their mistake. (Please note: I am aware that not ALL mill dogs display these issues, but that does not excuse the conditions under which they were born and raised, etc.)

A few days ago, the ASPCA released the results of a poll they’d commissioned Lake Research Partners to conduct on their behalf. From it, these two eye-widening numbers emerged: apparently 78% of consumers don’t know that most pet store puppies come from puppy mills. The poll also found that 80 percent of consumers would not purchase a puppy if they knew the animal came from a mill.

Putting two and two together, the ASPCA has launched the No Pet Store Puppies campaign. At the heart of it is a pledge — and whether you’re a dog, cat, chinchilla or iguana parent, I urge you to take it along with me and encourage friends and family to do the same. The pledge is simple, here’s what mine looked like:

I hope you all take the pledge!  My goal is not to put pet stores out of business, it is to only allow the safe and humane treatment of animals.

To give me a bark, bark on the link:  Bark!