The last days of May signal the unofficial start of summer for folks, young and old, across the country. But with these carefree months comes an increased risk for illness or injury for our furry pals. From unpredictable weather to unusual routines, our animals are exposed to all sorts of hazards during June, July and August, and your pet is counting on you to keep him safe. Check out our top six tips for keeping your animal secure all summer long.
Stay Chill this Summer!
- Give your pet access to plenty of fresh water at all times. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn if overexposed to the heat.
- Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind.
- Keep your pet away from matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
- Be cool near the pool. Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or high waters—not all dogs are expert swimmers!
- Never leave your dog, cat or any other animal friend alone in a car! The inside of a car can heat up very quickly—even with a window open.
- Be prepared! From tornadoes to floods, we’ve seen the devastation severe weather has brought to pets and their families these past few weeks. Develop an evacuation plan well ahead of time in case you’re forced from your home in an emergency.
And please don’t forget monthly Heartworm Preventative and Flea and Tick Control!
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Good information for first time dog parents on watching their pet around pools, lakes and surf. Even excellent canine swimmers may have trouble climbing out of a pool or winning against a tide sweeping out to sea.
And I add for new dog lovers, do not walk dogs in the heat of a summer’s day or on hot surfaces, sidewalks, pavement and rocky trails. Paws are much more sensitive than people think.
Thank you for your input! Another area that I am sensitive to and neglected to mention is backs of pick up trucks (prevalent in this area)! I hate dogs traveling in the back at all – but if you are going to drive with your dog in the back – safely tether or crate the dog and also make sure that it is sitting or standing on something other than hot metal / plastic. Put protection down!
I shared this post on Facebook & Twitter. Last week, I published on dogs in pick-up trucks// here is the link to it. http://wp.me/p1dIM5-ee.
We both advocate for dog adoption, dog rescue and animal welfare. I would love to host you as a guest blogger.
Hint, hint (a not so subtle hint).