The summer season is almost here, together with the inevitable heat waves that make us despair in the hottest days. However, we usually refresh ourselves with fresh showers, ice cream and by going to the beach. On the other hand, our four-legged friends have a worse situation as they suffer from heat the same way that we do. Here are some useful tips to help dogs and cats cope with heat.

How do animals normally protect themselves from heat?

As many of us know, animals such as dogs and cats cannot sweat, because by nature they lack glands for this purpose, except in the very small area of ​​the fingertips. However, they are equipped with other mechanisms that serve precisely to ensure the dispersion of excess heat. For example, by hanging their tongue out.

This is just one of the mechanisms they use to evaporate the heat through saliva. Furthermore, when it is too hot, the animals can breathe more rapidly and laboriously, putting in place the typical "polypnea". It is rare for the cat to breathe with their mouth open, unless the temperature is too high.

Among other mechanisms available to them, we also find the hair licking, an activity that takes up most of the cat's days in particular. The wet hair, in fact, will feel like a nice regenerating shower for them.

Furthermore, during the warmer seasons the animals lose their soft and fluffy winter coat, and keep their shorter summer coat. By doing this, they will be equally protected from all dangers of the external environment, including the sun's rays.

 The greatest danger is represented above all by the infamous sunstroke and heat stroke, two apparently similar situations, but different in other respects. Heatstroke occurs when the body is no longer able to disperse excess body heat, for example if we leave our dog locked up in the car for too long. The sunstroke, on the other hand, is due to the direct action of the sun's rays on the animal's body. In both cases, some specific symptoms will appear, such as:

• Increased salivation, with denser saliva;
• Red gums and tongue;
• Tremors;
• Diarrhoea;
• Fainting;
• Coma and death in severe cases.

That is not all. The heat can also create other discomforts, such as annoying burns, which can predispose to the formation of some very aggressive skin cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma.

 Tips against heat

The main tips we can give you to fight this important problem affecting your animal are:  

• Do not leave the dog and cat in the car: this advice is the most important, because many of us cannot even imagine what happens inside a closed car, especially during the hottest hours of the day. In fact, the temperature reaches very high peaks in a very short time, causing the death of the animal if immediate action is not taken. If you happen to see a dog or cat locked in a car, immediately call the police, who will immediately rush to free the animal;

• Always leave fresh water available: make sure your friend can drink whenever he feels the need. The heat, in fact, makes you feel more thirsty. Avoid water that is too cold, which could cause unpleasant problems, but try to always keep it fresh and clean;

• No to air conditioning for them: Air conditioning is not beneficial both for us and for our animal. In any case, avoid using it as it could create strong temperature changes between the inside and outside of the house. Rather, choose a good fan, which moves the air, without aiming it directly towards the animal;

• Walks in the cooler hours: Try to avoid long walks after lunch or in the early afternoon. A short visit to the park will be essential for daily needs, but make sure that the dog can enjoy the cooler temperatures of the evening or morning for longer walks;

• Always carry a bottle of water with you: if you decide to take your dog or cat out, always remember to keep a bottle of water with you, so you can stop and give them some fresh water during the hot summer days;

• Apply sunscreen: on the market there are several specific sunscreens for animals, to be applied only in areas without hair, such as nose and ears, to avoid sunburn; 

• Buy a cooler gadget: one of the latest news on the market is a wide range of products specifically designed to cool our animals. Mats, bandanas and toys made of materials that can be stored in the freezer or not, perfect for summer;

• Wet the legs and head of the animal: to give relief from excessively high temperatures, there is nothing better than a little warm water on the face and legs.

Remember to always apply these tips, to make summer a slightly more pleasant season for our four-legged friends.

 As soon as they enter our homes, as puppies or as adults, dogs and cats become in all respects an integral part of our family, and as such, we would never want leave them alone. Unfortunately, however, the time comes for each of us to say goodbye to our friend. What we can do is delay that fateful moment as much as possible by following some tips to extend the lifespan of our animals.

What does life span depend on?

