JANNISE JOHNSON-- Reporter’s Notebook

Even though summer is almost over and there are still several of the

year’s warmest months ahead of us, the inevitable warnings of sunstroke,

sunburn and dehydration are upon us.

What many people fail to realize is that pet owners need to be just as

careful about their companion animal’s health in warm weather as they

would be about their children’s or their own.

The biggest mistake a pet owner can make is to leave an animal in a

car during the summer months, said Madeline Bernstein, president of the

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

A car parked in 70-degree weather with the windows rolled up can reach

an internal temperature of nearly 100 degrees, she said.

“People should leave their pets at home and not in cars,” Bernstein

said. “Pets and children don’t do well in hot cars. They’re much more

comfortable at home.”

Trips to the beach may seem to be an ideal time to take the family dog

out for exercise and quality time near the water.

However, the seashore sometimes holds dangers for animals that would

not ordinarily occur to most people.

Bernstein said dogs should not accompany their families to the beach

unless there is plenty of shade and fresh water. Sand during the warmer

months gets very hot and can burn a dog’s foot pads, he said.

“If you can’t get from your blanket to your car without shoes, then

your dog can’t either,” Bernstein said.

Jackie David, spokesman for the Los Angeles Animal Services, said it

is better to leave pets at home when it comes to beach trips.

The family barbecue is another ritual in which dogs and cats should

not be included, Bernstein said.

Besides the danger of bone fragments getting caught in a pet’s throat

or puncturing the stomach lining, rich, spicy food is generally not good

for an animal’s overall health, no matter how much they beg.

When it comes to feeding pets in general, David recommends meal time

be pushed back to the cooler hours of the day.

“Feed them later in the evenings because heat can reduce an animal’s

appetite just as with humans,” he said.

While many of the warm weather warnings posted are aimed at dogs, cats

have specific concerns that also need to be addressed.

“We don’t advocate letting cats outdoors,” Bernstein said. “If your

cat is indoors, like it should be, then they should be in a comfortable

air-conditioned environment.”

These months are also the season when flea populations explode.

A flea treatment such as Flea Busters, which uses a nontoxicsalt

substance to treat carpets in the home, should be used in conjunction

with pet treatments such as Advantage, which is applied directly to an

animal’s coat.

Pets, as humans, can also get sunburned, so an animal’s coat should

not be shaved too closely, Bernstein said.

Another danger to guard against is heatstroke.

“Heatstroke can affect both dogs and cats, especially if the animal is

heavy or old or suffers from heart conditions,” David said.

Symptoms of heat stroke are heavy panting, weakness, vomiting and

increased heart rate.

If your pets display any of these signs, move them to the shade and

try to bring the body temperature down by bathing them in cool water,

David advised.

After that, get the animal to the vet as soon as possible.

Along with the potential for heatstroke and sunburns, dog bites rise

sharply during the summer months because both animals and humans spend

more time outside, increasing the likelihood of a calamitous

confrontation between the two species.

Los Angeles Animal Services suggests following the basic guidelines

for avoiding dog bites:

* do not run if confronted by a dog;

* avoid eye contact;

* stay still until the dog moves away.

If necessary, climb onto a nearby car to put some distance between you

and the animal.

For more information on tips to protect your pet from the heat and

avoiding dog bites, call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals Los Angeles at (888) 772-2521, or call the Los Angeles Animal

Services at (888) 452-7381.

* JANNISE JOHNSON o7 is a reporter for Our Times Crenshaw, the

Independent’s sister paper.

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