Protecting Your Pets From the Summer Heat

Summer is here, the time of year for pool parties and backyard barbeques! With the barbeques comes the rise in temperature and the effort to stay cool, especially in the areas of the country that experience extreme heat. While we attempt to keep cool please don’t forget about your pets this summer. They are often overlooked. I guess it is easy to think that we don’t need to take any special precautions with our pets. But we do need to consider that our dogs and cats can be sensitive to the heat just as they are to the extreme cold. Here are a couple of tips to help you keep your pets safe this summer.
This one may seem obvious to most but, do not leave your pets in a car even if it is a warm rather than hot day. The temperature inside of a car is going to rise very quickly and soon will be much higher than the outside temperature. Be safe and leave your pets at home.
Keep your pets indoors in extreme heat especially during the warmest part of the day. It is best to exercise your dog in the morning and evening before the temperature rises. Be aware that shade is very important for your cat or dog. When they are outdoors make sure that they have access to shade at all times. Your pet should also have access to plenty of fresh clean water. This water needs to be kept in the shade rather than directly in the sun. Periodically check the water temperature and change it if it becomes too warm. Your pet won’t drink the water if it is too warm.
If you walk your pet keep in mind that the pads on their paws are very sensitive to heat. Try to avoid walking your pet on the pavement or tar. Whenever possible keep them on the grass or even the dirt which will be much cooler than pavement or tar. If they will be walking on the pavement you will need to check the pads to see if they are look red or irritated.
Lastly most pets are afraid of loud noises including thunder and fireworks. Keep your pets indoors during thunderstorms. These storms can be quite stressful and create a lot of anxiety for your pet. The sound of fireworks also creates a lot of pet anxiety. They have a little less anxiety when they can see what you are doing. So let them see you from a distance to reduce some of their anxiety if you will be lighting fireworks.