Posts in Category: Seasonal Pet Care

If you’ve got an adventurous dog or cat that loves exploring the great outdoors, it’s important to protect your pet from Lyme disease—a tick-borne illness that poses a year-round threat to pets (and people!) in Georgia’s mild climate. At Clairmont Animal Hospital, we want to help you keep your cats, dogs, and family members safe by sharing what we know about preventing and treating Lyme disease in pets.

It’s cold and flu season for people, and pets are no different. Did you know that canine influenza is an illness that could affect your pupper this winter? Clairmont Animal Hospital has the info that you need to know about the dog flu and how to protect your pup. 

All About Canine Influenza

Canine influenza is a very contagious viral respiratory disease that affects dogs specifically. Thankfully, humans and dogs don’t share this virus!

We first experienced dog flu in the United States in 2004. Since then, there have been several outbreaks across the country. We are currently aware of two different strains of canine influenza. 

Dogs are fully equipped with many incredible skills and adaptations that keep domestic life fun and interesting. Despite this, they are lacking in one important area. Their individual cooling systems are woefully ineffective when battling high heat and exertion. In contrast with their human owners and other mammalian species, dogs don’t perspire as a function of numerous glands throughout the body. Instead, dogs sweat primarily through their paw pads. Fortunately, this isn’t the only mechanism they can rely on to cool down.

Your family and place of work likely have plans in case of some kind of disaster. You likely also have some basic idea of what to do if there is a fire, tornado, or hurricane. Have you thought about how your pets fit into your plans, though? Clairmont Animal Hospital challenges you to stop and make a plan for disaster preparedness for pets.

Summer is the perfect time of year to escape and enjoy some time traveling. For many people, summer vacation means bringing along all members of the family, including pets! While traveling with pets can be fun, you must also be prepared to keep your pets safe and comfortable on the trip. 

The team at Clairmont Animal Hospital has put together this list of pet safety tips to keep your pet happy, healthy and well-cared for while traveling this summer:

If you have never heard a reverse sneeze, you might be alarmingly triggered by its signature sounds. Generally speaking, a dog that suddenly begins to honk, wheeze, and snort might require emergency veterinary help. However, a reverse sneeze isn’t usually a cause for concern. Sure, it’s weird and uncharacteristic for many animals, but this mechanism is employed for specific reasons. What’s more, if you know what it is, you can help your dog regulate their breathing and interrupt this strange breathing.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know all too well the misery that accompanies the arrival of spring (or summer, or fall, as the case may be). Allergies affect our furry friends as well and, although the symptoms look different they aren’t any less uncomfortable. Allergies in pets can also lead to negative health consequences if they aren’t treated promptly.

Clairmont Animal Hospital wants to make sure you would know how to tell if your pet has allergies, and what you can do to help them.

The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn’t mean that fun inside can’t be delightful! If you and your pets are feeling a little stir crazy, Clairmont Animal Hospital has just the ideas you need for some fun winter pet activities. 

Banishing the Blues

When the temperatures drop, the daylight hours diminish, and we spend more time indoors, things can get a little depressing. Chances are that you and your pet are less active. This can lead to some potential problems. 

Boredom and lack of stimulation can lead to issues such as:

We all know how important water is to our survival, and the same goes for our pets. Because dogs and cats don’t regulate their body temperatures as efficiently as humans, it’s easy for them to become dehydrated – especially during the warmer months. With Pet Hydration Month occurring, it is the perfect time to discuss proper hydration for our furry friends.

While our average winter temperatures can’t be described as extreme, they still have an effect on the animals we love. While we can look up the weather on our phones and dress accordingly, our pets don’t exactly have this luxury. Sure, there are some extremely well-dressed short-haired dogs out there, but for the sake of other pets, let’s take a closer look at winter pet safety.

Know the Risks

Despite the fact your pet has a fur coat, they’re still at risk for hypothermia and frostbite. An exposed nose, paw pads, and ears are more vulnerable to the cold. Of course, you want to provide daily activities, even on the coldest days, but it’s critical to know when your pet has been outside too long. A good rule of thumb is if it’s too cold for you, it’s definitely too cold for your pet. While they may push their limit, winter pet safety means curtailing extended outdoor playtime. Continue…