5 Hot Summer Pet Safety Tips
Summer is officially here fur friends! That means a lot more time spent outdoors enjoying the sun, the beach, the water, and all that mother nature has to offer. And who doesn’t want to spend this time in the great outdoors with their furry companions right along with them? Well, while that may be the case, hot weather can make for some unique summer pet care challenges, and high temperatures can actually be dangerous to our pets in some situations. As many of us know, our fur babies do not sweat the same way we do and can easily become over-heated. Here, are 5 Hot Summer Pet Safety Tips to keep your pets cool, and safe while enjoying summer!
Always bring H20
During the hot summer months many pets can suffer from dehydration. So, it is really important that we carry around and provide water wherever we go. It is also important that we stop to make sure they are drinking as much as possible. Dogs tend to get more thirsty than us humans do, when it gets hot. Remember to check-in with your BFF. Some tell tale signs of dehydration are excessive drooling, heavy panting, wobbly legs/an inability to walk, and dry gums.
Never Leave Your Pet(s) in The Car
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but many of us love to travel with our pets wherever we go, and we know they love to come with us on all of our “adventures.” However, many pet owners are forced to leave their pets in their cars when they have to go inside stores, or for various appointments. Summer temperatures outside can rise pretty high, which means that the inside of your vehicle can become a very dangerous place to hang out. It actually takes less than 10 minutes to develop heat stroke in cats and dogs, when left inside a hot car. It is also illegal in many States to leave your pets inside cars, due to the extremely dangerous conditions. So, this summer please leave your pets at home, or at daycare (:P), or take them with you when you leave the car.
Do NOT Shave Your Pet
This might be a new one for some readers, but while you might think shaving your pet will help them stay cooler during summer months, our pets’ coat’s actually naturally help them to keep cool when temperatures rise. This is especially true for those double-coated breeds such as Huskies, Shepherd breeds, Collies, and even Golden Retrievers. What naturally occurs for these breeds is they will shed their undercoat in summer, leaving “guard” hairs that provide help with insulation, protection from sun, and allowing cool air to circulate near the skin. When you shave them, whatever fuzzy coat is left after will prevent cool air from getting to the skin properly. Being shaved also lets sun through to the skin, and many double-coated breeds have pale or pink skin. Just like humans, this type of skin leaves them more susceptible to burns and overheating. Your best bet is to take your pooch to the Groomer and ask them for their professional advice.
Avoid Sunburn with Sun Lotion
This brings us to our next point. Yup, you read that right! As we mentioned in our previous point, our puppy’s skin when exposed to the hot hot sun, can get burnt just like ours. This is true for all breeds (if the coat is not properly managed), and especially for dogs with lighter colored coats and noses, as well as very short haired breeds. Not only do sunburns hurt our pets, and lead to overheating, they can also lead to skin cancer. It is not unheard of to use some extra protection for “at-risk” puppy skin. That all being said, many commercially available “pet safe” sunscreens still contain ingredients that are toxic to our pets. Ingredients like DMDM Hydantoin, and Propylene Glycol. It would be a good idea to consult with your vet first before lathering your pups up with sunscreen. You could also go the natural route and find some home-remedies like: Carrot Seed Oil (not essential oils) have an average SPF of 35, and Raspberry Seed Oil has a broad spectrum SPF of 20.
Keep Cool Paws
Our pets paws are VERY sensitive to extreme heat. So, when taking your pets outside for a walk on a super hot sunny day, try to keep them off hot surfaces like asphalt or cement. If impossible, try to stick to the shady areas only. These surfaces can get so hot that they can burn our fur friends poor feet, as well as increase their overall body temperatures. A great tip for checking how hot is too hot, is to place your palm down on the concrete or asphalt and if you cannot hold it there for a solid 5 seconds than it is TOO hot for you pup to go walking on. If that is the case, try taking your pup for his/her regular walks in the early AM or later in the evening when the temperatures are lower.
Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun this summer! Let us know in the comments below what are of your summer pet safety precautions that you take for your pets!
