Mayfair in Tampa Palms

Please Visit ASPCA Online for SUMMER SAFETY TIPS!!!

Jul 22, 2006

THE HEAT IS ON: SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR PET OWNERS
It?’s summertime, and the living isn?’t always easy for our animal companions. Dogs and cats can suffer from the same problems that humans do?—overheating, dehydration and even sunburn?—when the mercury rises. By taking these simple precautions, you can keep your animal companions happy and healthy in the hot weather:
* Exercise your dog in the cool of the early morning or evening?—never when it's extremely hot or humid. Take care not to let your dog stand on hot asphalt, as his sensitive paw pads can easily burn.
* Provide plenty of shade and cool, clean water for animals kept outdoors. And please bring your cat or dog inside during the hottest part of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.
* Never leave your animal alone in a vehicle. Overheating can be fatal. Even with the doors open, a parked automobile can become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.
* Some animals will need extra care in hot weather, especially those who are elderly and overweight or have heart or lung disease. Certain breeds of dogs, including pugs, bulldogs, Boston terriers, Pekingese, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, also need extra attention on hot days. If your pet is showing signs of heatstroke or exhaustion, take him to your veterinarian immediately.
For more helpful tips, please visit ASPCA online. And P.S., if you?’re going to be traveling with your pets this summer, please read our guidelines for safe air travel