SUMMERTIME HAS ARRIVED! While enjoying the fun and sun with your pet, here are some summertime hazards to be aware of to help keep your pet healthy in the warmer weather.

Fleas, Ticks, and Mosquitoes are all unwelcome guests that can cause problems for your pet in the summertime. Fleas cause extreme skin irritation and can also cause severe allergic reactions in some pets. Tick bites are a concern in dogs due to the fact the Deer Tick, or Black-legged Tick which is prevalent in our area, can transmit Lyme disease to your canine companion. Lastly, mosquitoes can transmit heartworms to your cat or dog, which can be fatal. Proper prevention of these parasites is made very simple by using the correct products that can be prescribed by your veterinarian. Throw away those flea collars folks! Flea collars only work on a limited area of an animal's neck region and do not prevent fleas from biting.

There are many safer and more effective products available today. It is important to read product labels very carefully on all flea and tick medications, as the misuse of such medications, particularly over the counter varieties, can lead to acute toxicity in pets. It is important never to use a dog product on your cat, or vice versa. The ingredient “permethrin” found in some dog medications, while perfectly safe for dogs can be lethal to cats even in very small doses.

Some other common summertime toxicities include ingestion of rodenticides, and weed killers. Keep all rat poison and weed control products out of your pets reach at all times.

Hyperthermia in dogs and cats is also a concern in the summertime heat. Dogs and cats do not tolerate heat as well as humans do, and they cannot adjust to sudden rises in temperatures. To avoid hyperthermia, never leave your animal in a closed car in the summertime. If you see an animal in a closed car on a hot day, please report this to your local police immediately in order to get that animal necessary help. Also, be careful when taking your dog out for long walks on very hot days, and always make sure your pet has access to shade and water. A normal body temperature for a cat or dog is 100.5° F-102.5° F. When an animal's body temperature reaches 107° F, his or her organs can begin shutting down and permanent damage may occur. If you take your pet's temperature and it is severely elevated, apply cold,wet towels to the animal's body, paying particular attention to the groin and underarm regions. Monitor the animal's temperature every 2 minutes, and stop the cooling process once the animal's temperature has reached 103° F. In the meantime, get your pet to the nearest animal hospital so they can be treated for symptoms of shock.

On a final note, make sure that you always obey the leash laws in the area where you live. Be very cautious when allowing your dog off leash, it only takes seconds for your pet to run out into the street into the heavy summer traffic.

For more information visit aspca.org. If you are concerned that your pet has ingested a toxic substance please call the Animal Poison Control 24-hour service at (888) 426-4435.