{"id":5137,"date":"2011-06-29T13:26:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-29T13:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/pet-post-pet-summer-tips-no-sweat-isn-t-necessarily-a-good-thing\/"},"modified":"2011-06-29T13:26:00","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T13:26:00","slug":"pet-post-pet-summer-tips-no-sweat-isn-t-necessarily-a-good-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/pet-post-pet-summer-tips-no-sweat-isn-t-necessarily-a-good-thing","title":{"rendered":"PET POST: Pet Summer Tips \u2014 No Sweat Isn\u2019t Necessarily a Good Thing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"images\/archive\/m_image1309353842-10515.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 4px; width: 225px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; \" alt=\"\" align=\"right\">11:01am | <\/strong>We\u2019d been thinking that summer had taken a summer vacation, but it\u2019s just stepped back into town. Hot summer weather makes it incumbent upon us pet people to take precautions so that our buddies don\u2019t become catatonic or fall into a dog daze. The following are top tips gleaned from our own experiences and various animal-welfare websites. This isn\u2019t an exhaustive list \u2014 check the end of the article for links to more suggestions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span><meta charset=\"utf-8\">This hint is the avatar of pet-safety nuh-uhs. Every year when summer arrives, we hear of pets \u2014 and small children \u2014 confined inside a car in the heat with the windows shut, causing them to perished. California Penal Code Section 597.7 states that \u201cit is illegal to leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of an animal due to heat.\u201d The temperature inside a car can reach 160 degrees, and parking in the shade gives little protection because the sun shifts. Dogs and cats have no sweat glands and can\u2019t manufacture perspiration to cool themselves off, and the normal temperatures of cats and dogs are higher than those of humans.&nbsp;A couple of summers ago, a friend of ours spotted a dog left closed up in the car in the post office lot. An outspoken sort, our friend marched into the building and announced that there was a dog left in a car and the owner needed to attend to it. Someone near the end of the line \u2014 a long line \u2014 answered something to the effect of \u201cOh, he\u2019ll be fine, I\u2019ll be right out.\u201d Our friend nodded, went outside, and called the police, who responded pretty quickly. The dog\u2019s caretaker was none too pleased, as few people like that are, but meddle anyway: If you see a pet who has been left unattended in a closed-up, parked vehicle, call Animal Care Services at 562-570-7387 or the police (do a 9-1-1 here!). Be sure to give the license plate number.<span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; \"><strong><\/strong><\/span>&nbsp;<br \/><\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>OK, you can leave your pet in the car with the windows open so he or she can breathe, right? Frankly, that\u2019s not advisable. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, particularly on a hot day. Even on a nice chilly morning, an opened car window is an opportunity for pet theft.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">As far as the sun goes, too much of it is as dangerous for pets as it is for people. When you take your dog out to Rosie\u2019s Dog Beach or out on a long walk, apply sunscreen on the nose \u2014 particularly a light-colored nose \u2014 and ear tips to prevent cancer and sunburn. Cats, especially white ones, are also prone to sunburn. Check with your vet for a good product (don\u2019t expect the cat to let it sit on the nose, by the way.) Rabbits who live in outdoor warrens (And why? They make terrific indoor pets as long as you bunny-proof the house) need to have plentiful water and a shaded shelter. Rabbits can also suffer from heat exhaustion or heatstroke \u2014 imagine yourself in all that bunny fur. Birds should not be in direct sunlight, especially in front of windows, which reflect and refract and do whatever else glass does to sunlight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/m_image1309353640-95663.jpg\" style=\"margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 2px; width: 450px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; display: block; \" align=\"center\" alt=\"\"><br \/><span>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><em>Fuji wears a visor to deal with her skin-cancer and other health issues. Friends have told her that she resembles Dinah Shore when she\u2019s hatted up \u2014 a compliment to both dog and grande dame. Photo courtesy Merrilee Adler.<\/em><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Speaking of Rosie\u2019s, exercise your pet in the early morning or evening hours, when it\u2019s cooler.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">And speaking further of fur coats, shorter pet cuts are good for the summer, but don\u2019t take a skinhead approach to the body. Pets need a light coat of fur for sun protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Heat can cause problems other than dehydration. Extreme sidewalk heat can burn little paddy paws, so don\u2019t allow your dog to stand around on it while you\u2019re chatting or texting. If you walk your dog on the hot sidewalks, invest in those cute little booties. He or she may be embarrassed in front of his or her friends but will thank you later.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Turn the air conditioner on for your pet \u2014 especially your senior pets and those with the snub-nose breathing issues \u2014 on hot days, especially if you\u2019re wisely safety-minded and leave your doors and windows shut. This may sound like excessive indulgence, but so what?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">It naturally follows to say that your pet should have plenty of drinking water. Double-down on the quantity \u2014 it\u2019s better use for it than watering a lawn.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">If your pet should become overheated, cool him or her down with small amounts of water or cool washcloths. Immersing your pet in cold water could cause shock to the system. Take him or her to a vet as an added precaution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><span>Summer means vacation trips, and dogs and some odd cats enjoy taking trips with the family. If you decide to travel with your pet, do the following for each destination: Know the terrain and changes of altitude; find the closest vet (get a recommendation, if possible); note any animal predators, toxic plants and conditions like Lyme disease; get your pet inoculations and carsickness meds; make sure microchips and name tags are in place; and take all the precautions we\u2019ve mentioned previously. On the fun side, look up pet-friendly hotels, motels and campgrounds; dog parks and beaches; airplane accommodations if applicable; and restaurants that welcome pets in their outdoor dining areas. If your pet stays home, be sure that you have a trustworthy pet sitter or boarding kennel. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.humanesociety.org\/animals\/resources\/tips\/travelling_tips_pets_US_international.html \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripswithpets.com\/pet-travel-tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a><\/span><span>&nbsp;for all this information.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">And, of course, there\u2019s the Fourth of July coming up this weekend. Holiday activities can be stressful enough for pets without firecrackers freaking them out at random intervals. One friend we knew had a German shepherd who burst through a closed window at the first sound of a bottle rocket and took off in search of her humans. When she was finally corralled, our friend shut her up in the wine cellar and put cotton in her ears. Thankfully, it worked, or the dog surely would have gotten into the pinot. If you don\u2019t have a wine cellar, have someone check in on him or her if possible, make the area as quiet as possible and safe for your pet so that he or she doesn\u2019t destroy anything (like windows), and contact your vet for medication to alleviate the fear. Boarding the pet is a good choice, as well. Whatever you do, don\u2019t take the pet with you to a fireworks display \u2014 it will most likely be nerve-wracking and it could also be dangerous.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Summertime is supposed to be a fun time, just as the Beach Boys have us to think, and we hope that you and your pet have your share of it. Let us know of any tips or websites that you\u2019ve found useful, either for travel or for home.<br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">We thank <a href=\"http:\/\/www.longbeach.gov\/acs\/tips\/warm_weather_.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Animal Care Services<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.idausa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">In Defense of Animals<\/a>,&nbsp;the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aspca.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ASPCA<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hsus.org\">HSUS<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/spcala.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">spcaLA<\/a>, and the<a href=\"http:\/\/www.akc.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> AKC<\/a>&nbsp;for these suggestions.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">\u201cIt is the dogmatic domain of dog lovers to offer dogdom a dog&#8217;s chance to rise above the&nbsp;dog days for a doggone good time\u201d<\/span><\/em><span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;\"><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">(We have no idea of the source of this quote, but it looked pretty doggone applicable)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;\"><span><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Virtually Pets<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"images\/archive\/m_image1309353307-38900.jpg\" style=\"width: 275px; margin-top: 2px; margin-right: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 2px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; \" alt=\"\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">This is Trickster, a 1-year-old male tan scruffy terrier [we\u2019re not sure if that\u2019s a breed or Jillian\u2019s description!]. He weighs about 13 pounds and is very sweet and playful \u2014 though he&#8217;s a bit fearful of men. Trickster has been through a lot \u2014 he was hit by a car, suffered head trauma and had the condition of cryptorchidism, in which one testicle has not descended. His neutering was painful, as anyone could imagine, but he&#8217;s fully recovered from his accident and surgery. Now he just needs a loving home. Contact his foster mom at jillian_clemmons@yahoo.com of Animal Match Rescue Team if you\u2019re interested.&nbsp;<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><\/span><br \/><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Pet Projects<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><br \/><span>&nbsp;<\/span><br \/><strong><em>July 9, ACS Low-Cost Pet Clinic<\/em><\/strong><\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">The next low-cost animal clinic will be held at Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., from 10 a.m. to noon. A state licensed veterinarian from the Southern California Veterinary Vaccine Clinic &nbsp;will be onsite to provide the shots, including feline and canine rabies and all dog- and cat-specific diseases. Residents can process their license renewals onsite. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.longbeach.gov\/acs\/pet_license\/microchip\/microchip_clinic_schedule.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here &nbsp;for the full schedule and details<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/scvvc.webs.com\/ \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a> for a full listing of prices.&nbsp;<br \/><\/span><strong><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\"><\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/><strong><em><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">July 21\u201325, Animal Rights National Conference, Los Angeles<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/><span style=\"font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';\">Animal Rights 2011 is the U.S. animal rights movement&#8217;s annual national conference. It is also the world&#8217;s largest and longest-running animal rights gathering, hailing back to 1981. The conference is scheduled at the Westin LAX Hotel, 5400 W. Century Blvd. in Los Angeles and will feature nearly 100 presenters from more than 60 organizations and several countries in seven plenary sessions, 50 workshops and a dozen rap sessions and campaign reports. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.arconference.com\/ \">Click here<\/a> for information on all the programs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019d been thinking that summer had taken a summer vacation, but it\u2019s just stepped back into town. Hot summer weather makes it incumbent upon us pet people to take precautions so that our buddies don\u2019t become catatonic or fall into a dog daze.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-5137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pets","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5137"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5137\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5137"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=5137"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=5137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}