Compared to several years ago, dogs and cats can now boast a truly remarkable life expectancy. Certainly much of the credit goes to the progress achieved by veterinary medicine, but it is also true that our vision of the relationship with animals has drastically changed. In the past, in fact, there was a tendency to consider dogs and cats from a profit point of view, rather than company. The dog is a valid ally to watch the courtyard, look after the flock or go hunting, whilst the cat "served" above all to keep mice away.

Over the years, the concept of pets has developed more and more, so the dog and cat have definitely become faithful allies and members of our family. Therefore, attention to their health has also increased significantly. The veterinarian, (who previously was called almost exclusively to treat large farm animals) today has specialized in the care of dogs and cats, increasing their life span.

Among the conditions that can most affect the quality and life span of our animals, we find:

• Sterilization
• Home life
• Vaccinations
• Drugs
• Prevention
• Diagnostic tests
• Proper nutrition
• Dental care

In addition to these aspects, we also find a series of individual factors, related for example to the animal itself or to breed, species and age, such as:

• Breed: crossbreeds have a greater resistance than pure-bred animals, for a phenomenon called "hybrid vigour" or "heterosis", thanks to which the positive genetic characteristics of the ancestors are increasingly strengthened with each generation. Pure breed dogs and cats, on the other hand, often tend to reinforce some "negative" characters, which mostly correspond to some ailments or diseases. The typical example is the German Shepherd's hip dysplasia. For more information, you can visit this interesting database from the University of Cambridge, which collects all the main conditions related to the breed;

• Species and size: cats generally live longer than dogs, in particular in comparison with large and giant dogs, as we saw in the article on the age of animals. The reason is that larger organism will require more work by the individual parts that compose it, to function optimally, unlike a cat or a small dog;

• Age: it is clear that a young animal will have stronger health, (in the absence of other secondary or congenital problems) compared to an elderly dog ​​or cat more prone to typical age disorders, such as arthritis, cardiovascular problems, diseases sight, deafness;

• Lifestyle: animals that live on the street or in gardens and courtyards are more exposed to the dangers present outside, for example environmental parasites, cars, encounters and clashes with other animals and sudden changes in temperature. Likewise, sedentary lifestyle can also adversely affect health, increasing the risk of incurring overweight and obesity, joint problems, cardiovascular disease and many other ailments;

• Congenital problems: some animals can be born with weakened or manifest diseases during growth. These are mainly malformations, often also linked to the breed they belong to, as we have seen previously;

• Stress: the mental well-being  has a significant influence on the life of animals. In particular, stress is really a bitter enemy for our health, because it acts negatively on the whole psychophysical balance, overloading our most important organs and weakening our immune system, thus making us more exposed to infections.

Tips

Now that we have analysed the factors that influence our pet’s lifespan, we are ready to comprehend some fundamental tips:

• Sterilize your animals: take a look at the article on sterilization to evaluate the importance of this surgery for the health of the dog and cat, both in males and females;

• Adopt from kennels and associations: if you are thinking of expanding your family, avoid feeding the market of purebred animal breeding, try to adopt dogs and cats from kennels and associations;

• Physical activity: stimulate the cat to play with you, transforming your home into a real playground, and often take the dog out for long walks. You will improve his mood, but also the body’s health;

• Keep an eye on weight: try to keep the body weight of your four-legged friend always within normal values, through balanced nutrition and adequate physical activity. Overweight and obesity are enemies of good health;

• Conscious feeding: pay attention to what you feed your pet. Poor quality foods can be as bad as a poorly balanced home diet, and the consequences would be noticable in the long run. Do not choose at random, but ask your vet for advice;

• Prevention: vaccinations, pesticide treatments and deworming are absolutely mandatory to prevent some very dangerous diseases. In addition, ask the veterinarian to visit your dog / cat thoroughly at least once a year for a check-up , possibly with additional diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasounds or x-rays, to assess the presence of congenital or age related problems;

• Consult your veterinarian: always consult your veterinarian for a simple screening check or the appearance of even a minor ailment.  Normal symptoms can also symbolize the presence of some serious problems that the veterinarian will be able to diagnose and treat

Although they seem numerous and tiring to follow, these tips should be the standard to follow for every owner. Once you have started to put them into practice, you will notice the difference and can enjoy many more years together with your four-legged friend.

