Heat Stroke: How to Protect Your Pet

It’s that time of year again! As the temperatures climb here in Austin, so does the risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke in our canine friends. We all want to get out there and enjoy that nice weather, and even when it gets hotter -- we don’t want to abandon our exercise routines we’ve worked so hard to stick to. However, it is important to be very careful with your dog during these warmer months.

Causes and Risk Factors

Your dog doesn’t tolerate heat in the same way you do. While we perspire across our entire bodies, dogs primarily cool themselves through panting. When we begin to feel faint as humans, it signals us to slow down. Our dogs, however, are often so excited to follow and keep up with us, that they might not realize when they're feeling a little run down from the heat.

A dog can get overheated even when the ambient temperature is below their body temperature, simply from of all the heat they generate through activity -- the hotter it is, the higher the risk. Even when a dog is not very active, very high temperatures in cars left off or simply in the backyard can sometimes cause major problems. By the way, it is also important to be aware of the temperature of the ground when you are out with your dog, as they can burn their pads on hot pavement or sidewalks.

Other than ambient temperature, the single most important risk factor for heat stroke is breed and conformation. If your pet is brachycephalic (a breed with a short nose or flat face) such as a pug or a boxer, you need to be very cautious and only let your pet exercise outside when it is cool, such as early in the morning. Of all the pets I’ve treated for heat stroke, the vast majority of them have been these breeds.

Finally, obese and overweight pets are also at increased risk for heat stroke. All that extra insulation makes it tougher to get rid of heat, and fat can also constrict the respiratory system making it less efficient. This directly impacts a dog's ability to exchange heat by panting.

Signs of a Problem

The signs of heat stroke include a pet who is beginning to pant more than usual or harder than usual, and will continue to pant, even when calmed down.  As the problem progresses, a dog experiencing heat stroke will become less active and be reluctant to walk or move. Eventually these pets become completely unable to walk or even stand -- they will just pant.

As their body temperatures warm, pets suffering from heat stroke will go through a cascade of internal events. All of the enzymes and organs in your pet’s body are designed to operate at a particular temperature and pH.  When that temperature is exceeded in heat stroke, your pet will undergo multiple organ failure and severe brain damage. Ultimately this can lead quite quickly to death.  Even if a pet survives severe heat stroke, permanent brain or organ damage can occur.

How to Prevent Heat Stroke

Avoid walking or especially running your dog during the heat of day in the summer, late spring, and early autumn. When you do go on walks, bring along water for your pet. Because pets cool off by panting, they lose a large amount of water and moisture and need to stay hydrated. There are many fold-able dog dishes that can fit in your pocket that are commercially available.

Of course, you should be extra careful about taking out short-nosed breeds at any time other than the very early morning. Even then, pay very close attention to how your pet is doing. I can't stress enough just how fragile the respiratory tracts of boxers, pugs, French bulldogs, English bulldogs, and other short-nosed breeds are.

Keep your pet at a healthy weight. Exercise is obviously very important, but don't forget that the majority of weight-control is going to come in the form of dietary management. At a healthy weight, you pet will be able to cool off more efficiently.

Never leave your dog unattended in a parked car. Even with the windows cracked, these vehicles can easily exceed the atmospheric temperature by a great deal. It is amazing how quickly this can cause severe and often fatal heat stroke in pets (and humans, for that matter).

Finally, always be on the lookout for the early signs of heat stroke so you can stop it before it becomes life-threatening. If you notice your pet slowing down or panting more than usual, take a break in the shade. Offer your pet some water and give her a rest.  Once she has calmed down and gotten her energy back and her panting under control, head back home.

Exercise is great for your pet's health and your own.  Don't give up on it all together, but be smart about it and your canine friend will thank you.

About the Author:

Casey Hill, DVM, cVMA

Dr. Casey Hill, the Doorstep Vet, graduated from veterinary school in 2010 at Virginia Tech. Upon graduation she moved to Austin with her husband, Christian, and two cats. Since that time she has been working to keep the pets of Austin happy and healthy. She has worked as a traditional cat, dog, and exotics practitioner but now concentrates on her housecall work with Doorstep Vet. Dr. Hill's acupuncture training was completed in 2016 in Fort Collins, Colorado and she is excited to offer this valuable modality to her housecall patients. You can also follow her on Facebook!

Austin Bluebonnet Family Session

Austin bluebonnet family photos were new to me when I first moved to Austin, Texas several years ago. I didn’t realize how much of a tradition they have become during a Texas spring.

