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Summer Health and Safety
Contact:
Christine Antles, External Communications Specialist
Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
(503) 922-5698 / christine.antles@banfield.net
Banfield, The Pet Hospital® Media Hotline (no advertising sales calls, please)
(888)-355-0595
BANFIELD, THE PET HOSPITAL® ADVISES ABOUT KEEPING YOUR PET HEALTHY AND SAFE
THIS SUMMER
Protect Pets from disease and pests and keep Pets safe during Summer and Travel
Portland, Ore. — July 14, 2008 —Pets face a unique set of dangers during the mid-summer months, such as an increased prevalence of ticks and Lyme disease and Parvovirus, as well as summer safety and travel hazards. Karen J. Johnson, DVM, and Nancy Townsend Zimmerman, DVM, Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline), Senior Medical Advisor, Banfield, The Pet Hospital® would like to offer a few tips to Pet owners this summer.
Protecting Pets against disease and pests
The following tips are important to keep in mind as you and your Pet spend more time outdoors this summer.
• Use Flea Preventives – Fleas bite and reproduce at an alarming rate, especially in warm weather. The use of a veterinary-recommended, topical flea control product kills feeding adult fleas and helps stop the population explosion.
• Watch out for ticks – “Before attachment, ticks are very small and can hide easily on furry Pets. They can also carry Lyme disease,” says Dr. Johnson. “Pets can pick up ticks just by walking through tall grass, pastures or wooded areas – especially those frequented by wildlife,” she says. “Protect your Pet with a product that is labeled to be effective against ticks and carefully inspect your Pet from nose to tail after spending time outdoors.”
• Avoid heartworm disease– Pets can become infected with heartworms as a result of just one mosquito bite. Heartworm disease can be fatal to both dogs and cats, so contact your Banfield veterinarian about heartworm testing and monthly preventive medication for your dog and cat.
• Treat bug bites and bee stings – Insect bites and bee stings are potentially dangerous, especially if your Pet is stung near the mouth or on the neck. This may cause serious swelling that can restrict breathing. If possible, remove the stinger and apply a cold compress to the skin’s surface to help stop swelling and relieve pain. Contact your Banfield veterinarian immediately if your Pet is stung in the mouth or neck , stung multiple times or if he/she seems to be listless or having trouble breathing.
• Protect against Parvo
While preventable by vaccination, Parvovirus (“Parvo”), the most common infectious disease in dogs in the U.S., is a serious, potentially life-threatening viral infection. The virus is passed in the stool of infected dogs and can live for months within the soil or on solid surfaces such as sidewalks. Puppies can become infected through contact with an infected environment (indoors or outdoors), or directly from a sick or recovered dog that is shedding the virus, said Dr. Zimmerman.
Initial symptoms of canine Parvovirus include:
o Lethargy and disinterest in food.
o Depression
o Drooling
o Repeated vomiting
o Severe, often bloody diarrhea.
Puppies may exhibit shivering from fever and pain. If your Pet exhibits any of these symptoms, contact your Banfield veterinarian immediately. “Banfield continually strives to educate our clients about Pet healthcare and we believe Parvovirus is a serious, potentially life-threatening viral infection that Pet owners need to be aware of,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “It is important for puppy owners to build a relationship with a veterinarian to ensure their puppy receives a complete series of puppy vaccinations. Many diseases in puppies are entirely preventable with the right preventive care program.”
Summer Safety for Pets
If you decide to take your Pet with you when you travel this summer, please be sure to take the following precautions:
• Never leave your Pet in the car, even for short periods of time with the windows open. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to life-threatening levels in a matter of only minutes. Since dogs do not sweat from their entire skin surface, they can only regulate their body temperature by panting, which becomes ineffective in hot, stationary air. Banfield has “Auto Alert” tags available, which can be placed inside your car and change colors to alert you when your vehicle is too hot for your Pet to be inside. Please contact us to find out more about obtaining these tags (please see the attached PDF for an image of the Auto Alert tags)
• Make sure your Pet has access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Like people, Pets need to drink more in hot weather. A plastic swimming pool filled with a few inches of clean water is a great way to provide your Pet with fresh drinking water. It also provides a place for your Pet to cool down while outdoors.
