Pet News

We long for hot sunny days, and spending time outdoors with our furry friends but there are precautions to keep in mind. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers some tips on keeping our pets safe.

• Be sure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations and get tested for heartworm if they are not on year-round preventative medicine.

• Give them plenty of fresh, clean water as they can become dehydrated quickly.
• Make sure they have a shady place to get out of the sun.
• We love our walks, but don’t over-exercise them on hot, humid days.
• When walking your pet, check the pavement as it can get very hot
• Keep them indoors when it is extremely hot.
• Animals with flat faces (like Pugs and Persian cats), are more susceptible to heat stroke as they cannot pant as effectively).
• Never leave a pet unsupervised around water. Not all dogs are good swimmers. If your dog swims in a pool, be sure to rinse it off afterwards to remove the chlorine from its fur.
• Never leave your pet in a car, even with a window cracked. The temperature in a car rises very quickly.

For more information about keeping your furry friends safe in the summer heat visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips.