Those Doggone Days of Summer

Image Gallery PHOTOGRAPH ? JOEL DEXTER

COUNTRY PETS

Helping your pet beat the heat

By Emily Miller

IT'S SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS easy. Your dog is out all day swimming, catching frisbees, or just napping in the shade. Your cat is chasing mice and butterflies, hiding in the grass, basking in the sun. Time to kick back and let sleeping dogs lie.

Not exactly.

Summer is probably the most demanding season for pets. Aside from the parasitic infestations, animals may experience allergies, a need for dietary changes, and problems related to heat. All of these problems can be averted by an aware and responsible pet owner.

Be certain that your dog has had a yearly heartworm test. Heartworm is a parasite carried by mosquitoes. Its larvae invade the heart and lungs of a dog, causing enlarged hearts, heart failure, and, eventually, death. By testing your dog, you can treat the disease if present, or protect him from acquiring it.

There are a number of heartworm preventatives on the market now. Most of them work retroactively—the pill taken in June protects the dog in May. Some of the heartworm preventatives will also protect the dog against other parasitic worm infestation. Ask your vet which is right for your dog.

Fleas are an ongoing menace all their own. In addition to making your dog scratch, fleas carry tapeworm larvae that can be transmitted to your cat or dog via their bites (many animals are allergic to flea bites as well). Controlling flea infestations takes time and diligence, but it can be done. Brush and comb your animal daily. Vacuum daily. Supplement his food with garlic and brewer's yeast. Bathe your pet in an herbal repellent shampoo like Dr. Bronner's Eucalyptus or a similar mild shampoo containing tea tree oil, peppermint, or citronella on a weekly basis during the height of the flea season.

There is a lot of concern about deer ticks, and rightfully so. Lyme disease, the disease carried by these ticks, infects many pets and their owners each year. Fortunately, there is a preventative vaccine. It is administered in three shots two weeks apart initially, and requires a booster shot once a year after that. While this will protect your animal from contracting Lyme disease, it won't protect you. However, if you follow the "flea regimen," you should be fairly parasite-free.

Your animal may be more or less active during the summer months, depending on what sort of coat he has. The basic rule is feed more if the activity level increases, less if it is decreased from the winter months. If you see itching, hot spots, or mucousy eyes not attributable to some other source, your cat or dog may have airborne allergies to trees (believe it or not!), grass, or mold. Sometimes changing the animal's diet to a hypoallergenic one of a lamb-and-rice kibble or canned food may help. Sometimes a visit to the vet and a prescription for antihistamines is in order.