• Summer is the best time to start your dog's flea and tick prevention if you are not using it year-round. Fleas are the leading cause of skin disease in dogs, while ticks can spread Lyme disease. Ask your veterinarian about different treatment options.

• If your dog isn't on a heartworm preventative all year long, now is the time for him to be protected. A worm that lives inside your dog's heart causes heartworm disease. The worm develops from larvae spread by mosquitoes. Even if your dog is never around other animals, he or she is certainly at risk of being bitten by a mosquito when outside. Your veterinarian can perform a simple blood test that will make sure your dog does not have heartworm disease. After confirming everything is all right, your veterinarian can prescribe a monthly preventative.

• After a long winter cooped up in-doors, summer is the perfect time to let your dog work off those extra pounds. Grab a leash and head off to the park or for a walk around the block. Remember to start out with short periods of exercise and increase your walks over a few weeks' time.

• Review your dog's diet. Choose a quality brand of dog food and avoid sudden changes. Anytime you alter what your dog eats, gradually introduce the new food. People food is not good for dogs and may contain more fat than is healthy. No matter how much he begs!

• Lawn fertilizers and pesticides make for a great lawn, but may cause health problems for your dog. Remember to keeps dogs off the grass for 24 hours after applying chemicals to your lawn. Looking for organic options in lawn care is a safe an environmentally friendly alternative.

Most dog owners have witnessed the fear some dogs experience during a thunderstorm.

Even well-adjusted dogs can develop a fear of rumbling thunderstorms. The booms, the window rattling and the floor vibrations can be overwhelming. The barometric pressure of the home changes dramatically as well, which dogs are more attuned to than humans. Additionally, the sky comes alive with light, and static electricity fills the air. For a dog, nothing could be more stressful.

A dog terrified of these phenomena can react in many unpredictable ways. He might temporarily lose his house-training skills, or become destructive. He could decide to hide under the bed for a day or two, or even break out of the home through a window or screen door.

What's an owner to do? Here are some solutions:

Prevention is the best medicine. First, be sure to minimize all traumatic occurrences during the early stages of his life. Do all you can to shield your dog from loud noises or sudden trauma during this time. During a thunderstorm, keep the dog indoors in the quietest section of the home (perhaps an insulated basement), and try playing moderately loud music or TV for cover.

Take a page from the hunter's playbook and de-sensitize your non-phobic puppy or young dog to sudden sounds. Gun dogs are trained to associate the sound of a gun to a pleasant experience, such as the fetching of a pigeon or duck; they interpret the harsh explosions as a prelude to fun. You can begin desensitizing your pet in the same way; having a friend bang on a pot in an adjoining room while you are playing and rewarding your dog is a good start. Rapping on a window while rewarding with praise or a treat is a good next step.

Because nature is unpredictable, you will need to pay close attention to weather reports to prepare for thunder. If the dog hides beneath a bed or sofa, let him; it's a natural reaction for a dog to hide when fearful. He can ride it out in that dark place and come out when he's ready. Or, consider training him to go into a crate during the ordeal. By securing him inside a crate in a quiet part of the home, you'll also prevent destructive behavior or house-soiling from taking place.

For dogs who completely lose it, medication might be the best option. See your veterinarian, who can prescribe melatonin, valium, Prozac, amitriptyline, or other medications, designed to keep the dog calm.

For more information on this subject, please contact your veterinarian.

Duno, S. How to Deal With Your Dog's Fear of Thunderstorm and Fireworks [Online] Available at: 1-800-PetMeds

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