It's summer in Nevada, which means temperatures are in the triple digits. It can be brutal for humans, but what about our furry friends?
And it's not just the heat. Summer means more travel and more interaction with unknown places, wildlife and people.
That's why Dr. Ireifej says it's important to only allow pets outside in the early morning or late afternoon. Otherwise, they may be prone to heat exhaustion.
If that's not possible, he suggests limiting outside time to an area with lots of shade.
"You have to figure out a way to walk in the shade," said Ireifej. "Or at least keep your moments outside as brief as possible, literally only going outside for elimination purposes and not running, jumping, playing or doing anything else. And then, of course, return the pet to its air-conditioned home."
In particular, Brachycephalic dogs can have a difficult time regulating their body temperature. While it can be difficult to spot heat stroke, some common signs include lethargy, muscle weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, panting, hard breathing, heavy drooling, and excessively licking the lips.
If someone suspects their animal is showing signs of a heat-related illness, Ireifej strongly urges them to seek professional help.
"If you do get in trouble and your pets are showing signs of heatstroke or fatigue, you want to consult with a veterinarian immediately before implementing your own interventions to make sure that the treatment you're implementing is going to be safe and efficacious for that pet in that situation."
Many pet owners also have concerns about fireworks during the Fourth of July. According to Ireifej, most vets can prescribe a sedative to help calm an animal's nerves before a stressful event. However, some animals still struggle with loud sounds.
Joanna Moritz, a trainer and owner of Fur and Feather Works in Reno, uses sound desensitization with her animals.
"Right before I put the food in the bowls, I turn my stereo on to a very low volume," she said. "On YouTube, I find a track that plays fireworks sounds. And so they hear the fireworks, and then they hear me filling the bowls and feeding them breakfast, and then I turn it off when they're done eating. Does that work? It does every day. I turn it up just a little bit. By the time the third rolls around, we'll be playing it at full volume."
Summer also means more travel and more interaction with unknown places, wildlife and people. Moritz recommends always keeping your animals leashed and under supervision when exploring the outdoors. She says it's important to take preventative steps to avoid interactions with wildlife.
"I don't want to meet any wildlife when I'm hiking and camping with my dogs," she says. So I actually put bear bells on both of my dogs when we're hiking, so they make a huge racket. Everybody can hear us coming, including all the other people on the trail. But it scares away all the wildlife. There is no possible way we're going to turn around a corner and surprise a deer; the deer knows we're coming."
Guests: Dr. Shadi Irafej, co-founder and chief medical officer, VetTriage.com; Joanna Moritz, trainer and owner, Fur and Feather Works
