Entry bubble Tips for Keeping Pets Safe This Summer

By: Stephanie | June 17, 2008 | Category: Health

There's a new notice on the door of my neighborhood supermarket: "Don't Leave Pets in Hot Cars." As I read the sign, I learned that it's more than a gentle reminder—apparently it's the law in my county. king charles cavalier sitting on a beach with sunglassesEven though my 40-year-old pet turtle seems to like temperatures as hot as possible, the warm weather brings hazards to many of our warm-blooded pets that we may not even think about.

Like the sign on my supermarket door advises, don't leave your pets in the car when it's hot outside. In my county, people can be charged with animal cruelty if their pets are left in a vehicle, even with the windows cracked, if the temperature is above 70 degrees (which can get much hotter in a matter of seconds). Since dogs and cats are less efficient at cooling themselves, they react to the high temperatures and humidity faster than humans.

According to the Army Medical Department, signs that your pet is having a heat injury include a bright red tongue; thick, sticky saliva; rapid panting; and weakness, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea and shock. If your pet is overheating, you can lower its temperature by hosing it off with a garden hose or placing it in a sink or tub of cold water. Move the pet to a cool environment and contact your vet.

Another Army website reminds owners to provide shade and plenty of cool, clean water for pets staying outside, and to bring them inside during the hottest part of the day (if not simply keep them inside all day when it's especially hot). Exercise pets in the cool of the day, and be alert to hot pavement that can burn their feet.

If you take your dog to the beach, provide it with a shaded area and plenty of fresh drinking water, and rinse it off if it's been in salt water. And don't forget that pets with light-colored noses and fur can get sunburn, too.

The summer brings some other hazards to our four-legged friends, too, including cars leaking antifreeze and coolant that can taste sweet to a pet but be deadly, even in small amounts. And ticks, which carry Lyme disease, are most prevalent in the warm weather. As fellow GovGabber Colleen notes, check your pets to be sure they don't have ticks on them. Don't use human repellents that contain DEET on animals—check with a vet for the appropriate products. Lyme disease vaccines are available for dogs (my pup received the vaccine). Pueblo.gsa.gov offers information for both people and pets on the disease.

As we approach the Fourth of July, be sure to keep your pets indoors during fireworks, which can frighten them and damage their sensitive hearing.

Do you have any other tips for keeping pets safe this summer?

| View Comments [7] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: animals   car   cat   dog   heat   hot   lyme   pets   stephanie   summer   ticks   tips  

 

Entry bubble Food Recalls

By: Jake | June 16, 2008 | Category: Health

I had trouble remembering the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning that some raw red tomatoes had been linked with salmonella last week. When I asked for tomatoes on a sandwich, I got a blank look from the shop employee serving me. I wasn't alone though, the guy behind me asked for them as well. Tomatoes

It's important to note that the Food and Drug Administration has not recalled tomatoes, they have only issued a warning. You may remember that last year the FDA announced a company's recall for salad spinach, but so far they have only warned stores to remove certain types of tomatoes from the shelves while they determine where the contaminated tomatoes come from. The FDA is keeping a list of where they have found NO tomatoes associated with salmonella.

The FDA notes that there are a lot of misunderstandings surrounding food recalls. If there is a recall for these tomatoes (I'm wondering who would still have them on the shelves), the tomato grower (manufacturer, etc.) would make the recall. The FDA rarely recalls a product because it only has the authority to declare recalls in specific cases or products. For example if there is a health risk with infant formula and the manufacturer is unresponsive, the FDA can "order" a recall and determine the scope and extent of that recall.

What normally happens is that the FDA will notify a manufacturer about a product defect in writing. The manufacturer will voluntarily recall the product and provide reports on various aspects of the recall. If the manufacturer refuses, the FDA can take legal action against the company and may request a product recall on its own. Sometimes the manufacturer will find a product defect and will notify the FDA that it is conducting a recall.

Companies notify the FDA to comply with regulations and because it helps the company get the word out. You can get updates from the FDA about food recalls by email and RSS feed. Remember that the FDA only has jurisdiction over human food, pet and animal feed. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has jurisdiction over meat, poultry products and eggs (they also have email updates). For information on other product recalls your best resource is Recalls.gov.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: food   jake   pets   recalls   tomatoes