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7 Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe This Summer

By Ashley Jacobs, founder and CEO of Sitting for a Cause June 28, 2016
Summer is in full swing and the temperatures are heating up! You know how to keep your kids safe in the summer heat, but what about your four-legged family members? It’s important to make sure they are safe in the summer heat too!

Here are 7 tips to ensure your pet stays safe during the summer months:
  1. Hydration - Proper hydration can help prevent heat stroke, so it is important to make sure your pet beats the summer heat by keeping them hydrated. Leave extra water down for your pets and make sure water bowls are filled at all times. Additionally, if you are headed out for a walk with your dog, carry water with you to give to your pup as you cruise around your neighborhood so they don’t get dehydrated.
  2. Know the Signs of Heat Stroke - If your pet or a pet you encounter is panting, drooling, having muscle tremors, vomiting, and seems to be stumbling when trying to move around, he or she could have heat stroke. PetMD has a complete list of signs of heat stroke in both dogs and cats all pet owners should review. If you find a pet who is suffering from heat stroke, remove them from the heat immediately, reduce their body temperature with cool water, offer them water to drink, and head to the vet to ensure further medical issues do not arise as a result of their heat stroke.
  3. Sun-Safety - Even with fur coats, pets are capable of getting sunburns and cancer from sun exposure. To protect your pet from the sun, keep them in the shade or consider using pet sunscreens. Ask your veterinarian for sunscreen recommendations if you aren’t sure which would be best for your pet. Also, keep in mind that just because your pet is indoors doesn’t mean they aren’t exposed to the sun. Many pets will sunbathe indoors, so make sure to minimize their sun exposure or use a sunscreen even when they are inside.
  4. Parasite Prevention - Parasites such as fleas, ticks, and heartworms can be major pests for your pet during the summer months. A visit to your vet to determine which parasite prevention medications are best for your pet is advisable as summer ramps up. Not a fan of the traditional topical or oral parasite prevention medications? There are many holistic remedies such as collars or sprays you can try to keep your pet parasite safe!
  5. Travel Safely - Planning on taking your pet with you on your vacation? Make sure you have the proper carrier to safely transport your pet and invest in the appropriate gear for your pet, be it a life jacket or safety harness. Most importantly, NEVER under any circumstances leave your pet alone in the car, even if it’s just for a minute. Alternately, if you are leaving your pet at home when you travel, do your due diligence and hire the right sitter for your pet. Sites like Sitting for a Cause can help you find sitters who are background checked, insured, and have pet care experience to care for your furry loved one!
  6. Exercise Safely - Your pet will still need exercise in the summer months, but remember to exercise safely. Opt to go for walks or runs in the morning or evenings when the temperature isn’t at its peak to reduce the risk of your dog overheating. Also, you don’t want your pup to burn their paw pads during their walk, so test to see if you can keep the back of your hand on the pavement for five seconds to determine whether or not it’s safe for your dog.
  7. Stay Safe Outdoors - If your pet will be outdoors, take the necessary precautions to keep them safe. Make sure they have a breakaway collar with ID and that they are microchipped. Ensure that dogs cannot escape their yards, bring pets in at night, keep dogs on leashes when walking around the neighborhood, provide plenty of shade, leave lots of water for them, keep them out of fenced pool areas, and don’t leave them in the heat for too long.
Remember to utilize these tips to help ensure you and your furry loved one can safely enjoy the summer months. Have an awesome summer!

Ashley Jacobs is the founder and CEO of Sitting for a Cause, a pet sitting website that donates 50% of their profits to animal-related causes. She is passionate about helping animals in need and resides in Newport Beach with her 8-year-old golden retriever, Diamond.