We all look forward to sunny summer days, but we have to remember to give a little extra attention to our pets. Heat and humidity bring their own concerns for cats and dogs.
Yvonne Arnold, owner of Warrior Run Petcare Center, in Watsontown, reminded pet owners to be sure their animals have access to plenty of water.
“Don’t feed them too heavily in summer,” Arnold said. “Like humans, pets need to eat less in hot weather.”
Walking is good for dogs, but sunheated asphalt can burn padded feet. On sun-scorching days, try to find shady or grassy areas and opt for a shorter walk.
As for fleas and ticks, Arnold recommended an 8-month collar like Seresto.
“Oh, my goodness, there are so many ticks out there,” she said. “Examine your pet and yourself every time you come inside.”
Jackie Earnest, client services manager at Animal Care Hospital in Lewisburg, asked Jennifer Hopkinson, VMD and owner of Animal Care, for summer care tips for pets.
“For vacations, Dr. Hopkinson always recommends that if people are taking their pet on vacation, make sure you’re with your pet on vacation,” Earnest said. “Don’t leave them
in a hotel room.”
If you opt to board your pet. Animal Care Hospital recommends visiting a kennel before committing to it.
For flea and tic prevention, Earnest recommended oral medications for dogs and a topical treatment like Bravecto for cats.
Something people might not think about in pets is sunburn. Animals that have been shaved or have short, light hair are more prone to skin cancer, Earnest said. Some sunscreen products are created just for pets, but people can also select fragrance-free, non-staining products that contain UVA and UVB barriers, similar to SPF 15 or 30 for humans.
“The best way to minimize UVA exposure is to avoid having the pet outside during the hottest part of the day, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” Earnest said. “If that’s not possible, use sunscreen.”
Shaving fur in the summer can make it easier for a dog to stay cool … but not all dogs. Francine Hays-Shoup, owner of Bark N’ Bubbles, in Danville, pointed out that somedogs, like Malamutes, Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds
and others, need their undercoat to insulate them against the sun.
“If their coat doesn’t require shaving, the worst thing you can do is shave them,” she said. “Physically you’re robbing them of their little air conditioning system.”
The best treatment for them is keeping their fur clean and brushed. Hays-Shoup recommends a FURminator, a special tool that pulls out the shed coat, leaving the top coat clean and shiny.
“Bathing and brushing,” she recommended. “If you keep that coat free of dirt and knots, it helps them more than you would believe.”
Julie Whitmer, of D and J Kennels, in Mount Pleasant Mills, suggested feeding ice cubes to dogs to help them fend off summer’s heat. Shaving pets that are able to have a haircut can help keep them cool and also make it easier to watch for tics.
One thing almost all pet care professionals recommend is not leaving pets in a car for any length of time once the temperature is higher than 65 degrees.
A dog’s normal temperature in the summer can reach to 103 degrees, said Beth Crombie, DVM, co-owner of Lewisburg VeterinaryHospital. At 105 degrees, the animal could be in danger. If a dog does overheat, wrap him in a tepid towel — not ice cold, just barely cold
— and head to emergency veterinary care.
Another summertime woe: Noise phobia. Thunder and fireworks can scare dogs.
Anxiety medication can help, but the best thing to do is to drown out the noise, Crombie said. Close windows, turn on the TV or a ceiling fan — anything to distract your pet from the noise outside.
“The worst thing we can do is sit with them,” Crombie said. “All that does is let their anxiety go up. Let them go where they want, in a closet or corner of the room. That will make them feel better.”
Both dogs and cats should receive medication to prevent heartworm, which is transmitted by mosquitoes. For bee stings or wasp bites, try Benadryl. Ask your veterinarian for the proper dosage.
A few laps of saltwater while walking along the beach won’t hurt dogs, but don’t let them drink large amounts. It could kill them. Likewise, be cautious around these foods that can be toxic to dogs in large quantities: grapes, onions and tomatoes. “If a slice of tomato falls on the floor and your dog eats it, that’s not a problem,” Crombie said. “But don’t let him eat a bushel.”
If he does, then do what every pet emergency demands: contact your veterinarian.
Summer can be busy for boarders
With summer comes vacations, and with vacations, quite often, comes a trip or two to the groomer or kennel for our pets. “We’re much busier from the middle of May to after Labor Day,” said Yvonne Arnold, owner of Warrior Run Petcare Center, in Watsontown, which offers boarding, grooming and other services. “The weather is warm, and hair grows faster in summer, so grooming is busier too,” Summer also affects work for professional dog walkers and sitters. Lydia Swanson, of Turbotville, is home on summer vacation from University of Pittsburgh and is finding plenty of work for the next few months.
“June especially has been crazy,” Swanson said. “I’m booked for all of June and double-booked for two weeks in June. And I still have people reaching out for me.”
When she’s double-booked, she will split her time sitting for two different dogs in two different homes. Her father, who loves dogs, has offered to help with the overnighters.
Starting with Memorial Day weekend, Francine Hays-Shoup, owner of Bark N’ Bubbles, in Danville, said summer weekends fill up quickly for pet boarding.
“For me, it quadruples in the summer months,” she said. “In June and July, particularly. We all count on it.”
She reminded people to plan for their pet’s vacation when planning for their own. Both dogs and cats are welcome at Bark N’ Bubbles. Cat kennels are large and airy so the cat doesn’t feel enclosed, and cats are released, one at a time, to roam about the cat room.
“We have such personalities,” Hays-Shoup said of the pets that board there. One cat swipes at people walking by if they don’t stop to pet
him. A Burmese Mountain dog who boards for “day stays” has to stand on his hind legs to give each of the staff members a hug before he goes home every day.
The day stays are a popular program, especially with people like Geisinger employees who work long hours and don’t want to leave their pets home alone all day.
“A lot of the dogs know each other and like to play together,” Hays-Shoup said, adding that she allows that only for the dogs who get along with each other.
“It’s fun,” said Julie Whitmer, of D & J Kennels, in Mount Pleasant Mills, about pet daycare. ‘That way, they’re not in the crate at home all day. They can play with other dogs.”
Whitmer sees an increase
in business during the summer.
“June and July is like, nonstop,” she said. “It’s fun, though.”
She is expanding her services by building a new facility, the Pet Lodge, scheduled to be opened in July and offering suites with beds, televisions, and outside access for dogs.
“It’s more like home,” she said.
Having been in business for 15 years, Whitmer has grown attached to some of her clients’ dogs.
“1 have dogs from the time they’re a puppy till they pass on when they’re 14 or 15,” she said. “They feel like family.”
