OK Folks! It’s that time of year again when pet parents need to review their Summer Pet Safety Tips.
Can you recognize heat stroke in your pet? If you suspect your pet has heatstroke (signs are listed below), you must act quickly and calmly. Call your vet immediately. In the meantime, lower the pet’s body temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of their body. Often the pet will respond after only a few minutes of cooling, only to falter again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is normal. Pets that are more prone to heatstroke are: dogs with short snouts, shorter pets that are closer to the ground and darker colored pets.
Signs of Heatstroke
- Panting
- Staring
- Anxious expression
- Refusal to obey commands
- Warm, dry skin
- High fever
- Rapid heartbeat
- Vomiting
- Collapse
Here’s a few more obvious things all pet parents need to know
Never Leave your pet in your car! Temps inside your car can get up to 120 degrees F in a matter of minutes
Pets need access to lots of fresh water-if your pets stay outside during the day DO NOT use metal water bowls. The sun can heat up these bowls making the water too hot to drink. If your dog needs water during his walk you might want to get a special water bowl to carry with you. You can find all kinds of traveling bowls and water bottles at your local pet store or at your favorite outdoor store.
Pets need sunscreen too- if your pet has light skin or hair they are more prone to sunburn. You can rub a little sunscreen on their unprotected areas like the tips of their ears, around their lips and on the tips of their nose.
Trim your pet’s fur- if they have really thick fur or are prone to mats or tangles it’s a good idea to brush them daily or get them a nice summer hair cut.
Watch out for Anti-Freeze! When the weather gets hot you’ll notice your dog trying to drink from puddles found on the street or in driveways. It’s a bad idea to let them drink form these because these puddles are usually filled with chemicals like antifreeze. Antifreeze has a sweet taste pets love but is extremely toxic!
Hope you have a happy and safe Summer!
~Furrr
