Petsheath.com provides these tips to protect your pets during summer heat.

• Inside vehicle temperatures can climb to more than 120 degrees in just a few minutes, even on a mild sunny day. It’s best to leave your pet at home while running errands during hot weather.
• If your pet is panting, has a staring or anxious expression, does not obey commands, has warm, dry skin and a high fever, rapid heartbeat, or is vomiting, lower the body temperature quickly, with cool water either by immersion or by spraying thoroughly with a garden hose and your call your vet.
• Outdoor kennels should be well ventilated and in a shaded area. There should always be some shade for the pet to get out of the sun. Also, make sure there is plenty of fresh drinking water available to your pet. The bowl should be placed in a shaded area where it cannot be heated by the sun.
• Exercise is important, but overexertion during hot weather commonly causes heat stress

Certain breeds more prone to Cushing’s Syndrome.
Cushing’s Syndrome is a disease affecting dogs when an overactive adrenal system produces too much cortisone. Cortisone is an essential hormone, but it causes serious illness when produced in excessive amounts.
Canine Cushing’s Syndrome usually occurs in pets age 9 and older. It is a little more common in females than males and is especially prevalent in poodles, dachshunds, miniature schnauzers and German shepherds. Boxers and Boston terriers are also more commonly affected.
About 80 to 85 percent of Cushing’s Syndrome in dogs is caused by a small tumor in the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. The tumor produces a chemical that causes the adrenal glands to enlarge and produce too much cortisone. Other canines with Cushing’s Syndrome have a tumor of the adrenal glands, small organs located near the kidneys.
Occasionally a dog is diagnosed with Cushing’s disease due to the long-term administration of steroids given to treat other diseases.
Because the disease has a gradual onset, some owners mistakenly believe the symptoms are part of the aging process. Changes to watch for include increased water consumption, increased urination, increased appetite, a pot-bellied appearance and loss of hair on the trunk of the body.
Other symptoms include chronic skin or urinary tract infections, excessive panting, lethargy, muscle weakness and calcium deposits in the skin.
If your dog has been displaying these symptoms, a full work up with a veterinarian is recommended. Diagnostic tools include measuring blood pressure, X-rays of the chest and abdomen, urine and blood tests. The vet may also want to use more advanced diagnostic measures like ultrasound or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to help evaluate adrenal gland enlargement.
Depending on the type of Cushing’s disease your dog has, the treatment will probably involve medication to block the excess hormone or treat the tumor. In some cases, surgery may be recommended.
Other diseases that produced symptoms similar to Cushing’s disease include diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney and liver disease. It’s important to take your older dog to the vet on a more frequent basis so that regular blood tests can catch problems in their early stages.

Does your cat need help with hairballs?
As any cat owner knows, hairballs are a common but not particularly appealing part of loving a feline. Long-haired cats are especially prone to hair or fur balls that develop when cats swallow hair as they groom themselves. The hair forms into a mat and can even cause problems by blocking the path of food into the stomach. Further into the gastrointestinal tract, hairballs can cause constipation.
Cats commonly vomit the hairball out, sometimes with other food or liquid. They may make a dry hacking noise, sounding like something is stuck in the back of the throat.
How can you help reduce your cat’s experience with hairballs?

• Frequent grooming. The more you groom your feline, the less hair the cat will ingest.

• Feed your cat one of the commonly used petroleum-based hairball products that act as a laxative to help your cat pass a hairball.

• Give your cat special treats manufactured to help with hairballs. These treats generally contain mineral oil that help break up the mats of hair.

• Ask your veterinarian for recommendations such as pet food that is designed for felines with recurrent hairball problems.

Bred for problems?
The British Kennel Club has announced plans to review breed standards for bulldogs due to some of the respiratory problems the dogs’ suffer. Bulldogs and other breeds with similarly short faces, like pugs, can have trouble getting enough air into their lungs due to the shape of their respiratory tracts.
The dogs often suffer from noisy breathing, snoring and restricted mobility. During very hot weather, swelling in the dogs’ throat, nose or larynx can restrict air even more.
A recent documentary televised on the BBC explored some of the illnesses the breed is prone to, and the British network announced it would no longer televise a premiere dog show where dogs are judged against the traditional breed standards.
The documentary also noted that bulldog puppies frequently must be delivered by Cesarean section due to the breed’s narrow hips and large heads.
The bulldog is not the only dog whose breeding standards are currently under review in Britain. The BKC is reviewing breed standards for 78 breeds to make sure the dogs are being bred to promote good health, good temperament and fitness for “their original function.”

