WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Animal doctor dispenses advice for the 'dog days' of summer

ADA, Mich. -- The hot weather we've been having this week can be hard on our furry friends.

Dr. Kirsten Marshall with Bridges Animal Hospital at Ada Village was a guest Wednesday on West Michigan's Morning News.

She dispelled some myths on WOOD Radio. Such as the notion that keep a pet in a dog house means they are okay outdoors.

"A dog house is actually worse. There's no ventilation ... and it's like a hot oven in there. So, they need shade and they need constant fresh, cool water," Marshall said.

Dr. Marshall recommends putting ice cubes in the water bowl and walking your dog in the cooler hours of the morning or night.

"I always cringe when I'm driving down the road at noon on a hot day and you see somebody jogging with their dog. Dogs love to jog, people love to jog. But middle of the day, 90 degrees is not the time to have your dog out there," she said.

And keeping a dog in a car is another bad idea.

"You close that door, even if you crack a window (open) it's 120 degrees in 20 minutes," Marshall said. "You're going to cook your poor little dog. Don't do it. They do not need to travel with you during the summer. They just don't."

As for other tips, Dr. Marshall says it's a good idea to call a kennel far in advance if you plan to drop your dog off during summer vacation, and find out what their requirements are.

"And speak with a veterinarian about catching your particular dog up on those requirements. Certainly the basics: the rabies vaccine, the distemper complex vaccine, the Bordatella vaccine. Many require the flu vaccine. So, there are a lot of different components to it," she said.

Marshall also recommends not bring your dog to fireworks shows.

"They don't know what's going on. They enjoy being with you, but they don't enjoy being in a crowd with a hundred of your best friends, with noises and all kinds of craziness going off. The best way to sensitize a dog or make them scared is to take them to fireworks shows."

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