Pets Best Insurance cautions pet owners to keep animals safe in the summer heat.

Pets Best lists several warning signs of heat stroke among dogs, including:

• Rapid breathing and heart rate
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Bright red gums
• Seizures
• Collapsing

More information from a Pets Best news release:

Among the most common and dangerous risks for canines is heat stroke, which occurs when a dog’s body temperature exceeds 106 degrees and it faces potential damage to the brain and other organs. Fair-skinned and short-coated white dogs are also highly susceptible to excessive sun exposure, which can lead to sun burn and skin cancer.

Many pet owners are likely unaware of how quickly heat stroke and other heat-related issues can occur in canines. The risks are especially high if a dog is left inside a car, even on days with mild temperatures. On a seemingly cool summer day of 68 degrees, the temperature inside a car can jump to 81 degrees within a mere 10 minutes. After an hour, the temperature inside the car can reach 115 degrees, a deadly level for dogs.

To prevent heat-related illnesses, Pets Best recommends avoiding outdoor activities during the middle of the day, when temperatures peak. It is also important to ensure dogs have access to shade and water while they enjoy the outdoors. If a dog is showing signs of heat stroke, pet owners should immediately move the dog to an air-conditioned area and seek veterinary care.

The Fourth of July is a festive time, but it can be scary for pets. Check out these tips from Pets Best Insurance:

Pets Best previously published Top 5 tips for Fourth of July Pet Health and Safety, which are worth reviewing, even if your holiday celebrations aren't going to include your four-legged, furry friends.

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It's fun to enjoy the holidays with your animals, but be sure to keep safety in mind.

I received this email last week with some Halloween pet safety tips:

Heidi Ganahl, the CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow, North America’s largest and fastest growing pet care franchise and INC 5000 company, has provideda series of tips below to help you enjoy your night out while protecting your pet.

Tips for Halloween Pet Safety

image from www.supercoolpets.com

· Fido may look adorable in his new superhero costume, but that cape won’t necessarily keep him out of harm’s way. Dressing up your pet for Halloween can be harmful. Costumes should not constrict the animal's movement, hearing or sight, or impede their ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, it may be helpful to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, don’t bother.

· Before your pet participates in any Halloween activities, take a closer look at his or her costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that they could choke on. Also, watch out for ill-fitting outfits which can get twisted on external objects on your pet, leading to injury.

· Putting make-up or face paint on your pet can be harmful. Paints could potentially irritate their skin, or may be eaten. Even make-up that is non-toxic could cause stomachaches or worse.

· Candy bags are strictly for the enjoyment of trick-or-treaters, not your pet. Chocolate in all forms, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Give your pooch their own Halloween candy by treating them to their favorite doggy snack. If you do suspect that your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or your local control center immediately.

· Keep an eye out for decorative edible items like Halloween pumpkins and candy corn, when participating in this year’s festivities with your pet. While these are considered to be relatively nontoxic, they can be harmful, causing stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

· Do not take your pets trick or treating. It’s possible that your dog could get spooked by a ghost or goblin and a dog bite or fight could occur.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Check out some more ways to keep your pet safe this Fourth of July from the ASPCA (originally published at www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/july-4th.aspx):

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

Previous post: Fourth of July pet safety tips

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

We humans may enjoy all the food and fireworks for the Fourth of July, but they can be a danger to our furry friends. I was glad to get an email of Fourth of July pet safety tips written by Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow:

4th of July Pet Safety Tips

1. Make a Plan – If you’re holding a 4th of July party or attending one away from home, plan accordingly. The safest way to keep your pet and guests safe is simply by leaving your pets at home or secured indoors. When it comes time for the fireworks, make sure your pet is secured inside without any escape route ­– try to mask the loud noises with a radio or TV to help ease your pets stress.
2. Relax & Unwind – To help ease your pet’s stress, spend the afternoon playing with your pet. By tiring them out earlier in the day, they are less likely to become excited too easily after being exhausted. If you do spend the day outside with your pet, always keep in mind that they need shade and plenty of water.
3. No Punch for Pets – We all know we slip our pets a little goody from the table here-and-there, but this holiday you should refrain from feeding them scraps. Certain foods can make them ill and cause stomach issues. Keep Fido on his normal diet of dog food and maybe a treat or bone for being such a good party guest.
4. SPF – Protect your pets from heat and insects that indulge at summer parties. It is possible for pets to be negatively impacted by too much sun, just like humans. However, do not spray your pet with SPF or bug spray UNLESS it is specifically made for use on pets.
5. Pay Attention – Make sure all food, alcohol and ESPECIALLY any fireworks are out of harms way for your pets. If they become curious and don’t have good table manners, your pet may jump and grab something –keep those things on higher tables or inside when you don’t need them.
6. The Day After – Cleaning up and making sure your home and yard is safe after July 4th festivities is essential. What goes up MUST come down – ensure no scraps or fireworks have landed in your yard, even already used fireworks still have dangerous chemicals and toxins still on them.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Following up Tuesday's post on pet health and diet during the holidays, I have some information on pet safety during the holidays. I recently received a news release with tips from small animal veterinarian Dr. Jessica Vogelsang, the founder of Pawcurious.com. Check out the release below for her advice on keeping your pet safe during the holidays. (And if you missed it, scroll down for the blog post on pet health and diet during the holidays.)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Expert tips for pet safety during the holidays

Ensure you’re prepared if your pet gets out

• With all the holiday visitors and festivities, it’s easy for stressed pets to slip out the door or backyard. Be sure your pet has its tags and microchips updated with your current address and phone number.
• Consider a GPS product like Tagg – The Pet Tracker to calm your fears. Tagg attaches to your pet's collar and will send you an alert if your pet does slip out, and then allows you to track your pet’s location in real time so you can pick him up and bring him home!

Be aware of holiday fragrances

• Candles are a fire and burn risk, of course. Many owners turn to scented potpourri, thinking it is a safer option, but it is extremely caustic when ingested and can cause esophageal ulcers.

Mind the string

• Cats love ribbons, string and tinsel. But when ingested, they can lead to a painful condition called "string foreign body" and can actually perforate the intestine.

Keep an eye on the holiday treats

• Although everyone knows chocolate is toxic, the most common reason pets wind up in the ER is because they ingested too much fatty food and gave themselves an upset stomach or pancreatitis. If you have a relative who insists on feeding the pet treats, keep a bowl of special pet-friendly holiday treats nearby and ask them to feed your pet those instead of pieces of sausage!

Know where the emergency vet is located

• If your pet has an emergency, you can't call 911. The last thing you want to have to do in that situation is look up directions to the vet clinic when you're stressed and in a hurry! Know their phone number and map out the location ahead of time.