Quality Pet Care From Our Veterinarian in Mokena IL
At Mokena Animal Clinic, Ltd., our veterinarian is proud to serve pets in Mokena IL and the surrounding communities. Whether your pet is in need of a routine wellness exam, vaccinations, or even surgery, you can always rest assured that your companion is in good hands.
Our veterinary team believes strongly in the power of educating pet owners on best practices when it comes to caring for your pet's health and wellness. With that in mind, there are some important dangers that dog owners should be careful to avoid this summer. After all, as much as we love seeing and caring for your pet, we never want to see your canine companion sick or injured!
Top Dog Dangers to Avoid This Summer
Heat Exposure and Heat Stroke
Heat is one of the biggest dangers to dogs (and all pets, really) during the summer months. While you certainly don't want to keep your dog confined indoors, it's important to ensure that your dog is not over-exposed to hot temperatures, as this can lead to heat stroke. Only allow your dog outside for short periods of time, and make sure that he or she always has access to plenty of cool water and shade.
Furthermore, never leave your dog in a car unattended. Even if you're only gone a few minutes, temperatures inside your car can quickly become fatal to a dog.
Hot Pavement
In addition to hot temperatures, be careful about hot pavement on your dog's paws. On hot days, check the temperature of the pavement with your own foot or palm; if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your dog. Consider getting your dog a pair of protective boots or wait until the sun starts to go down before taking your dog on a walk.
Fleeing From Fireworks
Summer is a great time to celebrate with fireworks, but for dogs, the loud booms and bangs from fireworks can send them into a panic. In fact, more dogs go missing around the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. On holidays where fireworks are likely to be let off, be sure to keep your dog inside as much as possible and give them a safe place to hide when things get loud. Also, be sure that your dog is microchipped and that the information is up-to-date!
Fleas, Ticks, and Parasites
Fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites thrive in warm weather, so this is also a good time to make sure that your dog is up-to-date on all immunizations and has a flea/tick/parasite preventative in place. If not, it's time to schedule an appointment with our veterinary to have this taken care of. From monthly pills to flea collars and every option in between, we can find something that works for your dog.
Barbecue Food Scraps
During summer barbecues, it can be tempting to treat your pet to some food scraps. Be careful, though. Dogs can become seriously ill when they eat "human food." Another danger presents itself when you give your dog something with small bones in it, which could quickly become a choking hazard. Play it safe and avoid giving your dog anything other than dog food; when you have guests over for a barbecue, kindly ask them not to feed any scraps to your dog as well. It's simply not worth the risk of your dog getting sick and needing emergency vet care.
Schedule Your Dog's Wellness Exam With Our Mokena IL Veterinarian
In addition to avoiding these summertime dangers with your dog, now is also a great time to make sure your dog has had an annual wellness exam with our Mokena IL veterinarian. Give Mokena Animal Clinic, Ltd. a call today at 708-479-2811 today to schedule your dog's exam and any other services needed!
How will you protect your dog this summer?
