Keep your pets cool in the summer

Pets are part of our family and we want to do everything we can to ensure their health and safety. Spending time outdoors with them during the summer is the best, so let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind when it comes to your fur babies and summer.

Pets should be tested for heartworm and be on a year-round preventative medication. A quick trip to your vet early in the season will ensure they’re protected.

It goes without saying, but your pets can dehydrate quickly in the heat, so plenty of fresh, clean water is a must. If they are more outdoor than indoor pets, they need somewhere to get out of the sun.

If its extremely hot, your pets should be kept inside and not over exercised.

Do you know the symptoms if your pet is overheated?

It can include excessive panting or difficulty breathing as well as increased heart and respiratory rate. They may begin drooling, have mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Look for seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, too.

If you have a pet with a flat face, like a pug or a Persian cat, they can be more susceptible to heat stroke since they can’t pant as effectively. Keep them cool in an air-conditioned space as much as possible.

Elderly, overweight pets and those with heart or lung disease should be kept inside, too.

Pets and water can be a dangerous situation, too. Not all dogs are good swimmers, so make sure they have pet approved flotation devices on whenever they are in a boat. If they get in a pool, be sure to rinse them off to remove the chlorine and do not let them drink the pool water due to the chemicals used to keep it clean.

You may think shaving your dog is a treat for them in the summer, but the reality is the different layers of a dog’s coat protects them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat.

For any pet, hot asphalt can be highly dangerous. The pads of their feet are sensitive and sidewalks or asphalt can get extremely hot very quickly, leading to the burning or blistering of their tender pads.

Most of all, please do not leave your pet in the car, even for just a few minutes, even if you’ve cracked the windows. On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 102-degrees. Even if the temperature outside is only 70-degrees, the inside of your car may be as much as 20-degrees hotter.