Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot! Essential Summer Pet Safety Tips

The heat, the humidity, the warm nights…these are the qualities that define summer here in the South (did we mention the humidity?). But there are also some wonderful things about summer, like vacations and weekends spent at the beach. Celebrating the activities that come with warm weather also means we must be extra aware of our pet companions.

Summer pet safety is a big area of concern here at Animal Medical Hospital. To help you keep fun flowing all season long, let’s take a look at some summer pet safety tips!

Heat Stress and Your Pet

Hot weather is simply a part of life, but keep in mind the heat is especially hard on pets. They don’t have the same defenses when it comes to high temps – namely, they aren’t able to sweat to cool themselves down. Along with this fact is the misconception that animals tolerate outdoor extremes because, well, they’re animals. However, this simply isn’t true.

Heat stroke is a very real threat. Thousands of cats, dogs, and other animals die each year because they get stuck in a confined space or are left in a parked car. Protect your pet in the following ways:

• Never leave your pet tied up outside or without shade outdoors.
• Whether it’s a walk to the park or a trip in the car, always keep your pet hydrated by bringing water wherever you go. Also keep plenty of bowls of clean, fresh water indoors and in the yard.
• Offer shade when out on the ocean, boat, or lake.
• Know the signs of heat stroke; treat each situation as an emergency!
• Never leave your pet in a parked car, even in the shade.
• Paw injuries are common during the summer. Check the temperature of the ground or other exposed areas, and outfit your pet with protective booties if they’re going to be walking on a hot surface.

Out and About

Not everyone wants to sit around in the air conditioning all day, every day, and pets are no different. Walks, outdoor activities, and fresh air are important to our animal companions, but what are fun, safe ideas of things you can do when temps soar? Consider the following:

Create a water park in the backyard using a kiddie pool for your pet or simply allow them to splash around in a sprinkler.

• Take shorter walks during cooler times of the day.
• Drive to a new park that has lots of shade and grass.
• Make some cool, DIY frozen pet treats.
• Provide your indoor pet with plenty of new toys and other forms of enrichment when it’s simply too hot to go outside.

Summer Pet Safety is Easy!

We hope you found our tips for summer pet safety helpful. Is your pet in need of parasite prevention or a checkup? Please give us a call to schedule an appointment with a member of our friendly team. See you soon, and enjoy the summer!