New Web site offers help to pet owners

By Brian Feldt
The idea was simple: create a consumer-driven Web site that would encompass any and all pet health needs while offering new and fresh feature stories for pet lovers.
The result was unexpected: a
consumer-driven Web site that simultaneously benefited veterinarians creating a mixed-target audience that for the first time included pets, their owners and their doctors.
“It really is a great site,” said Hope Schultz, co-founder, president and chief operating officer of WebVet, a new WebMD-esque pet health Internet craze.
“If people use the site properly, it really can and does benefit the veterinarians and their business. I mean we created the site with consumers in mind but the residual effects have had a great impact on the veterinarians.”
WebVet (webvet.com) launched
Aug. 4, 2008, has taken a life of its own since arriving on the Internet scene.
Schultz, a self-described pet lover with a business sense about her, said the concept is pretty basic. In the age of Google searching, consumers were being redirected to as many as six or seven different pet health sites in order to find answers to their specific questions. Schultz simply made a site that had all the questions a pet lover would need and put them in one all-encompassing site.
WebVet does not diagnose or suggest treatment for pets or their owners. Instead, it provides adequate information to understand the issue at hand. Schultz said she made sure the site consistently refers to a pet’s veterinarian for all medical decisions.
Sometimes the vet’s office is closed when a pet needs help. In those instances, instead of immediately turning to the Internet, Chris France, a veterinarian at the Pea Ridge Veterinary Clinic, recommended calling a clinic that takes after-hour phone calls such as the Animal Emergency Clinic of Northwest Arkansas in Springdale.
“I always think consult with a veterinarian first and then if you have to fall back on something, you can fall back on the Internet,” France said.
WebVet is the first site to offer a “whole pet” platform that identifies the physical and mental health of dogs, cats, birds and small pets.
Schultz said features such as a virtual lost-and found-feature or a nationwide database of dog-walkers and pet-sitters are on the horizon.
Another feature expected to hit the site soon is a “Manage My Pet” section that allows pet owners to detail their pets health history to a great extent.

The Morning News’ correspondent Antoinette Grajeda contributed to this report.

Sugar substitute toxic to canines
The sugar substitute Xylitol has some not so sweet effects on dogs. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol found in many products including some sugar-free candies, baked goods and gum, is poisonous to dogs and can even be fatal.
When dogs ingest products containing Xylitol, it affects their glucose levels. Dogs experience a sharp drop in blood sugar and may rapidly show signs of weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, collapse and seizures. The symptoms can show up in as little as 30 minutes and cause brain damage and even death. Dogs should be taken for emergency veterinarian care immediately.
Dog owners who live more than an hour away from a veterinarian or emergency clinic can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435. The ASPCA recommends keeping an emergency first-aid kit on hand for your pet that includes a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide (3 percent) and a turkey baster or bulb syringe (to administer the peroxide) to induce vomiting. In a small dog, as little as two or three pieces of sugar-free gum sweetened with Xylitol can be fatal. Xylitol is also thought to cause severe liver damage in dogs.
Northwest Arkansas pet owners needing emergency assistance can call the Animal
Emergency Clinic of Northwest Arkansas at (479) 927-0007. The office is located at 777 Mathias Drive, Suite B, in Springdale.

Older dogs can develop Cushing’s Disease
Older pets, especially dogs, can fall victim to Cushing’s Disease. The condition occurs when the adrenal glands secrete an excessive amount of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is released in times of illness, stress, pain and injury to help the body cope. Too much cortisol can cause many problems. Signs of the disease include a large increase in water consumption and urination, caused by damage to the kidneys. Your pet may also become extremely hungry as excess cortisol can also affect the brain’s appetite centers. Excessive cortisol can cause muscle wasting and a change in distribution of body fat, causing a dog to appear pot-bellied. Hair loss, thin or fragile skin and increased skin infections are also signs. The disease can also lead to high blood pressure, heart failure, pancreatitis, diabetes and blood-clotting problems. Veterinary care is very important as the disease is generally fatal if left untreated.