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18 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 5, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Pets often best left at home during summer S ummertime is filled with great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Barbecues, baseball games, picnics and festivals are all part of the fun. But outdoor activities are not for all family members. Pet owners are reminded that for some summer events, it's best to leave your animals at home. "On July 1 we had 15 dogs and a number of cats come to the shelter because of poor reactions to the fireworks," said Heather White, Community Outreach and Education Manager at the Oakville and District Humane Society. "It's wonderful that people want to include their pet in their summer fun, but what may be a fun people activity can be stressful, and in some cases dangerous, for your pets." Fireworks can send animals into a panic. If left in your backyard an animal may try to escape the sound. Once out of your yard, your pet could easily lose track of how to get home and be placed in danger of traffic. If you take your pet with you, noisy crowds and music, and even the sound of a balloon popping, can create the same fear response in your pet. The animal's natural reaction is to bolt from the sound. A loose, frightened animal can pose a potential danger to the public and itself. In a panicked state, animals that are frightened protect themselves. Although well-intentioned, someone trying to help a lost and frightened animal may end up bitten or scratched. To avoid these noise-related hazards, keep your pet at home. Festivals are also filled with excitement for people, but are less than ideal for pets. Heat, crowds and food can all create hidden dangers for your pet. "Summer heat can take its toll on animals," said White. "Pavements heat up fast and crowds restrict the air flow necessary to keep your dog cool. Leaving your pet in your car is not a good solution. At the Humane choose to go for their daily walk when it's hot, modify your travel distance while out at events. If it's a pet-friendly event (i.e. those where canine friends are welcome), make sure your pet enjoys the company of other animals and people. Dog fights and bites are great spoilers of summer fun. People that don't pick up after their pets can also take away from the enjoyment of others. Identification becomes critical when you take your animal to petfriendly events. Dogs should wear their annual Oakville licence tag and remain on leash when out publicly. Should you become separated from each other your dog's licence tag will provide valuable information that will help reconnect you with your pet. "Crowds can not only separate us from our pets," said White. "They can also draw attention to us and scare our animals." Puppies can easily become frightened when confronting many new sights, sounds and smells. People, often the young, are naturally drawn to puppies. Use caution when choosing large, crowded events as an opportunity to socialize your young pet. Last, but not least, on your foodmotivated dog's list of favourite summer event benefits is the buffet of new tastes available. Food is in abundance at most summer events. However, dogs have sensitive stomachs that are easily upset by a change in diet. Picking up discarded food, and being tempted by small children walking around with food in hand, are all too irresistible for most dogs. Children can end up with a lost snack and a big scare from a dog that snatches their treat. Dogs can end up with diarrhea and vomiting, which becomes your problem as their owner. Before you head out to a summer event, make sure it's pet friendly. If it is not an event designed for your four legged family member, he might just enjoy staying home. Enjoying the summer with your pets can be great fun when you don't place your animal in unnecessary danger. For more information, contact the Oakville and District Humane Society at 905-845-1551. The shelter is located at 445 Cornwall Rd. SWEET: Kale is a sweetheart ... he even comes when called. For more information on the animals available visit www.oakvillehumane.ca. Society we see all too often the life threatening outcomes of heat exhaustion because of animals left in cars." Make sure you take water with you for your animal. Take breaks, particularly with older pets, and seek out shade to cool everyone down. Pets are likely to have more problems walking long distances in weather extremes, so just as many people modify the time of day they Complete Family Eye Care 905-257-2230 360 Dundas St. E. (at Trafalgar - in the Longo's Plaza and next to the CAA) Hopedale Shopping Centre Suite 220, 2nd Floor Dr. Rosenblat D.D.S. Dr. Trent Ujimoto www.visionhealthcentre.ca 905-827-0301 UV Protection for Your Eyes School is out and summer is in full swing! Enjoying your time outside this summer means you'll be thinking about protecting your skin. But don't forget about your eyes! Q: A: Left to Right: Dr's. Bair, Pham and Arya. What should I do if my child has a tooth knocked out playing sports this summer? Q: How can ultraviolet (UV) radiation harm my eyes? A: UV radiation can harm your eyes and affect your vision as well. Overexposure can lead to cataracts, retinal damage, pterygiae and pingueculae (growths on the eye's surface), cancerous skin growths, and photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye). It can contribute to dry eye problems as well. The effects of UV radiation are cumulative, so it's important to protect yourself in your everyday activities. Don't forget about UV protection for your children as they can spend more time in the sun than adults. Q: I'm healthy and have no symptoms, do I need a colonoscopy? A: Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, and will affect 1 in 17 Canadians. The good news is colon cancer is preventable. Colonoscopy is the best test for detection and prevention of colon cancer. Starting at age 50, men and women who are of average risk should begin colon screening. An individual's risk increases with age, and those with a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer are also at increased risk. The goal of a screening colonoscopy is to find polyps (grape-like growths on the lining of the colon) at an early stage and to remove them. Approximately 50% of polyps can become cancerous. Polyps are common; at age 50, approximately 30% of Canadians will have polyps. The test itself takes only 20-30 minutes, and with sedation is comfortable. Q: How can I protect my eyes from UV radiation? A: You can protect your eyes by wearing a hat with a wide brim or a baseball cap and a pair of good quality sunglasses. These simple items will protect your eyes whenever you are outdoors, whether it's taking a walk, running errands or relaxing in the sun. Wrap-around frames can provide excellent protection from harmful UV radiation. Regular eye examinations with your optometrist will ensure your eye health and vision. Call or stop by our office to learn about the latest advances in UV protection. Before heading out into the sun this summer, take the time to protect and enhance your healthy sight for life! Firstly, if they are playing any sports that you think may result in injury, an athletic mouth guard is a must! 15% of childhood dental emergencies are knocked out teeth. If a tooth does get knocked out, you must immediately contact your dentist. Find the tooth, rinse it (do not scrub any dirt off) and place in in the mouth between the cheek and teeth to keep it moist until you see your dentist. If you connot store it in the mouth or if you are worried your child may swallow the tooth, wrap it in clean gauze or a cloth and put it in milk. For there to be a chance of re-implanting the tooth in the socket successfully, you must see your dentist within 30 minutes. When a tooth is re-implanted, the dentist within 30 minutes. When a tooth is re-implanted, the dentist will then bond it to adjacent teeth to stabilize it. A root canal may be required at a later time. If the tooth is just pushed out of place-inward or outward, you may try to gently push the tooth back into place, but the dentist of course may be the best one to do this too. If you do reposition the tooth, hold it in place with a moist gauze or tissue and see the dentist within 30 minutes. How long a re-implanted tooth lasts depends on its condition and how long it took to put back, but even a short time can make a worthwhile difference. Have a safe, healthy summer! Great things start with a warm healthy smile. the dentist@dentistry4.com www.dentistry4.com