Summer Safety Tips For Your Dog

Summer Safety Tips For Your Dog

By J. E. Davidson

Our companion dogs enjoy the beautiful summer weather as much as we do, and it’s fun to have our dogs accompany us on summer outings to the lake or campground, or go on hikes with us.

The summer heat can be even more distressing to our dogs than to us, so take special care not to allow your dog to become overheated or exposed to other potential summer dangers.

Follow these tips to keep your dog safe this summer :-

Never leave your dog in a parked car for more than a minute or two.

In the summer heat, a parked car can quickly become as hot as an oven, even if you’re parked in the shade. The shade may move with the sun, and put your dog at risk of overheating.

Be sure your dog has access to plenty of fresh water and shade.

Dogs who are tethered outside, whether in your own backyard or elsewhere, need to be protected from the hot summer sun and dehydration. For dogs who are kenneled outdoors, put a tarp over one end of the enclosure to provide him a place to escape the hot sunlight.

Keep walks short.

Don’t allow your dog to overexert himself and become overheated. Walk in the grass to avoid the hot pavement which can burn his footpads. Elderly or ill dogs are especially susceptible to heat exhaustion if they get too much exercise in hot weather.

Clip your dog’s coat if it is long and heavy.

His coat can be clipped to within 1" of the skin to keep him cooler. Don’t clip any shorter than 1"; his coat protects him from sunburn. Dogs with white or light-colored coats are more susceptible to sunburn than dogs with darker coats.

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion in dogs are the same as for humans: glazed eyes, confusion, unsteadiness, high body temperature, and/or vomiting, and may lead to brain damage, coma, or even death.

Lower your dog’s body temperature by placing cool, wet towels on his head and chest. Get him to a cool spot (air-conditioned if possible) and place him in front of a fan. Give him ice cubes to lick but don’t let him drink large amounts of water. If he doesn’t respond to treatment within 20 minutes, get him to a vet immediately.

Supervise your dog around water.

Some dogs really enjoy swimming, and most are natural swimmers, but they still need supervision as if they were children. If you let your dog swim in the backyard pool with you, train him how to get out by himself.

Keep BBQ and yard chemicals away from your dog.

Lighter fluid, matches, and yard and garden chemicals can make your dog seriously ill or even cause death if he ingests them. Don’t allow him to play on grass that has been chemically treated; he may lick the chemicals off his feet or fur.

Begin heart worm and flea prevention in the spring.

Heart worm is spread by mosquitoes, but don’t use pesticides designed for humans on your dog; DEET is toxic to dogs. Early flea prevention can help you avoid a major flea infestation later in the summer. Talk to your vet about heart worm and flea prevention treatment.