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Health & Fitness

SUMMERTIME PET SAFETY:10 TIPS

Summertime. It’s hot. We’ve had record temperatures this season, and the ones who can suffer most are our furry friends. Unlike humans, dogs can only sweat through their foot pads and cool themselves by panting. Soaring temperatures can cause heat stroke and be fatal. These are most vital tips for keeping them safe during those dog days of summer.

1). I could easily devote an entire blog to just this tip. We’ve all been told (I HOPE!) to not to leave our pets in a car, even with the windows cracked. It can become a death trap even on a mild sunny day--and can insidiously raise the car's temperature to well above 120 degrees! Never, ever leave your pet inside the car. If your Buddy can't come with you when you get out of the car, leave him at home. And if you see a dog in a car, don’t hesitate to call the police. It takes less then 10 minutes to cause serious or deadly damage.

2.) Leaving animals outdoors without shelter is just as dangerous as leaving them inside a hot car. Be sure they are not left in a cage in the hot sun, on a chain in the backyard, or outdoors in a run without sufficient shade or air circulation.

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3).Your swimming pool is great, your dog loves the pool, and he loves to go after float toys in the pool.  He’s a great swimmer right? But does he know how to get out of the pool?  In Los Angeles alone, 300,000 dogs drown each year in swimming pools because they can’t find their way out.  They will continue to swim, looking for a way out but become exhausted and drown. Putting some kind of reflector in front of the pool steps and physically teaching your dog how to get out, can, and probably will, save his life.

4). Does your dog wear a life vest on your boat?  Why not?  How long would it take you to come about and get him out?  Whether it’s a powerboat or a sailboat, your dog can drown before you get to him. 

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 5.)Would you like a nice hot glass of water when you’re thirsty?  Water bowls, which cannot be tipped over, need to be changed at minimum, twice a day. Adding a couple of ice cubes is a nice treat, too.

6).)  Don’t sweat it. It’s common for dogs to lose weight in the summer. It gets hotter, dogs eat less, and probably spend a lot more time just trying to relax and keep from getting hot (especially if your husky isn't shaved down). Extra exercise if your dog goes in the water to escape the heat could also contribute to weight loss.  If you take notice, people tend to do the same thing!

7.)  Talk to your vet about heartworm prevention. If your cat goes outside, your vet may prescribe your feline a heartworm prevention product. Heartworm disease is spread through mosquitoes and can lead to death, according to The Humane Society of the United States.

8.) In very hot, humid weather, never exercise dogs by cycling while they try to keep up or by running them while you jog. Dogs will collapse before giving up, at which point it may be too late to save them.

9.) Offer your dog several ways to cool off. Leave a fan on in a place where your dog can sit in front of it, or a Kong that’s stuffed with wet food or peanut butter, then frozen, is cooling and a great way to keep your dog entertained.

10.) If you see a dog showing any symptoms of heatstroke–including restlessness, heavy panting, vomiting, lethargy, and lack of appetite or coordination–get the animal into the shade immediately. You can lower a symptomatic dog’s body temperature by providing the dog with water, by applying a cold towel to the dog’s head and chest, or by immersing the dog in tepid (not freezing cold) water. Then immediately call a veterinarian.

Even with emergency treatment, heatstroke can be fatal. The best cure is prevention, and your furry friends are relying on you to keep them out of harm's way. Summer does not have to be fraught with peril--with ample precaution, both of you can enjoy the long, hot, dog-days of summer.

 

 

Jennifer Mielziner is the owner of Fer's Furry Friends, a professional non-violent reward based method of pet training, professional pet sitter, and pet consultant for over 35 years in Los Angeles, California. fersfurryfriends@gmail.com

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