Keeping Pets Safe in Summertime

Summertime poses plenty of threats for our precious pets!

One of them, of course, is heat. We need to take extra precautions to make sure they have shade and plenty of water. And we have to hurt their feelings by leaving them at home rather than letting them go along for the ride if we're doing errands that will take us out of our vehicles where they can't accompany us.

When traveling, we must take care not to get them get lost in strange surroundings. Dogs love to go camping, but can easily be distracted by following a wild animal scent and get into trouble. Along with keeping a close eye on them, make sure they're wearing tags that are solidly attached - and a microchip is a very good idea. (But don't use it in place of the tags... some rescues, veterinarians, and animal control agncies don't scan!)

We also need to watch out for new poison threats. We talked about mushrooms a couple of days ago, but many of the decorative plants (and weeds) around our homes are also dangerous for our critters.

HSUS has posted a comprehensive list of plants that pose a threat to your animals. Check their list to make sure none of the offenders live in the yard where your pets play.

Summer Dog Care

Now that hot weather is here, we need to take extra precautions to protect our furry friends.

Even though they may love to run and play in the sun, we should limit their hard activities to morning and evening, when the temperatures aren't so extreme - and we need to keep fresh water available to them at all times.

If your dogs stay outside in a yard most of the day, they need a good sun shade. It should have plenty of ventilation to let them cool off in any breeze that may come by. Remember, a plastic dog house might turn into an oven, so don't consider that as shade for your dog!

Next think about their feet. If they go walking on city sidewalks, they could get their pads burned. So either use some "doggie slippers" or limit their walks to cooler times of day.

Unless someone is going to stay in the vehicle with your dogs - with the AC running - leave them home when you go out to do errands. Just 15 minutes in a parked car (or motorhome) in summer could kill your dog!

That brings me to pickup beds. I hope you don't carry your dog in the back of your pickup - at least not unless he is cross tied to prevent falling out. Veterinarians tell me that a huge percentage of the injuries they see are from dogs falling from trucks... a horrible thought.

Even if they aren't injured, jumping out of a truck is a major reason for dogs being lost in communities like ours, where too many people carry their dogs that way. When I was working in rescue it was hard to feel sorry for people who came hunting for their lost dogs and admitted that they'd left them in the back of the pickup - and didn't even know when they fell out.

If your dog is going to be in the bed of your pickup even for a short while - like while you run in to a store - remember that he needs protection from the metal or plastic truck bed. Keep a heavy dog bed there for him to lay on - and/or line your pickup bed with plywood or some other material that won't absorb heat as readily as metal or plastic.