It’s that time of year again. Extreme and dangerous heat is here. We have to hydrate, stay indoors during the hottest part of the day and limit activity. What about our pets? We’ve posted many tips on how to keep our pets safe during extreme heat. The ASPCA has put together a comprehensive list of ways to keep our pets safe during extreme Summer heat.

• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.
• Open un-screened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all un-screened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.
• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.
• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
• Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.
• Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.
• Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and even unused fireworks can contain hazardous materials. Many pets are also fearful of loud noises and can become lost, scared or disoriented, so it’s best to keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area of your home. Be prepared in the event that your pet does escape by downloading the ASPCA Mobile App. You’ll receive a personalized missing pet recovery kit, including step-by-step instructions on how to search for a lost animal in a variety of circumstances.

For other ways to help, download and share our hot weather safety infographic to alert others of the dangers your pets may face during the summer.

Remember, your pets count!

Turn on your favorite  music this holiday weekend! Oldies and fireworks go hand in hand! The best oldies are on EDGEWATER GOLD RADIO-–A variety from the 50 60s 70s 80s and great standards and songs that remind your of Summer. Download the free Edgewater Gold Radio App or listen from our website: edgewatergoldradio.com.

Your pets ability to digest pet food properly is a measure of how efficiently the nutrients in a given product are absorbed and used in your pets system. The ability for a pet to digest their food properly is the highest when a product contains high quality ingredients. That’s why we mentioned to always read the label carefully.  The product’s formulas must be carefully targeted to a particular type of pet. For instance, my older cat, Molly is a bit overweight so I make sure that I feed her mostly cat dry cat food especially made for indoor cats.  According to Veterinarian Steven Cohn, most quality diets are at least 85%  digestible or even higher. In cases where a special diet is used to manage a disease such as diabetes or to help a dog loose weight,  a well formulated dog food will contain added fiber. This may actually reduce the foods overall digestibility.  Even if this is the case, this product is still high in quality. We also mentioned in a previous posting that cat or  treats should not be used as a substitute for their actual meal. The contents in these treats can contain lots of fat and the ingredients may not be of the highest quality.

Remember, your pets count!

Oldies variety – lots of variety 50s 60s 70s 80s, standards! EDGEWATER GOLD RADIO —ALL DECADES of OLDIES ALL THE TIME! Turn us on and enjoy! Download the free Edgewater Gold Radio app or listen on our website: edgewatergoldradio.com. We’re also found on Tunein, Nobex and Live 365.

Our canine friends can develop thyroid disease the same as humans . Symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are different. Today we will focus on hypothyroidism. The Spruce Pet has put today a list of symptoms to look out for.

Canine hypothyroidism can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and the signs may be vague. Unfortunately, these symptoms can also indicate the presence of another disorder, so be sure to consult your vet if you notice any signs of illness.

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism include the following:

• Obesity/weight gain
• Hair loss on the body and tail (rat tail appearance)
• Dull, dry hair coat
• Skin issues, such as infection or flaking
• Otitis (ear infection)
• Lethargy and weakness
• Behavioral changes

Less common but potentially serious complications of hypothyroidism include vestibular dysfunction (vertigo) and other neurological disorders, heart problems, and various health issues associated with obesity.

One or more of the above symptoms may occur in hypothyroid dogs, but even dogs with no symptoms can have the disease. For this reason, your dog should visit the vet for a wellness exam and routine blood work at least once or twice a year.

Remember, your pets count!

If you’re at work, let the oldies flow–Edgewater Gold Radio is your oldies station that cover the 1950’s through the 1980’s. Check out the variety! Listen to Edgewater Gold Radio from our app, on iTunes and many other places including our website: edgewatergoldradio.com.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that affects many humans but it doesn’t only affect us. It can also affect our dogs.  It’s caused by a build up of fluid in the eye and is one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs.  Did you know that Glaucoma strikes about 1 out of every 200 dogs?  Some breeds are more at risk than others. They are Cocker Spaniels, Terriers,  Basset Hounds and Beagles.  The problem with this disease is that the symptoms are hard to spot.  As with humans, an early diagnosis is critical to preventing blindness.  Some signs that you may want to look for are cloudiness, redness or a glassiness in a dog’s eye.  Some other symptoms may include tearing, a sensitivity to light or a dilated pupil.  If you notice any of these problems with your dog, have him checked out by your veterinarian. The sooner the better.  There is pet medication that can help if the disease is diagnosed early on.

