At Pet Rock 2003, Pet
Rock Fest is happy to report that they raised in the vicinity of $18,000
for New England animal organizations. |
Mark Your Calendars for the 6th Annual Pet Rock Festival!
Love animals. Pass the word. Remember, they can’t talk, so we will.
If you are interested in volunteering at
Pet Rock 2004, then
please attend our meeting on August 18th at 6 p.m. at the Hebert Candy
Mansion in Shrewsbury (Route 20). Please meet at the tables near the ice
cream bar. At this meeting, we will establish responsibilities and
organize the many things that need to be done on
and before the festival.
Please contact us if you know of any raffle items or sponsorships
through contacts with businesses that would help this event.
If you are able to make it to this volunteer meeting, please RSVP to
coordinator Dawn Sweet at DMsweet74@aol.com. We need a count to order ice cream.
Thank you! |
A COOL DOG IS A HAPPY
DOG!
Dogs mainly cool
themselves by panting -- breathing in through the nose and out through
the mouth. They also "perspire" through their skin of the face, ears
and feet.
A dog's normal body
temperature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Hot Weather Tips
 The upcoming summer months are bound to bring long,
hot days. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do — overheating,
dehydration and even sunburn — when the mercury rises. By taking these simple
precautions, you can protect your companion animal from the elements and have
fun all summer long.
- Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle. Even with the windows open, a
parked car, truck or van can quickly become a furnace on a hot
day — and overheating (heat prostration) can kill an animal. Parking in
the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.
- Always carry a gallon of cold water for your pet.
- Don't force your animal to exercise after a meal in hot, humid
weather. Exercise her in the early morning or in the evening, and keep
walks to a minimum.
- Never leave your dog standing on hot asphalt. His body can heat up
quickly and his sensitive paw pads can burn.
- Do not take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded
spot and plenty of fresh water for him to drink. Rinse him off after
he has been in salt water.
- It's smart to provide plenty of shade and a well-constructed doghouse
for animals staying outside. Bring your dog inside during the hottest
part of the day, and make sure she has plenty of cool water. Keep cats
indoors.
- Be extra sensitive to old and overweight animals in hot weather.
Brach cephalic or snub-nosed dogs, such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston
Terriers, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus, as well as those with heart or
lung diseases, should be kept cool in air conditioned rooms as much as
possible.
- Avoid walking your dog in areas that you suspect have been sprayed
with insecticides or other chemicals. Be alert for coolant or other
automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to
the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call
your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-4ANI-HELP
(888-426-4435) if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.
- Keep your animal well-groomed to stave off summer skin problems.
Shaving a heavy-coated dog's hair to a one-inch length helps prevent
overheating. Don't shave the hair down to the skin, though, or you
will rob him of protection from the sun. Cats should be brushed often.
- Bring your companion animal to the veterinarian for a spring or early
summer check-up--including a test for heartworm, if your dog isn't on
year-round preventive medication. Ask your doctor to recommend a safe
pest-control program to combat fleas and ticks.
- To prevent escape and/or accidental falls, make sure all windows in
your home are properly screened.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion. For dogs, the signs of heat
exhaustion may include the following:
- Failure to salivate and a dry mouth
- Gasping for air or heavy panting
- Weaving when the dog tries to walk
- Dog lays down or collapses and cannot get up
- Dog becomes unconscious
- Rapid breathing and rapid heart rate
What to do if you suspect heat exhaustion. The most important
thing for to do is to decrease the dog's temperature! To cool
your dog down, try one of the following:
- Remove from confined area (car, doghouse, crate).
- Move the dog out of the sun and into the shade. Look for an
air-conditioned building.
- Immerse in cool water in the bathtub, kid's swimming pool,
sink, and so on. Do NOT use extremely cold or iced water as this
will cause blood vessels to constrict and will stop the heat from
escaping.
- Hose down the dog with a garden hose (let run for a couple of
minutes).
- Place water soaked towels on the dog's head, neck, chest, and
abdomen to cool these areas. Make sure to resoak the towels when
they heat up. Do not cover the dog completely with a wet towel.
- Give the dog fresh cool water to wet his mouth and throat, but
do NOT let him drink too much.
- Turn on the air conditioner or fan and place the dog in front
of it.
- Place ice packs around the dog's and neck.
- Take the dog to veterinarian after the has been cooled down.
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