Beware of These Summer Pet Hazards

Summer, like any season, presents a few unique hazards for your dog or cat. The trick is knowing what to watch out for so that you can be prepared ahead of time! Below, your Pickerington, OH vet tells you about the most common hot-weather hazards and how to keep your animal friend safe and sound.

Heatstroke and Dehydration

The heat and humidity means significant danger for your pet; heatstroke and dehydration can occur if your pet stays outdoors for too long! Keep outdoor sessions short, and try exercising your pet in the cooler morning or evening hours, when it’s a little cooler and the sun isn’t directly overhead. You should also provide a large dish of cool, fresh water for your pet to drink from as they please.

Warm-Weather Pests

This time of year is the favorite season of dangerous pests like fleas, ticks, and parasitic worms. Once they’ve latched on to your pet, they can start causing serious health issues! Make sure that your pet is updated on vaccinations to protect against diseases, and ensure that they’re wearing a quality flea-and-tick preventative and a heartworm medication. Talk to your vet if your pet isn’t already set up with these medicines.

Hot Asphalt

Asphalt surfaces like driveways and parking lots can heat up drastically in the summertime, especially later in the day when the sun has beat down on them for hours. Pets who linger on these surfaces are at risk for burnt and blistered paw pads! Whenever possible, don’t force your pet to traverse asphalt surfaces; choose to walk on cooler grass or dirt surfaces if you can.

Lawn and Garden Hazards

There are all kinds of toxic plants and flowers that can harm pets—some common offenders include lilies, ivy, philodendron, rhododendron or azalea, dieffenbachia, tulips, oleander, and various types of aloe plants. Plus, the pesticides and fertilizers that we spray on our lawns and gardens can prove poisonous to pets! Don’t allow your pet to get near plant life that has been recently treated with chemicals, and keep them inside when spraying pesticide or fertilizer products.

Cars

Never leave your pet in the car on a hot summer’s day. Even on milder days, temperatures inside the car skyrocket in a matter of moments, creating a potentially deadly situation for pets trapped inside. Would you like even more great summer pet-care tips? Contact your Pickerington, OH animal hospital.