Summer is a Dangerous Time for your Pet
Posted by GuestW on Jul 13, 2009 in Pets • No commentsYou in all probability spend time on the safety of your family. Please do not forget your pets. This is a key part of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and dangerous for your pet. The two main things to pay attention to are the effects of warmer weather and holidays.
Lets get going with the effect of the heat on the pet. Just like us – they will want more water, keep it on hand 24 / 7. If you frequently go dog walking make sure they have the opportunity to have water, every hour 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 murder an animal, temperatures in the sun, can swiftly increase to more than 100 degrees. Putting the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.
Just like ourselves, with the same amount of activity, you need less food to preserve your weight in the summer. If you, or your animal, keep eating the same, you without doubt will increase your weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Increasing weight during summer, is likely to slow the pet down in winter and this can then lead to more weight gain, so think of reducing the food, or as a minimum, monitor your animals 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 animal does not consume moist food within thirty minutes, remove it. Dry food is very safe, if does not become moist. So if you have a slobbery pet, 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, this may not have caused problems, watch out, he may suddenly want to jump into some water, with you if you do not let go of the lead. Perhaps more risky 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 hauled in! Not helped by them chasing the ducks. In summer there are often more animals around for them to chase, so be even more careful.
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 professional pet sitter, will even check out all the risks as part of their agreement. This is often the best option for the pet, they prefer to be in their normal area. If not, and you must board them, check the kennels out. Preferably a personal commendation, as always there can be good and poor. The pet may not like it, but they are secure.
You may be wanting to take your animal on vacation with the family. Without doubt the most dangerous choice for a pet. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the car is risky for ourselves as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you use one, for obvious reason, so ensure your pet has one. 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 very careful during the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a runner (you might as well).
When you arrive you will be in a new location. So do a thorough review for any risks to your animal. The greatest one is escape, above all in motels, rooms opening out onto a main road and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and particularly {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep them away from the fruit.
Pets, will find it difficult to get back to your hotel, if lost, its not as likely as if they were at home – and the neighbours know them. This is not the case in a strange place. Ensure you have solid and visible name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.
I hope you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.
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