Summer Pet Safety Tips
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
You probably think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. However do not forget your pets. This is a crucial element of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and dangerous for your pet. The two main things to pay attention to are the results of warmer weather and holidays.
Lets start with the effect of the hot weather on the animal. Just like us – they will need more water, make it accessible 24 / 7. If you frequently go dog walking make sure they have the ability to have water, every sixty minutes or so, or even more regularly if you are of the active type.
Whilst you would not think or leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astounding and a disgrace the amount of people who do this to their animals. This can kill an animal, temperatures in the sun, can quickly increase to over 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.
Just like ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need less food to maintain your weight during summer. If you, or your pet, keep consuming the same, you certainly will put on weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Increasing weight in summer, is likely to slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your pets weight.
Danger with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most rapidly go off as its temperature gets near to blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not consume moist food within thirty minutes, through it away. Dry food is very safe, if does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery animal, little and often should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drips from the air conditioner.
Whilst exercising the dog during the hot weather, this may not have caused problems, watch out, he may without warning want to bound into some water, with you if you do not let go of the lead. Perhaps more risky is the jump into a river, if he is not on a lead. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, regularly you see people being pulled in! Not helped by them wanting to say hi to the ducks. In summer there is often more wildlife around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.
Summer, is often the time of the long vacation. So if you are having to choose a pet sitter, try to find a professional company such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A professional pet sitter, will even identify all the risks as part of their agreement. This is often the best option for the animal, they prefer to be in their home area. If not, and you must put them in kennels, check the kennels out. Ideally a personal recommendation, as always there can be good and not so good. The animal may not like it, but they are safe.
What about taking your pet on vacation with the family. Without doubt the most risky option for an animal. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the automobile is dangerous for us as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you use one, for good reason, so ensure your pet has one. The problem of dehydration, so stop for water stops for you and your pet every sixty minutes, or a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be particularly vigilant on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the animal may want to take a runner (you might as well).
When you arrive you will be in a new location. So check it out thoroughly for any dangers to your animal. The greatest one is running away, particularly in motels, rooms opening 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 struggle to get 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 on vacation. Ensure you have solid and visible name / phone tags and keep them on a lead.
I wish you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.
January 5th, 2012 at 7:12 am
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