Let's face it. Everyone is fascinated by a long-haired cat. Whether it's a Persian, rather than a "moderate" Norwegian Forest Cat or a Turkish Van, no one can question its beauty. Nevertheless, how much can it cost owners, in economic terms and effort, such a perfect and well-kept coat? Here are our recommendations.

It is a fact that cats with long or medium-long hair need more care than normal ones. For example, let's compare the fur of these felines with the one of a European cat. Surely the second will not need frequent brushing, much less washing, because it is perfectly capable of doing everything by itself.

For the Persian cat, on the other hand, as well as for the other long-haired cats, the situation is much more complex. The coat, in fact, is quite thick and in some cases also soft and woolly. This aspect, combined with the length of the hair, can inevitably represent an obstacle in the normal grooming operations all cats dedicate themselves during the day.

 The owners of these cats will surely have witnessed the vain attempts of their friend to wash the hair on their back or on their belly. What happens in most cases is that the longer hair under the neck prevents it from reaching other parts of the body, so the animal will tend to wash only that area.

The consequence, in addition to the accumulation of dirt and impurities on the coat and on the skin, is mainly linked to the formation of knots, which in some cases can compromise the aesthetic aspect of the animals and in others they can represent a source of discomfort and pain in the cat. It is common, in fact, to hear owners who are forced to have their pets shorn; because the knots become so problematic they prevent the cat from even walking or eating, pulling the skin in several places.

Why does this happen? Surely not only for a predisposition due to the length of the hair. The most important factor is to ensure the animals grooming. Those who choose to buy or adopt one of these wonderful felines must be aware of the fact that they need constant care, especially during the moulting periods.

On the other hand, many owners tend to neglect this aspect, so they only brush the cat when it most convenient for them. In addition, another typical problem that you may have to deal with might be cats that refuse to go through with the grooming and cleaning process. As soon as you approach them with this strange tool (the brush), the cat runs away or scratches us violently. In these cases, the situation worsens further.

Here are some tips for the proper grooming of long-haired cats;

• Get them used to this routine from the first months of age: an adult cat who does not know the brush will hardly accept that you use it on him. For this reason, if you have just adopted a cat, start brushing it every day, enriching the grooming moments with many positive stimuli, such as snacks or cuddles;
• Choose suitable brushes: there are so many types of brushes and combs on the market. The most suitable for long-haired cats are above all the metal combs with mediumly narrow teeth. Another option could be the carders, very useful for the softer and more woolly hair;
• Buy sanitizing wipes: search the shelves of any pet shop and choose the most suitable wipes for your cat, from a wide selection. For example, those sanitizers, deodorants, degreasers and even those with natural pesticides are excellent. The important thing is that the cat likes them.
• Use a specific product for grooming: ask your dealer or groomer for advice. In fact, there are many products that can help untangle small knots, making brushing easier. You can use them just like a balm, after a bath, or on dry hair at any time;
• Buy a pair of scissors: if you have already located some pretty important knots and all the other methods you have tried have failed, you just have to cut them. Choose rounded scissors that cut well. Avoid handling the knots if they are too close to the skin, and just cut the most superficial ones;
•  Place toys that stimulate the cat to scratch himself: you can use a simple brush you use to clean radiators, fix it at the bottom of an old chair, so the cat can pass underneath it and scratch himself with the bristles;
• To extreme evils, extreme remedies: if it is too late and your cat is already full of knots, you just have to take it to the groomer. In some cases, a minimum sedation by the veterinarian may be necessary, but be careful of the "professionals" who advise you to anesthetize the cat without a medical opinion.

Always remember that consistency and patience is the first solution to keep the cat's coat always nice and clean. So, make sure you brush it every day with the correct methods.

 We waited for her arrival all winter and finally she arrived. We clearly speak about the summer, with the heat, the sun, travelling experiences and especially the sea. Many of us, as soon as they have a few free hours, move as soon as possible to the nearest beach, to have fun, sunbathe and find some relief from the summer heat soaking in the fresh water. Can we bring out pet at the beach? Nothing forbids it, as long as you follow some basic tips to avoid unpleasant consequences. Here is the guide for a good owner at the beach with its dog.

