JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Pets, specifically cats and dogs, are in as much danger as their owners due to high summertime temperatures. But unlike their bipedal masters, cats and dogs cannot voice their discomfort when heat becomes unbearable; members of Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph are encouraged by base veterinary clinicians to closely watch over their pets' health.
Heat exhaustion and scorched paws are outcomes owners may witness in pets if they are loosely monitored outdoors, and heat strokes occur when pets' internal temperatures reach 104 degrees, Richard Avery, 902nd Force Support Squadron Veterinary Clinic doctor of veterinary medicine, said.
The signs of heat strokes are extreme panting, excessive salivation, disorientation, possible collapse and death.
"Cats and dogs do not perspire through their skin as humans do," Avery said. "They mainly perspire through their tongues and feet."
Snub-nosed canines like Boston terriers and bull-dogs are sensitive to hot weather because of their pushed-in facial structures, which causes difficulty breathing and perspiring.
When pets burn their paws on hot pavement or tar, they may lick their paws more than usual - another mark Avery said owners can attribute to heat damage.
"Cool their bodies down with cool water - use the water hose," he said. "You can place wet cloths between their legs where their blood vessels are, and around their necks and heads.
"They need good spots for shade and a source of water. Have two containers of water ready for them in case one spills," especially for pets left unattended outside much of the day.
But whether in the shade or not, the summer sultriness brings out bugs that can bite, sting and feed off pets.
Bees, hornets and wasps roam around lawns individually or in droves; their stings can cause allergic reactions in animals, like swelling skin or a break out of hives.
Terrestrial snakes, like rattlesnakes, are prevalent in Texas and pose an obvious threat to animals frequenting the outdoors.
If pets are bitten by a snake, owners should take their collars off to avoid constriction to their necks, Avery said.
"There is a rattlesnake vaccine available at local veterinary offices," he said.
Minuscule pests like fleas and ticks thrive in the Texas heat and can cause allergies and anemias, Stephanie Geren, 902nd FSS animal health technician, said.
"Ticks are also carriers of Lyme disease, which can cause lameness and pain," she said.
Mosquitoes are also a typical Texas presence and are the only transmitters of heartworms, which are much more likely to manifest inside of dogs, but incidents are increasing in cats; medications are available to help prevent heartworms in both cats and dogs, Avery said.
While certain incidents are increasing within cats, the base clinic tends to see more dogs.
"Eighty to 85 percent of what we see here is dogs," Geren said.
It's not that dogs are more likely to succumb to summer heat or pests, but personality differences among the species are what Geren believed separate cats and dogs.
"Cats tend to be loners and independent; dogs are more cuddly and dependent on their owners," she said.
For people who wet their heavy-coated pets or allow them to be outdoors during summer need to look for "hot spots," which are secondary bacterial infections of the skin, Avery said.
"Sometimes flies will lay their eggs on the lesions and many times maggots will form," he said. "Perform daily checkups on your pets from head to tail."
Avery advised owners to protect their pets from certain consumables as well.
"A lot of people have barbecues in the summer and feed their pets some of the meat as treats," he said. "Try not to feed your animals, especially smaller breeds, anything greasy like chicken skins, pork ribs or hotdogs. Greasy foods can cause a serious condition called pancreatitis" - which signs are diarrhea, vomiting, collapse and even death.
Other foods owners should keep away from pets are chocolate, which affect their nervous system, and grapes and raisins, which affect their kidneys.
Animal obesity rates are rising, mirroring the expanding waistlines of the general population, Avery said.
"Exercise them regularly; take them for walks during cooler times of the day, which is in the morning and evening," he said.
Active duty, retirees and reservists who have medical benefits are eligible to set up appointments with the base veterinary clinic by calling 652-3190 or visiting them at Bldg. 216.
Appointments are scheduled two weeks from the time they are set up. For emergencies, visit off-base local veterinary clinics, which can be found online or in the yellow pages.