Summertime Pet Care Tips for Small Dgos

Summer is a great time to spend some quality time with your dog outside. However, summer poses unique dangers to our furry friends. Like humans, small dogs can suffer from heat stroke, dehydration, and sunburn. Utilizing these summertime pet care tips will help you keep your companion safe this summer.

Hydrate: Just as it is important for humans to stay hydrated in the heat, it is also important for our companions to do the same. However, our furry friends can't get their own water the way we can, so provide your dog with plenty of fresh water at all times. Provide bowls of water for your dog inside as well as outside. Additionally, when you take your dog on a long walk, biking, hiking, or plan on spending much time outdoors, you also need to provide your companion with water. One way in which you can provide your dog with water on the go is with a collapsible dog bowl. Guyot Designs makes Squishy Pet Bowls, which are made from food-grade silicone and come in three different colors: Tahoe Blue, Tangerine, and Lime. They also come in three sizes: The Trail, which can hold 24 ounces, The Park, which can hold 36 ounces, and The Base Camp, which can hold 48 ounces. You may order Guyot Squishy Pet Bowls from the Guyot Designs website.

You also need to be able to recognize the signs of dehydration in your dog as this is a very dangerous condition. Symptoms of dehydration in dogs include: sunken eyes, a loss of skin elasticity, lethargy, sticky, dry gums, and urinating more or less than usual. You may test your dog's skin elasticity by grabbing the skin at the base of your dog's neck (the scruff) and releasing it. If your dog's skin does not retract immediately, he or she is dehydrated. The longer the skin takes to retract, the more severe your companion's dehydration is.

Don't Leave Dogs in the Car: Another summertime pet care tip you should follow is to never leave your small dog in the car. Even in mild temperatures, the car can get very hot very quickly. Thus, it is not safe to leave your dog in the car while you run into the store or post office, even for a few minutes. Even if you have the windows rolled down, the car gets too hot for dogs, and this may lead to heat stroke. If you need to run errands when it's warm out, please leave your companion at home rather than leaving him in a car unattended.

Provide Supervision Around Pools: Despite what most people think, all breeds of dogs are not able to swim. Thus, pools are another safety hazard in the summer for your companion. If you take your dog around a pool, be sure to supervise him or her. Additionally, if you have a pool at your home, ensure your pet's safety by putting up a fence around it.

Keep Fleas and Ticks Off: Fleas and ticks are commonly seen during the warm months of the year. If you live in an area that possesses fleas and ticks, you need to talk to your veterinarian about products that will protect your dog from getting them. Your veterinarian may recommend a product like Advantage or Frontline, which must be applied every 3-4 weeks (please follow the product's instructions). In addition, please consult your veterinarian before you use any flea and tick preventative product over-the-counter as not all of them are safe.

Protect Against Heartworm: Another important summertime pet care tip is to protect your companion from heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is carried by mosquitoes, and may lead to death if not treated. In some areas, dogs must be treated year-round for heartworms while in other areas dogs only need heartworm prevention from May to November. Your vet will likely test your dog for heartworm disease before he or she starts your companion on a heartworm preventative.

It is also important for you to recognize the symptoms of heartworm disease so that you can get your dog treatment if he or she contracts it. A cough may indicate a mild case of heartworm disease. Abnormal lung sounds, cough, and intolerance to exercise may indicate a moderate case of the disease in your dog. A severe case of heartworm disease may present itself through several symptoms, including: difficulty breathing, cough, fluid in the abdominal cavity, an enlarged liver, an intolerance to exercise, temporary loss of consciousness (syncope), abnormal lung sounds, abnormal heart sounds, and death. If you suspect your dog has heartworm disease, take him or her to your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.

Prevent Heat Stroke: Another danger summer poses to your small dog is heat stroke. In order to prevent heat stroke, ensure your dog has shade available to him or her whenever he or she spends time outside. In addition, ensure your dog always has access to fresh water when he or she is outdoors. It is also important to restrict the amount of exercise you encourage your dog to do on hot days. Too much exercise can easily overheat your companion.

Some dogs are especially at risk for developing heat stroke. Dogs who are especially susceptible to heat stroke include dogs with breathing problems, heart disease, elderly dogs, and dogs who are overweight. It is a good idea to keep companions with these conditions inside the house on hot summer days.

Small dog owners also need to be able to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke, as this condition can be fatal if it is not treated immediately. According to Pet Education, there are several symptoms of heat stroke in canines including: vomiting (possibly with blood), panting rapidly, shock, gums that are pale or red in color, weakness, diarrhea, depression or lethargy, a bright red tongue, dizziness, saliva that is thick and sticky in nature, and coma. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from heat stroke, please seek immediate veterinary care for your furry friend. The vet will be able to safely cool your dog down and bring his or her body temperature back to normal.

Keep Your Dog Away from Chemicals: Bug repellent, pesticides, and other chemicals are poisonous to dogs. Thus, it is important to keep these chemicals in a cupboard or somewhere else that is out of your companion's reach. It is also important to keep your small dog off of a chemically treated lawn for at least 24 hours (or longer if the product specifies) after the lawn is treated.

Prevent Sunburn: Dogs, like humans, can get sunburned; thus, another summertime pet care tip is to prevent your dog from getting sunburned. Certain dogs, such as those with thin hair, those who are bald, and dogs with white or light-colored fur, are at higher risk for sunburn than other dogs. Dogs' ears, lips, noses, and bellies are the most likely places to be sunburned; however, any part of your dog's body may be burned by the sun. You can prevent sunburn to your companion by applying sunscreen to him or her when he or she spends time outdoors. Ask your vet for a recommendation for a non-toxic sunscreen safe for your furry friend.

If your dog has a sunburn, you may notice skin redness, sores, and/or hair loss. If you think your dog may have a sunburn, seek treatment from your veterinarian.

Summer presents many opportunities for you to spend time with your small dog outdoors. However, the heat and sun also present some summer dangers of which you should be aware. By utilizing these summertime pet care tips for dogs, you can help keep your furry friend safe and happy this summer.

Sources:

Guyot Designs: Squishy Pet Bowls:
http://www.guyotdesigns.com/Product-Squishy-Pet-Bowls;jsessionid=0a010a5b1f43c577b76a939f4f48b8039ed447b19994.e3eSchiNbhaNe34Pa38Ta38Lb3j0

Ezine Articles: Top Ten Tips for the Summertime Safety of Your Dogs and Cats:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Ten-Tips-For-the-Summertime-Safety-of-Your-Dogs-and-Cats&id=3932104

The Happy Dog Spot: Dehydration in Dogs: Know the Signs and How to React:
http://www.the-happy-dog-spot.com/dehydration-in-dogs.html

American Heartworm Society: Canine Heartworm Disease:
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/canine-heartworm.html

Pet Education: Heat Stroke:
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1677+1683&aid=1683

American Kennel Club: Summer Safety Tips:
http://www.akc.org/public_education/summer_safety.cfm

Dog Topics: The Facts About Dog Sunburn:
http://www.dogtopics.com/89/the-facts-about-dog-sunburn/