I don’t hold mini sessions or even promote bluebonnet portraits at this point, mostly because I love photographing my clients in and around their homes. However, when one of my favorite Austin clients asked to arrange a spring session in the flowers with their new baby, I was more than up for the project.

Photographing clients on the side of the highway, which is where the flowers tend to be, isn’t preferable to me because it doesn’t feel safe. It's also not usually very peaceful or magical. Luckily after much searching, I discovered a sweet patch of flowers where everyone could be safe during our session.

Unfortunately, there were serious storms brewing the entire weekend of our scheduled session, and we had to make the best of the weather while it wasn’t pouring. Side note: Texas weather always keeps us location photographers on our toes! To make things more interesting, the baby wasn’t in a super smiley mood in the beginning of the session -- no matter what his parents or I did, he wasn’t feelin’ it.

It happens.

I worked as hard as I could to change my perspective and attempt to make funny and interesting sights and sounds to capture the baby’s attention.

While we did capture some adorable images without the baby in super-smile-mode, I knew the mom and dad preferred beautiful images with their baby where he was the happy child they knew him to be. I suggested moving to a soft blanket (not fur for anyone wondering) on the ground, and something about the change in perspective completely shifted the baby’s mood. It was like magic.

Now on the blanket, mom, dad, and baby stayed for a bit while I remained perched on my ladder, capturing what was unfolding below.

I was happy with the results. I love the sea of blue, as well as the contrast of colors in clothing with the soft light. From where I stood, baby was overcome with joy and a significant sense of wonder. He was basically bursting with excitement.

I love how baby looks at his mom and dad (and flowers) with such curiosity and interest. I love how much his parents absolutely adore him.

Backgrounds matter with photography, of course. But for me, the real magic doesn’t so much come from the flowers or the background, but from what’s happening in and around them. The moments exchanged, the real connection that takes place in front of my camera -- that’s magical to me.

Raising Awareness of Pet Cancer in Honor of National Pet Cancer Awareness Month

In honor of National Pet Cancer Awareness month, I want to pay tribute to a couple of animals that I know personally who were affected by it. I realize this isn’t a happy subject, but these words come straight from my heart. In fact, I’m already crying as I write this paragraph.

Cancer sucks. Period. Whether you’re a dog, cat, elephant or human. My heart goes out to anyone currently facing it on any level.

I’ve been thinking about what an “awareness” for pet cancer looks like -- I’ve decided that for me, right now, it’s an opportunity to honor those we’ve lost to the disease, as well as to make a call for action regarding support for programs that continue to fight and treat it.

As a family, we’ve lost many animals to cancer over the last several years. I know that I am not alone in this.

In 2014, I was brought to my knees when I learned that my sweet, stinky-breathed-under-bite-sporting mutt, Ruckus had an inoperable tumor that had burst on his spine. I felt extremely helpless and wished I had been able to help him. I was told there was nothing I could do and very sadly, we had to say goodbye to our friend.

In the weeks and months that followed  -- even years later -- it was difficult to accept that the photographs I had of Ruckus were my last. But I’ll tell you what, I cherish the hell out of those images, as they are visual reminders of the love that I have in my heart for him. I miss that guy.

I recently had the opportunity to meet Moose and his parents, Gedy and Eric. Moose had been adopted as an adult dog and shortly after his adoption, his pet parents learned that Moose had a tumor on his heart. Eric and Gedy gave Moose the life. They took him to the park, for car rides, gave him unlimited belly rubs, treats, and unconditional love and care– the royal treatment. Moose even had hospice care with Dr. Casey Hill here in Austin. How amazing.

I had the privilege of photographing Moose at his home, in his car, and at his favorite park in Austin with his mom and dad. It was a special day for me, and I know that it was also a special day for the three of them.

Photographing pets who are diagnosed with an illness -- most often cancer --  is something that I feel honored to do. These situations are certainly not easy, but being able to offer value on an impactful, emotional level is one of my favorites parts of being a photographer.

I am sending much love and support to anyone who has lost a pet to cancer or who is currently struggling with it on any level. This month and every month, let’s stay as present as we can with those we love, support the care of animals and people in need, and continue to surround ourselves with fur babies.

A couple of resources:

I love the Blue Buffalo Foundation.

