Summer Pet Safety - Page 2
A Safe Place to Stay.
 Your pet needs shelter from the sun and from summer storms. Don't leave them unprotected. Be sure they have all-day cover.
The sun moves all day long. Morning shade has gone by noon. When you return home, "Ralph" could have been sitting in the full sun for 3 or 4 hours with his water tipped over. If you can't provide shade and protection outside that will last all day, consider taking your pet inside with you.
Insects and Crawly Things
Pets are naturally attracted to buzzing sounds and flying things. They'll chase and try to catch bees, wasps, and spiders. All provide venom in their sting, and some spiders are deadly. Fleas can carry tapeworm, mosquitos carry heartworm and ticks may spread lyme disease.
There are several preventatives available for these pests and you should have your pets checked and use the appropriate treatments. Some pets are very sensitive to stings and may need medical help, but any sting hurts and the site may swell.
You may be able to provide some relief for minor bites by holding a cool, wet cloth on the site. Check with your veterinarian for their recommendations. Fleas and ticks can be controlled by the monthly application of a repellent made for your pet, such as Frontline Plus™ for cats or Frontline Plus™ for dogs. Be very careful about what you use on your cat. They lick themselves while grooming and may ingest the product.
Summer Shaving
If you've tried everything you can think of to keep your dog cool in the summer:
(a wading pool, a hose mister, frozen bottles of water for her to lay on), you may be considering a shave.
Keep in mind that they don't cool themselves through the skin - like we do, and the hair does provide some insulation from heat and sunburn.
Don't shave them completely to the skin -- leave an inch or two of hair. It does make them easier to groom during all of the extra swimming and field romping, but, they still need grooming to be pleasant to be around. It will take a few months for the hair to grow back and sometimes the "regrowth" isn't quite the same; but, unless you're showing in confirmation, only their comfort matters. If you have doubts about your breed, talk to your veterinarian.
Summer Care Page 1
Planning a trip?
We have a fairly extensive series that covers: traveling with your pet and poisonous plants.
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