Before leaving

What we need to verify before anything else, is that the bathing establishment or the free beach that we have chosen does not prohibit the entry to the animals. We can simply contact the establishment by phone; such as the local traffic police or consult a list of dog-friendly equipped beaches. The legislation, in fact, is not national, but depends on regional and municipal decisions. For details, you can consult the specific article on the legislation that regulates the access of dogs to the beaches.

Now that we are ready to go, let's make sure that we have everything we need for the trip by car and for the duration of the road trip. In particular, we should check that we have equipped our car with the most suitable devices for the transportation of our dog or dogs, if there are more than one. We remember, in fact, that if we choose to bring two or more dogs with us, we must make sure that they are separated from each other and by the driver with the appropriate means (nets, grids, kennel…) to avoid problems during the trip.

So prepare what we need in the bag:

• Fresh water at will;
• Fresh fruit, pieces of chicken or other light snacks;
• Cooler bag to cool water and food;
• Long leash;
• Cloth to lay on the sand;
• Clean towel to dry the dog after swimming;
• Scoop and bag to collect his needs;
• Sun cream for animals to be applied on the nose and ears for short-haired white dogs;
• Umbrella for both of us;
• His favorite toys.

Do you have everything you need? Then you are good to go

At the beach

We assume that keeping a dog on the beach for a long time, especially in the hottest hours of the day (between 12 am and 16 pm), would be a real torture. The animals, in fact, will be affected by the heat more than we are, so if you really want to take him to the beach, do it for a few hours, early in the morning or in the afternoon. The heat stroke can be lethal for our animal friends, so be careful.

Once we arrive on the beach, we can prepare ourselves to have fun in the water:

• We keep the dog on a leash and never leave it alone;
• We place our towel next the dogs one, spreading it on the sand or on the rocks;
• We leave a bowl of fresh water in the shade;
• Let the dog stretch its legs before entering the water to warm up the muscles;
• We do not bathe if you have recently eaten your usual meal;
• We enter the water together with the dog, but always gradually and with caution, especially if he is afraid, not forcing;
• If he are not very convinced, let's try to stimulate him with his toys, starting from the shore and moving forward a few meters at a time;
• We must always remember that at peak times the sand also burns for our dog, and could even burn his fingertips, so we try to move quickly towards the parts where it is cooler;
• Do not stay in the water for too long, to avoid getting tired too much by swimming;
• Once you’re out of the water, take our bottles of water and rinse the dog's body thoroughly, removing salt and sand, especially from its face and ears;
• We use a clean towel to dry the dog, starting from the ears, as they can cause some annoying ear infections if they remain damp.

We must always remember that space at the beach is shared with other people and that we are not alone. Here are the rules for the perfect owner:

• No one better than us know the personality of our dog, so if we see him tense or frightened, don't let children or other animals approach;
• We place the umbrella in a place quite distant from the others, asking our "neighbours" if they are afraid of dogs;
• We clean any "needs" with a shovel and a hygiene bag, to throw in the nearest basket or to bring with us until you find one to throw it in;
• If the dog begins to bark at another dog, we move to another more distant point or try to distract him with his toys;
• When dogs get to the beach, they love digging holes in the sand. Make sure that they do not submerge other people in sand;
• The first thing the dog will do as soon as he comes out of the water will be to shake his whole body vigorously, covering everyone in the area with water. If possible, exit the water on an isolated spot of the beach.

Each of these points is essential when deciding to bring the dog to the beach, so let's try to follow them carefully.

 Most dog owners often transport their four-legged friend by car, for pleasure or necessity. Even cats in some cases require effective and safe transport, especially for visits to the vet or for short trips and holidays. What we have to do is make sure that the transportation can take place without any risk for both of us. Let's look at some advice.

As we saw in the specific article, the regulations for the transportation of animals by car are very clear. If we want a dog or cat to travel with us, we can leave it free in the passenger compartment, always relying on our common sense. This means that if he is a quiet type, accustomed to traveling by car, he can sit on the back seats, without resorting to the trunk or carrier. On the contrary, if it is a cat or a lively dog, unaccustomed to traveling, the use of some protective supports would be preferable.

