A Fun but Dangerous Season For our Furry Family Members
It never fails. Every summer we hear about (or if we are unlucky enough we see) a poor dog in the back of a car with the windows cracked in full sun and we know that very soon that poor dog is going to be in trouble. Although the summer time is a caution time for all pets, dogs are the ones we let out the most so the summer impacts our dogs more than our other animals. Our pets in summer weather are counting on us to know what is best for them and to take care of them because they cannot do it themselves. So what do we do to make sure our pets are safe in the summer?
Safety Tips for Pets in the Summer Time
Dogs are prone to overheating, and they overheat a lot in the summer. Many owners forget that dogs do not sweat and that they can't take their coat off like we can when we are coming from winter into the summer. But there are some safety tips for your pets in summer. How do we deal with our pets in summer? Always regardless of where your animal is, keep him or her supplied with fresh clean water all the time. It is not wise to withold water from pets for any reason in summer temperatures when hydration is the number one concern.
The first one and probably the one abused the most is, do not ever leave your dog in a car without it running the AC. There is no way to avoid the unfortunate outcome if the car gets as hot as is able in such a short period of time, so don't test it or your beloved pets life and health could be greatly endangered.
During physical exercise is another time you should be mindful of your pet. You might be used to jogging with your dog, but you are probably dressed much different when it's 90 degrees out than when it's 45 degrees out, right? Well, first of all, you shouldn't be jogging mid day anyway, but for the sake of your animal, you REALLY shouldn't be jogging mid day. Most dogs can't handle the heat and they can't undress like you can. Their coat is their coat and they don't have the option of sweating to stay cool. So, please have a heart, remember they are hot and you will keep their heart healthy with exercise but overheating can be a very real danger to their health in the afternoon. Exercise is fine but try to aim for early morning or late evening when the sun is down and it is not so hot out.
Outdoor dogs may have vulnerabilities in the summer too. You might leave your dogs outside all the time and think nothing of it but double check where you leave them while you're away all day. Is it in a shaded area? Can they go somewhere to get out of direct sunlight? Do you leave them plenty of water? You might want to leave them even more in the summer. Your dog has got to have a place to go to get out of the sun, if that is not possible you might not want to leave your pet outside.
Some other safety tips for your pets in summer include wetting down your outdoor dog before you leave for the day and any other time you have a chance to come home during the day. This will help keep them cool. Also keep your dog off asphalt. Asphalt is hot and it burns and it definitely burns your puppy's feet. Pets in summer love to have fun but they count on you to not let them do anything that would harm them, like walking or being chained on asphalt.
The number one concern for dogs in the summer is heat stroke so here are some things to look for in your pet. Excessive panting, a temperature of over 104, staggering around like their drunk, disorientation, seizures and perhaps a very dark red tongue (or gums). All of these could indicate an issue and you need to get your dog to the vet to be checked out. The second concern is the bugs. Bug bites from bees etc can result in an allergic reaction. Also fleas and ticks love the summer time and they also love your animal. Take the precautions you need to and protect them against these pests.
Pets are awesome. They are our best friends. Try to think of them as our best friends with limited common sense. So you need to have it for them. Take care of them, keep them cool, give them plenty of water and shade and don't overwork them. Your pets will love you for it.