Remember, your pets count!

The best oldies variety! Edgewater Gold Radio. The greatest hits of the 50s 60s 70s 80s and great standards! You can download the free Edgewater Gold Radio app or listen from our website: edgewatergoldradio.com. When you get to work today, turn us on and enjoy all day!

We all enjoy music, why shouldn’t our pets. Certain types of music can provide a soothing experience for your pets. The positive effects of these soothing sounds are confirmed by both animal psychologists and pet owners. The sound of the harp can be exceptionally relaxing for your pets. There are several artists that provide these recordings for your pets. One is Aliana Boone. She says that the harp is considered to be one of the most healing instruments next to the human voice. Boone conducted a study of her own. In 2000, she performed for hospitalized canines at the Florida Veterinary clinic. The hour long performances immediately began to the dogs heart rate, anxiety and respiration.

If your dog or cat is stressed because of a particular situation or maybe, they are high strung by nature, try soothing harp music. If it doesn’t calm them down right away, it will certainly calm you.

This is also a good way to calm your dog down after some vigorous exercise. They will be all wound up after fetching their favorite dog toy, so calm them down with some relaxing music!

Remember, your pets count!

Keeping your greatest memories alive. EDGEWATER GOLD RADIO plays ALL of the music you grew up with. The 50s 60s 70s 80s and pop standards! The best variety of oldies anywhere! EDGEWATER GOLD RADIO. Download our free app or listen from our website Edgewatergoldradio.com.

It can be very frustrating, every time you or someone opens the dog, your dog darts out. This can be dangerous for your dog and very stressful to you. You find yourself blocking the door every time a visitor enters your home and you worry about the dog getting out if someone opens the door and doesn’t realize that your dog’s a “runner.” Here are some ways to reduce or stop this behavior.

Look for and reward natural sitting behavior. If you walk into a room and your dog sits, then your job is half done. Reward your dog when it sits, even if you don’t issue the command to sit. Give your dog a treat when it sits in front of you

Summertime is here!  You will be spending more time outdoors with your pets. Summer holidays are a great time for cook outs, pool parties, picnics.  Make sure that summer is enjoyable for both you and your pet, you should be aware of various summertime hazards that can result in injury or illness to your pet. Here are some tips to keep your pet safe during the summer.

Outdoor threats – Always keep your pet on a leash when you leave your yard.  If your dog meets another dog, a fight could result, injuring both you and your dog.  Protect your dog from insects. Flies are everywhere in summer. If your dog has a cut or scratch, files could lay their eggs in his wound. The eggs will hatch in the form of maggots which will infest your dog. Always keep him clean and wash any cuts out regularly.

Table scraps – Never give your pet any leftover food from the barbecue. He could choke on the bones and scraps can cause gastrointestinal upset which can result in vomiting and diarrhea. Pets are  not used to the high fat content of foods commonly associated with picnics and cook outs.

Heat Illness – Do not over exercise your dog in the heat or never leave him in a hot car or in the sun. Always provide a cool bowl of water when you’re outside with him. Heat stroke can kill your dog very quickly.

Fish Hooks – If you take your dog fishing with you, watch out for the hooks. Your dog may like the bait on the hook and swallow both the hook and line. Also watch out that he doesn’t step on any hooks.

Water – Never let your pet drink for stagnant pools of water. This can cause serious gastrointestinal problems.

Be safe and have a great summer with your pet!

Remember, your pets count!

