As the weather heats up, we know that summer is just around the corner. Extreme heat can be just as hazardous to pets as extreme cold and it is important to follow some simple tips to ensure that your dog or cat has a safe and fun summer.
- NEVER leave your dog in the car, even for a short time, in warm weather. An outside temperature of just 90 degrees can cause a car’s interior temperature to quickly rise to over 100 degrees.
- Keep your pets hydrated. Pets need more water in the summer to keep their body temperatures regulated. Be sure to keep their bowls filled with fresh clean water. Pets have no way to cool themselves down other than panting and drinking.
- Don’t leave out uneaten food. During the warm months, bacteria can grow at an accelerated rate possibly making your pets ill.
- If your dog spends time outside, make sure they have access to shade. If your dog likes to swim, give him his own “kiddy pool” to help keep him cool.
- Believe it or not, dogs can sunburn, especially those with short or light colored coats. Sunburns can be painful for a dog and overexposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Talk to us about sunscreens for your pet.
- Panting is a dog’s way of sweating. Pay attention to your dog’s panting when you are playing or engaged in strenuous activity. If your dog is panting heavily and seems unable to stop or slow his breathing down, it means it is time for your dog to take a break, get water and seek shade. Heatstroke can be life threatening.
- Make sure your pet is protected from parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. If not protected, your pet is at risk for heartworm, fleas and a host of other nasty and dangerous external and internal parasites.