Keep Your Pets Safe

This summer is starting to heat up and we are just heading into traditionally the hottest part of the summer. Yikes!

When it is this hot, we need to take good care of ourselves and protect our pets from the heat.

Our pets don’t cool their bodies like we do. A dog cools his body by panting. A cat cools by sweating through their paws.

Keep your pets safe with these tips:

Keep your dog away from stagnant water. As water warms and the blue-green algae grows, the water becomes very toxic to your pets (and humans). If your pet ingests the infected water by drinking or cleaning themselves, it can be deadly within minutes and there is no cure. With the drought and the heat, there is a lot of stagnant water around – watch out.
Use the 5 second rule. Check the pavement with your hand to see how warm it is. If you can’t keep your hand on the asphalt for 5 seconds, it is hot enough to burn their pads and too hot to take them for a walk/run.
Even though it is tempting to turn the AC off or up when we leave for work during the day, consider having it cool enough so your pets stay comfortable.
Never leave a pet in a vehicle on a warm day. Even with the windows cracked, it doesn’t take long for the temperature inside the vehicle to reach over 100°.
Do not take your dog for a walk or run during the heat of the day. Early in the morning or at sunset is a better time for you and your pet.
If your pet is an outside pet, make sure it has access to plenty of shade, water and a way to keep cool. When it gets excessively hot, consider bringing them in just like you would on those frigid cold nights.
Have a kiddy pool on hand if your dog likes water. Ours will just go and lay in it to cool off.
Even if your pet doesn’t like water, when you are concerned he might be over heating, cool him down by soaking his head with cold water from a hose or wet towels.

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