♫ ♪ It’s summertime summertime sum sum summertime…summertime summertime sum sum summertime… ♪ ♫
Yep, summer is finally here! And you know what that means, right? Lots of sun and hot temperatures. But with that heat and sun also comes possible dangers for us animals.
Today I wanna share with you pet parents some hot weather safety tips…courtesy of the ASPCA…to keep your pets happy and healthy this summer.
- Make sure your pets are up-to-date on vaccinations and flea protection, especially if they go outside.
- Keep plenty of fresh water available. Pets can become dehydrated very quickly when it’s hot.
- If your pet goes out in the yard, make sure there are shady spots available for him or her to get out of the sun.
- NEVER EVER leave pets alone in a parked car. Did you know that on an 85 degree day it only takes 10 minutes for the inside temperature of a car to reach 102 degrees? And in 30 minutes it can reach 120 degrees or higher.
- Never leave pets unsupervised around pools.
- Warmer weather means open windows and doors. But you should keep all unscreened windows and doors in your home closed…and make sure the screens that you have are secure. You don’t want your pet to get out unexpectedly.
- Asphalt and cement get really hot quickly with the sun beating on them. Don’t let your pet linger for too long on hot asphalt or cement. They could burn their paw pads.
- Keep lawn and garden insecticides and fertilizers out of your pet’s reach.
- Recognize the signs of overheating in a pet…excessive panting, increased heart rate, drooling, weakness, stupor or even collapse. If your pet becomes overheated, you’ll want him or her to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
With the warmer temps, it’s important for pet parents to be vigilant when it comes to their pets to make sure they aren’t overwhelmed by the heat and sun. I hope these tips help you and your pets have a happy and safe summer.
Now it’s time for me to have a long sip of this nip lemonade. Happy Summer!
