Just another note to keep an eye out for hot pets this summer!
Signs of heatstroke in dogs:
Excessive panting and salivation
Unsteady or swaggering gait
Deep red or purple tongue
Muscle tremors
Glazed eyes
Rapid pulse
Vomiting
What to do if your dog seems overheated:
Contact your veterinarian immediately, veterinary care may be required
Move your dog indoors or to a shaded area and apply cool water to their body (outside you can use a garden hose if the water is a cool temperature, or stick them in the tub or shower inside!)
Apply ice packs or cold towels to head, chest, and neck of your dog to bring down their temperature
Offer ice cubes or cold water to drink
With summer comes hurricane season, and we want everyone to be prepared! While you get your house and family ready for an emergency, keep your pets in mind as well. Here are some helpful hints to keep you prepared for an emergency:
Have an evacuation preparedness kit ready for your pet. Include medications, instructions, sealed prescription food, bags to pick up waste, bottled water, and updated proof of vaccinations.
Remember you can access your pet’s records any time by using our online portal called Rapport. If you have not created an account, we encourage you to do so by clicking the icon for the Pet Portal in the right hand column of our website. You never have to worry about keeping up with copies of proof of vaccinations, because you can always access them online! Of course, we are happy to print off copies or email copies any time you need them! It is a good idea to have hard copies or constant access to these records in case you need to travel over state lines or board your pet during a natural disaster.
If your pet needs prescription food, keep a bag in your freezer in case your veterinary hospital is closed in an emergency. If you use our online pharmacy to order prescription food, keep in mind delivery may be delayed during an emergency.
In addition to keeping specialized diets handy, during hurricane season it is important to keep all prescription medications filled. Try and keep at least three weeks worth of medications that you know your pet will need in your hurricane preparedness kit.
Is your pet microchipped? Between travel, celebrations, spending more time outdoors, and big storms, summer tends to be the time dogs and cats stray the most! Microchips give your pet a chance to find their way home! Contact our front desk to set up a time to make sure your pet is properly microchipped.
Make sure your pet is comfortable in a crate. He or she may need to spend a lot of time in one in the case of a hurricane or other disaster.
Have an evacuation plan that accommodates your pet. We always urge our clients to plan on taking their pets with them when they evacuate. Never leave them at home unattended where they will be exposed to hazards. If you do need to board your pet, have a kennel reserved where you will be evacuating rather than leaving them in the storm zone. Contact our clinic where we have an updated list of pet friendly hotels and kennels we recommend along the Charleston evacuation route.
FRAH Good News of the Month!
♥ After traveling many miles to his new home with one of our clients, a Boston Terrier puppy named Slick was brought into our clinic. On top of fighting internal parasites like hookworms, he was ultimately given the grave diagnosis of Canine Parvovirus (you may have heard it called Parvo). Slick was very sick! Luckily, with the expertise of Dr. Sheridan and intensive care of our hospital, Slick pulled through! We couldn’t be happier that this little guy gains strength every day.
♥ Mary Jane is a feisty but sweet little 11 lb terrier mix who was protecting her home from a venomous snake. Unfortunately, the snake sunk its teeth into Mary Jane’s cheek! After a lengthy stay in our hospital, we were thrilled to send Mary Jane home today! She earned the tough nickname “Snakebite” while she was here. 🙂 What a tough cookie! We are so happy she feels better!
**Remember our boarding facility will be CLOSED for maintenance from July 20th to August 6th. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Contact our Front Desk at any point with any questions at thefrahfd@gmail.com or 843-762-4944