The last Friday of May is dedicated to National Heat Awareness Day, which spotlights heat-induced medical emergencies in humans and pets. Recognized on May 26 this year, we’re taking this opportunity to educate pet owners about the risks and signs associated with excessive heat, and preventative measures to ensure every pet can avoid potentially fatal heat exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke. As we transition from cool months to hot summer days, it’s critical to know the warning signs to avoid an unnecessary trip to the emergency veterinarian.

If you were to meet Howie with his cute bow tie and his wagging tail, you would never know that one fateful day last spring his mother thought he was on death’s doorstep. When Howie arrived at my clinic he was painful to the touch, had a high fever, had no appetite, and was very lethargic. He had no desire to walk around and we could barely touch him without him yelping in pain. After carefully examining him, my top two differentials were a back issue or Lyme disease.

As veterinarians, one of the most common concerns we hear from animal owners is how to protect their furry friends from fleas and ticks. These parasites not only cause discomfort and itching, but they can also transmit diseases and infest your home. Without proper treatment, they can make your four-legged family members (and other members of your family) downright miserable.

Every pet owner wants to bring along their four-legged family member when they set out for a fun adventure, including camping. However, camping excursions must be carefully planned, from understanding campground rules to ensuring your pet is safe in an unfamiliar outdoor environment. June is National Camping Month—the perfect time to safely explore how to take your pet along for a multi-day camping trip.

Despite what you may think, yeast infections, NOT ear mites, are the primary cause of ear infections in dogs. Dogs love to get yeast infections in their ears. Most veterinarians can likely count the number of dogs with ear mites they’ve seen during their practice career on two hands.

National Heat Awareness Day is recognized every year on the last Friday of May and was initially added to the calendar to encourage employers to be aware of heat-related dangers in the workplace, especially for manual labor and outdoor-focused careers. Falling on May 27 this year, National Heat Awareness Day also reminds pet owners of the risks of hot summer days for their furry family members. We’re offering hot weather safety tips to ensure your pets remain healthy through the “dog days” of summer in honor of this important day.

Dogs and cats are curious by nature, often investigating every corner of the yard, sniffing everything along their path, licking things of interest, and playing with fellow neighborhood pets. These natural tendencies mean they innocently expose themselves to potentially harmful elements, including parasites.

National Pet Poison Prevention Week takes place this year from March 21st through March 27th. Aimed at educating pet parents about some of the most common things that are poisonous to pets, this week is a fantastic opportunity to brush up on your knowledge and keep your furry family member safe.