It’s the weekend and turn on your favorite oldies. Your station for the best oldies is Edgewater Gold Radio—The greatest songs from the 50s 60 70s 80s plus standards and Summer songs. Check out our new classic disco show –Dance Fever 54–tonight at 7pm on Edgewater Gold Radio! Listen from our website: Edgewatergoldradio.com.

If you wonder about the lives of feral cats and feel that they are pests and should be removed, the article below prepared by feralfelines.net may change your mind. This is also how I feel about the treatment of feral ca

Feral cats are not socialized to people. Some have never had human contact; others are semi-tame cats who were once pets. Often, they live in loose associations known as “colonies,” are well adapted to their environment, and can live safely and contentedly in alleys, parking lots, vacant lots, backyards, and a host of other locations—urban, suburban, and rural.

Some people believe that feral cats lead short, miserable lives and that, for this reason, Trap/Neuter/Return programs should not be implemented. We disagree. Most any caregiver can attest that feral cats can lead long, healthy, happy lives.

And while feral and abandoned cats may face hardships, we don’t think death is better than a less-than-perfect life. Many animals, such as raccoons, foxes, and field mice face hardship and do not live extraordinarily long lives, yet we would never consider euthanizing them “for their own good.”

We believe that all animals deserve compassion and protection for their entire lives — no matter how long or short that might be.

If you’re aware of a feral cat colony, here are some guidelines for determining what their needs might be and for helping them.

Determining if a colony is being cared for. Veterinarians who spay or neuter cats from a feral colony usually snip off the tip of one ear (this is called “notching” or “tipping”). Unless you see clipped ears, you should assume the cats are not altered; and, certainly, if you see kittens in the colony, there are sure to be cats who need to be altered.

Spay/neuter is the single most important thing we can do to help feral cats and is the most humane and effective way to control their populations. Not only does spay/neuter prevent more kittens from being born, it also decreases behavior like spraying, fighting, howling, and roaming. In addition, it greatly improves the cats’ health.

Spay/neuter should take precedence over socializing and adopting. Even if you do not wish to feed and care for them, you should still have the cats altered and returned to their habitat.

For trapping instructions, see our “Humane Trapping” fact sheet.

Feeding the cats. Look for evidence that a colony is being cared for: food dishes, water bowls, or shelters. If no one seems to be feeding the cats, put food out once a day, preferably dry food. Leave it in as inconspicuous a place as possible: under shrubs, behind dumpsters, or near walls, where the cats can feed safely. Don’t forget fresh water!

Stick to a regular schedule if you can. Consistent feeding will make trapping easier.

Minimize the number of feeding stations. Fewer feeding stations means less work and less chance that the cats will be noticed. It also makes keeping an eye on the cats and monitor the colony for newcomers easier. Feed the cats in areas as secluded as possible, away from human activity.

Do not feed at night. Conflicts with nocturnal wildlife are one of the primary reasons neighbors complain about feral cat colonies, and daytime feeding reduces the chance of wild animals helping themselves to the cats’ food.

Keep feeding areas clean. Change the dishes when they get dirty, and pick up trash even if it isn’t yours. Don’t leave empty cans or large piles of food. Dry food is less messy than canned, and if you feed only dry food, canned food will be a more enticing treat, making trapping much easier.

Managing a Colony. Watch for new cats, and have them spayed or neutered right away.

Keep a low profile. “Out of sight, out of mind” is the motto of many feral cat caregivers. Be inconspicuous in your feeding and trapping activities. If someone notices what you’re doing and asks about it, explain that altering and feeding feral cats decreases their numbers quickly and humanely. Most people will be supportive.

Share responsibilities. Have friends, co-workers, family members, or other caregivers who will feed the cats one day a week or colony sit while you’re on vacation. Perhaps they can socialize a kitten or keep a cat for post-surgery recovery while you continue trapping. The more people who participate in caring for a colony, the better off the cats–and you–will be.

Resources

Local veterinarians: Ask if they can put you in touch with anyone else who is caring for ferals for advice and support. Do they have a humane trap you can borrow?

