Who does not love summer? Longer days than nights, bright sunny days, lots of playtime and walks, swimming and going to the beach or lake and having cool and yummy treats!
But, as much as we love the hot season, it can pose issues and problems to our pets if we don’t attend to them and care for them. They need it more during summer than in other seasons.
Here are some tips to care for your beloved furry babies the best way. Read on to know more!
Watch out for heatwave symptoms
Dogs can experience panting, and sometimes excessively, during a heatwave. If they are panting and have a moist nose and paws, they are uncomfortable and hot.
To address this, help cool them down by giving them a cool environment and cool water to drink.
Please don’t ever, EVER leave dogs in the car unattended
Unless your car has an automatic cooling system for dogs or someone else is in the car with them, please do not leave them there unattended.
It only takes minutes for dogs to suffocate or get heatstroke in a car. If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter inside a car. In fact, the temperature can double if you don’t park in the shade.
So, is it ok to park in the shade and leave them? Absolutely not! Even under the shade, the temperature in the car can rise 15 more degrees.
When parked under a shade, the temperature in the car can get to 30°C (86°F) and 70°C (158°F) when parked under direct sunlight. We can’t stand that heat and neither can they.
Keep your pet’s paws off of hot surfaces
Dog paws are sensitive when exposed to heat. If it’s too hot, keep them off of hot surfaces like metal, asphalt or sand. Don’t put them at the back of the truck either. Carry them or get them rubber booties to protect their paws.
If in case they get burns, rub ice on their paws and apply a topical solution recommended by their vet.
Have them groomed
Summer calls for a haircut for pets with long hair or thick fur. It is crucial you have them groomed if you don’t know how to.
Their hair and fur keep them warm during the cold season. But they add heat to the already hot temperature during summer. It will do them great if you have them groomed.
Address those parasites
Parasites do love summer as well and they are most active during this season. They grow in number during hot seasons and infect our dogs. In fact, some of them can really be harmful.
Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they can’t inflict a serious damage and life-threatening condition.
Dogs can get spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease or heartworm to name a few. To prevent this, arm yourself (or your dogs) with anti-tick products like medicated or natural anti-tick shampoo, sprays or collars.
To treat an infection if it happens, topical treatments can be used such as creams and ointments, or oral medications such as chewable tablets. The best thing to do though is to go to the vet.
Get them summer accessories
This can be:
- Hats
- Hoodies
- Breathable tees
- Collars (anti-tick if possible)
- Rubber booties
- Water dish
Don’t forget to check them periodically for ticks and fleas
Ticks and fleas can be anywhere on their body, but pay close attention to their paws, especially near their nails, behind the ears and behind the collar.
Taking care of your dogs during summer can help you spend less if otherwise. I hope these tips give a helping hand in taking care of your pets during this hot season!