Keep your Pet Safe in Summer

You without doubt think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. However do not forget your animals. This is a crucial part of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and different for your animal. The two areas to watch for are the effects of warmer weather and holidays.

Lets get going with the effect of the hot weather on the animal. Just like us – they will need more water, make it accessible 24 / 7. If you frequently go dog walking ensure they have the ability to have water, every hour or so, or even more regularly if you are of the lively type.

Whilst you would not think or leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astounding and a disgrace the amount of people who do this to their pets. This can murder a pet, temperatures in the sun, can quickly rise to more than 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, does not help that much.

Just like ourselves, with the same amount of activity, you need less food to sustain your weight during summer. If you, or your animal, keep consuming the same, you without doubt will put on weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Putting on weight during summer, will slow the pet down in winter and this can then lead to more weight gain, so think of reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, monitor your pets weight.

Also be careful with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most rapidly go off as its temperature approaches blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not eat wet food within half an hour, through it away. Dry food is very safe, as long as it does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery animal, often and little should be the principle. Also be careful about condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.

Whilst exercising the dog during the hot weather, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, watch out, he may without warning want to leap into some water, with company – you if you do not let go of the lead. Even more risky is the jump into a canal, if he is not on a lead. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, regularly you see people being pulled in! Not helped by them wanting to say hi to the ducks. In summer there is often more wildlife around for them to chase, so be even more careful.

Summer, is often the time of the great vacation. So if you are having to find a pet sitter, try to find a professional company such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A good pet sitter, will even identify all the dangers as part of their contract. This is often the best option for the animal, they would rather be in their house. If not, and you must board them, check the boarding out. Ideally a personal commendation, as always there can be great and pitable. The pet may not like it, but they are safe.

What about taking your pet on vacation with the family. This is the most risky option for an animal. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The trip in the car is risky for us as well. Think about using a pet restraint, you use one, for good reason, so ensure your pet has one. The risk of dehydration, so plan for water stops for you and your pet every sixty minutes, perhaps a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be very careful on the stops, look out for traffic movement, and the animal may want to take a runner (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a strange location. So do a thorough review for any dangers to your animal. The greatest one is escape, above all in motels, straight out onto a busy highway and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and especially {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep an eye on them.

Pets, will find it difficult to find their way back to your motel, if lost, its not as likely as if they were at home – and the neighbours know them. This is not the case in a strange place. Ensure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a lead.

I hope you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.