Van Veen: How to keep your pet safe in summer

It’s been a long time coming, but summer finally seems to have arrived in earnest. Keep your pets safe this summer with these precautions:

Keep pets out of hot cars: The temperature in a vehicle can quickly reach dangerous levels on a hot summer day. The minute it takes to grab a coffee or do a banking errand can be lethal to an animal. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, the temperature inside a car can reach in excess of 90 C. Leaving windows cracked open does not reduce the rate at which the car heats up. Cooler days are not much safer than scorchers. Your pet will be safer and more comfortable if left at home.

Avoid heat stroke: Pets are known to overexert themselves. Owners need to step in and limit exercise when it is hot outside. Choose to walk your dogs in the morning and evening. Restrict activities such as jogging with pets to more appropriate seasons. Know the signs of heatstroke, which may include rapid panting, weakness, lack of coordination, convulsions and vomiting.

Watch for torsion/bloat: Bloat happens when gas becomes trapped in a pet’s stomach and cannot escape. Torsion is when the stomach twists on itself. Both conditions are life-threatening and require emergency veterinary care. Although not strictly a summer problem, it has been linked to drinking large volumes of water coupled with physical activity. Overheated dogs often gulp water in the summer. Monitor exercise and water intake. Watch for symptoms such as discomfort, a distended abdomen and vomiting that brings up white frothy liquid.

Bring extra water: Pets, like people, need plenty of cool, fresh water to stay hydrated. Bring extra water for pets and offer frequent drink breaks. At home, check water dishes frequently to ensure they are topped up and easily accessible.

Lots of shelter and shade: Give your pet plenty of shelter from the sun’s rays. They’re susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer too. Use pet-safe sunscreen — it should be nonoily, non-irritating, water soluble and contain no silicone — on exposed areas when outdoors. Also pay attention to the ground your pet is walking on. Asphalt becomes blistering hot. It can hurt your pet’s unprotected paws. Radiating heat from dark surfaces can make it hard for the dog to cool off. Consider bringing pets inside to enjoy the air conditioning instead. This is especially important for northern breeds with thick coats and a low tolerance to heat.

Symptoms Of Cancer In Dogs - News


Van Veen: How to keep your pet safe in summer

Overheated dogs often gulp water in the summer. Monitor exercise and water intake. Watch for symptoms such as discomfort, a distended abdomen and vomiting that brings up white frothy liquid. Bring extra water: Pets, like people, need plenty of cool,



Kandi Stevens: Summer safety for four-legged friends

Weimaraners are also a breed more susceptible to heat stroke. ยช Dogs, particularly ones that are pale and short-haired are more prone to sunburn and skin cancer, just like humans. Consider applying pet-safe sunscreen to the bridge of the nose,



Oklahoma veterinarians specialize in treating furry family members

And like infants and young children, dogs and cats can't verbalize their feelings or symptoms, so to diagnose and treat illnesses can be challenging, he said. But they are challenges Hodges said he finds extremely gratifying.



World's neglected tropical diseases

A north-eastern Thailand province is preparing to test its population for a parasitic worm to detect early signs of bile duct cancer, which is caused by eating raw seafood. While this form of cancer is rare in most parts of the world, it is the leading



FACTBOX: World's neglected tropical diseases
FACTBOX: World's neglected tropical diseases

by Reuters Health, Last updated June 30, 2011 HONG KONG (Reuters) - A northeastern Thailand province is preparing to test its population for a parasitic worm to detect early signs of bile duct cancer, which is caused by eating raw seafood.




Canine anal cancer in dogs

Symptoms of Anal Cancer in Dogs

The most visible symptom of anal cancer in dogs is the appearance of a growth on or near the anus. Anal cancer tumors are usually rather small, but they can still make it difficult for your dog to move his bowels. Dogs with anal cancer may become constipated or struggle to move their bowels, they may stop eating and lose weight, and they may appear excessively thirsty. Often, they also become listless and lethargic. Diagnosing Anal Cancer in Dogs

Your vet will need a complete medical history and a thorough physical exam in order to diagnose anal cancer in your dog. A biopsy of the abnormal tissue can tell your vet whether or not the tumor is cancerous. Often, vets can get enough tissue for a biopsy by using a fine needle aspirate, but sometimes more tissue than what can be withdrawn through a needle may be needed. If that’s that case, then your vet will excise tissue with a scalpel.

Ultrasounds or X-rays can usually tell your vet if the cancer has already spread.

Treating Anal Cancer in Dogs

If your dog develops anal cancer, your vet will probably recommend surgical removal of the tumor. Your vet will also need to remove any lymph nodes that have been affected by the cancer. Your dog will also probably need radiation therapy, to keep the cancer from coming back. If your dog’s cancer has already spread, radiation therapy or chemotherapy can help slow or stop the progression of the cancer, though cancer is always much harder to treat after it has spread.

Anal cancer in dogs usually carries a very poor prognosis. However, you can improve your dog’s prognosis by having him treated promptly and properly. After treatment begins, monitor your dog closely for any signs that the cancer has come back. Your vet will probably recommend regular physical exams, X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood work to help monitor your dog for the recurrence of anal cancer tumors. Proper treatment and post-treatment supervision can help enhance your dog’s chances of surviving anal cancer.

Anal cancer is difficult to prevent, since vets don’t know what causes it. If your dog develops any signs of constipation accompanied by growths or swellings of the anal area, see your vet right away. The earlier anal cancer is diagnosed, the greater your dog’s chances of recovery.

Dog Anal Gland Tumors

Canine anal gland tumors, also referred to as perianal tumors, are growths typically found around the anus of a dog. They generally form on their own, and are not as a result of cancer elsewhere in the body. They can be benign or malignant. There are commonly two types of these anal tumors found in canines.


Symptoms Of Cancer In Dogs - Bookshelf

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The healthy pet manual, a guide to the prevention and treatment of cancer

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Help your dog fight cancer, an overview of home care options : featuring Bullet's survival story

Help your dog fight cancer, an overview of home care options : featuring Bullet's survival story

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