Alert, FYI

Pet Heatstroke: What does it look like?

Heatstroke is a serious, often fatal, condition in which a dog or cat’s core body temperature is way higher than it should be. It most commonly occurs in the summer on days with high humidity. Unfortunately, this condition is not common knowledge and can have a very rapid onset. Puppies, smooshed-face animals, and older pets are among those most commonly affected.

The most common symptoms of heatstroke are excessive panting, weakness, a cherry-red tongue, diarrhea, and vomiting. Now, panting is a normal, healthy part of dogs keeping cool. Excessive panting, i.e. we physically cannot get enough air, especially with a bright, red tongue, are cause for concern. Now, in cats, ANY panting is a cause for concern! If you see these symptoms in your pet, it is time to take action!

You think your pet has heatstroke, it is time to see a veterinarian. Heatstroke can cause the body to go into shock very, very quickly. This is life-threatening and requires medical attention. What can you do to help or prevent it? Animals need breaks from the heat just like we do. Having a cool place in the shade or indoors, especially with cool water, can help tremendously. Kiddie pools full of hose water work great for this.

Small drinks of cool, not cold, water help a lot too. Guzzling water can upset the stomach and cause vomiting, but small sips helps keep heatstroke at bay. Again, if you think your animal has heatstroke they need to see a veterinarian! Not only can they check their internal temperature, but they can also give cool fluids in the vein and perform other life-saving procedures!

Questions? Concerns? Feel free to shoot us a message below!

Alert, Behavior, FYI

What can you do when your dog is afraid of fireworks this Fourth?

The Fourth is almost here! It is a sad truth but more pets go missing due to firework anxiety than any other holiday. Feel out of options? Not sure what to do? That is why we are here!

Whether it is just changing your routine, bringing them in the house, or using calming medication, there are lots of options for this issue!

Here is a quick & easy list of some simple things you can do to calm down your anxious pet this Fourth:

  1. Bring them inside the garage or inside your home.
    • This seems almost obvious, but seeing that bright flash from a firework is almost as scary as hearing it to your pet.
  2. Find them a safe place to hide whether it be a closet or under the bed.
    • Providing that cozy space gives them a place to feel secure.
  3. Play TV or other background noise to lessen the volume of the fireworks.
  4. Pet them and soothe them: Your animals feel much calmer when you are calm.
  5. Relaxation medications: Some pets are so severely affected that they need some pharmaceutical help. That is completely okay and their friends will not make fun of them! We have a variety of safe, effective calming medications that we use all the time for noise phobias like this.

Want to learn more or hear about our calming medication options? Give us a call at (918)865-4733 or message us now!

Alert, FYI

*ALERT FOR THE KEYSTONE AREA*

Rising lake levels and stagnant water is causing a massive outbreak of mosquitoes!! This means our pets are at a much HIGHER RISK of heartworm infection! Due to this increased risk, now more than ever we recommend heartworm testing and prevention ♥️ This also applies to intestinal parasites such as HOOKWORMS and ROUNDWORMS; the fecal material in and around the lake gets swept up in that flood water!! Give us a call to ask about how you can keep your pet safe today!

Questions? Concerns? Visit our Facebook page or give us a call at (918)865-4733!

HWStuff