Hot Weather Tips for your Dog

Hot Weather Safety Tips for Dogs




While summertime is often a time to relax, play sports, enjoy picnics, trips to the beach, and backyard parties, the summer months can also offer some potential hazards to our companion animals.

1) Anti-Freeze

If ingested, anti-freeze (ethylene glycol), the day-glo green colored fluid frequently seen near curbs, is often lethal -- even in very small quantities. Because many dogs and cats like its sweet taste, there are an enormous number of animal fatalities each year from animals drinking anti-freeze. Poisoning from anti-freeze is considered a serious medical emergency which must be treated by a qualified veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. Fortunately, the Sierra company now offers a far less toxic form of anti-freeze. They can be reached at (888)88-SIERRA.

2) Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion

Parked cars: Leaving your dog in a parked car in the summer (even with the window left a few inches open), can cause heatstroke within minutes. Note: Leaving your dog in a car parked in the shade does not assure that your dog will not become seriously overheated. Shaded cars may still get very hot due to the the greenhouse effect, and the sun may also move enough to change shaded areas into sunny ones. Dogs left in parked cars also risk being harrassed or stolen.

Airplane Travel: To help prevent your dog or cat from overheating when traveling by airplane, avoid transporting your companion animal in the cargo section of the plane during hot weather. (Always take into consideration both the departure and arrival temperatures.) If your must transport you dog or cat in the cargo section, take a direct, early morning or late evening flight whenever possible, as layovers, delayed take-offs, and mid-day travel (when the temperature is hottest) can all pose an increased risk.

General Info: Heat exhaustion is often caused by over-exercising or running with a dog during hot weather. Both heatstroke and heat exhaustion can result in brain damage, heart failure or even death in a short period of time. Short muzzed and thick-coated breeds and mixes are particularly vulnerable, although any breed may be at risk. Always bring cool water along when walking, running or hiking with your dog during hot weather. To cool off an overheated dog, offer him plenty of water, then wet the dog's body and paws with cool water, then fan. A dog's normal internal body temperature is between 100.5 degrees F and 02 degrees F. If the dog experiences heatstroke or heat exhaustion, he should receive veterinary attention as soon as possible.

3) Car Windows

Prevent your dog from hanging his head out of a moving car or truck window when taking him for a ride. Bugs, small pebbles and other debri can injure his eyes, and he is also at risk of jumping out of the vehicle. Also, closing automatic car windows while your dog is hanging his head out of the car window can cause him or her serious harm.

4) July 1st Fireworks

Avoid exposing your puppy or dog to fireworks noise, as fireworks can result in serious (and often longterm) phobias. Unfortunately, in many communities, firecracker noise often begins weeks before the July 4th holiday. Keep evening walks with your dog very brief, and never leave your dog outdoors in your yard or property if there is any risk of exposure to firecracker noise. When indoors, try to disguise outdoor noises with music, television, air conditioners and "white noise" machines. Otherwise, if at all possible, consider taking a short vacation with your dog to a quieter community where firework noise is minimal.

5) Identification Tags, Tattoos, and Microchips

Be sure to attach your dog's identification tags (along with his Rabies tag) to his flat buckle collar. ID tags won't do any good being left in a desk drawer at home. Special tattoo ID and microchip ID are also recommended.

6) Open Windows, Fire Escapes and Rooftops

During hot weather, many people leave a few windows open in their home to help create a nice cool cross-breeze. If you have a dog or cat at home, be certain to install secure window screens (or safety bars) in any of the windows which will be left open, as many companion animals fall out of windows, and fire-escapes every year and are often seriously injured or killed. Also, if you allow your dog access to your building's rooftop, make sure the sidewalls which enclose the rooftop are high enough to prevent your dog from being able to fall or jump off, and make sure that you accompany him.

7) Pickup Trucks

Never allow your dog to ride in the back of an open pickup truck, unless he is safely secured by a padded harness to the center of the pickup "bed" with specially designed tethers. (Also, make sure to provide a thick comfortable padded surface or dog bed to prevent any injury or discomfort to your dog's joints.)

8) Protect Your Dog From Being Stolen

Companion animal theft is unfortunately a serious problem in this country. The number of companion animals that are stolen from backyards and from outside stores and supermarkets increases dramatically throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. Even the "safest" neighborhoods are not immune to this growing problem. The bottom line is: never leave your dog unsupervised if there is any risk that your dog could be harrassed, poisoned or stolen.

9) Swimming Pools

Each year, puppies, dogs and small children accidentally drown in backyard swimming pools when left unattended. To help prevent such a tragedy, always keep fenced-in pools locked securely when not being used, and keep companion animals and small children away from unenclosed and unoccupied pools.

10) Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Regardless of the time of year, neutering your dog (or cat) will help reduce the likelihood of: your dog roaming and getting injured or lost, unwanted litters, intra-species fighting, sexual frustration and mounting, urinary marking, dominance aggression, and a variety of physical conditions including certain types of cancer.

