Embrace Pet Insurance Blog

Dog days of summer

Well, it's the dog days of summer, or so every media article these days says. Check these out:

• USA Today: Dog days of summer getting on players' nerves about how the recent heat has affected baseball players (it also had a definition of dog days - see below)
• Leader Times: Dog days of summer about dog training in the heat
• Philadelphia.com: Joe Sixpack: the dark lager for these dog days of summer about different styles of beer for this time of year
• Richmond Times Dispatch: Dog days of summer leave time for to-do lists about business owners catching up on their to-do lists because summer is so so slow (which small business did the reporter go to? Not mine!)
• and many many more...

So what are the dog days?

"The dog days, July 3-Aug. 11, reflect the 40-day period when Sirius, the "Dog Star," rises and sets with the sun, according to J. Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine. The ancient Egyptians believed Sirius, the brightest star in the northern hemisphere, magnified the heat radiated from the sun."

So there, no more dog days until next year. How sad :)

Hot diggity dog!

With summer being well underway (dare I say, nearly over), it's good to remember that pets do not tolerate the heat well. (Yes, I know, I'm a bit late on this entry but we may have some hot days left in the summer.)

What's the problem with the heat for cats and dogs?

Cats and dogs can only get rid of heat by panting and sweating through the pads of their feet, and seeking out cooler places. If your dog or cat can't find a cooler place, chances are, things will only get worse as she becomes frantic looking to cool down and elevating her temperature further.

A pet’s normal temperature is between 102 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. If a pet cannot cool down, his temperature can rise to well above 107 degrees in minutes, which is lethal if not dealt with immediately.

Symptoms of heat stroke:

The early signs are rapid breathing and heart rate, dry mouth and nose, and dull, greyish-pink, or red gums. These symptoms can be followed in minutes by collapse, seizures, coma and death.

Certain breeds are more prone to heat stroke such as the flat faced, short nosed breeds (e.g. Pugs and Boxers). Also older dogs and overweight pets are also susceptible.

What to do:

If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, go to a Veterinarian IMMEDIATELY - time is of the essence. In the meantime, place ice packs in between their legs both front and back, and offer cold water and place in a cool environment.

Veterinary costs for heat stroke can range from $500 to $1500 for the first 24 hours of treatment.

Prevention:

The best way to prevent heat stroke is to be proactive: don’t leave your pets in your car and if they must be kept outside, make sure there is plenty of clean cold water and their kept in the shade.
Also, when exercising dogs in the heat, take breaks, supply plenty of water and take it a little easier than you would normally. Dogs just don't know when to quit when they are having fun so we have to keep an eye out for them.

Special thanks to Dr. Prueter at the Shaker Animal Clinic for this information.

Related posts: NY Times - Cat and Dog Obesity

Photo credit to Bill Davenport

How to give your dog or cat a pill

I have previously described how to give a dog or cat a pill but I just found a video on YouTube that shows a woman giving a dog a pill - see below.

There's nothing like seeing it in action to learn from it.

Our new contact information

Here at Embrace Pet Insurance, we are gearing ourselves up for our pending pet insurance product launch and we finally have a new home we can be proud of. Our office space is very modest and nothing special to look at but it feels like home already.

For the record, here is our new contact information - the information is also listed on the right hand side under Contact Us (yes, please do!). We aren't selling policies yet but hope to within a month. More announcements to come on that - woohoo!

Embrace Pet Insurance Contact Info

ph: (440) 484 2260 or 1 800 511 9172

address: 767 Beta Drive, Suite B, Mayfield Village, OH 44143

web page: www.embracepetinsurance.com (same as before but just in case you forgot...)

email: hello@embracepetinsurance.com

Breed-specific rescue organizations

If you would like a particular breed of dog as a pet but like the idea of rescuing a dog, check out the breed-specific organizations.

There's a great list at the American Kennel Club site that should get you started on practically any breed you can think of - golden retrievers, greyhounds, and even for Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.

Keep in mind that some breeders also help with their breed's rescue efforts so ask around to see what you learn.

Here is a local organization that makes an incredible difference to NE Ohio women and children who want to escape domestic violence.

S.A.F.E (Safety for Animals and Families in Emergencies) is a non-profit organization who's mission is to provide emergency, temporary placement and other services to the forgotten victims of domestic violence - the companion animals of women and children seeking safety from abusive relationships.

Who they are:

S.A.F.E. is an affiliation of veterinarians, animal shelter/welfare personnel, animal care providers, domestic violence victim support professionals, legal and justice system professionals, and other caring individuals who are looking at the family situation with a holistic eye.

Why they are needed:

As any pet lover can imagine, women and children who live with violence are often extremely attached to their companion animals, who are frequently their only source of comfort and solace. Often, a woman will delay leaving a dangerous situation if she is unable to find shelter for her pet, perpetuating the woman’s (and, possibly, her children’s) risk for abuse.

Although shelters for women and children fleeing violence have been operating within our community for many years, SAFE (formed in 2002) is the only entity to accommodate and provide services for the pets of these families in emergencies.

The sad fact is that animals left behind with abusers are often neglected and frequently become the targets of abuse or death; hence, the reluctance to leave.

What they provide:

The organization places animals in foster homes then reunite them when the owners are in a safe environment. During initial placement, pets receive (at no cost to their owners)

• health screening
• inoculations
• any needed medical attention
• spaying and neutering
• behavioral care

Apparently, there are very few organizations around the US like this - please add any more you know of to the comments in case someone is looking for a shelter. You can e-mail S.A.F.E. at safeanimals1@yahoo.com

Special thanks to Dr. Prueter at the Shaker Animal Clinic for this information.

The smallest police dog?

On CNN's website, there was an article today "Tiny drug dog sniffs out big career - Ohio pooch trains to be one of nation's smallest law enforcers", which is about Midge, a tiny 6-pound Chihuahua-rat terrier mix, that is a drug sniffing dog from Chardon, Ohio. Chardon is just down the road from the Embrace HQ so we say hooray for such great publicity for a sister town in our area.

Midge has the heart of a lion and the nose of, well, a dog sniffer extraordinaire and she is an extremely capable dog that can get into all sorts of small places other larger drug-sniffing dogs can't reach.

Her handler takes her around to different people, including school children.

On visits to school classrooms, Midge gets passed among tiny hands. And McClelland offers a lesson:

"I tell the kids, 'Even when you're small, if you take a stand you can make a difference.'

I think that would be a pretty effective lesson, don't you?

Skeeter Foundation "How my pets make me smile" competition

We all love cat and dog photos, especially those that make us laugh or blurt out "how cuuuute!" (go on, you know you do it).

Right now, the Skeeter Foundation is running a photo competition "How my pets make me smile" where the readers get to vote for the picture they like best. You can win pet insurance policies and other cool stuff such as .

I've put Barnes up there so go vote for him please! He is quite cute, after all, even though I'm slightly biased.

Hat tip to Angela K for the reminder.

Related posts: Barnes with his fetching tag; Barnes's foot; Barnes gets groomed;