Their mission is “to raise awareness and funds so that universities and clinics can research the #1 disease-related killer of our beloved pets, find effective treatments and a cure, and help families get the care their pets need.” I just donated, and I hope you will also consider donating.

When my husband and I lived in Santa Fe, NM our dog Max went through cancer treatment and was fortunately able to be part of a clinical trial there. We loved the care and support he received at Veterinary Cancer Care.

Which resources do you value for bringing awareness and support to the pet cancer and pet cancer awareness?

Behind the Scenes: Family Photos Without the Stress

A lot of people ask me as a photographer for my best tips in regards to preparing kids for an upcoming photo session, without making it stressful for parents and children. This guest piece is written by Blakely Giordano and gives her honest account regarding her best tips for doing so, from a valuable and realistic parental perspective.

Family Photos Without The Stress: A Mom's Perspective

"How do you get your kids to stay put and SMILE?" another exasperated mom asks me.

Part of my job as a social media manager is snapping photos of motherhood and childhood that mothers will connect to. The most exciting prospect to me about connecting on Instagram and through my blog is building a community. Motherhood can be isolating, particularly (in my experience) during the "diaper years," so it makes all the difference in the world to have someone reach out and say, "I see you, mama." Even if that's on Instagram, of all places. If this gig never makes me rich (likely!), I'll have the satisfaction of knowing there were other women who were encouraged by the support they received online.

So, we take pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. We often work with photographers and sometimes wing it ourselves, which is always an adventure. While I'm not always successful in keeping them still or happy, here are some key tips to getting true, authentic photos of childhood and motherhood.

1. Let Them Be Little: Small people have big feelings, don't they? Sometimes, we have to give up the idea of getting them to smile and let them be what they are in that moment: Curious. Cranky. Sleepy. Shy. Those moments are important for their childhood -- just as much as their smiles and laughs. Some of my favorite pictures of my children are of their more solemn and concerned moments, furrowed brows and all -- I like to joke that they look like my husband when he gets our credit card bill. If your kiddo isn't interested in laughing or smiling, don't fret. You'll want to remember this temper tantrum in 20 years, I swear. "You were crying because I gave you too many goldfish," you'll remember, and they'll love you extra for dealing with their toddler terrorism. That's how this works, right?
2. Plan an Activity: Sometimes it's suggested to plan an activity, like grabbing ice cream, a run on the swings at the park, or finger painting. I can't suggest this enough! Kids don't WANT to "sit still and smile." They don't always think it's fun to sit for hours in a field of itchy wildflowers. They want to RUN and EXPLORE -- let them! Work off their favorite activities, and your photos will reward you.
3. Take Advantage of Quiet Moments: Sometimes it's nice to plan a shoot around naps. When children are in their sleepy and delirious stage, they want to be held and snuggled, and nothing makes for more beautiful and real photos.
4. Dress for Comfort: While it might be tempting to put your kiddos in squeaky new loafers and dress pants, this doesn’t always work out so well. Dress for style, but also take into account that they’ll be cranky and discouraged by uncomfortable clothing.
5. Be Yourself: Believe it or not, when you “try and make a moment happen,” it usually shines through the photos as inauthentic. Have you ever seen cheesy engagement photos and been a little uncomfortable? (*Raises hand!*) The same inauthenticity can happen in family photos when parents try to force things that aren’t “in the moment.” If your husband isn’t a snuggler, don’t push. If your kiddo isn’t a fake smiler, don’t ask him to be. Reality makes for the best photos.

This season of life is so precious, and capturing moments is one way to preserve their childhood forever, so don’t dampen the experience by unrealistic expectations. Let your kids be themselves, you be their mama, and the love will shine through. Happy snapping!

About the Author: Blakely Giordano wears many (brightly colored!) hats. She's a mama to Finn and Holly, writer, and social media fairy for lifestyle brands. You'll find her with her camera in one hand, and a double shot latte in the other, because, toddlers. Her favorite part about her job is working with other #WomenWhoDo. Find her on Instagram, too!

Navigating Mother’s Day as a Mom: 5 Ways to Honor Mama

It’s an interesting dynamic, Mother’s Day as a mother. We spend our whole lives honoring our moms on that special Sunday in May. Then one day, you become a mom yourself and you’re automatically made part owner of this special day. A holiday all for you -- except it’s not, because it’s still for your mother. It’s kind of like sharing your birthday with someone else. You want the day to be all about you, but you know that the other person also deserves their time to shine. You have to decide how you’re going to balance this quandary. It’s confusing, but it's also pretty awesome. After all, you’ve spent your whole life learning from your mom, right? This is just one more bond that you get to share.

