Page 18 - AAA Now! – AAA Akron Auto Club – Summer 2020

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Summer and Your Pets – Grooming Tips
In the dog days (pun intended) of summer, the weather is likely to hit temperatures your pet is not used to. Since dogs cool themselves by panting not sweating, their coat provides an essential barrier between them and the outside world.
Besides the standard tips, like not leaving your dog inside the car on a hot summer day and making sure your cat has easy access to shade inside your home, here are some easy things you can do to keep your pets comfortable in their fur this summer:
• Keep your pet’s coat trimmed. Animals with thick coats overheat more quickly because of their extra insulation. Consider giving your pet – dog or cat, puppy or kitten – a summer haircut. Because of their coats, pets can be more susceptible to heatstroke, a condition that can be deadly if left untreated.
• You should brush your pet daily. Long coats are especially prone to matting, a tangle of fur that can be painful to the animal if snagged. Mats
also can harbor parasites like ticks or fleas or
hide injuries. Professional grooming also might
be necessary for some pets with exceptionally long fur, like Pomeranians, Afghans and Himalayans.
• Year-round, but especially in the summer,
you should screen your pet for fleas and ticks. Look for tiny, black pepper-like dots on your animal’s fur, especially near the ears. Ticks appear as small, bulging dots nestled in your animal’s fur. Both of these parasites produce saliva that can cause allergies. Ticks also can harbor deadly illnesses, like Lyme disease. Talk to your vet about fleas and ticks in your area and if it’s a good idea to buy some prescription flea and
tick medication.
• Some dogs are especially prone to skin cancer; for example, dogs with thin or light-colored fur are most at risk. All pets are susceptible to sunburn or skin cancer on hairless areas like nose, paw, pads, ears, inside back legs and abdomen. Do regular checks of their fur for any abnormalities and limit the amount of time spent in the sun. You should consider getting doggie sunscreen if your dog is hairless or shaved.
Following these grooming tips can save you time and money spent on expensive veterinary diagnostics and treatments. Heatstroke treatments can cost $50 and up, while skin cancer chemo- therapy and radiation treatments range from $2,000 to $6,000. Ensuring you and your pet enjoy the summer season safely will keep you both out of the veterinarian’s office and save cash for more fun road trips.
Karl’s Family Saved $4,999 on Vet Bills
After taking a tumble in puppy class, 4-month-old Karl needed surgery and a cast for his broken elbow*. Luckily, his family had pet insurance and the Healthy Paws plan reimbursed them $4,999.
• #1 Customer-Rated Pet Insurance Plan
• One simple plan that covers new accidents & illnesses • No maximum annual or lifetime payouts
Get Exclusive AAA Discounts at
www.healthypaws.com/aaaakron
*Insureds providing testimonials have not received compensation for their statements.
The claim scenarios described here are intended to show the types of situations that may result in claims. These scenarios should not be compared to any other claim. Whether or to what extent a particular loss is covered depends on the facts and circumstances of the loss, the terms and conditions of the policy as issued and applicable law.
Policies are underwritten and issued by the following members of the Chubb Group: ACE American Insurance Company, Indemnity Insurance Company of North America, ACE Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Westchester Fire Insurance Company (all domiciled in Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, PA) and Atlantic Employers Insurance Company (domiciled in New Jersey, at Jersey City, NJ).
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SUMMER 2020
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