In order to have a safe and pleasant trip with your animal, here are some tips:

• Dog safety belts: these are special nylon strips with a double closure. On the one hand, they can be attached to the collar, like a normal leash, whilst on the opposite side we find a particular closure, identical to the normal seat belts supplied by the car. For greater safety, you can also buy a special bib, more enveloping and comfortable than normal walking models. Not all dogs can handle the seat belt because they often feel constrained and limited in movement. In any case, this is a problem that can be easily solved with a little habit;

• Car partitions: they are surely one of the safest solutions. They can be adjustable or fixed, depending on the needs and model of the car. The adjustable models are more suitable for infrequent movements, and can be applied both to the special lateral supports on the bodywork and to the headrests. Fixed models, on the other hand, although more resistant, must be declared with the Civil Motorization. On the market, we can find dividers with different characteristics based on where we want to apply them. For example, we can decide to use them to create a space in the trunk or between the front and back seats. Furthermore, some models are adjustable in height and width, to ensure greater safety. The dividers are excellent for transporting animals, because they offer great freedom of movement, while protecting passengers;

   

  Protective net: it is an economic and very simple solution to apply. It is a non-elastic net, which is hooked to the four corners with fixed or adjustable supports. It is the ideal remedy for those who want to transport rather calm animals, respecting regulations;

• Kennel, pet carrier or cage: it is the most suitable method especially for cats. The classic pet carrier or kennel is generally made of rigid plastic, with several slits for the air and an opening door on the front. Alternatively, we can choose a metal cage, more resistant and less "claustrophobic" than the pet carrier. Both are available in many sizes, from the minimum ones for rabbits and kittens to those for large and giant dogs;

• Bags: very useful for cats and small dogs. They can be temporarily fixed to the front or back seat, and are generally made of soft or semi-rigid material, with numerous openings for the air and allow the animal to look outside;
• Seat cover: this is an alternative solution, not suitable for lively or large dogs. It attaches to both the front and back seats, creating a "boat" coating that at the same time protects the upholstery and prevents the animal from reaching the front of the vehicle whilst we are driving.

To facilitate the entry in the car, especially if it is fearful dogs, small in size or with joint problems, we can buy a special ramp, to be placed diagonally between the asphalt and the trunk.

These are the main methods used to transport animals by car. In any case, before using them, we must give our four-legged friends time to get used to these objects, which are so strange and difficult to understand for them.

If the dog or cat really does not want to get in the car, we can follow the advice proposed in this article.

How many cat owners are desperate about the damage caused by cats nails? Torn curtains, ruined sofas, broken mosquito nets are the order of the day in almost all the houses where a cat lives. Who says it has to be this way? Even cats can be educated not to get their nails done on furniture and sofas, thanks to some useful tips.

Why do cats get their nails done on couches?

The claws of the felines are indeed very sharp. Since they are predatory animals, in fact, they absolutely need their deadly weapons in order to hunt small preys. Therefore, they take advantage of all the rough surfaces they can find in the surroundings, to always keep their nails sharp. The bark of the trees, but also the rough asphalt will be excellent for them to do the job. Clearly, we are talking about a situation that occurs in nature, in cats that necessarily have to get food by themselves and therefore needs their nails.

In many other aspects, however, after years of domestic life, most cats might have retained some instinctive attitudes, such as sharpening their nails, despite the hunting which is limited to catching flies, insects, lizards or unfortunate sparrows.

Nevertheless, that's not the only reason why cats get their nails done. Many owners ignore it, but on their fingertips we can find small glands, which produce very important substances for all living things, but especially for animals, these are pheromones. As we explained in detail in the specific article, pheromones are the key to communication between individuals of the same or different species.

In simpler words, they are coded messages, which are "read" by other animals by smelling them. Another cat that passes by will see the scraped object, perceive the pheromones and perceive that "this is not my territory".