As I thought about this new and odd dynamic, I started thinking about my own mother and our relationship. I started to realize: even though I’m a mom, I still need MY mom -- like, all the time. I guess I’m lucky, because she puts up with all my constant “help me adult” questions. The amount of times I have to call her to help me with a recipe, with something my children are doing, or just because I need somewhere to vent is immeasurable. I’m so grateful for her patience and for her guidance; she has shaped me into the mother that I am today. While I sure don’t say it enough, she is the greatest mom that anyone could ask for. She has sacrificed so much in her life to ensure the happiness and wellbeing of her children -- she has given in ways that can never be repaid.

Now that I’m a mother to two little ones of my own,  I get to be part owner of this special holiday. It’s special and beautiful, and I feel grateful for the honor -- but this Mother’s Day, I want to honor ALL the moms, both fresh and seasoned. No matter what stage of motherhood you’re in, Mother’s Day should be all about you. After all, you work day in and day out to keep other humans alive and quite frankly, that’s a pretty darn important job. Whether your mom lives near or far, here are 5 simple ways to truly honor YOUR mom, now that you’re a mom:

• Plan an adults-only Mom’s Day Out: Yup, you read that right. Adults only. Meaning you and your mom SOLO. What you actually DO can vary depending on what you and your mama are into, but the idea here is to just get out and spend some time enjoying each other’s company. It can be hard to spend quality time together and actually talk like adults when there are little ones tugging on your heels the entire time. Find a time to leave the kids with dad or grandpa and get out of the house… together.
• Set up a “restaurant” at home and serve your mama a special Mother’s Day lunch/dinner: Can’t get out just the two of you? No worries. As moms, we all get it. Bring the party home! Plan mom’s favorite meal (homemade or take-out) and have an afternoon in. Depending on the age of your kids, they can help plan, cook, and serve the meal! I highly suggest you get LOTS of photos of this, to remind them how much they loved you when they’re being ornery teenagers.
• Write mom a handwritten “thank you” note/letter for all the ways she’s helped and inspired you: I mentioned it above, but I should really tell my mom how much she means to me. I think it often, but I don’t say it nearly enough. Gifting your mother with a heartfelt “thank you” can often mean more than any store-bought gift. Stuck on where to begin? Consider something like this Letters to My Mom set from Uncommon Goods. It provides you with situation-specific prompts on cute little cards (and includes envelopes!) that you can fill in for mama. There are topics like “read me when you need a good laugh” and “read me when you miss me” to provide you with a variety of heartfelt notes and stories.
• A keepsake journal: We all know that grandmothers and mamas have lots to share, but it often gets lost and forgotten. A keepsake journal can provide a space for your mom to record all her stories and memories, and it can be passed down for generations. I love this one, which is a sewn, clothbound journal that outlines a gorgeous, timeless, personal narrative. This is sure to be a favorite!
• Just be together. Maybe being together means a cookout at your house. Maybe it means going for a fancy dinner. Maybe it means you FaceTime from 3,000 miles away. Whatever “together” looks like in your family, do it. Now that you’re a mom, you know how important quality time can be. How just a simple “I love you” can make you go all mushy. How the words “thank you” can mean more than all the compliments in the world. Put down the phones, turn off the TV, and just BE.

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be a huge production or filled with store-bought gifts. The real joy of Mother’s Day can be found in heartfelt, honest moments. As we ebb and flow through the different stages of motherhood, we will continue to grow and change. When I was younger, I remember hearing older women scoff, “I’m just like my mother!” and, “I can’t believe I’m turning into my mother!” I remember them sounding disgusted, uttering the phrases with disdain for their newfound personality traits. At the time, I didn’t really understand what they meant. Now, I often find myself thinking those same thoughts, but with a much different tone. I couldn’t imagine learning from a better role model than my mom. I am thankful for this journey and proud to be “just like my mother." My hope for you is that you enjoy this journey (as hard as it may be) and that you feel even a little bit the same joy when thinking about your mom. Happy Mother’s Day, mamas.

About the Author: Jess is a multi-tasking extraordinaire, trying to navigate her way through life as a wife, friend, teacher, and most of all, mama. She’s a lover of fresh air, coffee and wine (equally, not together), fitness, and writing. She boasts an eclectic style which is a mix of classic, boho, and mom life -- which mostly means that the majority of the time she’s wearing workout clothes with food and drool smeared on them. You can see her life in little squares on her Instagram and follow her honest and sarcastic motherhood truths at her blog, www.playdatesandprosecco.com.

