A Place for Pets & Animal Lovers
Warm Weather Tips
Beaches
Too much sun can dehydrate a pet and/or make him ill.
Do not force a pet to go into the water, especially if he is young. The salt in the water can irritate his paws and infect his ears.
A pet that has been on a beach may lick his paws and thereby ingest salt and sand. It therefore is a good idea to give such a pet a bath upon returning home. This not only will rinse off the sand and salt, but also cool off the pet.
Bicycles
It may be difficult for a pet to keep up with a person on a bicycle. The pet easily can become exhausted.
If the pet is on a leash, he may pull the bicycle rider over. If not, the pet could run off and possibly be hit by a car.
Car Rides
Do not allow a pet to lean out of a car window. Dust particles in the air can irritate his eyes, and pebbles, small rocks, and so on that are flying through the air can hit and injure him.
If a car window is fully open, a pet may jump out of it and injure himself. To prevent this, install The Pet Guard.
The Pet Guard is a product made of sturdy gauge wire that allows for safe
ventilation. It adjusts to windows in seconds without tools, and comes in sizes for both compact two-door cars and larger four-door cars.
Do not have a pet ride in the flatbed of a truck. If the pet is leashed and becomes excited by something he sees, he may jump off and end up hanging
himself. If the pet is not leashed, he may be injured upon landing or hit by
another car.
If a pet is going to be taken on a long car ride, do not feed him for eight to twelve hours before the trip begins. Water can be provided until two or three hours before leaving. These measures will prevent the pet from becoming sick in the car.
Be sure to provide a pet some, but not too much, water during a long car
ride. Also be sure to stop enough times along the way for the pet to relieve
himself.
Fireworks
Loud fireworks can be terribly frightening to animals. Keep a pet inside on the fourth of July and try to calm him if he becomes afraid.
Do not forget the dangers of fireworks. If a pet walks by them when they go off, he can be injured or killed.
Fleas and Ticks
A pet may pick up fleas and/or ticks while outdoors. Before bringing one back inside, check for these pests. Veterinarians can recommend various sprays, powders, and bath preparations.
Check flea collars at least once a week to make sure that no allergic
reactions are taking place.
Foster Care
Individuals who are interested in adopting a pet only for the summer should check with local animal shelters to see if they have any animals that need temporary foster care. Some, but not all, shelters have foster care prgrams.
Identification Tags
It is important to have pets wear identification tags and licenses at all times. If a pet becomes lost, a tag and a license will make it possible for him to be returned to his owner.
Heartworms
Spring is the best time to have a dog tested for heartworms. If not detected and treated in time, heartworms can be fatal.
Jogging
Think before taking a dog jogging. Hot pavement can damage a dog's paws.
If a dog is getting on in years, extended jogs with his owner can be
injurious, or even fatal.
Leashes
Unless dog owners have secure fenced-in areas, they should not allow their dogs to run around unleashed. Doing so often results in traffic accidents, fights between dogs, the destruction of a neighbor's property, and so on.
Do not use a leash on a cat's collar. Instead attach the leash to a harness. Cats are very sensitive to being pulled by their necks.
Leaving Pets in Cars
During the summer, the temperature inside a car can become life-threatening within minutes. This is true even if the car is in the shade and one of the windows is slightly opened.
If a pet becomes overheated, immerse him in cool water or wipe him down with a towel that has been immersed in cold water. Then immediately take the pet to a veterinarian.
Neutering
Spring is the time when female cats and dogs go into heat and become pregnant. Neutering helps solve the pet overpopulation problem. It also reduces a pet's chances of developing a number of different kinds of cancer, and often makes pets calmer and more affectionate.
Poisons
Do not allow a pet to run freely in a wooded area. Even if the pet is on a leash, watch out for poisonous plants, shrubs, and leaves.
If a pet ingests something poisonous, rush him and a sample of the poison to a veterinarian. Also rush a pet to a veterinarian if he gets fertilizer on his paws and then begins licking them.
Sun
If you leave a pet in a yard, make sure that he has shade and plenty of fresh water. It is not healthy for a pet to be exposed to the sun all day long.
Vaccinations
Warmer weather brings out animals that carry rabies, distemper, and other diseases. Make sure that a pet has received all of the vaccinations he needs.
Water
Make sure that a pet always has access to fresh water, especially if he will be exposed to heat for an extended period of time.
Window Screens
Cats can be injured or killed when they jump out of open windows that do not have screens on them. It therefore is essential for cat owners to install screens on their windows.
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