Hot Weather Tips for Your PetWe all enjoy spending long sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but being overeager in hot weather can spell danger. Even the healthiest pets can suffer from dehydration, heat stroke, and sunburn if overexposed to the heat. Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated promptly. If you suspect your pet is suffering from heat stroke, apply cool towels to belly, armpits and pads, do not cool with ice water, and take to a veterinarian immediately.
Made in the ShadePets can get dehydrated quickly. When it's hot outdoors, make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun with plenty of fresh clean water. Keep them indoors when it's extremely hot.
Know the Warning SignsSymptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rates, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or even collapse. Additional symptoms include seizures, bloody diarrhea, and vomit along with an elevated body temperature in excess of 104 degrees. Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
Never leave animals alone in a parked vehicle! On a hot day, a parked car can become a furnace quickly—even with the windows open—leading to fatal heat stroke.
Street SmartsWhen the temperature is very high, don't let pets linger on hot asphalt. Your pet’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.
No Parking!
Make a Safe SplashDo not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all animals are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually making sure they wear flotation devices while on boats. Rinse off pets after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from their fur, and try to keep them from drinking pool water.
Party Animals Snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet. Remember, some foods and drinks may be poisonous to pets. 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. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets.
Fireworks Aren't Very Pet-riotic Please leave pets at home when you head out to Independence Day celebrations. Never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks or even unused fireworks can be hazardous, with the potential to cause severe burns or trauma to curious pets.
Visit the Vet Make sure your pets have all the vaccinations they need. Rabies vaccinations are required by law in all states. If you plan on taking your pets hunting, hiking, camping, fishing, or swimming, be aware that Idaho is an endemic area for Leptospirosis; a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil surviving for weeks or months. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with contaminated urine in water or soil. Kennel cough vaccine is recommended if your pet will be boarded. Last but not least, remember to give your pet a monthly Heartworm Prevention and Frontline® Plus for fleas and ticks.
