Last updated 7/10

Announcing New Hours!
Beginning this July, we will be extending our business hours for our clients convenience, until 7:00 pm (previously 6:00  pm).  Hospital hours will now be Monday – Thursday from 7:30 am until 7:00 pm. Fridays from 7:30 until 5:30 pm.  For an appointment, please call us at (321) 727-2421.  Appointment requests can also be requested though our website on the “Appointments” link, or through your Pet Portal.

Summer Precautions for Pets
Summer is a time for both you and your pet to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, but along with the fun, the season also offers up situations that can endanger your pet. By taking precautions, you can decrease the chance that disaster will happen. Here are some tips for pet owners to keep their furry friends safe this summer:

• Don't leave pets in parked cars for any period of time. Every summer, animals left in parked cars suffer brain damage and die from heatstroke. On a warm day, even with the windows cracked, the temperature in a car can reach 120° in a matter of minutes. Dogs and cats can't perspire and can only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. If you see an animal in a parked car during the summer, alert the management of the shopping mall or grocery store. If the owner does not return promptly, call local animal control or the police.
• It is very dangerous, and in some states illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Not only can flying debris cause serious injury, but a dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.
• Summer is often a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. But beware: Plant food, fertilizer, and insecticides can be fatal if your pet ingests them. In addition, more than 700 plants can produce physiologically active or toxic substances in sufficient amounts to cause harmful effects in animals.
• With people and dogs spending more time outside, dog bites are likely to increase in the summer months. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite and provides many other health benefits.
• Make sure your pet is always wearing a collar and identification tag. If you are separated from your pet, an ID tag may very well be his or her ticket home.
• Pets should be taking heartworm prevention medication. Heartworm disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can be fatal in both dogs and cats.
• Pets and pools can equal disaster. Prevent free access to pools and always supervise a pet in a pool.
• Provide plenty of water and shade for your pets while they're enjoying the great outdoors so they can stay cool.
• If you plan on traveling with your pet during the summer, take the time to prepare for your furry friends in advance. Many airlines have summer pet embargoes, and most trains and ships do not allow pets other than service animals.
• Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and those with thick coats. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws.
• Another summertime threat is fleas and ticks. Use only flea and tick treatments recommended by your veterinarian. Some over-the-counter flea and tick products can be toxic, even when used according to instructions.
• Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. Pets with light-colored noses or light-colored fur on their ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer.
• Don't take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and dangerous for pets. For your pet's well being, leave her at home. Be especially aware of these threats during holidays, such as the Fourth of July.

Fourth of July Safety for Pets
For most of us who walk on two legs, Fourth of July fireworks represent a celebration of being American.  But for our four-legged friends are not generally such big fireworks fans.  The sights and sounds associated with the Fourth of July can be terrifying to animals.

• Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
• Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you're attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
• If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
• Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.
• Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

Emergency and Estate Planning for Pets
For many people, particularly the elderly, a pet is an important and comforting part of life, and the care and wellbeing of that pet is a primary concern.
With this in mind, there are three situations in which a pet owner should plan for the care of the pet:

• On the death of the pet owner, provisions are necessary in the pet owner’s will to provide effectively for the comfort and care of the pet
• On the death of a pet owner, advance arrangements should be made to protect the pet, during the period between the owner’s death and the admission of will to probate.  Too often this period is not considered.  Although a will can make provisions for the care of the pet, plans must be made to ensure care for the pet during this interim period.
• Upon the incapacity or hospitalization of the pet owner, advance arrangements should be made to ensure care of the pet while the pet owner is away.

A pet owner should find a friend or relative willing to take his/her animal and provide it with a good home on the death of  the pet owner.  The matter should be discussed in advance with the potential caretaker to make sure the animal will be cared for appropriately.  The person who will receive an animal of the bequest in a will should understand that he or she becomes the animal’s owner and, as such, has all the rights and responsibilities of ownership.  It is important that designated guardians or caretakers know the pet’s habits, the pet’s personality, and the pet’s veterinarian and any relevant medical history.
It is also recommended that all pet owners carry this in their wallet regarding emergency care for their pet:
In any situation in which I am unable to return home to feed my pets, such as hospitalization or death, please immediately call [name of caretaker] at [address and phone], to arrange for the feeding and my [cats/dogs/etc] located in my home at [address].  My executor/personal representative [name, address and phone], and my neighbor [name, address and phone] have a copy of this document.
Unfortunately, many animals are taken to Humane Societies because their owners did not plan ahead.  Responsibility for our pets is an integral part of estate planning.

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