{"id":479,"date":"2023-05-01T23:20:51","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T23:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/?p=479"},"modified":"2023-05-01T23:20:51","modified_gmt":"2023-05-01T23:20:51","slug":"may-2023-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/may-2023-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"May 2023 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pool Safety for Your Dogs<\/strong><\/a>
Why It\u2019s Better to Keep Cats Exclusively Indoors<\/strong><\/a>
Valley Fever in Dogs and What You Should Know<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n


Pool Safety for Your Dogs<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

The weather is heating up and that means everyone is in the pool. It\u2019s great to get cooled off and have some water fun. But does your dog know how to swim? Do you know how to keep your dog safe around the pool?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a myth that all dogs can swim when in reality many cannot. \u201cThis common misconception can be life threatening to your pet,\u201d according to the article, \u201cPool Safety for Dogs\u201d at Modern Dog, which also points to brachycephalic dogs, such as English bulldogs, American bulldogs, and French bulldogs, all of whom are not good swimmers. \u201cTherefore, it is smart to teach these and all dogs how to swim and exit the pool safely to prevent drowning.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep your dog from drinking pool water, the article said. \u201cIt is also important that your pool\u2019s chemical balance is correct, as algae can be disruptive to pets\u2019 health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introduce your dog to the pool by showing her the basics, according to the article, \u201cDogs and Water Safety,\u201d at Fetch by WebMD. Have a positive attitude and make sure there\u2019s no stress when teaching basics, including:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tFind a shallow, quiet place in the pool.
\n\u2022\tKeep your dog on a leash while she learns.
\n\u2022\tBe in the water with your dog.
\n\u2022\tDon\u2019t force your dog into the pool.
\n\u2022\t\u201cWhen your dog begins to paddle with their front legs, lift their hind legs to show them how to float,\u201d the Fetch by WebMD article said.<\/p>\n

Be sure to put a fence around your pool, keep a strong cover over it when it\u2019s not in use, teach your dog how to get in and out of the pool, ensure the water is not too cold, and never leave your dog alone in the pool, the Fetch by WebMD article said.<\/p>\n\n\n


Why It\u2019s Better to Keep Cats Exclusively Indoors<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

Do you have a cat that\u2019s an indoor cat, but you feel he should have a chance to be outdoors? Or maybe you have a cat who you think doesn\u2019t want to be indoors and is missing out on something.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of cat owners feel guilty about keeping their cat inside and worry that they are depriving their cat of natural instincts or fresh air and sunshine,\u201d according to the article, \u201cIndoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats\u201d at American Humane.<\/p>\n

Ensure you do research so you can make the right choice for the benefit of your cat\u2019s health and life in general.<\/p>\n

When your cat is outdoors, he will encounter other cats, from your neighbors\u2019 cats to feral cats, who can have diseases that they could pass to your cat. These include feline leukemia, feline AIDS (FIV), feline distemper, upper respiratory infections, and others, according to the article. Your cat can also pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, ear mites, ringworm, and more that will be harmful to your cat as well as to you and your home.<\/p>\n

Your cat\u2019s safety is also at risk when outdoors, the American Humane article said. Concerns include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tGetting hit by a car
\n\u2022\tWild animals and loose dogs
\n\u2022\tPoisons and toxins, such as antifreeze and rodent poison<\/p>\n

Cats can be happy indoors, and they will be healthier and safer as well, according to the article, \u201c10 Reasons Why Your Cat Should Be an Indoor-Only Cat\u201d at PetHelful.com. Your cat can enjoy fresh air if you buy a harness. Or you can get a stroller designed for cats, according to the article. \u201cBe sure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations and flea prevention before taking them outside, even with a harness and leash or inside a pet stroller,\u201d PetHelpful.com said.<\/p>\n\n\n


Valley Fever in Dogs and What You Should Know<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

If you live in the Southwest, you\u2019ve probably heard of Valley Fever. Humans and dogs (and other animals) can contract it. If you plan to travel to the Southwest or plan to move there, you should know about the disease that can be severe in dogs.<\/p>\n

The disease is most prevalent in south-central Arizona and \u201cis caused by infection with a type of fungus called Coccidiodes immitis\u201d according to the article, \u201cValley Fever in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know,\u201d at PetMD.com. \u201cThe condition may also be called coccidioidomycosis, California disease, desert rheumatism, or San Joaquin Valley Fever.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the article, \u201cCoccidiodes organisms live in desert soils and produce long filaments that contain infectious spores.\u201d When dogs dig or when there is construction going on, soil is disturbed, and that is when the spores are airborne and inhaled, the article said. Dogs are often diagnosed with Valley Fever because they play, mess around, and sniff dirt.<\/p>\n

The PetMD article points to symptoms limited to the lungs, including:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tCoughing
\n\u2022\tLethargy
\n\u2022\tFever
\n\u2022\tLoss of appetite
\n\u2022\tWeight loss<\/p>\n

If Valley Fever spreads, it is the disseminated form of the disease. According to the article, \u201cWhat to Know About Valley Fever in Dogs\u201d at Fetch by WebMD, those symptoms include:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tBack or neck pain
\n\u2022\tEye inflammation
\n\u2022\tLameness
\n\u2022\tSeizures<\/p>\n

After diagnoses, treatment includes antifungal medications. Treatment depends on what type of Valley Fever your dog has, so it\u2019s best to discuss it with your veterinarian.<\/p>\n

You can help prevent Valley Fever by keeping your dog inside most of the time. \u201cPrevent your dog from digging when they are outside, and try to stay away from areas where the soil is loose and dusty, such as construction sites or spaces with limited ground-cover plants,\u201d according to the Fetch by WebMD article.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pool Safety for Your DogsWhy It\u2019s Better to Keep Cats Exclusively IndoorsValley Fever in Dogs and What You Should Know Pool Safety for Your Dogs The weather is heating up and that means everyone is in the pool. It\u2019s great to get cooled off and have some water fun. But does your dog know how… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=479"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":516,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/479\/revisions\/516"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.secondhomepetresort.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}