The days are getting longer, the temperatures are warming up, and summertime weather is finally here! Summer is full of endless possibilities when it comes to fun with our beloved furry friends and makes for some amazing family moments to remember all winter long. We are here to help keep their summer safe and healthy so the whole family can get out and enjoy all the season has to offer. All that sunshine and warm weather does bring with it some hazards to consider for our pets. We’ve put together a list of some of summer’s most common threats to your pet’s health, as well as some tips and tricks to help keep you aware and informed on when to seek our care. But if you ever have any questions or concerns, please just give our office a call! Over the next couple of month our blog will host several summer hazards, tips, tricks, and insights for a healthy happy summer to remember. We’re going to begin with everyone’s hot topic this summer: Cicadas.
We know you’ve already seen the cicadas start to emerge, and we bet your dog has probably tried a taste or two. While the cicadas do not bite or sting, nor are they poisonous, eating too many will cause your pet an upset stomach including diarrhea and vomiting. If your dog is anything like those in my life, they’re not great at pushing the dinner plate away. As best as you can, please limit the amount of cicadas they eat and keep them leashed, away from big trees whenever possible. Fun fact and speaking globally, even some humans enjoy the taste of Cicadas. It’s true, they are often enjoyed deep-fried or even pickled. We won’t be doing either at our house, but we’re not terribly adventurous.
The life cycle of cicadas is quite interesting. Did you know that cicadas live underground for years feeding on the water produced by tree roots and plant life? Also, there is a method behind their madness. Their sole purpose is to mate to keep the next generation going. So the mass quantities of cicada emergence is due to the appetite of surrounding wildlife. The wide opinion is that wildlife cannot possibly ingest all that the cicadas bring to the table, so once they get their fill, those cicadas who are left go about the busy work of securing the next generation and essentially surviving because of sheer numbers.
The song of the cicada can be deafening and boy do these fellas know how to flirt. Male cicadas are very loud singers because they are wooing their potential mates with a serenade. Evidently the female cicada and I do not share the same enthusiasm for those particular songs. Also, just in case anyone is curious, the loud buzzing won’t harm any pet’s hearing. So as we enter summer with our cicada friends, please understand that they are merely a nuisance and nothing to fear where pet safety is concerned. So long as we’re being diligent in monitoring our pet’s behaviors and habits, they should be fine through the invasion.
Look out for our future summer blog posts. We’re talking about parasites and pests, wildlife, social situations, anxieties and triggers, foods, and fun ideas for making memories.
Cheers to a fantastic summer!
Your friends at Christensen
