Some interesting claims statistics released by Veterinary Pet Insurance revealed the summer months are the most hazardous for dogs.

The fact that people and their pets are spending more time outdoors during these months, high temperatures, insect infestations, abundance of plant growth, all add to increased ailments suffered by dogs.

According to 2005 claims data...

	Feb	Jun	Jul	Aug
Foreign Body - Any	20	25	85	83
Foreign Body - Eye	7	35	30	21
Foreign Body - Nasal	10	81	43	25
Foreign Body - Oral	13	27	22	19
Foreign Body - Foot	12	76	87	62
Burn	6	16	11	11
Insect Bites/Sting	68	207	256	311
Near Drowning	1	3	1	4
Heat Stroke	4	36	50	31
Ear Infections	3,629	4,285	4,578	4,756

Dr. Carol McConnell, manager of veterinary education and services for VPI, provides some explanation of the injuries...

• Foreign Bodies: Foxtails, a type of grass with sharp points throughout the grass awn, are common in dry summer months. The sharp points force the grass awn to move forward (not backward), allowing the foxtail to imbed in the pet's paw, ears, eyes, or nose. As a penetrating foreign body, the foxtail inevitably causes an infection. See our article, "Protect Your Dog From Cheatgrass and Foxtails".



• Stings/Bites: Insects and spiders of all shapes and sizes come out of their hiding places in the summer months. Mosquitoes congregate near pools of water. Rid your yard of even the shallowest pools of water (including the toddler's pool) so mosquitoes don't breed. Additionally, pet owners should keep their pets away from bees, wasps and woodpiles that may harbor spiders.



• Hyperthermia: To prevent heat stroke during the summer, keep pets indoors as much as possible during the warmest hours of the day (usually 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Never leave your pet in the car unattended.



• Burns: Hot sidewalks can be painful for pets, and may account for the rise in claims for burns. In addition to burns on the pet's paws, sunburns are more common in the summer months, especially on body areas not protected by fur or dark skin. Pet owners should keep their pet indoors as much as possible during the times of day when the sun is at its peak.



• Otitis Externa: Ear infections are frequently caused by water getting trapped in a dog's ear after swimming or bathing. If your pet is prone to water activities in the summer, speak to your veterinarian regarding specific ear cleaning products that will help dry the ear canal after water exposure to prevent recurring ear infections.



• Near Drownings: Although relatively rare, cases of near drownings do increase in summer months. If this happens, be sure to keep the pet warm, and dry thoroughly with towels. Then, take the pet to the veterinarian immediately. Consider installing a Skamper Ramp in your swimming pool to help dogs that accidentally fall in.