Summer Safety Tips for Pets

Those soaring temperatures pose a danger to pets. in Port Washington offers these safety tips.

Never leave pets in the car.  In 70-degree weather, temperatures inside a parked car can rise to 100 degrees in just 10 minutes, putting animals at risk.

Give pets constant access to fresh clean water.  Dogs need to drink more during warm weather, especially after playing or walking outside. Dogs may need to be walked more frequently as they drink more during the summer. Add a few ice cubes to your pets’ water bowls each time you refill to help them stay cool

Note too that a thirsty pet may look for water in atypical places and get into trouble. Chemicals – garden fertilizer, rat poison, weed killer, swimming pool cleaners, and antifreeze from your car – can make their way into pools of water in the yard or driveway, especially post-rainfall. To avoid problems, prevent pets from drinking from any sources other than a hose or a bowl you’ve filled yourself.

Prevent sunburn.  Pets at risk for sunburn can have light or white pigmented coats, hairless animals (Chinese Crested, Mexican Hairless). Also at risk: animals with short haircuts, or with a medical condition that caused hair loss, as well as those with allergies/hot spots, cushingnoid, thinning hair coats and animals that have had recent surgery where the surgical area was shaved and prepped.

Minimize their sun exposure. If they are will be exposed to longer periods of sun, apply sunscreen. Human products are not recommended because many have ingestion warnings for children that also could apply to pets. Look for products specifically labeled for pets.

Take it easy.  Dogs love summer because they go to all sorts of fun places with their people. Remember, your puppy is not going to be good at "pacing himself." Avoid an animal’s risk of heat stroke by doing more strenuous exercise and activity in the morning or evening, in cooler temperatures. Signs of heat stroke in a dog include heavy panting or labored breathing, bright red gums and tongue (in later stages the gums can turn blue or white), excessive drooling, loss of balance, or sudden lethargy.

Certain breeds – Brachycephalics, including Pugs, Bulldogs and others with pushed-in noses, plus animals with respiratory and cardiac conditions – are at an increased risk of heat stroke. If you think your pet has heat stroke, call your veterinarian immediately. Help refresh your puppy by hosing him down with cool water, offering small ice-chips, and wrapping an ice pack in a dishtowel and applying to the dog’s body.

Finally, if your pet likes relaxing in the shade of a yard or deck, watch for yellow jackets, bees, toads, and snakes. Bite or sting symptoms are usually swelling of the face or affected areas. Once stung or bitten, the pet’s skin may start to look wrinkly or bumpy. This is a first indicator and, if not treated by a veterinarian, could result in death due to toxins taking over and shutting down the body or causing airway swelling to the extent that breathing is impossible.