Prepare Your Pet For Summer
From making plans to buying new clothes to filling your time
with, exhilarating (or relaxing)
hobbies, gearing up for summer can be a fun and exciting exercise. With
hotter months ahead, don’t forget that your pets need certain preparation in
advance of summer also. With increased dangers like infectious bugs, poisonous
plants and more time around water, plus the threat of heat itself, summer is an
important time to make sure your pets are ready. Start with a few simple tips
that can help ensure safety throughout the summer months.
Keep them hydrated.
Dehydration and heatstroke can be fatal to pets, so access to a clean water
bowl both inside and outside is critical during summertime. While you’re on the
go, be sure to bring water for your pet in a suitable drinking container.
Protect against bugs.
Ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other pesky bugs can cause headaches and health
problems when the weather warms. Many standard flea collars and solutions
contain pesticides and chemicals that can not only harm your pet, but pose a
danger to human health as well –especially for children or pregnant women. There are many safe, natural methods that are
effective for preventing and controlling pests including diatomaceous earth,
essential oils and apple cider vinegar.
Groom and bathe
regularly. One of the best ways to keep a dog’s coat healthy and help
prevent matting and summertime skin irritation is regular grooming and bathing
with a gentle, all natural shampoo. The right grooming tool can dramatically
reduce shedding by removing the undercoat and loose hair without sacrificing
the healthy top coat.
Never leave your pet
in a parked car. On a hot day, the temperature inside a car can reach more
than 160 degrees in five minutes. And
leaving the windows cracked or parking in the shade doesn’t keep those
temperatures from soaring
Clean the yard.
Before letting dogs, cats or other pets out into the yard to play, check for
hazards that can be removed or prevented. Search the yard for poisonous plants,
ensure that fences are sturdy and whole, watch the area for possible predators
if you own smaller pets and monitor your pet’s outdoor activity. Avoid using
pesticides and herbicide. Dogs can directly ingest toxic chemicals by licking
their paws and fur and the chemicals get tracked into your home, contaminating
floors and furniture.
Check screens.
When the temperature is just right, many people love to throw open doors and
windows to allow fresh air to rush through screen doors. However, those screens
should be checked to ensure that pets can’t push them out.
Add ID. Whether
your pets play outside often or not, it’s a smart investment to add an
identification tag to their collars. If they were to ever make a dash for an
open gate or find a way outside without attention, an ID can help significantly
increase the chances they are returned home safely.
Make a vacation
checklist. Before hitting the road for a fun family getaway, add important
pet items to your checklist. Remember
that while on a trip, your pet will need food and water, of course, but also
may require specific bedding, toys, treats and more.