Furrever Friends Rescue and Volunteers, Inc.

The Associated Humane Societies, which serve the norther New Jersey and greater New York City areas, are collecting food donations to help pet owners, animal shelters and rescue groups who have been impacted by Superstorm Sandy.   If you are in this vicinity of Essex, Monmouth and Ocean counties and can donate food and other supplies, visit the AHS website for shelter locations and other information.

This previous post has additional information on how pet owners can prepare for disasters, and how to help those impacted.

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If you or someone you know has lost a pet in the aftermath of Sandy, the following resources are available to help:

• The Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets community page on Facebook
• Twitter posts with the #sandypets hashtag
• The Lost Petz app for iPhones (an Android version is under development)

If you find a lost pet in the affected area, take it to a local veterinarian to have it scanned for a microchip, which can aid in locating the owner.  If the animal has a rabies tag, contact the issuing veterinarian, who will have the owner on file.  If at all possible, keep the pet until the owner can be located, as most shelters in the area are filled to capacity.  You can also use the resources listed above.

Across the US, temperatures are soaring into the 90s and higher, and many regions are seeing record highs.  Pets — especially dogs and cats — can overheat easily, largely because they don’t perspire like people.

To keep your pets cool during heat waves, follow these tips:

• Follow your local weather forecasts so you will know when hot weather is expected in your area, and plan accordingly.
• Make sure your pets have access to plenty of cool, fresh water.  Don’t allow water to sit outside in the sun, as it can get hot quickly… and drinking hot water is bad for animals.  You can also give your pets  ice.
• Keep your pets indoors as much as possible.  Walk your dog(s) early in the morning or later in the evening, when temperatures are lower.  Be aware of hot surfaces, which can burn animals’ paws.
• Prevent your pets from over-exercising or overexerting themselves.
• Provide your pets with access to cool parts of your home, such as the basement or air-conditioned rooms (if you don’t have central air).
• Some dogs enjoy splashing around in “kiddie” swimming pools, which can be purchased at toy stores and even at some pet stores.
• Purchase hammock-style or “cooling” beds for your pets that can keep them cool when sleeping.
• Even if your pet is outside for brief periods, provide a shaded area if one doesn’t exist, and make sure it stays consistently shady throughout the day.
• Never, ever leave a pet alone in a closed vehicle! On a summer day, a vehicle with the AC off and the windows up can reach deadly temperatures in as little as 15 minutes.  To learn more about the dangers of leaving animals in hot cars, visit MyDogIsCool.com
• If you are away from home for more than a few hours, ask a friend or hire a pet-sitter to check up on your pets once or twice during the day (obviously, this is essential if you plan to be away for overnight or longer).
• It’s always good to check in on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors in the hot weather, but be especially mindful of seniors who have pets.  If an elderly pet owner needs help, make sure that their pets are kept cool and watered.
• Dogs and cats with long, thick fur should be groomed to remove excess fur that can make them hot.  At home, you can use de-shedding tools such as the Furminator to comb away excess fur.
• Be alert to any changes in your pet’s behavior, which could indicate heatstroke. Symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting and lethargy.  If your dog or cat has been exposed to the heat and appears to be behaving strangely, contact your veterinarian immediately.  In the meantime, you can bathe your pet in cool water to help lower its body temperature.  Give overheated animals small amounts of water, as drinking too much at once can make them sick.
• If your pet has a chronic health condition, is pregnant or is on medication, consult your vet on how to care for it during hot weather.
• If you see an animal that appears to be in suffering from neglect in the heat, contact your local animal control or police.  In New Jersey, you can report animal abuse and neglect by calling the NJ SPCA at (800) 582-5979.

The ASPCA also recommends taking your pets for a vet checkup that includes a heartworm test.  Your vet can also recommend a flea and tick prevention regimen if necessary.

For more information, see the ASPCA’s Hot Weather Tips.  Also, those who care for feral cats can read this article to learn about special needs of feral colonies during the summer months.

Several leading brands of dog and cat food have been voluntarily recalled by Diamond Pet Foods after at least 14 people nationwide contracted salmonella poisoning.  All 14 people reportedly handled food manufactured at Diamond Pet Foods’ South Carolina manufacturing facility — the same facility that was involved in a toxic mold incident in 2005, which killed a large number of animals.  No animals have been reported to have been sickened in this latest instance.

Read a list of updates of brands involved in the recall.  Brands include Natural Balance, Canidae and Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul.

In June 2011, research was presented at the 33rd Annual Feline Symposium that shows great promise in treating Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), a viral infection that may kill as many as 1 in 100 cats.  The treatment uses Polyprenyl Immunostimulant to strengthen a cat’s immunity to FIP.  Although promising, the research is still in its early stages, and cannot proceed without further DNA research and other support.

This article describes the presented research in greater detail, and also lists charitable organizations working to raise funds for FIP research.