by Dr. Marina Tal of VCA Brown Animal Hospital

The hot days of summer are here and we can all enjoy some outdoor fun. With this weather come some important implications for our pets. We have experienced a severe heat wave in the last week. Persistently high temperatures and humidity can pose a serious health threat to our four-legged family members. Dogs should be walked early in the morning and late in the evening when the heat is not at its peak. Minimal activity outdoors should be allowed for both cats and dogs during the hottest hours as animals can overheat in just a few short minutes. Pets with respiratory or heart disease should take even greater precaution. Heatstroke can lead to seizures, multi-organ failure, and death. Bring your cat or dog to a veterinarian for immediate care if you suspect heatstroke. Do not attempt to just cool them down with cold water or ice as this can lead to complications.

Warm weather also brings out the bugs. We all hate mosquito bites that make us itch and scratch, but mosquitoes carry greater consequences for our pets. Both dogs and cats can be infected with heartworm through the bite of a mosquito. Heartworm can cause heart and lung disease in dogs and, although less common, can cause asthma-like symptoms or even sudden death in cats. Even indoor pets can be infected as flying bugs sneak into our homes. This potentially deadly disease is preventable with safe monthly medication as prescribed by a veterinarian.

Each year we see increasingly more ticks in Vermont. Although disease caused by ticks is much more common in places like Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut we are seeing it in our area. People also travel more with their dogs, which may be contributing to this trend. Most dogs will fight off the disease without ever developing clinical signs, but about 10-15 percent may become sick. Cats do not seem to be as commonly affected, likely because they are such fastidious groomers. The most common signs of tick-borne illness are limping, pain, joint swelling, and fever. However there are more subtle manifestations such as kidney and heart disease, eye problems, and bone marrow involvement. The best thing to help minimize the likelihood of disease transmission is to use a monthly high quality flea and tick preventative purchased at your veterinarian's office. This should not replace manually checking your dog for presence of ticks on the body. Even the best product can take 24-48 hours to kill a tick, so if you find one on your pet - pull it off! If you are finding ticks on your dogs and cats, or travel to endemic areas, don't just check your pet; check yourself as well! Lyme disease can be devastating to humans and although you can't contract it directly from your dog, you can get it from a tick bite. There is a Lyme vaccine available for dogs, but its use should not replace consistent topical preventative care. It is not considered a core vaccine and not all dogs will need to be vaccinated. Consult with your veterinarian to make the best decision for your pet's lifestyle.

Vermont's summer is short, so enjoy it safely with your furry friends.