I was reminded today just how bad heat can be. Our little Terrier mix, Boo Boo, escaped her kennel today, and went next door to play with our neighbors Dobies. I was out back mowing, which was badly needed. Sometime while I was out back, she and Henry (the beagle) escaped. I only had to holler for Henry once, and he was back on the front porch, knowing he had been bad! Boo Boo, on the other hand, I had to go get.

We are not sure how long she had been over there running the neighbors fenceline, as they had just gotten home. They had her tied up for a bit, but only had a small clasp on the line, which she immediately broke and went back to running.

By the time I got the phone call, and got over there, she was very close to having a heat stroke! This girl really scared me. It’s for her love to run that we do NOT let her run freely. She just does not know when to slow down and rest!

Boo Boo and Henry

With her giving me such a scare, I wanted to remind everyone to keep not only themselves safe during the heat of summer, but their pets also. And here are some tips to help you and your pets through the summer months. If your not sure about how your pet is handling the heat, or you think they are in trouble, immediately call your vet for advice!

These are some simple, common sense things that sometimes go overlooked. But leaving your pets out in the heat for even a short period of time can be very dangerous.

1. Make sure your pet has plenty of shade and water while outdoors. When the temps start to rise, consider putting some ice-cubes in their water for them. You may even want to consider a kids wading pool for them if they do not have access to a pond or creek.

2. Never leave your pet in a vehicle on a warm day. Temps inside a car can reach 110° within 30 minutes, even on days that are fairly cool.

3.  Watch for signs of Heatstroke: panting; dehydration; warm dry skin; failure to respond to commands; rapid heartbeat and collapse. IMMEDIATELY move the animal to a cool place and offer lots of cool water. Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention when necessary.

*”Do not soak your pet or immerse them in cold water because their body temperature can plummet and they could develop severe hypothermia,” warns Dr Tim Hackett, who heads the Critical Care Unit at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “Get your pet to your veterinarian as quickly as possible.”

4. Summer is great for gardening, but read instructions carefully on fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides. Many of the products may be harmful or toxic to your pets.

5. Many pet owners like to clip their dogs and cats during the hot summer months. This is not always a good idea, as short clips can lead to sunburns.

6. Puppies, kittens, obese and geriatric animals are more susceptible to warmer temperatures. Longhaired cats, short-nosed breed dogs and pets with respiratory disorders are also more susceptible to heat stress. So take steps to be sure that they are kept cool.

7. If you have pets that like to roam the fields, or woods, be sure to groom regularly and check under the tail and armpits and in the ears for ticks. Ticks can cause many health issues for your pet.

** These tips also apply to livestock, and it is our job to keep our animals safe and healthy whatever the season may be.

*** This post is sponsored by Diamond M Enterprise, Fastrack Distributors ~ For the Health of your pets!

We took this video over the weekend while we were camping with the BCHET for the Spring Roundup. This is exactly why we choose Fastrack over the many others that are on the market!

How do I know? Because our geese have returned, and so have our ducks! Our pastures are starting to get green again, and the horses are all enjoying the sun, laying around and starting to shed out! I really love this time of year, when things become new again.

It’s time to get my garden going. I’ve got my starter kit for seeds ordered and it should be here by this weekend, and get some of the plants started in my kitchen, where there is plenty of sunlight, and I can keep them babies warm.

I’ve got a horse stalled, so my compost pile can build. I’ll be needing this before long. I swear by a horse compost pile. That, and Feast® 9-18-9!

Let me SHOW you why I like the Conklin’s Feast® 9-18-9 so much.

My own personal results were not quite as good as Jerry’s, but I’ll be the first to admit, that, for a first time tomato grower last year, I grew enough tomatoes to make 6 large batches of Salsa and 2 batches of speghetti sauce from my 9 plants, and still had some left over for salads at each all season long! So, I’m really looking forward to what I can do this year, with more knowledge, and a better understanding of the plants themselves.

Feast is available in different quantities, depending on your needs, small or large. Visit Diamond M Enterprise for full selection, under Lawn and Crop Management

Here’s the story, of two horses, both about the same age (coming of 3 years old), both bought from the same guy. Their names are Star and Edge. These pictures were taken early spring 2008, we had bought them the summer of 2007, so it was their first winter with us. Both had lost weight, had dull coats, and their eyes weren’t as bright as I like them to be.  Edge had rain-rot, and we applied some MTG to help that along quicker. In hindsite, I wish I had left it alone to see how the Fastrack Fortifier® would have helped. But, I’m not one for doing something on the slower side, when it can be dealt  with in a quicker way.

We pulled them from the herd, and put them in their own field so we could use  1 oz per day of Fastrack Fortifier® when we grained them. Along with good grooming, the grain and Fastrack®, and a dose of worming, we watched them come along out of the early spring, and into full spring. They gained weight again, their eyes got brighter, and they shed their winter coats nicely, and ended up with a nice, smooth, shiney summer coat. The pictures below were taken 60 days after starting them on Fastrack®!

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Are you needing a new roof, but don’t want to pay someone to come do it? Are you a DIY type of person? If you are, Conklin has roofing systems to help you repair your leaking roof. But, why wait until it is leaking? Using Conklin’s roofing systems is an excellant way to cut down on your electric bill, keeping your building cooler in the summers.

If your looking to start your own Business in the Roofing Industry, Conklin has the training and the products to get you started. Offering several systems that will not only generate an income for you and your family, but also provide years of satisfied customers.

For those that are in the roofing business, here is a video you will enjoy. Extending your working season by up to one month!? Not using Conklin’s Roofing Systems yet? Join Today and become a member of Conklin’s Master Contractors.

Feel free to email, call, or visit our Conklin Website for more information. Email and phone number can be found on the Conklin site.