Top Ten Summer Safety Tips for Pet Owners

The "Dog Days of Summer" are upon us, which means lots of hot, sultry weather and fun in the sun are still to come. Summer is a wonderful season, but it's also a time when responsible pet owners need to be extra vigilant to ensure the safety of their canine and feline companions. Whereas winter is perfect for snuggling indoors, summertime finds most people and pets out and about. This exposes pets to seasonal dangers and health risks that call for equal parts common sense and preventative measures. Read on for my top ten summer safety tips for pet owners.

1. Keep Parasites Off Your Pets. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are a year-round problem for pets, but they're especially bad in summer. These blood-sucking pests are not only a nuisance to dogs and cat, but they can carry tapeworms, heartworms, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, Bartonellosis (the bacteria that causes Cat Scratch disease in humans) and Leptospirosis. There's a wide variety of products available to help keep these parasites at bay, including topicals, pills and even natural remedies. No matter which method you prefer, you must take an aggressive stance against these pests to keep them off your pet.

2.Protect Your Pet From Poisons. All sorts of toxic substances could be right in your own back yard. Regularly inspect any outdoor area your pets have access to for things that could endanger their health. These include, but are certainly not limited to, poisonous mushrooms, toads, lawn and garden pesticides, weed killer, fertilizers, cocoa mulch, antifreeze, charcoal, rat bait, slug and snail traps, and citronella candles. Additionally, many common garden plants (and all bulbs) are highly toxic to pets, so do your homework before you buy new plants. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic substance, call your vet immediately, or a poison-control hotline such as: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435 or the National Animal Poison Control Center, 1-900-680-0000 or 1- 800-548-2423.

3. Don't Let Foxtails and Burrs Get Buried. Summer grasses and weeds often produce sticky, spiky or barbed seedcases that can get caught in a pet's paw, fur, nose or mouth. Left unchecked, foxtails and burrs can work their way into the skin and cause serious (and even life threatening) health problems. Inspect your pet after every outdoor romp to make sure they didn't pick up any these nasty hitchhikers.

4. Keep Pets Cool. Heatstroke is a real danger for pets in the summertime. Make sure outside pets have plenty of fresh water and shade. For added protection on very hot days, consider getting them a cooling collar or vest. Like humans, pets should stay out of the sun mid-day (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), so walk/exercise them in the early morning or the evening. It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with the signs of heatstroke: excessive panting, difficulty breathing, drooling, disorientation, agitation, rapid heartbeat, lethargy, vomiting and seizures.

5. Leave Your Dog at Home. Sure it's fun to have Fido along for the ride when you're running errands. But leaving your dog in the car, even with the windows cracked, is a recipe for disaster. You might think it's okay on cloudy days or if you park in the shade, but you'd be wrong. Experiments have shown that even in mild weather, the inside of a car can reach dangerously hot temperatures in a very short time, hot enough to cause the death of your canine companion.

6. Protect Pets from Sunburn. Just like humans, dogs and cats can get sunburned. Pets with white fur around their face and ears, and hairless breeds, are especially susceptible to sunburn. Use sunscreen on areas where their fur is thin and the skin is white or pink. You can use sunscreen made for humans, but a better option is one made especially for pets, such as Solar Rx Moisturizing Sunblock, which is green, vegan and chemical free. If applied to an area the pet can reach, be sure to monitor them for excessive licking. If your pooch spends a great deal of time outdoors in summer, you might also want to outfit them with a sun visor or "sun suit" that offers UV protection.

7. Watch Out for Wildlife. Skunks, snakes, porcupines, possums, scorpions, toads and other critters make for unpleasant and potentially harmful encounters, so keep your dog on a leash and in your control when out for summer walks or hikes. Although most toads are not toxic, some do have poisons on their skin that can be deadly if your dog licks them.

8. Practice Water Safety. Most dogs are natural born swimmers, but some are not. Never leave your pet unsupervised around a pool, lake or other body of water, no matter how much they seem to like water. When taking them boating with you or engaging in the popular sport of dog surfing, they should always wear a life vest. Rinse your dog thoroughly after swimming in a pool to remove chlorine from their fur, and don't let your dog drink out of the pool.

9. Inspect Windows and Screens. The ASPCA warms that during warmer months, there is an increase in pets - particularly cats - that get seriously injured by High-Rise Syndrome, which occurs when they fall out of windows or doors. Take precautions to keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure all screens are tightly secured.

10. Prepare for the Unexpected. Keep a pet first aid kitat home with your own emergency supplies, and keep one in the car too if you take your pet with you. You can either buy the supplies and make your own first aid kit, or buy one ready-made at a pet store. Pets should always wear identification, even if they never leave your home. Consider having them microchipped as well, which greatly increases the chance of them coming home safe and sound should they happen to get lost.

Once you take a few simple summer safety precautions for your pets, you can relax and enjoy all the great things the "sun season" offers.

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