20 Ways to Keep Your Pet Safe in the Summer

Dog’s paws are padded for their comfort and safety, but pads do not act as shoes. If you’re planning on taking your pup out for a summer stroll, slip your own shoes off and test the sidewalk. If it’s too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws. If you can’t go for a walk earlier or later when the temperatures are cooler, stick to walks in the grass and forego walking on sidewalks.

Our pets can’t refill their own bowls, so it’s up to us to make sure their water bowls stays full. If you have a hyper dog, you may need to check the bowl more often, as they may knock over their water. 

If you have a dog that stays outdoors, provide him with a wading pool, sprinkler system, fan, or an ice lick. Make sure your yard has plenty of shade as well. A wading pool is fairly inexpensive and gives dogs a chance to cool down during the hot afternoon. Most dogs appreciate a good soaking pool to help them beat the heat. Don’t forget to provide cool water throughout the day as well.

Dogs should never be left in an unattended vehicle. Even if it is only 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the inside of your vehicle can reach temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Too many pets have died in hot cars, and leaving the windows cracked does nothing to help. It doesn’t take more than 15 minutes for your car to be too hot for your pup, so do your pet a favor, and leave him at home where it’s cool.

Heatstroke can and will happen to pets if they get too hot. Watch out for excessive panting, lethargy, rapid heartbeat, heavy breathing, drooling, loss of stability or balance, and red tongue or gums. If your pet is experiencing any of these, you need to either get him to the vet as quickly as possible, or begin cooling him off by hosing him down with water, applying cold packs to his underbelly and groin, feeding him ice chips, and applying rubbing alcohol to his paw pads.

Dogs and cats both can both develop skin cancer just like humans. Skin cancer is actually one of the most common cancers in dogs and the most common in cats. Your pet’s fur provides some protection, but you should apply pet sunscreen to areas with less coverage. Dog bellies, cat ears, and around eyes all need some extra protection. Apply the sunscreen every 3-4 hours that your pet is in the sun. Also make sure to use sunscreen specially formulated for pets.

If you take your dog with you to the lake or ocean then you need to have a lifejacket to help him stay afloat. A lifejacket also helps make your dog visible to other boaters and swimmers to ensure his safety.

Even dogs can develop swimmer’s ear after a day in the pool. After a fun day in the water, use canine ear-drying solution to keep him safe from the dreaded swimmer’s ear.

Those puppy dogs eyes might be begging you to share, but the fatty meats from your cookout can cause your dog to have pancreatitis. This results in severe abdominal pain and can lead to death if not treated quickly. You also need to keep corn on the cob and peach pits out of your pet’s reach because they can become lodged in the intestines.

Heartworms and hookworms are more likely to latch on to your pet during the summer months. You can protect your pet by getting a prescription from your vet for Heartgard Plus and administering it appropriately.

Just like humans, even the most in-shape pet needs to decrease their outdoor exercise time during the hot months of summer. That extra mile isn’t worth the risking of a heat stroke for you or your pet. 

During the summer, there are a lot of bugs near houses. They are looking for somewhere cool and may run into your pet on their way to your house. Bee stingers and ticks can cause a lot of damage if left in the skin, so it’s best to be safe and check your pet every day. 

While they may be a bit pricey, there are special sunscreens that aren’t toxic for dogs and other pets. This probably isn’t necessary for an indoor pet, but an outdoor animal is just as susceptible to sunburn as you would be if you were outside all day. Safe your pet the pain and invest in their health. 

Animals need constant access to water during the hottest months of the year, but that water also needs to be clean. Stagnant water can cause harmful bacteria to form and attract unwanted bugs to your animal’s drinking area. 

With the go-ahead from your vet, keep Benadryl on hand for any allergy attacks that your pet may have. While irritated eyes may not kill your pet, they are never fun to deal with. 

In addition to the risk of ear infections from water, fleas and ticks love to hide in the crevices of your pet’s ears. Simply add this step on when you are brushing their coat at the end of the day. 

This step is especially important if your dog plays with cloth or rope toys outside. Even rubber ones can collect bacteria from the soil, waste, and bugs. You do not want these things in your animal’s mouth or on your hand when you are playing with them. 

It may be tempting to shave your pet’s coat in the summer. Less fur means a cooler dog, right? Not necessarily. Their coats actually protect them from the sun, preventing a very painful sunburn. 

This threat is higher in the spring when people are planting fresh gardens, but some summer plants should be kept away from animals as well. Sago Palm, Lily, Lily of the Valley, and Crocuses are just a few that should be kept out of animal friendly homes and yards. 

While chlorine can dry out a dog’s fur, it is a much better option than lakes and ponds which can contain potentially dangerous bacteria.