Do You Know this Dog?

If so please contact The Animal Guardian Society

tagsinfo@animalguardian.org

or 905 2638247

Benny has Finally found his Forever home read his story..

Benson came to us as a foster a couple of months after we lost our beloved boys Scooby and Sparky who passed within weeks of each other. We couldn’t replace our ‘boys’ but we missed the pitter patter of tiny paws and decided that fostering would fill our need to share our home with a four-legged friend while providing a little one with a safe, warm and loving environment while he was awaiting his forever home.
Benny was a challenge from the start. The first night he was resource guarding a rather large rawhide. He didn’t realize that nobody here was going to take it away from him. He was chewing so vigorously though that he cut his gums and we had to get the rawhide away from him to allow his gums to heal. A bowl of food eventually convinced him to give it up. Benny likes to get behind the couch to watch the world through the picture window – knocking lamps and other items along the way. We moved those things to allow him better access. Later on he scratched at the front door when we were away, his separation anxiety getting the better of him. Eventually he learned that we were coming back and he stopped scratching the door. He is a fence fighter too, always listening in the backyard for the sound of the dogs that live behind us. If he hears them he tears to the back fence to do battle. He gets so excited that he chews the fence sometimes. We’re hopeful that, over time, he will realize that each time he fence fights he goes back in that house and that if he doesn’t fence fight he gets to stay outside - this might be a longer term project for us. His beagle nose leads him to food and he has encouraged us to put all our food much higher than we would have thought necessary. He reminds us when we forget, like the time he got up on the dining room table and plucked a bag of bagels out of Cathy’s bag and proceeded to eat 5 of the 6 bagels! When I came home there was a bagel in a plastic bag on the rug in the livingroom and pieces of bagels scattered around the floor and one stuffed beagle lying contentedly on the couch. Benny didn’t need dinner that night!
Benny loves other dogs and strains very much on the leash to go and see them. He howls his greetings and is so exuberant he sometimes startles the other dogs we meet. He came to us a wee bit on the portly side but he is now quite trim. He loves his walks and he holds his tail high as he wanders the trails, nose to the ground, ‘reading’ his pee-mail and enjoying the outdoors.
Benny is very affectionate with the two of us, often nuzzling his muzzle under our chins or resting his head on my lap as we watch TV together. He has a need to be touching both of us so he often stretches out on the couch so that his head rests against one of us while his feet are touching the other. He gets up with me in the morning to have his brekkie but then zooms back to bed to be a cuddle monkey with Cathy, he loves to sleep in!
I took Benny to obedience class to help make him more adoptable. Benny already knew sit and he instantly raises his paw when he sits. He learned ‘stay’ and ‘down’ (I’m actually most impressed with his down). Very vocal and exuberant in class he could be distracted at times. He really excelled at ‘come’ and a beagle’s love of food is truly a great motivator. I was quite proud of him when he took ‘top dog’ honours at obedience class (and more than a little surprised too).
It took Benny about five months to truly settle into our home. In that time we had ups and downs and we became strongly bonded. Benny had been in the program quite a long time and had endured multiple moves and disappointments. We didn’t want to see him have to start all over again. In the end Benny had already found his forever home - it had just taken us six months to realize it too. So we signed the paperwork and Benny is officially in his forever home (he doesn’t seem to have noticed any change at all!). We are thrilled and looking forward to a long, healthy and happy life together with Benny!!

Yard Sale to Support TAGS

Hooked on Saturday Morning Yard Sales???
Mark June 5th on your calender.
You'll find some gently used treasures and we'll also have some home made treats for your 4 legged friends!
35 Kingsview Crt, Courtice ~June 5th 8-2!
All proceeds to TAGS to help pay for some very hefty vet bills this year.

Please Help Lucky

This little guy sure lives up to his name! He's lucky to be alive! He was hit by a car on Thursday night. His owners took him to the vet clinic, but were refused service without a credit card. The family called around to many different clinics and animal groups, but no one was willing to help. They contacted The Animal Guardian Society (TAGS), and we offered to cover the costs of the surgery so that this little guy can live. The family has turned their beloved pet over to TAGS so that he can get the help he needs. One of our volunteers rushed Lucky to the vet clinic, and they started his treatment. Lucky has a broken hip and a fractured pelvis and requires costly surgery to live without pain. The surgery will cost upwards of $3000. TAGS is a small rescue group, and our all volunteer program is known for never turning away an animal in need. There haven't been many times when we've needed to reach out to the community, but this is one of those times. Lucky needs your help and kindness!

As a non-profit charity TAGS has limited resources, and relies on the generosity of animal lovers such as yourself. Please help us help Lucky! All donations are tax deductible, and any amount helps! Please contribute by making a donation by visiting: Animal Guardian Donations or Canada Helps. Tax receipts will be issued.

If you've ever wanted to help an animal in need, now is the time! Help us give Lucky a second chance!