Summer Caution: Temperature Extremes and Your Pet!

The progression of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke will occur when an animal severely overheats as the weather turns warm and the animal has not yet acclimated to it. This progression can be rather quick given the fact that your animal is usually smaller in size than you and that cat and dogs do not have sweat glands, so they can dispel heat only by panting and through the pads of their feet.

Consider that the normal body temperature of 100.2-100.8° F for Dogs and 100.5-102.5° F for cats.
Understand it is important to not allow your animal’s body temperature to advance beyond more than 104° F.
Make sure your pet has plenty of cool water and shade during hot weather.
Never leave your pet in a parked car! Even with the windows cracked, your pet can quickly suffer heat stroke—and even die. Temperatures can rapidly exceed 120° F in parked cars!

It is especially important to take note of your animal’s condition in areas that experience a rapid rise or decline in temperatures in a relatively small area (such as the Bay Area of California). Try to limit the amount of excessive exercise when temperatures change quickly and understand your breed’s disposition to heat.

First Aid
Get your animal out of the direct heat as soon as possible.
Check for shock.
Take the animal’s temperature
Spray the animal with cool water, place towels on the head, neck, and core.
Take the animal to the Veterinarian for bloody diarrhea, capillary refill time is too quick, or for any temperature over 104° F.

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Learn more
What: American Red Cross Certified pet first-aid class
Where: Throughout the Bay Area
Cost: $100 per student, includes instruction and Pet first-aid manual ($20 discount for each additional student and further group discounts available).
To register: email John at matisj@gmail.com

Doggy Kryptonite - Chocolate

Red Cross class makes sure pets are covered in an emergency
By Susan Orr
Updated Monday, March 30, 2009

Hunter, a Jack Russell terrier, ate a very dangerous snack last month.

The 16-pound pooch ate 5.3 ounces of dark European chocolate — a food that can be fatal to dogs because they cannot metabolize the methylxanthines it contains.

"That little stinker got into a lunch pail," said Willie Ruckman, Hunter's owner.

Luckily, Ruckman knew what to do: He used hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting. He then rushed Hunter to the vet, who told Ruckman that his quick action helped save his pet's life.

Ruckman is a volunteer instructor for the American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana, and pet first aid is among the classes he teaches.

As a registered nurse who works at the Evansville State Hospital, Ruckman already had a medical background, but the pet first-aid training taught him things he hadn't known.

"I was glad I had this training, because I knew what to do," Ruckman said.
Classes focus on either dogs or cats, depending on what students want.
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Enroll in Pet First Aid in New York City today!

Topics range from disaster planning (if you evacuate your home, don't leave pets behind); to taking a dog's temperature (normal canine temperature range is 100 degrees to 102.5 degrees); to handling an injured dog (always muzzle the animal first).

Students also practice CPR, rescue breathing and choking rescue on canine mannequins.

To date, most students have taken the class for job-related reasons. This is a must have certification for petsitters, dog trainers, animal shelter workers, search and rescue groups and public safety officers who work with canines.

The class is open to anyone in New York City and can be taught to the entire family —parents and children together.

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Learn more

What: American Red Cross Certified pet first-aid class

Where: Throughout the 5 Boroughs

Cost: $100 per student, includes instruction and Pet first-aid manual ($20 discount for each additional student and further group discounts available).

To register: call John at 212-882-1120 or email at matisj@gmail.com