How to Keep Your Pet Safe in the Florida Heat

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The heat of Florida is great for the beach, but it has serious drawbacks as well – especially when it comes to your friends on four legs. Pets are extremely susceptible to heat-related health problems and illnesses, which makes it your responsibility to take precautionary measures to protect your dog or cat through the hottest months of the year. The following tips will help you and your furry friend enjoy a safe and comfortable summer.

Never Leave Your Dog Alone in the Car

Just like you wouldn’t leave your baby alone in a hot car, you should never leave your dog. A car sitting in the sun acts like a pressure cooker. It can easily become up to 40 degrees warmer than the outside air in mere minutes. Even if you are only running into the gas station for a soda, leaving your dog in the car isn’t safe. Only travel with your dog if you know that he will be able to join you for all of your errands. Read more

What to Do if Your Pet has Seasonal Allergies

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Allergies are miserable for humans, but what about for pets? Even dogs and cats are at risk of suffering from seasonal allergies, especially in the fall when allergens are saturating the air. Just like you rely upon a daily antihistamine to survive your worst allergy symptoms, your pet needs appropriate medical care to avoid and prevent the discomfort that develops as a result of seasonal allergies.  

The Tell-Tale Signs of Seasonal Pet Allergies

If you try to identify your pet’s allergies based on common human systems, you won’t have much luck. Rather than the respiratory tract symptoms that humans experience, dogs and cats are prone to skin irritation and inflammation called allergic dermatitis. You’ll notice your pet struggling with very itchy skin; he will start scratching excessively, biting and chewing and certain spots on his body, and even rubbing himself against vertical or horizontal surfaces to try and alleviate the itching. Unfortunately, this itch and scratch cycle causes the skin to become even more inflamed and tender to the touch. Your pet will eventually experience hair loss, scabbing, and open sores on the skin if his allergies are not treated. Read more

Keeping Your Pup Safe During the Dog Days of Summer

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These are truly the dog days of summer, especially in Tampa, Florida where it’s common for July and August temperatures to spike above 100 degrees. As much fun as summer can be, it is also a season of extra strain on your dog. Be sure to follow these simple tips to keep your pup safe during the long summer months.

Learn to Recognize Signs of Overheating in Pets

Animals display signs of overheating differently than humans, so you need to become familiar with the symptoms that indicate your dog could be overheated. The most noticeable sign is excessive panting and difficulty breathing. Drooling and mild weakness are also common symptoms. Read more

Keeping Your Pet Safe in the Summer Heat

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The heat of summer has already reached Tampa, which means it is time to brush up on your summer safety habits. Florida’s hottest months can be uncomfortable and even dangerous to people and pets alike. As the temperature soars, these tips will help you keep your furry friends safe and happy until autumn arrives and brings some relief.

Keep Your Dog Hydrated

Imagine how parched you feel after walking a long distance in the heat or exercising, and remember that your dog feels the exact same way after spending time in the sun and humidity. It’s simple enough to prevent dehydration by making clean, fresh water available to your dog at all times. Just remain alert for any signs of dehydration like lethargy, sunken eyes, and tacky gums. Mild cases of dehydration can be resolved by giving your dog small amounts of water over the span of a few hours, but severe cases will require the attention of a vet. Read more

The True Importance of Neutering Your Male Dog

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Times have changed dramatically from the days when dogs were permitted to freely roam neighborhoods without any form of protection. Today, families keep their dogs secured around the house, socialize them strategically, and make medical care a top priority. This medical care includes the process of neutering dogs shortly after they are born. From population control to behavior improvements and everything in between, neutering your own dog offers many important benefits. Read more

Two Dog Behavior Issues and Solutions

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Unlike the dogs in most children’s movies, our dogs cannot talk to us to explain what they want and how they think. It’s up to us humans to correctly interpret their behavior in order to keep our furry friends safe, healthy, and happy. So whether you’re trying to connect with a new dog or attempt obedience training with your puppy, you may need some help with these three specific issues.

Constant Barking Read more

The Critical Importance of Microchipping Your Pet

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microchipTaking care of a pet isn’t so different from caring for a child. Your dog or cat relies upon you entirely for food, water, shelter, protection, and love, just like your child. If you take your toddler to the grocery store and lose track of his whereabouts, you’ll undoubtedly become frightened and panicked until he is found. When your dog or cat takes off through the open door and runs out of your sight, you can’t exactly rely on the grocery store staff and announcement system for help. If your pet is microchipped, you know you have a handy way to locate him and bring him back home safely.

What is Microchipping?

A microchip is tiny, about the size of a grain of rice, and is implanted in your pet’s skin to help track his location if he gets lost. It’s essentially a computer chip with a unique identification number that doesn’t risk falling off like a collar. All that’s needed is a scanner to pick up the radio signals that transmit the encoded chip ID number. Once the ID number is picked up, it can be used to track down the animal’s owner. Read more

How to Protect Your Dogs from the Harsh Summer Heat

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dog-anxietyThe summer heat, especially in southern states like Florida, is no joke. You know how much you hate feeling overheated and dehydrated, which is why you need to devote extra effort to ensuring that your dog remains comfortable during the most intense summer weather. To avoid injuries and illnesses like heat stroke, foot pad burns, sunburn, and dehydration, just follow these simple tips.

First and foremost, never leave your dog in the car. Ever. For anything! If you can’t bring your dog with you when you park, then it’s best to leave him at home in the air conditioning instead. We have all heard the awful stories of pets—and children—becoming trapped in hot cars and losing their lives. Accidents happen even to people with the best of intentions, so it’s smart to simply never put your pet in the position where an accident can occur.

Second, make access to cool, fresh water a priority. It may sound obvious, but it is easy to forget when you’re having a busy or stressful day. Your dog cannot cool himself down as efficiently as a human body can, so cool water is critical to avoid overheating. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to reach the point of dehydration on a very hot day. Read more

What is Leptospirosis?

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dog sickIf you ever stopped to consider the number of diseases and infections that could potentially harm your pup, you may never let him outside again. However, modern medicine exists to battle these harmful conditions and ensure that your dog can live a long and healthy life. One of the diseases becoming more prevalent in dogs is called leptospirosis. Just like heartworms and pruritus, prevention and regular vet checkups are the keys to avoiding leptospirosis.

An Introduction to Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infection that dogs acquire when certain bacteria enters and spreads through the bloodstream. It’s not a well-known disease compared to other pet problems, but it is becoming more and more common around the world and leading vets to urge the implementation of preventative measures and more effective treatments for infected canines. Read more

Can Your Pet Get the Flu?

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dog sickHumans aren’t the only ones lucky enough to suffer from the flu every year. Canines can get the flu too, but the good news is that they can also get the flu shot!

An Introduction to Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is highly contagious, which makes many vets and pet owners nervous for elderly dogs, puppies, and dogs coping with other diseases. In addition to making your dog feel ill during his bout with the flu, canine influenza can also be very dangerous if it turns into pneumonia. Read more