• Avoid exercise during the most intense heat of the day and keep walks to a reasonable pace and distance. Watch for signs of overexertion in your Pet, such as excessive panting, drooling, weakness, bloody diarrhea or vomit or bright red gums, said Dr. Zimmerman. If you notice any of these signs, call or transport your Pet to your Banfield veterinarian immediately.
• If your Pet has exposed skin or short hair, be sure to apply sunscreen before your Pet spends time outdoors. Ear tips and noses are the most prone to sunburn, especially on dogs and cats with light-colored hair and skin. Just like you, Pets can get burned even on overcast summer days.
Summer Travel with Pets
If you take your Pet with you this summer on a day trip, weekend adventure or extended vacation, please have the following supplies on hand:
• A bed and, blanket or towel to lie on
• A proper car restraint for your Pet (available at PetSmart)-either seatbelt or kennel
• A sturdy leash for walking and, if necessary, a tie out for confining the Pet to a specific area. Never leave a tied out Pet unattended
• Favorite toys (without squeakers if you will be within hearing range of others);
• Food and snacks/treats, if appropriate
• Plastic bags for cleaning up after your dog
• Sunscreen for short-haired and light-skinned areas
• Towels for after wading, swimming or getting dirty outside
• Veterinary records and microchip information, if available
• Health certificate from your veterinarian if you will be flying with your Pet
• Water bowl with fresh water and a placemat to catch spills
• A well-fitting collar with ID tags with current information.
“While some Pets are content to be your traveling companion on the road,” said Dr. Johnson, “it’s important to think about whether your Pet enjoys traveling.”
If your dog is nervous or stressed in an unfamiliar environment and around other Pets, said Dr. Johnson, it’s probably better to leave him/her at home with a trusted friend or family member.
Dr. Johnson and Dr. Zimmerman are available to speak with you more in-depth regarding summer health and safety for Pets. Please let us know if you would like to schedule an interview. Banfield’s Media Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-888-355-0595.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 700 quality veterinary hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year.
# # #
Christine Antles, External Communications Specialist
Banfield, The Pet Hospital®
(503) 922-5698 / christine.antles@banfield.net
Banfield, The Pet Hospital® Media Hotline (no advertising sales calls, please)
(888)-355-0595
BANFIELD, THE PET HOSPITAL® ADVISES ABOUT KEEPING YOUR PET HEALTHY AND SAFE
THIS SUMMER
Protect Pets from disease and pests and keep Pets safe during Summer and Travel
Portland, Ore. — July 14, 2008 —Pets face a unique set of dangers during the mid-summer months, such as an increased prevalence of ticks and Lyme disease and Parvovirus, as well as summer safety and travel hazards. Karen J. Johnson, DVM, and Nancy Townsend Zimmerman, DVM, Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline), Senior Medical Advisor, Banfield, The Pet Hospital® would like to offer a few tips to Pet owners this summer.
Protecting Pets against disease and pests
The following tips are important to keep in mind as you and your Pet spend more time outdoors this summer.
• Use Flea Preventives – Fleas bite and reproduce at an alarming rate, especially in warm weather. The use of a veterinary-recommended, topical flea control product kills feeding adult fleas and helps stop the population explosion.
• Watch out for ticks – “Before attachment, ticks are very small and can hide easily on furry Pets. They can also carry Lyme disease,” says Dr. Johnson. “Pets can pick up ticks just by walking through tall grass, pastures or wooded areas – especially those frequented by wildlife,” she says. “Protect your Pet with a product that is labeled to be effective against ticks and carefully inspect your Pet from nose to tail after spending time outdoors.”
• Avoid heartworm disease– Pets can become infected with heartworms as a result of just one mosquito bite. Heartworm disease can be fatal to both dogs and cats, so contact your Banfield veterinarian about heartworm testing and monthly preventive medication for your dog and cat.
• Treat bug bites and bee stings – Insect bites and bee stings are potentially dangerous, especially if your Pet is stung near the mouth or on the neck. This may cause serious swelling that can restrict breathing. If possible, remove the stinger and apply a cold compress to the skin’s surface to help stop swelling and relieve pain. Contact your Banfield veterinarian immediately if your Pet is stung in the mouth or neck , stung multiple times or if he/she seems to be listless or having trouble breathing.
