Keep Your Dog Cool and Other Summer Safety Tips

By: Toronto4Dogs

In the hot days of summer, dog owners should be aware of some of the dangers that the hot temperatures can bring for their animals. Taking a few simple precautions can make summertime living easier for pets.

1. Pets who live outdoors should be provided lots of shade and fresh, cool water. When temperatures really soar, put a few ice cubes in the water bowl.

2. Never leave your pet in a closed vehicle on a hot day. It doesn't have to be very warm outside for temperatures in a closed vehicle to reach over 32 °C in just over five minutes and more than 43°C in less than half an hour. Dog heat stroke happens fast.

3. If your pet displays symptoms of heatstroke, seek prompt medical attention immediately. Symptoms of heat stroke can include panting; dehydration; warm dry skin; failure to respond to commands; rapid heartbeat and collapse. First, move the animal to a cool place and offer plenty of cool water. Do not immerse your dog in cold water as the severe temperature change can cause hypothermia. Get your pet to your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

4. Don't let your dog run and play in the middle of the day. Take him out for a walk in the early morning or at night when it's cooler.

Other Summer Safety Tips:

- Never leave your dog unsupervised around a swimming pool. Dogs can easily drown. If you have a pool, train your dog where the stairs are located so they know how to get out. Just like children, you should keep an eye on your dog, at all times, when they're in a pool area.

- Be carefully when using fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides in your gardens as these products may be harmful or even toxic to animals.

- Many garden and houseplants may cause irritation, illness or death if ingested by pets. Some of the more toxic include tulip, daffodil, and iris bulbs, azaleas, amaryllis, dieffenbachia and philodendron. Train your dog so that houseplants and specific areas of the garden are off limits.

- Be sure to keep you dog out of direct sun as your dog could become sunburned.

- Footpad problems can happen by walking on hot gravel, pavement or sticky asphalt. Paws can be burned or damaged and can become a serious infection issue. To remove tar, rub footpads with petroleum jelly then gently wash with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly with cool water. Never use gasoline or kerosene to remove tar as these chemicals are highly toxic.

- Puppies are more susceptible to warmer temperatures so take steps to be sure that they are kept cool.

- Regular grooming is important in helping to control tick infestation. If your dog has been in fields or wooded areas, check ears, belly, armpits and base of the tail carefully.

Your dog's safety depends on you. Keep this in mind this summer when you and your dog are out enjoying the sun. If you have any questions, talk with to your veterinarian.