ALL AROUND WISE, Decatur, Texas, Thursday, June 26, 2008

PET TALK

Summer heat can affect pets

Like people, pets can suffer from the discomfort ofhot, sticky days. Dr. John August, a professor in Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine &Biomedical Sciences, offers these tips to keep Fido from getting fried and your kitty from getting too sweaty.

• Monitor temperatures inside of cars. If you would not keep a child inside a hot car with the windows up, why would you place your pet in the same situation?  "It's not uncommon for the temperature to reach 120 degrees or more inside. a car on a hot summer day, "August says. "Just as with a child, you should never leave a pet in a car during the summer. Even just a fewminutes can be deadly."

• Airline travel is tougher on some pets than others.  "Dogs such as bulldogs,Pekingese and Pugs, and cats such as Persians, have shorter noses than most other breeds and can have difficulty breathing on an airplane and often are more susceptible to heat stress. If possible, try to take a direct flight early in the morning instead of one that has several stops."

• Don't shave your pets, thinking it will keep them cooler."It's not a good idea to shave a pet. Animals can get sunburn just like humans. If you give your pets plenty of fresh water and shade, they should be okay, but we don't recommend shaving them unless they have had skin problems,"August says.

• Watch your animals around lakes or swimming pools. "Not all dogs are natural swimmers, and certainly most cats aren't," August explains. "You should supervise your pets around water just as you would a child. It's not uncommon for dogs or cats to drown."

• Beware of mosquito bites. "Mosquitoes are very prevalent this time of year, and they transmit heartworms, which can then be passed on from one pet to another," notes August. "Also, this is the worst time ofyear for fleas and ticks, and there are plenty of good products available from. your veterinarian to control them."

• Watch for fire ants on the attack. Just as they bite people and cause welts and swelling, fire ants can cause problems for your pets. "If you see a fire ant mound in your yard, get rid of it for your pet's sake," August says. "Animals don't like fire ants any more than we do."

• Fertilize your lawn with care. "If you use fertilizer, it's not a bad idea to keepyour pet away from that area until it's been washed into the soil," August says.  "Also, insecticides and pets don't go together. They can make a pet ill or even cause death. Be careful applying yard chemicals, and always make sure they are not near a water dish where the pet might drink them."

• Exercise your pet with caution. August says that dogs like to be taken for a walk, but it should not be done in the heat of the day. "Remember that dogs have padded feet, and the sidewalk can be too hot for them," he believes. "It's a good idea to walk them on grass if possible, and preferably in the early morning or evening."  August says that with some common sense and responsible pet ownership, your animal should make it through the hot summer months in good shape. He adds that there's one good rule of thumb to follow: "If it's too hot for you out there, it's probably too hot for your pet, too."ABOUT PET TALK..Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://tamunews. tamu.edu/.  For more information, contact Keith Randall at (979)845-4644 or keith-randall@tamu.edu.maybedireditor@cvm.tamu.edu.