Including Your Pet in Family Portraits

If you’re anything like me, your pets are part of your family. You count on them for support, you’re there for them when they need you, and you’d do anything for them. Therefore, why wouldn’t you choose to include your pets in your professional family portrait sessions? I love when I receive an inquiry from a client who is interested in including their pets in their session -- over my nearly 15 years as a professional, I have received requests to include pets in various situations and for all occasions. Pets bring joy to any portrait session, and anyone I photograph with their pet is more relaxed in front of the camera. Here are some ideas for ways you can include pets in your next portrait session:

• Maternity Sessions – I often hear from new and expecting parents that their pet is their first baby. Including your dog or cat in a maternity session can be a fun way to creatively document the expansion of your family. Not every image has to include your fur babies, but you’ll be thankful that you decided to have Max part of this momentous stage of your life.
• Newborn Sessions – I love photographing lifestyle images of families welcoming their new precious babies into their lives and homes. This is a time where your home and dynamics are making huge shifts. Honoring this time with professional photographs -- your fur babies included! -- is something you won’t regret.
• Your Very First Pet – All pets leave their mark on our hearts. Having said this, you will never have a second “first” pet as an adult. My dog, Ruckus, was my very first dog and the photographs I have of the two of us together couldn’t be more precious.
• With Your Children – the children I often photograph have always considered their pet to be like a sibling to them. How sweet is it to include pictures of them together? Perhaps you could to have them photographed playing or cuddling together, or engaged in their favorite activity. These moments are fleeting and leave a mark on all of us.
• Family vacation – taking a trip to Tahiti on your private jet with Fido? Take me and let me document the whole thing. You won’t regret it, I promise.

What are your favorite ways to incorporate your pets into your family portraits? 

Norah Levine has been a professional portrait photographer for nearly 15 years. She is also an author, photo educator, fine artist, and pet mama living in Austin, Texas. Her book, “Pet Photography” can be purchased at AMAZON or Rocky Nook publishing She also has online courses via CreativeLive and Craftsy Her fine art can be viewed on Etsy Inquire directly for learning opportunities, fine art commissions/purchases, and portrait sessions.

5 Reasons Why Having A Pet is Good For Your Health

There are many benefits to animals for residing with us in our homes, but did you know that having a pet is also good for your health? Unconditional love and companionship in and of itself is accompanied by many benefits, but there are other reasons why owning a pet can give you a health boost! Mental and emotional improvements are just a couple of them -- check out the following five ways that owning a pet might be beneficial to your health. Some of them might surprise you!

1. Lower rates of depression. It might not come as a surprise that owning a pet increases a person’s sense of purpose. This can be integral for someone feeling depressed or who is lacking interest in their usual activities. Pet Therapy exists for a reason! Owning a pet might help you conquer depression and general feelings of being down.

2. Decreased risk of allergies. It might seem counterintuitive, but spending time with pets has been shown to lower a child’s risk of developing allergies. Other studies show that children exposed to pets early on in life tend to have more stealthy immune systems overall. Having healthier kids is always a win!

3. Higher social interaction. Did you know that there are meet-up groups geared towards pet parents of all different types of animals? Yes, even turtles. Getting out of the house to walk your dog or take him or her to the dog park also gives you more opportunities to interact with others. Humans are naturally social creatures, and a lot of people find that their social lives and networks naturally increase as a result of being a pet parent.

4. Increased physical activity. If you’re a dog owner, you’re more likely to get outside and throw a frisbee, go for a run, or even just take a walk around the neighborhood. The cardio boost will bring other benefits, such as increased heart health, lower blood pressure, and decreased cholesterol levels.

5. Lower stress levels. Having a sense of purpose combined with increased physical activity and social interaction can have some fantastic benefits, the main one being decreased stress levels! Lowering cortisol has a profound impact on your overall health and well-being.

What do you think, pet parents? Were you surprised by these benefits?

Jessica is an East Coast girl recently transplanted to Austin, Texas where she lives with her husband, their three human children, and their rescue fur baby. She is an OB Nurse Educator by background, but has worked as a freelance writer, content manager, and brand strategist for the past few years and loves every minute of it. You can follow her on her personal blog or Instagram profile.