Keep Your Pets Protected This Summer

Summer Pet Care Tips

1. Make sure your pets are on heartworm and flea/tick preventives.  Even pets that are 100% inside should be on these preventives.  

2. Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.  The temperature of a car can rise dramatically in a few minutes especially if in the sun.  

3.  Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water when it's hot outdoors.  If they are outside make sure they have a shady place to rest.  Be careful not to overexercise them, and keep them indoors when extremely hot.

A "Kiddie Pool" is an easy and fun way to keep your dogs cool while playing outside. 

4.  Summer is a great time for barbecues.  Remember that the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets.  (Alcohol, raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and xylitol).  

5. Water: Not all dogs are good swimmers.  Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool.

5. Screen Test:    The ASPCA sees an increase in injured animals during the warm months due to pets (mostly cats) fall out of windows or doors.  Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed and make sure adjustable screens are tightly screwed.  

6.  Leave your pets at home when you head out to a 4th of July celebration, and never use fireworks around your pets.  Dogs hearing can be 10 times more sensitive than ours, so fireworks may be scary to your dog.  

7.  Harness: If your cats go outside, keep them on a harness for their protection.  Also make sure they are current on vaccines (including Feline Leukemia) and on preventive care.  Display proper tags on their collar. 

References:  Purina Summer Pet Care Tips 2012  

                    www.aspca.com 2012