In addition, scratching objects also facilitates the growth of "new" nails, removing damaged or simply old ones. Cats nails, in fact, have a cone shape and grow from the inside out. This means that as the new nail is produced inside the cone, the oldest part will be pushed more and more outwards, until it separates, peeling off. That's why we often find very thin pieces of nail around the house.

Finally, according to some theories, cats would sharpen their nails to relax and to train the body, just as any other game. Have you ever noticed how much effort it takes when they start scratching? The shoulders and legs seem to be trying very hard, and indeed, they do

The scratching post, an ally of each owner

It is clear that the first, indispensable advice is to insert a scratching post in our house. These objects are a real life saviour for many owners, thanks to the robust ropes with which they are coated. However, our cat might not always appreciate the scratching post. Here are the most frequent reasons they tend to dislike it:

• It is not located in an interesting part of the house;
• It is too loose compared to the cat's weight;
• The rope has worn out excessively;
• Other cats also use it;
• We have never shown it to him in an interesting way.

What we need to pay attention to: 

• Position: the scratching post must never be placed in areas of the house that are inaccessible to the cat. On the contrary, especially in the first period, we can place it next to their favourite sofa or curtain, offering an interesting alternative to furniture. Furthermore, some cats may find the presence of other people or other animals unpleasant, so in these cases it would be useful to buy more than one, to be left in a quieter area of ​​the house, but always frequented by the cat. For example, we can put it next to the place where it sleeps, because he loves stretching as soon as he wakes up and might get his nails done then;

• Type of scratching post: On the market, you will find a variety of options, from light scratching posts in pressed cardboard to spectacular multi-storey castles. In reality, the choice depends above all on your cats preferences (he might be interested in the simplest scratching post). In any case, make sure to choose one that has the right strength compared to our cat's size. An 8 kg Norwegian will hardly be able to feel stimulated by a small rectangle of pressed cardboard, more suitable instead for small kittens;

• Maintenance: if the rope has now become a mass of tangled threads, it is not necessarily a down side for our cat. Showing the marks on the pole is the real pride for them. For this, we can replace or repair the scratching post only if we see that the cat no longer uses it. A low-cost solution? Get hot glue and cover the scratching post with a new, inexpensive piece of rope;

• Interest: if the cat ignores the scratching post, we must encourage him to use it. For example, we can buy an attractive spray made from catnip, ad spray it directly on the rough part. Alternatively, we can also simply play with him next to the scratching post, moving a small game or toy mouse on top of the ropes. Trying to catch the toy mouse, our cat's nails will inevitably get caught in the scratching post, forcing him to think "wow, I didn't know it worked that way".

What about curtains and couches?

Many owners contact the vet, begging him to remove his cat's nails to solve the problem of scratched furniture. This is not the solution, on the contrary, it would represent failure as owners.

Rather, what we can do is try to cut our cat's nails if they are too long, facilitating the task. We can do it alone, following our simple guide, or we can safely ask the vet to cut them.

The scratching post is an excellent solution, but many cats may still continue to get their nails done on the upholstery. In these cases, we can spray natural repellent essences, such as citrus ones in preferred locations around the house.

Even the noise can be exploited to our advantage, so we can place noisy paper or aluminium sheets to cover the back or the armrests of the sofa. As soon as he puts his paws on it, he will feel uncomfortable because of the noise and will move away. After that, we will proceed by showing him the scratching post as an alternative.

Finally, another solution may be the negative association with an annoying stimulus. Briefly, we fill a spray bottle with water and follow the cat. As soon as he rests his nails on the sofa, we spray water on him; this will hopefully make him stop.

It is important that the cat connects the spray with the gesture of getting his nails done were he shouldn’t. He must think that something annoying will happen if he does. Similarly, we can also make a loud noise, for example clapping our hands behind him.

What about our poor sofa? If the cat has already destroyed it, we will probably have to completely redo the wallpaper, at least in the most disastrous cases. Alternatively, we can choose to turn to some companies specialized in the production of totally scratch-resistant fabrics. By coating the parts of the sofa preferred by the cat with this type of upholstery, we can prevent its destruction. However, we must continue to educate our cat at home.

With these useful tricks, your cat will still be able to have sharp claws without destroying the house.