Animal Bite Information

Each year millions of people in the United States, most of them are children,
are bitten by animals. Most animal bites are from dogs; cats are the second most
bites reported. However, the risk of infection from a cat bite is much higher than that
from a dog bite. Most bites occur on the fingers and hands, but children may also be bitten
around the head, face and neck area.

The major concern we have from animal bites is the possibility of rabies. Because most pets
in the U.S. are vaccinated, most cases of rabies are the result of bites from wild animals such as
a skunk, bat or raccoon. No matter what animal that bite comes from, if it is not your own pet,
you should call your local animal control and the police department.

Rabies is a disease that affects only mammals ( such as, raccoons, bats, dogs, horses and humans).
It is causes by a virus that attacks the central nervous system. With out treatment is is 100 percent
fatal. If detected early there is a series of highly effective vaccinations that can be given. That is why
it is extremely important for you to notify the proper authorities if anyone has been bitten. Play it safe
and let a medical doctor examine any bite area.

Try following some of these suggestions to prevent animal bites.

* Do not try to separate fighting animals.
* Avoid animals that appear sick or act strange. Call animal control.
* Leave animals, even pets you know, alone while they are eating or sleeping.
* Keep pets on a leash when out in public.
* Never leave a young child alone with any animal. Don't allow children to tease
animals, wave sticks at them, throw anything at them or pull their tail.
* Be sure your pet is Vaccinated. If unsure, please visit your vet.
* Do not approach or play with any kind of wild animal.
* Tech children not to pet any strange or unknown animal with out first asking
permission of the pets owner.

Summer is the time that many children and animals are outside enjoying play.
Education of our children and yes even us adults is the key to preventing the dangers
that come with a animal bite. Rabies is not our only concern. Infections are actually a
higher risk, again due to most pets having rabies shots. If you are bitten you will need to
watch for signs of infection as your doctor will advise you when you seek treatment.

Signs of infection are, warmth around the wound, swelling, pain, a pus discharge and or
redness around the bite marks. If you are bitten clean the area with soap and water. Use
an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide or alcohol. And seek your doctors attention as soon
as possible.

Hot Weather Tips for our Pets!

We are in the hottest part of summer with long hot days and even
our evenings aren't much cooler. Our pets can suffer from the same
problems that we do, overheating, dehydration and even sunburns.
Use a few simple precautions and you can prevent your pets from the
dangers of summer time.

1. Never leave your pet along in a vehicle. Even with the windows open
a parked car or truck can quickly become a furnace on a hot day. Over
heating can kill our pets, and parking in the shade offers very little protection
as the sun shifts during the day.

2. Always carry a gallon of cold water for each pet.

3. Don't force your pet to exercise after a meal in hot humid weather.
Let them exercise in the early morning or evening and keep walks to a
minimum.

4. Never leave your dog standing on hot asphalt. Their body can heat
up quickly and they have sensitive paw pads that will burn.

5. Provide plenty of shade and a well constructed dog house for
your pets that stay outside. BRING in your pets during the hottest
parts of the day, and make sure they have plenty of cool water.

6. Older and over weight pets need you to be extra careful with during
the hot months of summer. Pets with pug or snub noses and those with
heart problems need to be kept cool in air conditioned rooms.

7. Avoid walking your pets in area's that you suspect have been sprayed
with insecticides or chemicals. Be alert for coolants or other auto fluids leaking
from vehicles. Pets are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting even a small
amount can be fatal. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has
ingested poisons.

8. Keep pets well groomed to stave off summer skin problems, this also helps
the pet from over heating.

9. Make regular visits to your vet for check ups. Vets are our first line of
defence to keeping our pets healthy year around.

10. Make sure all windows in your home are properly screened to prevent
escape or falls.

11. Our pets are not able to sweat like we do. They cool themselves by panting
and sweating through their paws. If they have only warm to hot air to breath,
animals can collapse, suffer brain damage and possibly die of heat stroke.
Just 15 mins can be enough for an animals body temperature to climb
from normal to deadly levels that will damage the nervous and cardiovascular
systems, often leaving the animal comatose, dehydrated and at risk of
permanent impairment or even death.

By following these simple guidelines you can protect your pet from the
worst temps during summers hottest days. If unsure call and ask your
pet's vet, they are always happy to provide information for the safety
of their fur friends.


Information for this posting was gathered from around the Internet.

Watch out for Hot spots on your pets!

Hot Spots in Dogs
Also known as acute moist dermatitis, pyotraumatic dermatitis, moist eczema or “summer sores,” hot spots are raised, red, wet and oozing wounds on the skin’s surface that are often self-inflicted by a licking or chewing dog. They can appear and spread very rapidly, and some will persist for months. Often the fur around a frequently-licked area will have a pinkish tinge caused by the saliva. Sometimes the hot spot can have a foul smell. There is usually hair loss at the site, but occasionally the wound can be hidden in the fur, and the dog’s relentless licking or chewing is the only tip-off.

What causes hot spots?
The immediate cause of a hot spot is a bacterial infection of the skin. The inflammation is itchy and painful for the dog, so he licks or chews at the site for relief… and further irritates the sore. Saliva is filled with bacteria and not a very good salve for wounds. As the dog becomes more frantic to relieve the irritation, he may become more aggressive with his chewing. Some dogs will bite to the point of self-mutilation. The most common sites for hot spots are those accessible by mouth – the flank, legs and paws, and the rump – but itchy dogs will get wounds anywhere they can scratch. A hot spot is painful as well as itchy. Some dogs might become protective of their sore and nip or growl to keep you away from it. These dogs might need to be sedated for treatment, and your veterinarian might prescribe a pain-killer.The ultimate cause of a hot spot can be more difficult to determine, but is especially important with multiple, chronic, or recurring sores. The occasional incident might be caused by a simple irritant such as a thistle or bug bite. Most hot spots occur in the summer months during hot, humid weather. Some breeds, such as Labrador and Golden retrievers, are known to be predisposed. In general dogs with thick or long hair coats are at risk. Dogs prone to ear and anal sac infections are also more susceptible to hot spots.

Grooming
Mats in the fur or trapped undercoat can prevent normal aeration and drying of the skin, and result in hot spots. Frequent brushing (especially before a bath) and a short summer hair cut are good preventatives. Excessive bathing can further irritate skin, but there are aloe or oatmeal shampoos available for dogs with sensitive skin. Dogs with very thick coats may need to be towelled or blow-dried after swimming or bathing.

What is the treatment for hot spots?
The wound itself needs to be kept clean and undisturbed for healing to occur. Usually, the area is clipped to remove overlying fur (shaving can cause further irritation) and washed with a mild soap or antiseptic. The hot spot might need to be gently cleaned several times a day to remove crusty build-up. If inflammation is severe, systemic antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed by a veterinarian. Topical treatments may be used, but care should be taken to ensure the cream or ointment is not going right into the dog’s mouth! In some cases these can be toxic when ingested. In other cases, inappropriate use of an ointment might seal in the existing infection and prevent healthy aeration of the wound, slowing rather than aiding the healing process.

If you think your dog has a hot spot make sure you take them to the vet right away.
Early treatment makes all the difference in how fast these heal up.