Summer is a Dangerous Time for your Pets
You most likely spend time on the safety of your family. However do not forget your animals. This is a key part of pet care. Summer is especially difficult and dangerous for your animal. The two main things to pay attention to are the effects of the heat and vacations.
Lets get going with the results of the hot weather on the animal. Just like us – they will want more water, make it on hand at all times. If you regularly go dog walking make sure they have the ability to have water, every sixty minutes or so, or even more often if you are of the energetic type.
You would be justifiably locked up for leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astounding and a shame the amount of people who do this to their animals. This can murder a pet, temperatures in the sun, can swiftly rise to more than 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, does not help that much.
Just like ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need fewer calories to maintain your weight in the summer. If you, or your animal, keep consuming the same, you without doubt will increase your weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Putting on weight during summer, may slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your pets weight.
Danger with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most quickly go off as its temperature approaches blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the pet does not consume moist food within half an hour, remove it. Dry food is very safe, as long as it does not become moist. So if you have a slobbery pet, little and often should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.
Whilst playing with dog in the heat, this may not have caused problems, however, he may suddenly want to bound into some water, with company – you if you are holding onto the lead. Even more dangerous is the jump into a river, if he is not on a leash. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, you can often see people being pulled in! Not helped by them chasing the ducks. In summer there are often more animals around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.
Summer, is often the time of the long vacation. So if you must find a pet sitter, choose a professional company such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A professional pet sitter, will even check out all the risks as part of their contract. Pet Sitting is often the best option for the pet, they prefer to be in their normal area. If not, and you have to board them, check the kennels out. Ideally a personal commendation, as in everything there can be excellent and pitable. The pet may not like it, but they are safe.
You may be wanting to take your pet on vacation with the family. This is the most risky option for an animal. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The trip in the car is risky for us as well. Think about using a pet restraint, you wear one, for obvious reason, so buy one, if you don’t have one for your pet. The risk of dehydration, so stop for water stops for you and your pet every sixty minutes, or a bit longer if you have air conditioning – on. Be particularly careful on the stops, look out for traffic movement, and the pet may want to take a runner (you might as well).
When you arrive you will be in a strange location. So do a thorough review for any dangers to your pet. The greatest one is escape, particularly in motels, straight out onto a main road and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and especially {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep an eye on them.
Pets, will find it difficult to find their way back to your hotel, if lost, we all know of good cases and happy endings when pets get lost near their normal home. This is not the case in a strange place. Ensure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.
I hope you and your animals have a happy, problem free holiday.
