Our pets are our friends and companions, so we should do everything we can to keep them safe and healthy all year round. Summer is a great season for fun in the sun, but can be dangerous for your pets. Here are six tips to help you keep your pet safe in the heat.
Protect the Paws
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.
Keep an Eye on The Water Bowl
Our pets can’t refill their own bowls, so it’s up to us to make sure their water bowl stays full and clean. If you’ve got dogs that like to get messy, make sure you change their water bowl out every day to keep the water from getting too dirty. Fresh water is seriously important to keep your pets from getting dehydrated and overheated in the hot summer sun.
Provide a Cooling Station
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.
Beware Of Hot Vehicles
Dogs should never be left in an unattended vehicle. Even if it is only 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside, your vehicle can reach into 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.
Know the Symptoms
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.
