Summer Hazards – Part Two

 Last month we touched on some common summer hazards to avoid for your pets. We discussed the dangers of hot cars, snakes and spiders, and toxins. But wait, summertime has some other dangers to avoid.
1. Barbecue. There is nothing better in the summer than BBQ. Ribs, burgers, even roasted jalapenos on the grill – nothing is better! You may expect a curious dog to hang around the grill looking for a snack. I had one patient, however, who was more interested in licking the grease that dripped from the bottom. That grease dripped onto rocks under the grill. You can see where this is going. Dog ate the rocks. Dog needed surgery to remove rocks from the stomach.
2. Corncobs. My mom called the other day about a farm stand she found with fresh corn on the cob. She really enjoyed the corn and then wanted to give the corncobs to her dog. No! Corncobs are delicious for dogs, but they are not digestible and are notorious for causing intestinal obstruction. You can see where this is going. Dog ate corncob. Dog needs surgery to remove corncob from the intestines.
3. Bite wounds. We talked about snake bites and spider bites last month. The other bites we see more in the summer months are dog bites and cat bites. By this, I mean dogs biting other dogs and cats biting other cats. These can range from small puncture wounds to abscesses to deep lacerations. You can see where this is going. More surgery!
Okay, these are not the typical hazards you think about with pets and summer. But they are hazards that are out there. Remember that your veterinarian is always here for you with advice. We are ready to help, from simple diarrhea from that barbecue to surgeries.
Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center is located at 25832 Hemingway Avenue in Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-799-0655 and visit www.srvc.com.