• Protect against Parvo
While preventable by vaccination, Parvovirus (“Parvo”), the most common infectious disease in dogs in the U.S., is a serious, potentially life-threatening viral infection. The virus is passed in the stool of infected dogs and can live for months within the soil or on solid surfaces such as sidewalks. Puppies can become infected through contact with an infected environment (indoors or outdoors), or directly from a sick or recovered dog that is shedding the virus, said Dr. Zimmerman.
Initial symptoms of canine Parvovirus include:
o Lethargy and disinterest in food.
o Depression
o Drooling
o Repeated vomiting
o Severe, often bloody diarrhea.
Puppies may exhibit shivering from fever and pain. If your Pet exhibits any of these symptoms, contact your Banfield veterinarian immediately. “Banfield continually strives to educate our clients about Pet healthcare and we believe Parvovirus is a serious, potentially life-threatening viral infection that Pet owners need to be aware of,” said Dr. Zimmerman. “It is important for puppy owners to build a relationship with a veterinarian to ensure their puppy receives a complete series of puppy vaccinations. Many diseases in puppies are entirely preventable with the right preventive care program.”
Summer Safety for Pets
If you decide to take your Pet with you when you travel this summer, please be sure to take the following precautions:
• Never leave your Pet in the car, even for short periods of time with the windows open. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to life-threatening levels in a matter of only minutes. Since dogs do not sweat from their entire skin surface, they can only regulate their body temperature by panting, which becomes ineffective in hot, stationary air. Banfield has “Auto Alert” tags available, which can be placed inside your car and change colors to alert you when your vehicle is too hot for your Pet to be inside. Please contact us to find out more about obtaining these tags (please see the attached PDF for an image of the Auto Alert tags)
• Make sure your Pet has access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Like people, Pets need to drink more in hot weather. A plastic swimming pool filled with a few inches of clean water is a great way to provide your Pet with fresh drinking water. It also provides a place for your Pet to cool down while outdoors.
• Avoid exercise during the most intense heat of the day and keep walks to a reasonable pace and distance. Watch for signs of overexertion in your Pet, such as excessive panting, drooling, weakness, bloody diarrhea or vomit or bright red gums, said Dr. Zimmerman. If you notice any of these signs, call or transport your Pet to your Banfield veterinarian immediately.
• If your Pet has exposed skin or short hair, be sure to apply sunscreen before your Pet spends time outdoors. Ear tips and noses are the most prone to sunburn, especially on dogs and cats with light-colored hair and skin. Just like you, Pets can get burned even on overcast summer days.
Summer Travel with Pets
If you take your Pet with you this summer on a day trip, weekend adventure or extended vacation, please have the following supplies on hand:
• A bed and, blanket or towel to lie on
• A proper car restraint for your Pet (available at PetSmart)-either seatbelt or kennel
• A sturdy leash for walking and, if necessary, a tie out for confining the Pet to a specific area. Never leave a tied out Pet unattended
• Favorite toys (without squeakers if you will be within hearing range of others);
• Food and snacks/treats, if appropriate
• Plastic bags for cleaning up after your dog
• Sunscreen for short-haired and light-skinned areas
• Towels for after wading, swimming or getting dirty outside
• Veterinary records and microchip information, if available
• Health certificate from your veterinarian if you will be flying with your Pet
• Water bowl with fresh water and a placemat to catch spills
• A well-fitting collar with ID tags with current information.
“While some Pets are content to be your traveling companion on the road,” said Dr. Johnson, “it’s important to think about whether your Pet enjoys traveling.”
If your dog is nervous or stressed in an unfamiliar environment and around other Pets, said Dr. Johnson, it’s probably better to leave him/her at home with a trusted friend or family member.
Dr. Johnson and Dr. Zimmerman are available to speak with you more in-depth regarding summer health and safety for Pets. Please let us know if you would like to schedule an interview. Banfield’s Media Hotline can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-888-355-0595.
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1955, Banfield has become the largest Pet general veterinary practice in the world, with more than 700 quality veterinary hospitals in many neighborhoods across the U.S., in the U.K. and in Mexico. More than 1000 veterinarians at Banfield are committed to giving Pets the same level of care that their human family members receive. Banfield hospitals offer a full-range of comprehensive, medical services, computerized medical records, Pet preventive care plans, extended operating hours, and is the only veterinary practice in the world with an extensive quality assurance program. Banfield, The Pet Hospital helps extend the lives of millions of Pets each year.
# # #
