Safe Pet Summer: Beat the Heat with These Safety Tips
Our favorite part about summer? Getting outside with our four-legged family members! Hiking, pool parties, and beach days are full of fun, but they're also full of hazards. Plan ahead with some of our favorite tips for a safe pet summer.
- Aim for morning and evening play - avoiding that baking noon-day sun.
- Find (or create) shade. Even a handheld umbrella can significantly help your pets stay cool.
- Provide fresh water. Puddles are home to parasites and bacteria, and pool-water and ocean-water can make our pets sick. And, fun fact, some of those parasites and bacteria can be transmitted to us, like Giardia and Leptospirosis. Make sure to bring plenty of water and a bowl when heading out.
- Never leave your pet in the car. We all hear this every year because it cannot be said enough. Cars heat up fast, and that heat becomes life-threatening just as quickly.
- Avoid blacktops and concrete. These surfaces get HOT, and booties actually block one of the essential places our furry friends sweat - their paw pads! Instead, opt for a grass or gravel route.
- Supervise pets around open bodies of water. Swimming is a great way to cool off, but not all dogs and cats inherently know how to swim. And, even if they do, keeping afloat can be a lot harder if you’re already tired from the heat.
- Take breaks. Taking frequent breaks inside can go a long way in helping pets tolerate hotter days.
Heat exhaustion is a medical emergency. Know the signs:
- Excessive panting and/or increased respiratory effort
- Increased drooling
- Weakness
- Collapse
- Seizures
- If you think your pet may be experiencing heat exhaustion, seek medical immediate attention at the nearest veterinary emergency facility.
Protect your pets (and yourself!) from parasites.
- Fleas and ticks thrive in summer weather. Making sure your pets are on prevention is the best way to keep the bugs off of our friends and out of our homes!
- Did you know heartworms are spread by mosquitoes? Keep your pet protected with heartworm prevention. If you’re worried about missing a dose during these busy months, call and chat with us about an injection that lasts an entire year.
- Indoor pets need protection, too. As much as we might like them to be, our homes are not 100% cut off from the wild world outside. Bugs often find their way in - and right onto our pets. Make sure your indoor cats, rabbits, and ferrets are prepared with flea and tick prevention this summer.
Finally, schedule a routine check-up with your veterinarian.
- Underlying conditions can make it harder to beat the heat. Routine check-ups help detect these conditions (like heart murmurs and kidney disease) earlier and allow us to plan with extra care in the summer weather.
- Some breeds simply cannot handle heat well. If your pet has a shorter nose (think pugs, bulldogs, and Persian cats) or if your pet is elderly, overweight, or managing a chronic condition, they’ll have a lower heat tolerance than their furry friends.
- Discussing your pet’s personal health status with your veterinarian is the best way to fully prepare for the summer ahead.
No matter where you’re reading from, Vital Vet Animal Hospital wishes you and your furry, feathered, and scaly family members a fun and safe summer!