Summer Healthcare for Cats & Dogs

Should we be blessed with the sun this summer, you’ll want to keep your pet happy and itch-free by following these tips. walk and pull out any grass seeds from the coat before they can work their way under the skin.

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Flea and tick prevention is important all year round, but during the summer these parasites undergo something of a population explosion. There are many products that help prevent tick or flea infestation but prevention is better than cure! It is vital that you keep up-to-date with your pet’s treatments so ask your vet to recommend the best product for your individual pet. Ticks lurk in long grass and may be picked up by both dogs and cats (as well as humans!). They attach themselves firmly to your pet’s skin and look like black beads. It’s important to ensure that the insect is fully removed, so take your pet along to the veterinary surgery where a vet nurse can do this for you.

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Barbed seeds from the top of certain types of grasses can easily get caught in long ears, on coats and between toes. Their sharp tips can easily penetrate soft skin and work their way in, resulting in a painful fissure. Check your dog after a Heatstroke is a real risk for dogs. Unlike humans, dogs do not sweat (apart from a tiny amount from their paw pads) and rely on panting as part of their colling process.

Watch out for:

■ Difficulty breathing/heavy panting ■ Bright red gums and tongue ■ Vomiting and/or thick viscous saliva ■ Heatstroke is an emergency. Take the dog to a vet immediately.

To avoid heatstroke:

■ Never leave a dog in a stationary car in hot weather. ■ Avoid exercise during the hottest part of the day. This is especially important for flat-faced breeds such as

Bulldogs or Pugs. ■ Always provide shade and fresh cool water. ■ Take a bottle of water and a portable drinking bowl with you on walks. TOP TIP: Give your dog a refreshing treat on a hot day – an ice cube. You could even put it in a treat toy.

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