Summer Pet Care

Never leave your pet in a vehicle - Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down.

Keep your pet leashed -  It will keep them from getting lost, fighting other animals, and eating and drinking things that could make them sick

Hydrate - Whether you’re indoors or out, both you and your pet need access to lots of fresh water during the summer, so check their water bowl several times a day to be sure it’s full.

Pets need Sunscreen - Though all that fur helps protect them, your pet can get sunburned, particularly if they have light skin and hair. Sunburn in animals can cause problems similar to those it can cause in people, including pain, peeling, and skin cancer. So try to keep your pet out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and if you do go out, rub some sunscreen on unprotected areas like the tips of their ears, the skin around their lips, and the tip of their nose.

Well Groomed Pets - Keeping your pet well groomed will help their hair do what it was designed to do: protect them from the sun and insulate them from the heat. If they have extremely thick hair or a lot of mats and tangles, their fur may trap too much heat, so you may want to get it clipped.

Be cautious on humid days - Humidity interferes with animals’ ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we overheat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Our four-legged friends only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of excess heat, animals pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it.  This is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.

Keep an eye out for heat stroke - Heatstroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, you must act quickly and calmly. Call or have someone call a veterinarian immediately. In the meantime, lower the animal’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. With this in mind, remember that it is imperative to get the animal to a veterinarian immediately.

·         Signs of Heatstroke

o   Panting

o   Staring

o   Anxious expression

o   Refusal to obey commands

o   Warm, dry skin

o   High fever

o   Rapid heartbeat

o   Vomiting

o   Collapse