If your dog loves the water, go play a game of fetch in the waves! But never leave your pooch unattended.
Summertime provides a great opportunity to spend more time with your pets, whether you are enjoying beautiful outdoor weather at the park with your dog or spending a lazy Sunday in your apartment with your cat.
Summertime can also bring certain dangers with it for pets, however.
Follow these tips to pay careful attention to the needs of your pets in hot weather. They depend on you, so protect your animal friends with tips like these!
Be sun smart
The first rule of summertime pet care is be careful when out in the sun. Remember that pets can experience heat exhaustion just like people. Buy pet-safe sunscreen and apply it to your dog’s nose and ears so he won’t burn. Stick to shady areas when playing outside with your pet. Limit the amount of time you keep your pets in the sun to make sure they don’t over-exert themselves.
Never leave your pet in the car
This is a basic rule of pet safety. Even if you anticipate a quick run into a store, don’t leave your pet in the car while you shop. In summer, a car’s internal temperature can skyrocket, and the inside can become like an oven. Just don’t take the risk of harming your pet in a hot car!
More pet articles on the AG Blog
- Top 5 Apps for Pet Owners
- Help Fluffy or Fido Stay Healthy with Homemade Pet Treats
- Get Your Apartment Ready to Bring Home a Kitten
- Appreciation of Man’s Best and Oldest Friend (Infographic)
- Best Pet-Friendly Festivals Nationwide
Keep your pet well-hydrated
Just as you need to stay well-hydrated in summertime, you will want to make sure your pet has access to plenty of water. You might add an extra water station in your apartment for your pet. If you have trouble, say, getting your cat to drink, make things fun for your furry roommate by getting him or her a water fountain. They can be inexpensive, and the movement of the water could entice your pet to drink more.
Don’t leave your pet unsupervised around water
In summertime, it’s fun to take dogs to the lake or the pool to lounge around. Don’t leave pets unsupervised near water, however — especially if you are unsure of their swimming skills. If you cannot spend all of your time watching a dog by the water, leave her at home or invest in a pet life jacket or flotation device.
Get your pet groomed in summertime
How would you like to wear extra, heavy layers of clothing in summertime? Summer is the perfect time to take your pet in for grooming to get rid of excess fur that can drive up body temperature. You don’t want to shave all the fur off, however, because some fur will shade your pet’s body from the sun. Discuss with your vet or groomer the appropriate length for both your pet’s health and beauty.
Schedule a check-up
Keep up with kitty or pooch health care by visiting the veterinarian for a checkup. In summertime, it’s more likely your pet will spend more time around other pets; you want to make sure he or she doesn’t pick up any parasites or other infections during playtime. Keep in mind that warmer weather may place more physical demands on your pet than they experience in the winter months.
Chip and collar your pet
Make sure your pets have proper identification by chipping and collaring them. On an outdoor adventure, or even while a door or window is propped open, your pet could run off. Having the right identification can make it easier to find them, should they get lost.
Test your window screens
Speaking of open windows, if you plan to let some air into your apartment this way, be sure to test your screens. Ensure your pets can’t push them out. This is especially important if you live on a higher floor where a fall out a window might mean disaster!
The dog days are a perfect time to have lots of fun with your pets, but you also have to take extra care to keep them healthy and happy. A few warm-weather safety precautions will go a long way toward keeping them safe and sound this summer!
Photo credits: Shutterstock / Stanimir G. Stoev, Daria Filimonova
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