Summer Tips
DO NOT
leave your pet in a parked vehicle -- temperatures can rise above 120
degrees on a sunny day! If you must take your pet with you and leave it
in the vehicle, please follow these few simple tips:
- Open
windows and vents as far as possible (without giving your pet enough
room to leave the vehicle).
- Provide
a lot of water (place a container in the floor board of the vehicle).
- Park
in shaded area and as the sun shifts during the day, move your vehicle
to another shaded area.
- Check
the vehicle every few minutes.
DO NOT exercise your pet in the heat of the day; early morning or late evening
is the preferred time for exercise.
If
you must walk your pet during the day, DO NOT have your pet walk on hot
asphalt; remember, their paws are not protected by shoes, and they will
burn.
Take
your pet to the veterinarian for a summer checkup which should include
a test for heartworms. Check with your veterinarian about a safe, effective
flea and tick control program.
Keep
your pets well groomed during the summer months, this will help prevent
summer skin problems.
If
your pet will be outside during the day, always provide plenty of cool,
clean water and plenty of shade.
Watch
for heat stress. Some signs include: panting, rapid pulse, anxiousness,
staggering. If you notice any of these signs, treat by: bathing in cold
water or spraying with a hose and call your veterinarian immediately.
Winter Tips
If you must leave your pet outside during the winter months, make sure it has
adequate shelter to protect it from the elements.
- A dog house should be insulated and just large enough for the dog to fit in comfortably. It should be elevated off the ground and should have a covered door, so heat cannot escape.
- Use cedar shavings, hay or straw as bedding instead of blankets. Cedar
shavings will also protect your dog from fleas.
Check
your pet's water supply; make sure it is not frozen.
DO
NOT keep your pet inside a vehicle for long periods of time. In the winter
time a vehicle retains the cold, like a freezer or refrigerator.
If
you walk your pet during the winter make sure you keep away from rock
salt; along with damaging their paws, if they lap up any slush containing
the rock salt they may vomit, have diarrhea and become dehydrated. Be
careful!
