Tehachapi News

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The “dog days of summer” are upon us, and I'd sure hate to be a dog out in the heat right now. Pay particular attention to your pets during these stifling hot days as dogs and cats can suffer from heat stroke just as easily as humans. Be sure they are able to get into the shade and have water available for them at all times…better yet, bring them indoors with you if possible.
Signs of heat exhaustion for both cats and dogs are similar and include heavy panting, hyperventilation (deep breathing), increased salivation early then dry gums as the heat prostration progresses, weakness, confusion or inattention, vomiting or diarrhea and sometimes bleeding.
As the condition progresses towards heat prostration or heat stroke there may be obvious paleness or graying to the gums, shallow breathing efforts and eventually slowed or absent breathing efforts, vomiting and diarrhea that may be bloody and finally seizures or coma. Pay attention for these physical signs and seek immediate medical attention if your dog's or cat's heat signs go much beyond the heavy panting. 
Be aware that animals with the “pug” noses are more sensitive; or if they are a very old/young dog or cat also the overweight dog/cat have more problems with the heat.  If you are uncomfortable, so are they.
I'm sounding like a broken record here, but the litter in the Tehachapi area has really swelled. I don't mean trash either. There is a big surge of kittens being dumped; out car windows, left in boxes by dumpsters, in parking lots, in mail boxes etc. 
When they are left like this, we are not talking “feral” cats! These are from cats that are companion animals to the people who are dumping them. Please! Have your cats spayed or neutered before the kittens start arriving. If you wait, it's too late! Call 823-0699 menu #1, for vouchers to help in the cost of spaying/neutering your cat or dog before you contribute to this problem.