Living in a cold weather climate like ours means most of us live for summer… our pets included. After months of being cooped up inside, we can finally enjoy outdoor activities like hanging by the pool, hiking, camping and road tripping.
However, it’s very important to remember that spending more time outside during the summer can also bring health risks to your furry friends. Awareness of these risks and prevention can go a long way in making sure you and your dogs have a happy and healthy summer.
1. Car Safety
Hopefully, by now you know that leaving your dog in a car for even a few minutes can be incredibly dangerous. The inside of cars heat up very quickly and can lead to dire consequences for pets. If you can’t bring your pet wherever you’re doing, it’s best to just leave them at home. Check out our infographic on protecting your dogs from the heat for more tips.
And when it comes to road trips, remember that the safest option is to put your dog in a crate that’s large enough for them to be comfy. And don’t forget to bring along all the supplies they’ll need along the way: food, bottled water, toys, bed, blanket, leash, collar or harness, bowl, first aid kit and poop bags.
2. Tick Safety
If you plan on taking your dog into woods or other areas that you know have ticks, make sure your dog is up to date on vaccinations for diseases that ticks carry. You can also try products like flea and tick collars or medications that help repel ticks. And make it a habit to carefully check your dog for ticks every day if you’re hiking or camping. If you happen to find one, remove the tick right away and keep an eye on the area afterwards.
3. Swimming Safety
If you and your pups are ever hanging out by a pool, a beach or on a boat, constant supervision is a must. And even if your dog is a strong swimmer, a life vest is a smart way to be extra careful.
4. Garden Safety
When choosing plants for your garden or letting your dog nose around a friend’s garden, you should be aware of the plants that can be toxic to dogs. A few of the common ones are lilies of the valley, azaleas, mums, hydrangeas and rhododendrons but you can find a more complete list of plants here.
5. Sidewalk Safety
If you’ve ever gone out without shoes on a very hot day, you’re well aware that sidewalks can sometimes feel hot enough to fry an egg! Remember this when walking your dogs on very hot days. To avoid danger, don’t walk your dog at the hottest part of the day and try to allow them to walk on grass instead of the sidewalk.
6. Hydration Safety
Just like us, dogs need extra water when it’s hot out. Make sure your pups have access to fresh cold water both inside and outside at all times. And on super hot days, turn on the hose or sprinkler and let them play to cool down.
Summer can be the most fun time of the year for people and pups alike. Being aware of the most common risk and doing your best to avoid them can ensure that you both can keep the fun going all season long.
