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Cool Pet Tips for the Dog
Days of Summer
Just like their human companions, dogs
and cats enjoy the carefree and playful summer months. During the days when the
temperature and humidity soars, you need to take special care to keep your pets
safe and comfortable. Due to their limited ability to keep cool, pets can become
overheated quickly. Overheating can result in heat exhaustion, heat stroke and
even death. The following tips will aid in keeping your beloved companions happy
and healthy throughout the summer months and help them “keep their cool” as the
mercury rises.
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- Never leave pets in a parked car in summer,
even with windows partially open. The temperature inside a parked car
rises very quickly and can kill a pet in less than 10 minutes!
- Avoid vigorous exercise during the heat of the
day. Take dogs out in the early morning or evening hours when the
heat is not so intense. Stop and let your dog drink often while
exercising. Remember, hot asphalt can seriously burn the pads of their
feet.
- Pets that are older, overweight, long- or
thick-coated and dogs with short muzzles are at great risk for
overheating. They’ll be safest and happiest in an air-conditioned
environment in hot weather.
- Outdoor pets should always have plenty of
cool, fresh water to drink and a safe, shaded area to retreat to.
Make sure water is kept in a tip-proof bowl. If possible, bring outside
pets indoors on very hot or humid days.
- Signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion
may include heavy panting or drooling, unsteadiness, glazed eyes, rapid
pulse, a deep red or purple tongue, vomiting and loss of consciousness.
Seek veterinary care immediately.
- Your pet’s coat helps insulate him from the
heat as well as protect against sunburn. Clipping or shaving pets
too close in an effort to keep them cool can actually result in LESS
protection. If you choose to give your pet a summer cut, keep it to a
one-inch length and never shave down to the skin.
- If your dog isn’t on heartworm medication,
have her tested, then put her on a prevention program. Mosquitoes,
plentiful in summer, can carry heartworm larvae and infect your pet.
- Flea bites can cause severe itching and
allergic reactions, and ingestion of fleas can result in tapeworms!
Ticks carry diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and can cause
anemia. Your veterinarian can recommend a good flea and tick control
program. Remember that pests are far easier to prevent than to get rid
of.
- Always equip your pet with identification.
I.D. tags are helpful but must be worn at all times. Tattoo or microchip
methods are very effective in helping to recover lost pets.
- Keep lawn chemicals and automotive fluids out
of reach of pets to prevent accidental poisoning.
Taking simple precautions will go a long way in keeping your pet safe
during the lazy days of summer.
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Debra
and Tom Allen of Dolores, Colorado share their home with an assortment of
animals including two dogs, Mokka and Hazel, as well as 18 newly acquired
chickens and two mules. 