Summer Pet Safety Tips

You without doubt think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. Please do not forget your pets. This is a crucial part of pet care. Summer is especially difficult and dangerous for your animal. The two main things to watch for are the results of the heat and holidays.

Lets commence with the effect of the hot weather on the animal. Just like us – they will want more water, make it accessible 24 / 7. If you frequently go dog walking make sure they have the ability to have water, every hour 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 disgrace the number of people who do this to their pets. This can kill a pet, temperatures in the sun, can swiftly rise to more than 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 in the summer. If you, or your pet, keep eating the same, you certainly will increase your weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Putting on weight during summer, is likely to 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 animals weight.

Warning with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most quickly go off as its temperature approaches blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not consume wet food within thirty minutes, through it away. Dry food is very safe, as long as it does not become moist. So if you have a slobbery animal, often and little should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.

Whilst exercising the dog in the heat, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, nevertheless, he may suddenly want to leap into some water, with company – you if you do not let go of the lead. Perhaps more dangerous is the jump into a canal, 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 dogs chasing 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 great holiday. So if you must find a pet sitter, try to find a professional business such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A good pet sitter, will even check out all the risks as part of their agreement. Pet Sitting is often the wisest option for the animal, they would rather be in their home area. If not, and you have to board them, check the boarding out. Preferably a personal commendation, as always there can be good and not so good. The animal may not like it, but they are safe.

You may be wanting to take your pet on vacation with you. This is the most risky option for a pet. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the automobile is dangerous for ourselves 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, perhaps a bit longer if you have air conditioning – on. Be very vigilant on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a run for it (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a strange location. So do a thorough review for any dangers to your animal. The biggest one is escape, particularly in motels, straight out onto a busy highway and cars. Did you know 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 get back to your motel, 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 leash.

I wish you and your pets have a happy, problem free holiday.