Summer Safety and Your Pet: Part One

Summer is officially here, and we can’t believe how quickly the year is flying by. Before you know it, we’ll be wrapping up our pet’s Christmas presents. But for now, in all the chaos summer brings, there are many important tips we at Deceased Pet Care would like to share to ensure you and your beloved pet have a happy, healthy, and fantastically fun summer.

Understanding Overheating
We wanted to start with this one, as it is arguably the most crucial pet safety tip for summer. The glaring summer sun, in addition to the sharp increase in temperature can lead to some pretty dangerous situations for your pet. Just imagine how quickly you can become overwhelmed in summer heat. Depending on your breed of dog, reaching a critical heat point can happen almost twice as fast. It’s important to know the signs of heat stroke.

They are: red eyes, excessive panting, weakness, irritability, vomiting, or collapse. If you notice any of these signs in your pet, taking them to a cool place, provide them with fresh water, and give them a cool wet towel to lay on. In extreme cases, call your veterinarian.

Paw Police
Have you ever stumbled out of your house barefoot to grab the mail and had the soles of your feet cooked on the way to the mailbox? Each step sizzles the skin and it gets worse with every second. The same is true of your pet’s precious paws. If you have an outdoor pet, make sure they have a shady spot to stand. Or, if you’re taking your indoor pet out for a walk or restroom break, stick to the grass. Avoid hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt which increase in intensity throughout the day. If at all possible only venture out in the early mornings and late afternoons.

If you notice your pet is limping and sensitive on the feet, put a little petroleum jelly on those paws to help soothe the seasonal damage.

Barber Be Gone
As humans, when the air heats up, we tend to trim out lovely locks. But contrary to common thought, you should avoid cutting your pet’s coat in the summer months. Your pet’s fur helps control body heat. If it’s trimmed too short, they could have a difficult time regulating their body temperature and increase their risk of heat stroke.

Instead of cutting fur short, just make sure you add fur brushing as a regular part of the schedule. Your carpets, and your pet with thank you.

Auto Distaster
If you’re like us, a pet is just another member of the family. That means they often join us on errand, outdoor excursions, or days at the beach. But just like you should never and would never leave a baby in a car, the same is true of your canine counterpart.

In the summer months, a parked car can increase 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. That’s a quick climb that could lead your pet to severe dehydration, stroke, or even death. If you can’t take your pet inside with you, leave the a/c. The extra gas will be well worth ensuring your pet is happy and healthy for seasons to come.

Congratulations! You’ve read part one of our quick list for summer safety. We can practically hear your pet panting with gratitude. We know your time is limited so we’ve made a second quick list for your educational enlightenment. Check back soon at Deceased Pet Care for part two!

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