As the weather starts to get warmer, pets with long hair and/or thick fur should have it trimmed. Pets with thick fur and an undercoat are especially susceptible to overheating in temperatures that may seem mild to most humans. Their coat traps the warm air, which is ideal in the winter, but during the summer, it can quickly cause overheating.
Grooming is key to your pet's comfort during the warm weather.
Dog breeds sporting thick fur include German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Poodle, Chow Chow, Akita, Sheepdog, Corgi and Great Pyrenees. Cat breeds that have abundant coats include Norwegian Forest Cat, Himalayan and Persian.
In humid weather, dogs with long-haired coats (even if the fur is more silky than thick) may develop an offensive musty odor and should be bathed/groomed regularly.
Having your pet groomed regularly also helps to cut down on the shedding so you'll find fewer fur balls and less hair around the house. Although, some breeds such as the poodle, don't shed at all, so regular grooming is a must for them.
Take a moment to schedule a series of regular grooming appointments at the start of the season to best ensure your pet's comfort throughout what is sure to be a long, hot summer.
As we humans know, a great haircut can make all the difference!
P.S. Don't forget to protect your pet from mosquitoes, black flies, fleas and other annoying pests by using flea and tick treatment regularly. It's easier to prevent problems than to treat after the fact.
March 20th is the first day of Spring, bringing with it longer days, warmer (we hope) temperatures and Spring flowers.
With Easter around the corner, it's important to note that Lilies are highly toxic to cats. The leaves, pollen and flower of lily plants can make your cat extremely sick and can even be fatal. Some signs of lily toxicity are loss of appetite, vomiting, lethargy and liver failure.
According to the ASPCA, some varieties of lilies are also toxic to dogs and include lily of the valley, calla lily, peace lily or palm lily (which is the houseplant Dracaena). Dogs who have ingested these lilies may experience stomach upset, tremors and depression.
A few other popular Spring blooms are also dangerous. These include Daffodils (otherwise known as paper whites, narcissus or jonquils), Tulips and Azaleas. Daffodils and Tulips contain poisonous alkaloids that can cause drooling, intense vomiting, convulsions, diarrhea and heart problems. If the leaves of the Azaleas are ingested, they can cause loss of appetite, stomach upset, weakness, leg paralysis, central nervous system depression, cardiovascular collapse and death.
If you suspect your pet has plant/flower toxicity, seek immediate veterinary attention.
Pay careful attention to the type of plants/flowers you bring indoors or plant outside. There are a number of attractive plants that are non-toxic to pets. Consider African Violet, Rose, Begonia or Easter Daisy, to name just a few.
Purina's Adopt-A-Thon event will showcase some of the Central Brevard Humane Society’s (CBHS) shelter dogs and will provide fun, educational information about responsible pet ownership. There will also be CBHS merchandise there for purchase.
All proceeds will go to help provide care to the homeless animals in Brevard County.
Bring your dogs and cats for grooming!
Zoomin Groomin will be there from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., offering on-site grooming and giving 10% off that day or for a future booking.
Event locations:
April 14th
Walmart Supercenter
2700 Clearlake Road
Cocoa FL, 32922
April 28th
Walmart Supercenter
1040 Malabar Rd., S.E.
Palm Bay FL, 32909
May 5th
Walmart
845 Palm Bay Rd. NE
West Melbourne, Fl 32904
May 12th
Walmart
1001 E. Eau Gallie Blvd,
Satellite Beach, FL