Memorial Day weekend has come and gone and we have plunged into the summer fun season, with all the opportunities it provides. But with the heat comes possible dangers! SOOOOO it is also a time to be aware and take precautions to keep your houndie safe.
These suggestions were pulled from Modern Dog Magazine, Journal of the American Medical Association and the Pet Health Network.
The Sun and Pavement
The SUN can lead to scorched paws, sunburns, heatstroke, and even loss of life. And it cannot be stressed enough — Heat can rise rapidly in cars—on a sunny day, temperatures rise about 10°C (50°F) above the temperature outside within 10 minutes, San Francisco State University meteorologist Jan Null tells The Globe and Mail. After 30 minutes it’s 19°C (66°F) hotter in a car than it is outside. It literally takes only minutes for a pet to develop heat stroke and die in a hot car.
So if you’re running errands, just leave your dog at home—everything has a way of taking longer than you expect it to.
The sun can also wreck havoc on your dog’s sensitive paws. The surface of an asphalt road can get as hot as 60°C (140° F) on a hot summer day. Would you want to walk barefoot on that? If you live somewhere hot, protect your dog’s feet with a pair of dog booties, walk on the grass, walk early in the day or late in the evening to avoid the hotter temperatures. Test the surface with your own bare foot. If you don’t want to walk on it, your dog probably doesn’t either.
Dogs get sunburns too!
Believe it or not, dogs can sunburn, especially those with short or light-colored coats. And just like with people, sunburns can be painful for a dog and overexposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer. Talk to your veterinarian about sunscreens for your dog (don’t assume a sunscreen for people is appropriate for your dog).
It’s also not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck – the hot metal can burn paws quickly (and they can fall out and be injured or killed in an accident).
Water
Water can be dangerous as well—many dogs drown in swimming pools every year. Install a pet ramp, such as Skamper Ramp, in your pool so that your pup can climb out if they fall in, and prevent your dog from reaching the water unsupervised in the first place with a pet enclosure or gate. Lucky Dog Pet Kennels provide enclosures that put an emphasis on dog safety, great for even for “escape artist” dogs. (They also make kennels with roofs to provide shelter and protect against UV rays.)
Don’t assume your dog can swim well. Just because dogs instinctively know how to swim, doesn’t mean they’re good swimmers. And if your dog jumps in your swimming pool, he might not be able to get out without help and could easily drown. Again, make sure your dog can’t get into your swimming pool without you around.
Give your dog his very own “kiddy pool”. Dogs who love the water, naturally love it even more during the hot months, and getting wet keeps them cool. Providing a small, kid-sized pool will go over big.
Your dog should always have access to fresh drinking water and shade. Dogs get much thirstier than we do when they get hot, and other than panting and drinking, they really have no way to cool themselves down. Keep your pet in the shade as often as possible. While dogs sometime like to sunbathe, direct sunlight can overheat them and cause heat stroke.
Finally !!!
PARASITES
Make sure your dog is protected from parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. If not protected, your dog is at risk for heartworm, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a host of other nasty and dangerous conditions. And don’t forget, many of these diseases can be caught by people too!
ESCAPE
If there’s no fence, keep your dog on a leash
Summertime means all sorts of exciting sights, scents, critters running around, and new and exciting places to explore. Some dogs just are not good off leash and you don’t want to lose your dog because he became distracted in an unfamiliar environment. Make sure you know and understand your dog’s tendencies and err on the side of being overly-cautious. Keep the windows at your house screened. You may want your house to be ventilated, but you definitely do not want your dog jumping out!
If your dog ever does escape your house, yard or petsitter, you can be prepared for that as well. (The American Humane estimates that over ten millions dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year) Microchipping helps increase the odds that you will find your lost pet. You can also set up your pup with a Help4Pets ID tag. http://help4pets.com These easy-to-spot ID tags are like a 911 call for your pet—if someone finds your dog and calls the number, they’re connected with a team of specialists who will contact you and help in any emergency. You can ensure that medical treatment is authorized in case your pet is found injured and you can’t be located, or they can provide emergency vet referrals if your vet is unavailable or if you are travelling. With nothing to plug in or scan, you can ensure that help for your dog is just a phone call away!
WEIGHT
Summer is the perfect time to increase your dog’s level of exercise and aim for tip-top shape; however be aware that over the winter extra pounds may have been added to our dog’s physique. A pet that maintains a healthy weight throughout his lifetime will live, on average, 2-3 years longer than an overweight pet! Just make sure not to over-exert your dog. Talk to your veterinarian, give him adequate rest and if your dog is especially overweight, make sure you ease him into physical activity!
As always, make sure you consult with your veterinarian and get their input on any questions or concerns you have about your pets and any possible changes in their routine in warm summer weather.
#summersafety