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ASPCA Offers Tips To Keeping Your Pets Safe And Healthy This Summer
Summer officially starts on June 21, and warmer weather can mean danger for your cats and dogs. The ASPCA issued a pet safety advisory today urging pet owners to protect their companion animals during the sweltering summer days. The organization offers these guidelines as a way to keep pets safe when the temperatures begin to rise:
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Never leave an animal alone in a vehicle, since even with the windows open, a parked car, truck or van can quickly become a furnace. Parking in shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day. When traveling, carry a gallon thermos filled with fresh, cold water for your pet.
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Do not force your animal to exercise after a meal in hot, humid weather. Always exercise him in the cool of the early morning or evening.
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Always provide plenty of shade for an animal staying outside the house. A properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day and let her rest in a cool part of your house. Always provide plenty of cool, clean water for your animal.
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Please be sensitive to the needs of old and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs (especially Bulldogs, Pugs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus) and those with heart or lung diseases should be kept indoors in air-conditioning as much as possible.
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Avoid walking your dog in areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals, as poisonings increase during the summer when gardens, lawns and trees are sprayed. These chemicals can sicken or kill an animal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4ANI-HELP) if you suspect your animal has been poisoned.
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Be alert for coolant leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste of coolant and ingesting just a small amount can cause an animal's death. Consider using animal-friendly products that use propylene glycol rather than those containing ethylene glycol.
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A clean coat can help to prevent summer skin problems, so keep your dog or cat well-groomed. If he has a heavy coat, shaving your dog's hair to a one-inch length will help prevent overheating. Do not shave a dog's hair down to the skin; this robs him of protection from the sun. A cat should be brushed frequently to keep his coat tangle-free.
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Never take an animal to the beach unless you can provide a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for him to drink. Rinse him off after he has been in salt water.
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Never leave your dog standing on hot asphalt. His body can heat up quickly and his sensitive paw pads can burn.
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Bring your companion animal to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up including a test for heartworm, if your dog is not on year-round preventive medication. Ask your doctor to recommend a safe pest-control program to combat fleas and ticks.
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To prevent escape and/or accidental falls, make sure all windows in your home are properly screened.
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