So.
You ran away from that
OH so HOT city, and,
Surprise!!! It's
Hot here too! But
at least the ocean is
really close. But...your
best pal can't go on the
beach with you.
So
keep in mind Your best
friends can suffer from
the Heat as badly as any
human can. Here's
a few tips from those
lovely folks from the
Humane Society of the
United States!
Summer is a time for
both you and your pet to
enjoy the sunshine and
outdoors, but along with
the fun, the season also
offers up situations
that can endanger your
pet. By taking
precautions, you can
decrease the chance that
disaster will happen.
The HSUS offers these
tips for pet owners to
keep their furry friends
safe this summer.
Never Leave Your
Pet in the Car
In
nice weather you may be
tempted to take your pet
with you in the car
while you travel or do
errands. But during warm
weather, the inside of
your car can reach 120
degrees in a matter of
minutes, even if you're
parked in the shade.
This can mean real
trouble for your
companion animals left
in the car.
Dogs and cats can't
perspire and can only
dispel heat by panting
and through the pads of
their feet. Pets who are
left in hot cars even
briefly can suffer from
heat exhaustion, heat
stroke, brain damage,
and can even die. Don't
think that just because
you'll be gone "just a
minute" that your pet
will be safe while
you're gone; even an
air-conditioned car with
the motor off isn't
healthy for your pet.
To
avoid any chance that
your pet will succumb to
the heat of a car this
summer, be sure to play
it safe by leaving your
pet cool and refreshed
at home while you're on
the road. And if you do
happen to see a pet in a
car alone during the hot
summer months, alert the
management of the store
where the car is parked.
If the owner does not
return promptly, call
local animal control or
the police department
immediately.
Don't Put Your
Pet In the Back of a
Truck
It
is very dangerous, and
in some states illegal,
to
drive with a dog in the
back of a pick-up truck.
Not only can flying
debris cause serious
injury, but a dog may be
unintentionally thrown
into traffic if the
driver suddenly hits the
brakes, swerves, or is
hit by another car. Dogs
should ride either in
the cab (in a crate or
wearing a seat belt
harness designed for
dogs) or in a secured
crate in the bed of the
truck.
Watch Out For
Fertilizers and Deadly
Plants
Summer is often a time
when people fertilize
their lawns and work in
their gardens. But
beware: Plant food,
fertilizer, and
insecticides can be
fatal if your pet
ingests them. In
addition,
more than 700 plants
can produce
physiologically active
or toxic substances in
sufficient amounts to
cause harmful effects in
animals.
Stay Bite-Free
With people and dogs
spending more time
outside,
dog bites are likely
to increase in the
summer months.
Spaying or neutering
your dog reduces the
likelihood that he will
bite and provides many
other health benefits.
Pet Care 101
Make sure your pet is
always wearing a collar
and identification tag.
If you are separated
from your pet, an ID tag
may very well be his or
her ticket home.
Check with your
veterinarian to see if
your pets should be
taking heartworm
prevention medication.
Heartworm disease,
which is transmitted by
mosquitoes, can be fatal
in both dogs and
cats. Another summertime
threat is fleas and
ticks. Use only flea and
tick treatments
recommended by your
veterinarian. Some
over-the-counter
flea and tick products
can be toxic, even
when used according to
instructions.
Water Wisdom
Pets and pools can equal
disaster. Prevent free
access to pools and
always supervise a pet
in a pool. Provide
plenty of water and
shade for your pets
while they're enjoying
the great outdoors so
they can stay cool.