The summer months can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It’s difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results.
I had a lovely german shepherd. He lived a long happy life with me. I often joke he lived a better life than me!
Here are a few of the tips I used during the summer months.
#1 Never leave your pets in a parked car.
Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.
#2 Limit exercise on hot days
Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. The cement can be really hot! Their paws can burn.
#3 Provide ample shade and water
Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible.
Lets us also not forget flea and tick prevention. Some people here in the north east only use this during the summer months BUT I beg to differ that it should be year round, but it is a necessity in the summer months. I have two rescue dogs who suffer from two different diseases that could have been avoided. One flea can turn into an infestation when you have multiple pets. Fleas can jump from your dog to your cat and even to you. Some animals are allergic to fleas and will greatly suffer with just one. You make think the preventative meds are too expensive but it is a fraction of the cost you could pay if your pet were to contract a life long condition from a tick. I never knew how devastating these diseases could be until I adopted a dog that had lyme’s disease and erlichiosys . And again all avoidable.