Humane societies: Do they offer free or low-cost spay/neuter? Or medical care if you find a sick or injured cat? They may have humane traps to borrow or a volunteer who can teach you how to trap.

Pet supply stores: Find out if they have humane traps to borrow, rent, or buy, or referrals to volunteers or local feral cat groups. Tell them what you are doing, and ask for cat food donations, or request permission to set up a donation bin where customers can deposit cat food they purchase at the store.

Remember to turn on the greatest oldies and listen to our online oldies here on Delmarva. Edgewater Gold Radio playing the largest variety of oldies from the 50s through the 80s and great pop standards! Download the free Edgewater Gold Radio app or listen from our website: edgewatergoldradio.com

Dogs and cats become very fearful of sudden loud noises and bangs. This could develop into a phobia triggered by the sound of fireworks.  Dogs will tremble and cats will stare fearfully or seek shelter in a closet or under a bed.  There are a number of things that could be done to ease the situation.

1. Keep your animals safe and keep them indoors. Cats should be locked inside and you should walk your dog and give him some exercise before the fireworks start. You should have your pets micro chipped so if they do try to escape, they could be scanned and brought back to you.
2. Close all doors to keep the noises out. Close the curtains to help muffle the sounds and keep the light out.
3. Try and stay with your pet and keep as relaxed as possible. Do not yell at your pet for barking or showing signs of stress. You will certainly add to the problem if you do! Don’t make a fuss over your pet. Dogs and cats are very intuitive, they will sense that something is wrong.
4. Try to provide a hide away place like a den.  It should have lots of soft bedding and blankets for your dog and a nice comfortable cat bed for your cat. Blankets can help absorb the sound. Cats like to get up high and be out of the way. My cat climbs on top of the refrigerator.  If possible try to leave them in a hiding place. They are best left there if this is what they choose, but try to remain quietly nearby if you can. Being there and being relaxed is a great help.

You may miss the fireworks but think of the great thing you did by keeping your pet safe and calming his nerves!

Remember, your pets count!

The best oldies are playing right now on Edgewater Gold Radio! Delmarva’s live and local radio station from Rehoboth Beach, De. Edgewater Gold Radio plays a very unique blend of oldies from the 50s 60s 70s 80s plus great pop standards! Download the free Edgewater Gold Radio app, listen on Tunein or from our website: Edgewatergoldradio.com.

My cat Molly who passed away in February left me with an emptiness that I continue to feel everyday. When I picked her up from under a car on a foggy, rainy October night 19 years ago, a very strong bond between us was established. She knew my every move and emotion. She was also very present meaning that wherever I was, she would be there with me. I miss her sitting with me on my lap every evening while reading or watching TV. I also miss her snuggling next to me when I turned in for the evening. I miss her licks and purrs. Although she was indifferent toward other people and downright did not like our other cat Millie, she was very special to me and that was fine.

Our Millie is also very special to us although she has a different personality than Millie. She is much more independent and likes to be alone. She is not a lap cat and doesn’t like to snuggle or sit with us while we watch TV or relax. She is a lovable little girl who lets us know what she wants. When she wants her snacks, she will sit by her bowl and meow. She also does this when she wants to be pet, brushed or if something that she’s used to is changed. Saturday, I washed the bed sheets. Millie doesn’t like this so she meows telling me that she wants the bed made up immediately. Millie is our sweet lovable cat but her personality is much different than Molly’s. Like people, every cat has it’s own unique personality. We should appreciate the way they show their love even if yours may be a bit independent like our Millie.

Remember your pets count!

When you get to work today, turn on your great oldies station. Edgewater Gold Radio playing the best variety of the 50s 60s 70s 80s and great pop standards. Edgewater Gold Radio is your station at the Delaware beaches playing great Summer tunes and providing useful information on events occurring here in the Rehoboth Beach, De. area. Download the free Edgewater Gold Radio app from your play store.