Summer Safety Tips for Pet Owners
By: Wei Kang Z.
Summer Safety Tips for Pet Owners: As the temperature rises throughout the summer months, you need to be wary of the dangers that come along with it. Your pets, especially the furry ones, can overheat or get dehydrated very quickly. Here are some tips for keeping your pet safe in the summer.
No Clothing
Don’t put clothes on your pets. In the summertime, it’s going to be hot and putting a sweater on your pet doesn’t help it with heat-related problems. If you make your animal wear clothes during the hot summer times, your pet is more likely to overheat, especially if it is furrier. It’s only best to put clothes on pets during the colder weather. Adding to that, pets aren’t usually pleased with wearing clothes; sometimes, it can cause discomfort, stress, and sometimes injuries. There is no reason to sacrifice your pet’s safety and comfort for a little bit of fashion.
Keep Them Hydrated
Make sure that your pet has enough water and shade. Ensure that you carry enough water for both you and your pet when you are taking them out for a walk. If need be, you can change your pet’s food with something with more moisture to keep your pet more hydrated. If you have a dog, then it will drink water and pant to cool itself off.
Watch for signs of dehydration like heavy panting, dry or bright red gums, thick drool, vomiting, diarrhea, or wobbly legs. At this point, you should find some shade and put a damp towel over it and call a vet as soon as possible. Use lukewarm to cool water to soak the towel. Do not put it in cold water because the instant temperature change can cause the pet to go into shock. If your pet goes into shock, it will start acting aggressive and restless, then it will have problems intaking air, and lastly, it could stop breathing.
Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is also an excellent way to protect your pet in the summer because your pet is also susceptible to sunburns. You should apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours on the spots with the least amount of hairs like the belly, behind the ears, and its face. We recommend you use sunscreen made for pets because it will contain substances that won’t be as bad for your pet if ingested. Applying sunscreen will help avoid larger medical issues later on because, just like us humans, animals can also get skin cancer.
Hair Cuts
Getting your pet’s fur trimmed or thinned down for the summer may also help with the heat. Ensure that if you are going to trim your pet, you don’t shave all of its fur. The fur can help insulate your pet while it is outside, and it also is required when winter comes. Don’t trim them yourself; let professionals do the work because they are trained to groom pets.
Bugs and Diseases
Parasites are going to be a big problem during the summer seasons. Mosquitos, ticks, and fleas are going to be out for your pets, and some of them carry diseases or other parasites that will harm your pet. To prevent this, ask your vet for appropriate medication to keep the pests off of your pet.
Conclusion
It would be best if you took your pets out early in the morning or when the sun is setting, not when it’s at its peak. This is because those are the times when it’s going to be cooler when you step outside. After every adventure, it’s ideal to spray your pet with water or rub it with a cold towel; make sure that you rub its paws and stomach.
Links:
https://www.petcoach.co/article/do-pets-like-wearing-clothes/
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