caring for an elderly dog
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caring for an elderly dog

When your dog doesn't seem interested in eating his food, do you know what to do? When your dog vomits often, could there be something serious wrong with him? If he struggles to get up the stairs, does he need to see a vet? Having never owned an older dog, I knew nothing about the things that can begin to go wrong when dogs age. I adopted this guy when my neighbor moved into a nursing home and had to learn a lot about how to care for an older dog. My blog is filled with the many things that I have learned over the last year through the help of my vet.

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caring for an elderly dog

Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe From Heatstroke

Lucy Grant

Keeping your pet healthy and happy is a goal that you share with many other pet owners, but there are many new pet owners that may not be well informed about the various health problems that their pets can experience. For example, heatstroke is a common threat during the long summer months, but it is a problem that many pet owners may overlook with dire consequences. Luckily, you can follow these two tips to help keep your pet safe this summer. 

Be Aware Of Heatstroke's Warning Signs

You can not keep your pet safe from heat stroke if you are not aware of the symptoms. Unfortunately, the signs of heatstroke can be easy to miss, but there are a few warning signs that can alert you to a pending problem. 

Panting is a normal behavior that your pet will exhibit when it is hot, but this can become excessive. Panting hard enough to cause difficulty breathing can be a dangerous warning sign. Also, vomiting uncontrollably is another warning sign, which is particularly dangerous because it can lead to rapid dehydration. Lastly, another common sign is if your pet's mouth and nose are very dry and puffy, 

Provide First Aid While Transporting Them To The Veterinarian 

If you notice these symptoms you will need to transport your pet to a veterinarian like After Hours Veterinary Emergency Clinic Inc as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are some people that live a good distance from the nearest vet clinic, and this can place their pet at an extreme risk of suffering permanent injury from the heatstroke. 

To minimize the chances of this happening, you will need to keep your pet cool but not cold while transporting. Some people may attempt to pour cold water on their pet, but this can lower the body temperature too quickly and result in shock. A better approach is to place a cool damp towel over the pet. This will help to gradually lower their body temperature, which can help buy you the time you need to get them to the veterinarian. 

Heatstroke is a very serious threat that your pet may encounter during the hot summers, but there are steps you can take to help prevent the worse consequences of this condition. By understanding the warning signs that a heat stroke is occurring and how to provide first aid while transporting your pet, you should find yourself better able to care for your beloved furry friend. 


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