Author: Thaddeus Fedoruk

Monsoon season runs from June 15 through September 30. Are your ready? Here is a short check list to prepare for this annual event.

Know the symptoms of overheating in pets:

These include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

To keep pets safe and cool during summer, provide plenty of fresh water, shade, and avoid hot surfaces. Keep pets indoors during the hottest parts of the day, and be mindful of signs of overheating like excessive panting or lethargy. Never leave pets in cars, even with windows cracked.

Here’s a more detailed look at summer safety for pets:

Water:

• Ensure pets have access to fresh, cool water at all times.
• Place multiple water bowls around the house and yard, especially in shaded areas.
• Consider adding ice to water to help it stay cool.

Shade:

• Provide ample shade for pets outdoors, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
• Tree shade and tarps are good options, as they don’t block airflow.
• Don’t use doghouses for shade, as they can make things worse.

Avoid Hot Surfaces:

• Don’t walk pets on hot pavement, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
• If the ground is too hot to touch with your hand, it’s too hot for your pet’s paws.
• Consider using paw protectors or booties.

Indoor Cooling:

• Keep pets indoors during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10 am and 6 pm.
• Use air conditioning, fans, or cooling mats to help keep pets cool indoors.
• Consider a wading pool for dogs to cool down in.

Exercise and Activity:

• Exercise pets in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler.
• Take breaks and provide shade during outdoor walks.
• Limit strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day.

Signs of Overheating:

• Watch for signs of overheating, such as excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, and difficulty breathing.
• If you see these signs, move your pet to a cooler area and seek veterinary care if necessary.

Other Summer Safety Tips:

• Never leave pets in cars, even with windows cracked.
• Avoid shaving pets, as it can make them more susceptible to overheating.
• Apply pet-friendly sunscreen to protect them from sunburn.
• Be cautious with food and drinks during summer barbecues.
• Keep pets away from fireworks.
• Be aware of the potential for parasites and insects.

Rattlesnakes—They’re out – and they’re biting.

It’s a good time, to brush up on rattle­snake behavior, safety strategies, and what to do if you suffer a bite.

Rattlers 101

Randy Babb, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with other reference sources, provides some guidance when encountering a rattlesnake.

• Southern Arizona is home to nine or 10 species of rattlesnakes, depending on how one defines the region.
• It’s possible to encounter one on any warm day of the year even though they’re usually inactive during the winter months.
• When rattlers come out of their dens in the spring, they sometimes slither many miles to their summering grounds.
• Their peak daytime activity comes in the warm months of spring and in September and October. They’re often out at night in the hot summer season.

About those Bites

• Western diamond rattlesnakes, a large species that can deliver a big dose of venom, account for most of the bites in Southern Arizona.
• Between 150 and 250 snakebites are reported to the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in a typical year. Experts estimate the actual number of snake bites is closer to 350.
• Only a very small percentage of victims die as a result of bites. In a recent 10-year period, poison centers reported 1,912 bites leading to only four deaths. The most recent confirmed snakebite death in Arizona was in 2007.
• Prompt treatment at a medical facility with antivenin is the main reason for the high survival rate. Another is that an estimated 10 percent or more of rattler strikes are “dry bites,” which deliver no venom.

• Rattlesnakes sometimes coil and rattle be­fore striking – but not always. People have been bitten by snakes that didn’t sound a rattling warning.

Staying Safe

A “golden rule” for avoiding snake bites is to watch where you put your hands and feet.

• Simply put: Don’t mess with snakes. More than half the bites reported to the Poison and Drug Information Center involved peo­ple who saw a snake, recognized the danger, and still chose to approach the snake.
• Don’t even mess with a dead or decapitated snake. The head can still deliver a venomous bite minutes after death by a sort of reflex reaction.
• If you see a snake, step back slowly and move a safe distance away.
• If you are bitten, go immediately to a medical facility. Don’t use a tourniquet or make incisions around the bite because you’re likely to do more harm than good. Don’t try to capture or kill the snake for identification. It’s dangerous and not necessary because all rattler bites are treated with the same antivenin.

Snake Removal

Some fire departments will remove rattlers from a house or confined yard. Call the Golder Ranch Fire Department (520) 818-1017, (or 911 in case of an emergency) for details on snake-removal services.

Poison Control Information:

Call 1-800-222-1222 anytime for information on snakebites. The line is operated by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Source:
Arizona Daily Star