7 Summer Safety Tips for Pets

April showers are gone, and the sun's rays are on. Now's the time to enjoy some cat cuddles and romps with your dogs. But make sure your pets stay healthy and safe during this season marked by pets and high temperatures. Here are seven ways to safeguard your pets.

1. COVER THE BASIC
Secure an up-to-date tag on your pet's collar, and make sure to use a leash when you head outdoors. Consult your veterinarian for flea and tick control options, and always keep your pet's vaccination current.

2. BE WARY AROUND WATER
Not all dogs are natural swimmers, so watch your pooch when you're near the pool, beach, or lake. On trips to the ocean, make sure your pets don't drink the salt water, it upsets their stomach, just like yours. And watch those currents; the best paddling dog can struggle against a mean undertow.

3. KEEP COOL
Schedule walks in the early morning or evening; dog paws hate hot pavement. You can also make dog exercise sessions safe by stopping for drinks of fresh water and finding shady spots for necessary panting breaks. Some pet owners also help prevent overheating with short fur shaves for cats and dogs in the summer.

4. WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS
Heat stroke is an issue for pets, too. Be on the lookout for early symptoms: excessive panting and drooling, bright red gums, weakness, and balance problems. As the condition worsens, pets may experience labored breathing, lethargy, and even seizures. You can cool down on overheated pet with cold water or towels, and by offering ice chips or small bowls of water.

5. SAFELY SEE THE SIGHTS
Taking your pets for a ride in the car or minivan? Never leave them inside...windows up or down...on hot days. Keep dogs' heads in the car while driving; inner ear damage, lung infections, and injury happen when man's best friend and sticks his head out the window. Buckle up your dog with a harness or seat belt for dogs, or a crate or carrier secured with a seat belt. And never let dogs ride in the back of trucks. A crate in the truck bed keeps dogs from bouncing out in an accident or being hit with debris on the road.

6. PARTY WITH PRUDENCE
Be wary of what your cats and dogs can get into when you celebrate. Chocolate, raisins, and onions can be bad for dogs and cats, and alcohol is also a no-no. If your pets get anxious or fearful around fireworks or big crowds, keep them away from the sparklers and concerts.

7. PROTECT AGAINST PESTS AND POISONS
Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and more seem to be everywhere in the summer, so consult with your veterinarian on the best pest preventives to use for you and your pets' lifestyle. Also, keep your animals off areas sprayed with chemicals or insecticides, and always store fertilizers and other poisonous substances out of their reach.

Source: Courtesy of Hornblower Cruises & Events, ASPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/data/articlestandard//firstline/242012/777789/article.pdf

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

The mosquito season is upon us! Besides being a nuisance, some mosquitoes may carry diseases that can cause West Nile virus illness or Eastern equine encephalitis.  As you are on the forefront of public health interacting with your clients, we ask you to please remind your clients of a few simple things that they can do to protect themselves and their animals from mosquito-borne diseases.

DRAIN standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flower pots or any other containers where sprinkler or rain water has collected.
• Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren't being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pet's water bowls at least once or twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and appropriately chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

COVER skin with clothing or repellent

• CLOTHING - Wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long-sleeves.  This type of protection may be necessary for people who must work in areas where mosquitoes are present.
• REPELLENT - Apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.
• Always use repellents according to the label. Repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and IR3535 are effective. 
• Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

COVER doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of your house

• Repair broken screening on windows, doors, porches, and patios.

Many mosquito-borne and other zoonotic and/or regulatory diseases can be monitored for in wildlife. You can assist by reporting sick/dead wildlife to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Information regarding bird or bat mortalities can be entered online at  http://www.myfwc.com/bird  and www.myfwc.com/batmortality  and deer sick or dead of unknown causes can be reported through the CWD hotline at 1-866-CWD-WATCH (1-866-293-9282).

Arbovirus surveillance in Florida includes endemic mosquito-borne viruses such as West Nile virus (WNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) as well as exotic infectious agents such as dengue virus (DENV) and malaria Weekly reports can be found at: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/medicine/arboviral/Weekly-Summary.html

Mosquito-borne disease prevention information and Florida specific mosquito-borne disease information can be found at:

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Environment/medicine/arboviral/index.html

Happy First Day of Summer!

It’s the first day of summer today. Heatstroke is the most common ailment for pets during the hot summer months. It can be caused by over-exposure to heat as well as lack of drinking water. Remember to always allow your pet a cool place to relax and an endless supply of cold drinking water.

Congratulations to our HAH 65th Anniversary High School Scholarship Recipients!!!

November, 2012, signified the Hollywood Animal Hospital's 65th year serving the South Florida animal community. What started  as a small, two doctor practice has grown to become one of the largest general, specialty and referral practices in South Florida. This distinction is due in a large part to the tremendous community support we have enjoyed over the years. As our way of saying "Thank You" for that support we have awarded three Broward County high school seniors with $500 scholarships. The scholarships were provided to students planning on studying veterinary science, agriculture or other animal-specific careers in college. The recipients are:

Ashley Miller, 18 of Tamarac

South Broward High School.  
Ms. Miller plans to study Veterinary Technology at Miami Dade Medical Center this fall.

  

 

Corey Fisher, 18, of Hollywood
Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory School.
Mr. Fisher will begin his Veterinary Science studies at the University of Florida this fall.

Kimberly Magee, 18, of Pembroke Pines
McArthur High School.  
Ms. Magee plans on studying Zoology/Animal Biology at Florida Atlantic University this fall.

The HAH presented each student with the scholarship at their respective high school's annual awards ceremony.

In 1998, HAH set up a scholarship fund at the University of Florida in the names of the hospital's founders, Dr. Clarence and Lucille Dee. To date 86 veterinary students have received a total of $87,000.

"The high school scholarship program was created in the same tradition as the college scholarship fund in my parents' name," said Dr. James Dee, DVM, partner at HAH and son of Clarence and Lucille Dee.  "What better way to commemorate our 65 years of serving the South Florida pet community than by awarding scholarships to students who wish to devote their lives to animals."

Congratulations to all of the students!!!