JANNISE JOHNSON -- Reporter’s Notebook

Summer has officially started, and with the beginning of the year’s

warmest months come the inevitable warnings of sunstroke, sunburn and

dehydration.

What many people fail to realize is that pet owners need to be just as

careful about their companion animal’s health in warm weather as they

would about their children’s or their own.

The biggest mistake a pet owner can make is to leave an animal in a car

during the summer months, said Madeline Bernstein, president of the

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

A car parked in 70-degree weather with the windows rolled up can reach an

internal temperature of nearly 100 degrees, she said.

“People should leave their pets at home and not in cars,” Bernstein said.

“Pets and children don’t do well in hot cars; they’re much more

comfortable at home.”

Summer trips to the beach may seem like an ideal time to take the family

dog out for exercise and quality time near the water.

However, the seashore sometimes holds dangers for animals that would not

ordinarily present problems for most people.

Bernstein said dogs should not accompany their families to the beach

unless there is plenty of shade and fresh water. Sand during the summer

becomes very hot and can burn a dog’s foot pads, he said.

“If you can’t get from your blanket to your car without shoes, then your

dog can’t either,” Bernstein said.

Jackie David, spokesperson for Los Angeles Animal Services, said it is

better to simply leave pets at home when it comes to beach trips.

The family barbecue is another summer ritual in which dogs and cats

should not be included, said Bernstein.

Besides the danger of bone fragments getting caught in a pet’s throat or

puncturing the stomach lining, rich, spicy food is generally not good for

an animal’s overall health, no matter how much they beg.

When it comes to feeding pets in general, David recommends meal time be

pushed back to the cooler hours of the day.

“Feed them later in the evenings because heat can reduce an animal’s

appetite just as with humans,” he said.

While many of the summer warnings posted are aimed at dogs, cats have

specific concerns which need to be addressed as well.

“We don’t advocate letting cats outdoors,” said Bernstein. “If your cat

is indoors, like it should be, then they should be in a comfortable,

air-conditioned environment.”

Spring and summer months are also the season when flea populations

explode.

A flea treatment such as Flea Busters, which uses a nontoxicsalt

substance to treat carpets in the home, should be used in conjunction

with pet treatments like Advantage, which is applied directly to an

animal’s coat.

Pets, like humans, can also get sunburned, so an animal’s coat should not

be shaved too closely, said Bernstein.

Another danger to guard against is heatstroke.

“Heatstroke can affect both dogs and cats, especially if the animal is

heavy or old or suffers from heart conditions,” said David.

Symptoms of heatstroke are heavy panting, weakness, vomiting and

increased heart rate.

If your pet displays any of these signs, move them to the shade and try

to bring the body temperature down by bathing them in cool water, David

advised.

After that, get the animal to the vet as soon as possible.

Along with the potential for heatstroke and sunburns, dog bites become

more frequent during the summer months. Both animals and humans spend

more time outside, increasing the likelihood of a calamitous

confrontation between the two species.

Los Angeles Animal Services suggests following the basic guidelines for

avoiding dog bites:

* do not run if confronted by a dog;

* avoid eye contact;

* stay still until the dog moves away;

* if necessary, climb onto a nearby car to put some distance between you

and the animal.

* JANNISE JOHNSON is a reporter for Times Community News.