The dog days of summer have arrived! Who doesn't look forward to long, warm, sunny days spent outside hiking, camping, and exploring the great outdoors with our family, friends and of course, our loyal pets?
We all love spending time outdoors with our pets during the sunny days of summer. Here are some tips to keep your pet safe during the warm season.
Make sure your pets have unlimited access to fresh water and access to shade when outdoors.
Keep pets at home where you can provide different temperature zones to keep them comfortable.
Never leave your pet in the car on warm days. Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion after being left in parked vehicles, even if parked in the shade with the windows cracked. Cars can reach deadly temperatures quickly, even when the weather doesn't seem severe. On a 75 degree day, the temperature in your car can climb to 110 degrees in minutes. The interior temperature can climb to 130 degrees within 10-20 minutes on a 90 degree day, and cracking the windows makes no difference. So leaving your pets in the car for “just a quick stop at the store” can have serious consequences for them and can turn deadly in minutes.
Take walks, runs, or hikes during cooler hours of the day. Take frequent breaks, and enough water for you and your pet.
Avoid hot surfaces, such as asphalt, that can burn your pet's paws. And remember dirt, sand, and gravel trails can also become hot enough to cause serious injuries to their paws.
Do not leave your pet unsupervised around pools.
The AVMA recommends you seek emergency veterinary care if you observe any of these signs of heat stress:
Anxiousness
Excessive panting
Restlessness
Excessive drooling
Unsteadiness
Abnormal gum and tongue color
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