Summer Safety Tips for Dogs & Cats

When summer sets in, we all love to go out and spend long hours under the sun with our furry companions. However, our pets are not able to cope with heat when temperature rises. During this time, we need to take extra care of our pets and ensure their safety.

Following some simple tips, you can definitely safeguard your pets from high temperature effects.

Adjust Exercise Routine
During summers, temperature rises with hours. If you are taking your dog for daily walks, make it a morning schedule. Walking early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature is at its lowest, will keep your pet cool free from excessive sweating. If necessary, cut down routine walking distance and avoid walks on hot days.

Dogs keep on running even if they are overheating. Therefore, pet parent has to take care about this. Compared to dogs, cats are able to restrict their own activity during summer.

Provide Shade and Water
Pets easily dehydrate, so during summer, it is necessary to provide plenty of clean and fresh water. Take necessary steps to have a shady place for your pets especially in hot weather when you have outdoor pets.

Check Humidity
According to Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association - "It's important to remember that it's not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet.”

Dogs usually pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which removes heat from their body. If the humidity is too high, dog will not able to cool himself and the temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels. Therefore, it is important to keep him in a cool and dry place so that high humidity will not affect his health.

Never Leave Your Pet in a Car
When taking your pet out in a car, never leave them in a car when you are out. Though you may feel not so hot outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in just few minutes, even if the windows are rolled down. If you need to go for a short journey or for some quick shopping, better leave your pet at home.

On Beach
Taking your pets on pavements and on beach on hot days is quite risky. As the temperature rises, the hot pavement and sand can burn and cause blister to your dog’s paws as it can do to yours. When it is too hot, better keep them on lawns or have them wear dog booties made of clothes in case you have to take them on pavement or on sand.

Pet Sunscreen
Same as humans, pets too need sunscreen. Though they have long hair to protect them from sun’s harmful UV rays, your pet can have sunburn, particularly if he is hairless or has light skin and hair. Sunburn to animals cause problems similar to humans such as peeling, pain, and skin cancer. Therefore, it is better to keep your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In case, you need to go out, better apply a little amount of sunscreen on exposed or unprotected areas including tip of the nose, area surrounding the lips and tips of the ears.

Tangle Free
During summers, when everything is turning hot, keeping your pet well groomed is necessary. A well-groomed hair will protect your pet from sun and insulate him from the heat. If he has thick hair or lot of mats and tangles, it will trap lot of heat. Therefore, it is better to trim her hair. Overall, it is crucial to take proper care of your loving companion during high temperatures, so that they can also enjoy the summer time without any health issues.

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