Summer Safety Is Important for Fur Babies Also

Summer is a great opportunity for all of us to flock outside and get some much needed vitamin c. Most of us take the chance to bring our pets along for the fun. While we know how to take care of ourselves bring the summer heat the same might not be said for our furry friends. What follows is a list of tips to keep our four legged friends happy and healthy this summer.

First things first, before you head out into the summer heat make sure that you make a vet appointment for your fur baby for a checkup. While there make sure that all of their shots are up to date and have them checked out for heart worms. Also make sure that you have the proper protection again insects and other critters out this time of year.

Once the checkup is complete it is important to know the symptoms of overheating pets and to keep them in mind when you are out in the heat. Symptoms of overheating pets are but not limited to: excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, drooling, weakness, nausea, diarrhea, and over 104 degree body temperature.

How do you prevent your pet from overheating? Make sure that your pet has plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outside. Just like you would want water on a hot day. Make sure that pets have proper shade and be careful not to overexert them. And if all else fails and it is just too hot outside keep pets inside.

It should be noted that if you have a pug or a Persian cats beware that they are more susceptible to the heat since they cannot pant effectively. These animals might require extra care and should be kept in the air conditioning as much as possible.

Other things to keep in mind this summer are just as you would never leave a child alone in a hot care, never leave your pet alone in a hot car. It can take mere minutes for an animal to develop heat stroke. If you must bring them with you on a hot day take them with you wherever you go. Remember it is illegal to leave pets and kids in cars in several states, including Tennessee.

Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool. Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce pets to water gradually. If your dog does go swimming be sure to rinse them and try to keep them from drinking pool water and ingesting unnecessary chemicals. It is also a good idea to keep your dogs paws cool. When the sun is blazing, asphalt and metal you’re walking your dog on can get really hot. Not only can it burn their paws but possible cause overheating.

When you bring your pets to summer functions it is important to remember not to feed them food from the even, no matter how much they beg. Most food found at BBQ’s is actually poisonous to dogs and can affect their overall health. It is also good to remember to never use fireworks around pets. Burns and trauma can result in some instances as most pets are fearful of loud noises. Keep pets safe and inside while the festivities are going on. Follow these tips and others to make sure your pets have a safe summer.

Source: Elizabeth Lane, Staff Writer