Summer Pet Safety

Summer is a time for both you and your pet to enjoy the sunshine and outdoors, but along with the fun, the season brings situations that could harm your furry friend. Here are some tips to keep everyone safe this summer:

• Don't leave pets in parked cars for any period of time. On a warm day, in the shade with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach 120° in only minutes. Heatstroke, brain damage and even death are real possibilities as dogs and cats can't perspire and only dispel heat by panting and through the pads of their feet. If you see an animal in a parked car during the summer, alert the management of the business closest to the vehicle. If the owner does not return promptly, call local animal control or the police.
• It is very dangerous, and in some places illegal, to drive with a dog in the back of a pick-up truck. Flying debris can cause serious injury, or the dog may be unintentionally thrown into traffic if the driver suddenly hits the brakes, swerves, or is hit by another car. Dogs should ride 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.
• 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.
• Keep barbeque essentials such as matches or lighter fluid safely away from your pets.
• Dog bites rise during the summer months when people and their pets spend more time outside. Spaying or neutering your dog reduces the likelihood that he will bite and provides many other health benefits. 
• 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.
• 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.
• If you plan on traveling with your pet during the summer, take the time to prepare for your furry friends in advance. Many airlines have summer pet embargoes, and most trains and ships do not allow pets other than service animals.
• Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but extra care needs to be taken with older dogs, short-nosed dogs, and those with thick coats. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet's paws.
• 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. Click here for instructions on how to safely remove ticks from your pet.
• Pets can get sunburned too, and your pet may require sunscreen on his or her nose and ear tips. Pets with light-coloured noses or light-colored fur on their ears are particularly vulnerable to sunburn and skin cancer. Never apply sunscreen or insect repellant to your pet that is not labelled specifically for use on animals.
• Don't take your pets to crowded summer events such as concerts or fairs. The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and dangerous for pets. For your pet's well being, leave him or her at home.

Visit NoHotPets.ca to help spread the word on how deadly it is to leave your pet in your vehicle.