Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Hot Weather Tips to Help Your Pet Stay Cool This Summer

Summer means enjoying the weather, and for most, with your pet! Remember to keep your pet healthy this summer by keeping them safe in the summer’s high temperatures.


Here are just some of the ways you can help ensure your pets have a safe summer:

Visit the Vet. A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on all necessary vaccinations. Pets should also be given a blood test for heartworm every year in the early spring. The deadly parasite is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, and it is recommended that dogs and cats be on a monthly preventive medication year-round. 

Keep Cool. Dogs and cats can become dehydrated quickly, so give your pets plenty of water when it is hot outdoors. Also make sure your pet has a shady place to escape the sun, and when the temperature is very high, don't let your dog linger on hot asphalt. 

Know the Symptoms. Some symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, seizures, and an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

Summertime is the perfect time for a backyard barbeque or party, but remember to keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression, comas, or even death. Similarly, remember that the snacks you serve your friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments.” Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. 

Water Safety is Pet-friendly. Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool, as not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure pets wear flotation devices while on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset. 




16 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tips! My dog has short hair, so I didn't realize how dangerous overheating could be until I dog-sat a friend's long-haired pooch. We had to go on shortened walks because she would start to pant excessively in all that dark fur.

    Jenn | http://richmondanimalhospital.ca/about-us/

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  2. It gets over 100 degrees almost every day here in Arizona, and we really worry about how my dog is handling the heat. I really hope that he doesn't have heat stroke or anything. We try to keep him cooled off as much as possible. These are some great tips that we'll try out. http://www.caninecentervet.com/

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  3. These are great tips to ensure your pets safety this summer! I actually think I need to take my dog in to see a vet. What type of things can a vet treat?
    Holly James | http://www.swahjc.com/

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  4. A little levity: A cartoon about a hospital stay....

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  5. Here in Arizona it gets over 100 degrees every single day, and some days it gets up to 120. It is so important to keep my little dog cool, and we have been having trouble finding ways. We don't want him drinking our pool water, so we always keep him far away from the swimming pool. http://www.marcumroadvet.com

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  6. We're taking Vader to the lake today. I'll be sure to keep an eye on him. Last year, we were on vacation, and he ate something that made him super sick, so we ended up taking him to the local clinic. It turned out to be a carton of raisins. http://www.georgetownveterinaryhospital.com

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  7. I would love to check this place out. I have been looking for a good place to take my pet. I just haven't found a place that he likes yet. http://richmondanimalhospital.ca/about-us/

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  8. My dog always pants heavily after being outside. I am afraid that it has been too hot recently. I don't like leaving him outside for too long. I want to make sure he drinks enough water.
    Gary Puntman | http://www.caninecentervet.com/

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  9. These are great tips. My Australian Shepherd has a thick coat, but I never want to shave him during the summer. I just make sure to leave plenty of cold water out for him. I think a lot of people don't realize how much more water dogs need to drink during the summer to stay hydrated.

    Claire Reynolds || http://www.windsorvet.com

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  10. Much obliged concerning the tips! My dog has short hair, so I didn't understand how unsafe overheating could be until I dog sat a companion's since a long time ago haired pooch. We needed to go on abbreviated strolls in light of the fact that she would begin to gasp too much in all that dull hide

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  11. I have a lab and she certainly gets hot in the summer. These are some great tips for how I can help keep her cool and safe, especially since it gets very hot in the summers where I live. I always like getting tips from animal hospitals because I know they are reliable.

    Amber | http://www.pinecreekvet.com

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  12. Thank you for outlining the symptoms of overheating! I think my dog (she's a husky) has a hard time with overheating during the summer. I never really knew what to look out for aside from panting! This will definitely help me to know what she needs. You're a lifesaver - thanks! http://www.centersinaianimalhospital.com

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  13. I had to bring my cat to the vet last summer because she had heat exhaustion. I didn't realize she wasn't getting enough water. It is an easy for cats to get dehydrated I guess. It is worth giving attention to. http://montgomeryanimalhospital.com

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  14. It's actually really good to know what to look for in a pet to recognize whether or not they're overheating. My family and I are planning on getting a dog in the next few weeks, and I know that this area can get pretty hot during the summer. We'll have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't have any issues!
    http://tharpanimalhealthcare.com/about.php

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  15. I just got a new dog and i want to take care of him. We are moving to to Arizona and I know that it is hotter than most places and so I want to take precaution. I will try these tips out. http://www.emergencypetclinics.com

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