by Molly Heart

And what products should you choose?

Exercise and healthy choices are as important for your pet as they are for you and your other members.

Daily exercise is important for us, so just assume the same is true for you four footed companions. But the type of daily activity depends on your pet. Dogs and cats clearly require a different level and type of activity.

Larger animals demand a level of exercise that is more intense than a smaller animal. If your dog is over weight, you’ll need to introduce daily activity to build their stamina gradually so they are not stressed beyond a safe level. Your local vet can provide guidelines if you need them.

What about the potential for injury? Well, introducing strenuous activity too quickly, over heating during hot weather, dehydration, bug bites and sore feet, are all possible with active pets. Be sure to keep a small “pet first aid kit” handy. The kit should contain:
• A good quality sanitizing spray or foam to clean a bite, cut or scratch
• An anti-inflammatory spray or gel to immediately begin to relieve pain and cool the injury
• A roll of gauze
• Small sanitary squares to clean and pack a wound
• A topical wrap like VetWrap to hold a bandage in place

My choice for my own kit is to add the organic pet by Chaé wound and pain management products to handle cleansing and anti-inflammatory products. They’re made with stabilized oxygen and proven not only safe, but highly effective at eliminating pathogens, viruses, etc. in 15-20 minutes. Since that’s all the time I usually have when my dog is injured, it makes me feel prepared and confident the wound will be treated appropriately.

And don’t forget that mental exercises in your yard or in the house can help your pet become relaxed and comfortable with your absence. Separation anxiety or simple loneliness while you are away is not unusual. Dogs, specifically, can become bored or anxious and resort to destructive behavior. This might exhibit itself in behavior such as destroying furniture, carpet, plants, even shoes and their own toys.

Watch for your pet’s reaction to weather extremes – too hot or too cold. Dogs don’t have efficient ways to cool their bodies, so you’ll need to provide water and shade. Most animals can overheat, but their reactions may be unique, so you’ll need to be tuned in to your pet. When the cold weather arrives for winter, your pets’ feet will be at risk if they are left out of doors too long. If it’s too cold for you to be outdoors longer than 30 minutes without a warm coat, it may be too cold for your dog as well. Dogs can suffer frostbite on the pads of their feet very easily in cold weather.

Some of the animals most susceptible to overheating are:
• Overweight animals
• Pets with cardiovascular or respiratory problems
• Breeds with heavy coats
• Animals with a pre-existing history of heat stress
• Arctic breeds of dogs
• Very young or very old animals
• Cats or dogs with short noses
• Animals with long hair

Remember that any animal can suffer from heat stress – dogs, cats, birds, horses, rabbits, etc. Don’t leave an animal in an auto in the heat. Temperatures climb rapidly and can lead to death or serious illness. Here are the signs of heat stress you’ll want to know about and look for in your pet:
• Changes in behavior – like anxiety
• Excessive panting
• Vomiting
• Elevated temperatures
• Hot, dry skin
• Pale gums
• Glazed, listless eyes
• Rapid pulse
• Unsteady, staggering gait
• Deep red or purple tongue

So, if you see any of the above indicators, what will help your pets?
• Get them into the shade
• Apply cool water to their body
• Wrap them in cool towels
• Call your vet/Seek veterinary care as soon as possible
• Give them small amounts of water

Finally, just remember not to panic. Just as children can become ill from too much time in the sun, so can your pets. If your pet has become a victim of too much heat and sun, use your common sense and get them immediate help from your vet.

About the Author:
Molly Heart is a passionate mom to her own dogs and cats as well as about using healthy, organic products for her animals. She’s a researcher in her professional life and has applied those skills to finding and testing products for wounds, grooming, care and feeding her animals.

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Reprint rights granted. Please publish in total along with the link to my blog http://furmoms.blogspot.com/