Pets can suffer from heat stroke, just like humans.  When they do, treatment can be very costly, as is not guaranteed to save them.

Tips to remember

• Take your pet walking either early morning or in the evening when it is cooler
• Make sure your pets have an ample supply of water and shade

Signs of heat stroke can include heavy panting, collapse, and vomiting.  If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, take them to a veterinarian immediately. 

Most common toxic foods:  Chocolate (all forms), grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, avacados (including the fruit, pits and leaves), tomatoes, rhubarb, alcohol, nuts, mushrooms, raw eggs, egg whites, raw fish, nutmeg, persimmons, yeast, liver, hops, human iron supplements.

Most common hazards in the home:  Medications, insect products, rat and mouse bait, bleach, disinfectants, mothballs, flea and tick products, potpourri, slug and snail bait, tobacco products, plants.

Most common objects in the home:  Balls, batteries, twist ties, buttons, coins, glass, hair accessories, jewelry, nylons, paper clips, plastic wrap, socks, string, yarn, dental floss, towels, wax.

In the case of an emergency, contact your veterinarian right away or call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

I cannot express enough how important it is to have your puppy vaccinated.  It is heartbreaking to see the amount of puppies that die from these viruses each month.

The Parvo virus is very deadly and it is avoidable.  If you have a new puppy, or are planning on getting one, please be sure to get them properly vaccinated.  They need 4 sets of shots before they are fully vaccinated.  You may take your puppy out into public before they are fully vaccinated, but do not put them on the ground.  Symptoms of parvo include diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy.  If your puppy exhibits these symptoms and are not fully vaccinated, please take them to a veterinarian to be sure they do not have this deadly virus.

Distemper, although not seen as often as Parvo, is also highly contagious.  It is caused by a virus that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and, often, the nervous systems of puppies and dogs.  Infection is usually spread through airborne exposure to the virus contained in respiratory secretions of an infected dog.  Symptoms of distemper include eye discharge that may appear watery to pus-like, fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. In later stages, the virus may attack the nervous system, bringing about seizures, twitching, or partial or complete paralysis. Distemper is often fatal. Even if a dog does not die from the disease, canine distemper virus can cause irreparable damage to a dog's nervous system. Distemper is so serious and the signs so varied that any sick dog should be taken to a veterinarian for an examination.  Veterinarians diagnose canine distemper on the basis of clinical appearance and laboratory tests. No specific drug is available that will kill the virus in infected dogs. Treatment consists primarily of support efforts to prevent secondary infections; control vomiting, diarrhea, or neurologic symptoms; and combat dehydration through administration of fluids.