With this summer’s temperatures hitting 100-degrees-plus
across the US, it’s time for a reminder on how to keep your pets safe and cool.
Basically, anything a human needs a pet needs in these heatwaves. Just be
mindful of the major mistakes pet owners make and don’t be guilty of making
them. Irreversible damage can be done in seconds, in some cases.
We all know leaving a pet in a parked car can be a deadly
mistake. The interior temperature easily can reach 120 degrees in a few
minutes. Don’t think partially open windows will protect your pet from
heatstroke -- or worse. When temperatures are on the rise, please keep your pet
at home.
When exercising your dog, do so in the morning or evening when
temperatures and pavement are cool.
Better yet, simply
stay off concrete and asphalt. Your dog's feet should be safe
on grass while you exercise together. Summer heat can turn a road as hot as a
frying pan. Even though your dog's feet are tougher than yours, the scorching
surface of the road or sidewalk can do serious damage in no time flat.
Dogs should NEVER be in truck beds, but if they are they can
suffer serious injury or heatstroke. Debris from the road damages eyes, not to
mention they can easily jump or fall out of the truck bed. Think about their
feet, too. If you cannot touch the hot truck bed with your bare hand, your dog
should not be suffering on the hot metal. It’s also not a good idea to let dogs
hang their head out of open car windows at any time because, again, they can
get debris in their eyes.
If your pet is outside during the day for any reason, remember
to provide shady protection from the sun and plenty of fresh water. Keep in
mind older, short muzzled, and overweight dogs are more likely to overheat
during hot weather.
Comfort pets during a thunderstorm or fireworks’ event. Make
sure every animal, including livestock, has current and legible identification
tags or a microchip ID. Keep your pet/s indoors in a safe area and never leave
them unattended outside.
Pets can get sunburns so they should have
sunblock applied to sun-sensitive areas such as tips of ears, nose, the belly,
and groin areas that typically have sparse hair coverage and thinner skin. Cats
love to sunbathe and dogs often will belly up for some sunning as well. Think
about getting season-appropriate groomings for cats and dogs to reduce matting
and keep them comfortable in the heat. What products are safe to use for pets? Remember
dogs -- and especially cats -- are adept at licking off topical lotions, sprays,
and creams. These substances can be toxic for dogs and more so for cats. It was
once recommended that anything safe for human babies would be OK to use on pets
with supervision (let the lotion soak in before licking can occur); this is a
guideline, but with the following considerations in mind.
Using products on a
species not covered by product usage guidelines is off-label usage. Please consult with your veterinarian prior
to using any human products or medications on your pet.
If traveling with your pet, add these to your vacation
checklist: current ID tags and vaccines, copies of health records and
medications, your pet’s regular food and water, and don’t forget a leash.
For
pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and
Like us on Facebook at DD’s Pet Patrol LLC.
Written by Dee
Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle at nine dots branding &
marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).
