Memorial Day will be here soon, the day we all look forward to as the unofficial start to summer. The day often means hosting or attending a backyard barbeque or swimming at the beach. Since your dog is such a big part of your family, he may be attending the Memorial Day festivities with you. The day can be one of enjoyable memories as long as you take certain precautions.
 
Barbeque Safety
Your dog can find a lot to get into at the typical barbeque, including the hot grill. Whether you have grill duty or not, make sure that your dog is nowhere near it. A combination of curiosity and excitement could cause her to burn herself or even knock the grill to the ground. It's also essential to keep the grill brush out of her reach as this presents a choking hazard.
 
The food may be too much for her to resist as well. Be sure to let your guests know they should not give your dog or cat any table scraps since you can't be sure exactly what she's getting. It's especially important to keep an eye out for chocolate, avocados, raisins, and grapes as these can be toxic for animals.

According to the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American pet owners cite the prevention of fleas and ticks as two of their top pet care concerns. When it comes to these parasites, prevention is always the best course of action. However, it's important that you're able to recognize the symptoms of flea or tick infestation so you can get your dog or cat the help she needs right away.

What You Need to Know About Fleas

Although fleas are wingless insects, they can jump up to two feet in the air. Their lifespan can be as short as two weeks or as long as a year. Unfortunately, they can produce millions of offspring in that short amount of time. Fleas feast on your animal's blood and can make him feel miserable. Some of the most common indications that your dog or cat has fleas include:

• Flea droppings on the fur that look like grains of sand
• Flea eggs that are tiny and white
• Scratching, biting, or licking much more than usual
• Loss of fur
• Allergic dermatitis
• Pale color to the gums
• Development of tapeworms
• Hot spots and scabs on the body

Since they are brought in easily from outdoors, fleas can live in your carpet, furniture, bedding, and other warm places where they can burrow. Once they find an animal host, fleas spend the remainder of their life in her fur laying eggs. A pet infested with a large amount of fleas can become anemic since these parasites can consume blood that is up to 15 times their own weight. Dogs and cats who are sensitive to flea saliva can develop allergic dermatitis, a condition that causes extreme skin irritation.

Coming up soon - The Bark for Life of Stillwater Event!  Please join us for this noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society's fight against cancer.

Our canine friends are such tremendous companions, and that fact is even more evident when one receives a cancer diagnosis.  This event not only helps to raise support for a world with less cancer, but honors the caregiving qualities of our canine "best friends". 

Even if you and your dog are unable to walk the 1.0 miles, there are many other fun activities in which to participate!  Watch agility/obstacle course demonstrations, hear Katie K-9 discuss dog behaviors, join in on games, listen to live music, visit vendors, and enjoy fabulous food from Woody's!  Cedar Pet Clinic Lake Elmo staff will be at this event, with our pets, and giving out prizes!  We had a great time last year, and anticipate an equally enjoyable time to support a worthy cause.