Finding the right vet care is an important part of being a pet owner. Just as we humans strive to find physicians who make us feel comfortable and cared for, our pets need the same kind of attention. When you bring your pets to our experienced team at East Valley Animal Hospital, you’ll find that our vet care goes beyond urgent care and annual checkups. We can provide insight into medical questions, the history of vet care and even general trivia, too.

For example, you may have heard the term “Dog Days of Summer”.  Most people think that this phrase has something to do with the summer months when it’s too hot to do anything but lay around like a hot, tired dog. While this assumption may seem to make sense, the Dog Days of Summer actually comes from a completely different origin.

The phrase originates from Sirius, the Dog Star, and its position in the sky. In the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans, the dog days took place when Sirius appeared to rise just before the sun, in late July. For them, this was the hottest time of year. The phrase was translated to other parts of the world approximately 500 years ago and since then has taken on new, but similar meanings.

For those of us here in Arizona, there is no denying that our summer heat can make us hot and dog tired. The same hold true for our pets. It’s critical that you keep your–dogs and cats–cool during the hot summer months as our temperatures climb well above 110 degrees. This includes providing plenty of shade when they are outdoors, as well as plenty of fresh water. When in doubt, leave your pet in the house and never leave them in a car…even just for a few minutes.

If you have any questions about vet care for your furry friends, contact our professional, caring team today. We want to join you and your pets on their health journey no matter what time of year it is.