Tuesday, June 19th, 2018
Summertime is here once again and we’re sure you can’t wait to get out there and bask under the rays of that golden summer sun. But before you do that, remember that summertime can also cause a few problems, not just for us humans, but for our pets as well. Animals are not spared from the harshness of the summer heat. Unlike humans who can sweat out the heat, dogs have to pant to cool themselves down. Rapid panting or thick, sticky saliva could be early signs of heat stroke. They are also very susceptible to sunburn and paw pad burns. Protect them from the dangers by being prepared and knowing what to look out for. We’ve come up with a list of ways you and your pets can keep cool during this summer.
Lots of Water
Give your pets access to lots of cool drinking water. Keep their water bowl in the shade or drop some ice cubes in to keep the water cool. It’s important to keep prevent dehydration and heat exhaustion. If you’re at the beach, have some portable drinking water for you and your dog or they might be tempted to drink the sea water. If you ever forget to leave your pet any drinking water on your way to work or school, Pet Nanny can send someone over to take care of it for you.
Water Fun
You should hose them up at the yard, especially their faces, paw pads, and bellies. Heat can really refract from cement and concrete pavements, trapping the heat and quite possibly leaving burns on your pets’ more sensitive areas. If you have a pool, playing catch with your dog isn’t such a bad idea either. Not all dogs are natural swimmers though, so have some doggie floaters with you just in case.
Avoid Excessive Sun Exposure
Make sure your pets have access to shade at all times. Leaving them under the sun for extended periods of time is unadvisable, to say the least. Aside from dehydration and heat exhaustion, too much sun exposure can leave pets sunburnt as well. While their fur can offer minimal cover, their exposed areas such as their noses, mouths, and ears are very susceptible to sun damage. Specially-made UV sunscreens are available for dogs. Just make sure you do your research on what products are safe to use on your pets.
Exercise Early Morning or at Night
If you need to take your pets out for their daily exercise, be sure to do it either early in the morning or at night. This way you can avoid the sun at its warmest and have a nice and cool comfortable walk with your pet. Don’t have the time to walk your dog? No sweat! Give us a call at Pet Nanny and we’ll provide you with the best professional pet-walking and exercise services anytime you need it.
Stay Away from Crowded Places
If you have a few summer concerts or festivals lined up, might be a good idea to leave your pets at home. Think about the heat and noise coming from the crowd which could just lead to stress and anxiety for your pets. This shouldn’t mean you need to keep your pet isolated or stop them from socializing. A park with lots of shade and space to run around would be a much better alternative.
Never Leave Your Pet Inside Your Car
Never under any circumstances should you leave your pet inside your car. You might justify it by saying that you would only take a few minutes, but those few minutes could mean the difference between life and death. Leaving your pet inside the car can easily lead to heat stroke or suffocation within minutes as the temperature inside can go as high as 140 degrees on a warm day. If you really have to be somewhere, hire a nanny from us to watch over all your pets’ needs.
Summer is a great time to have fun for you and your pets. This shouldn’t mean we should be complacent and forget about our pets’ safety and well-being. The summer sun can be very unforgiving and we should take steps to protect our pets as much as possible. Follow our tips above and you’ll be summer-ready in no time. We at Pet Nanny are ready and waiting to help you for any pet-related concerns. Follow us on our social media accounts or give us a call at 734-981-6108. Alternatively, you can use our on-line contact form and we’ll get in touch with you!
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