The summer weather and increase in outdoor activities increases the risk for our pets.  Listed below are several things you should be aware of.

Snakebites: The snakes in our area are more active during warmer weather and we often encounter them when outside doing summer activities such as cookouts, gardening, hiking, going to parks, etc. I would highly recommend, if you are extremely active in the outdoors with your dog, to consider snake aversion programs. Doing this hopefully decreases the chance of your pet being bit. Not only that, but your dog’s reaction to an area with a snake can give you a heads up, too.

If your pet happens to be bitten by a venomous snake, you need to seek veterinary attention immediately. If possible, research which hospitals around the area you are going to be in have antivenom. In our area of northeast Georgia, a good place to seek help would be The University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It would have the ability to provide 24-hour care and antivenom. If the bite is around the neck or there is facial swelling, remove their collar. Note of importance: No, you do not need to bring the snake to the hospital with you. If you are in a safe position to do so, take a picture of it with your cellphone.   

Toxic Water: If there is algae on a body of water, it is best to not allow your pet to get in the water. Be sure if you are going to the lake, pond, etc., that you look for reports on the safety of water in the area. The blue-green algae can rapidly become fatal. Avoid exposure at all costs. Do not allow them to swim in or drink the water. It can cause shock, liver damage, neurologic issues (tremors, collapse, drooling, seizures), respiratory difficulties, and death. Many pets are affected quickly before you can even seek veterinary care. Pay attention to local advisories, use common sense if you see algae, and always carry fresh water for your pet to drink. The best medicine is avoidance. 

Heatstroke: With temperatures soaring we have to be very careful with our pets.  If they are outside, they need shade; cool, clean, fresh water; and if doing outdoor activities, frequent breaks. Be mindful of the time of day that you take your pet outside when it gets hot. Cars can heat up rapidly even with the windows cracked. Try to either take your pet with you or leave the air conditioning on for them if they have to remain in the car. It is very easy to get distracted with conversation, work, etc., so be very careful. Also, if your dog does develop signs of heat stroke, head to the vet as quickly as possible. They will need to be cooled off, but slow and steadily. Do not place them in ice water. Placing them in air conditioning and applying cool water on the feet and the inner flap of their ear is a good place to start on your way to the veterinary hospital. 

Burns: Pavement can be very hot. If it is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, it is too hot for your pet to walk on. Let your pet walk on dirt or grass if possible. Also, pets that are white/ have light skin color can burn in the direct sun. Keep them in the shade as much as possible. 

Ticks/ Fleas and Mosquitos: Please use a good flea and tick medication as well as heartworm prevention. These pests transmit many diseases when feeding. Overloads can also cause life-threatening anemia. If your pet is itching a lot, look for fleas. Many are very sensitive and it only takes a couple fleas to cause them to be very itchy. Be sure to buy prevention medication from a reputable source. There are many counterfeit products being sold that have packaging that very closely resembles the real product. And if the price is too good to be true, beware! 

Be sure not to apply flea and tick products on cats that do not specifically say that they can be used on cats. Don’t rely on a picture on the product. Look for wording that it can be used in cats. If you accidentally apply dog flea and tick meds on your cat, wash the area with Dawn dish soap and water as soon as possible, then head to the veterinarian. 

Be sure to keep your pets on heartworm preventative year round (dogs and cats). We see spread of heartworms with increased activity of the mosquitoes, but it can occur any time of the year. Our area doesn’t get cold enough for you to rely on them to be inactive. Year-round prevention is very important. 

Thunderstorms and fireworks: In Georgia there is no way around these. If your pet gets overly anxious, terrified, or destructive during these events, talk to your veterinarian about getting meds to calm them. Scared pets often escape, break through fences, etc. Be sure they have an identifying collar and a microchip. If your pet is microchipped, be sure to keep contact information up to date in the microchip system.   

Increased risk of exposure to rabid animals that are active: Make sure that your pet is current on their rabies vaccine.   

Just because your pet lives inside doesn’t mean that they are not exposed to fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, bats, etc. These can come inside as well, especially if you have pets that are going in and out of the house. These pests/animals can even infest or sneak into your house and their populations multiply quickly. They are a hazard to pets and people. Keep pets on prevention and keep their rabies up to date. That’s worth a repeat:  Keep your animals on flea/tick/heartworm prevention and up to date on their rabies vaccine! 

Last but not least: We all love our summer gatherings, picnics, BBQs, etc. Please don’t allow people to feed your pet foods from these events. Foods high in fat can cause vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis or even blockages. You don’t want your pet to be sick just because they want or beg for food that isn’t good for them! We realize it is important to share with your pet, but make it a piece of ice to chew on or a baby carrot to crunch on. Better yet, bring some of their favorite treats to the event. 

Enjoy the summer, but be safe! It’s our job to protect our pets!  

This summer, the Comer Vet team says, "No heartworms allowed!"

Our heartworm prevention special continues this month!

Shield your pet from this mosquito-borne parasite by purchasing 12 months of heartworm prevention (or, if your pet is eligible, an annual ProHeart shot) and you'll get your choice of a FREE heartworm test OR 10 percent off your pet's annual bloodwork! This special only runs through July 31, so give us a call now to order your yearly heartworm medication and schedule a prevention appointment!

Please note this offer does not apply to online heartworm prevention orders; to receive your free heartworm test or bloodwork savings, annual heartworm prevention must be purchased in-person or over the phone through Comer Vet.

— After Hours at Comer Vet —

The July photo contest theme is “Best ‘Fit”! Does your pet have a snazzy halter, a special sundress, or a custom collar? We’d love to see it!

Take a horizontal photo of your pet(s) wearing their favorite fashions, and send it to us by June 23! Entries can be submitted via DM on the Comer Vet Facebook page or Instagram. Voting will run the 26th through 30th. Please note, if you’ve got multiple pets in your household, you can submit either individual photos of each animal OR one group photo of everyone!

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