Wag-tastic Pet Tips – Summertime Pet Care

Higher temperatures may translate into more time spent outdoors, but for pet owners, they can also mean more visits to the veterinarian. In the summer, there tends to be more skin and ear infections and an increase in injuries overall to pets. Here are a few tips from prevention.com to protect your pet during the warmer months.

Shield delicate skin. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in dogs and second most common in cats. Even though fur provides some protection from the sun, you should apply a pet sunblock every 3 to 4 hours to the least hair-covered spots. No need to apply sunscreen directly on fur.

Keep coats long. While it may seem logical to cut your pet's coat short, resist the urge. "If hair, even long hair is brushed and not matted, it provides better circulation and helps her regulate her body temperature.

Soothe burns safely. If your pet does get burned, apply a thin layer of pure aloe vera twice daily to soothe the irritated area. Check the brand with your vet first, for pet safety.

Walk with caution. Don't walk your dog during the day's highest heat and humidity. This is especially important for dogs with short snouts, such as bulldogs, who can't pant as efficiently in humid weather due to their narrowed nostrils and windpipes.

Never leave her in the car. Even if windows are cracked, the interior temp can rise dramatically in minutes. On a hot day, this can be deadly.

Look out for heat exhaustion. If your dog shows signs of heat stress—heavy panting, dry or bright red gums, thick drool, vomiting, diarrhea, or wobbly legs—don’t place her in ice cold water, which can put her into shock. Instead, move her to a cool place, drape a damp towel over her body, rewetting the cloth frequently, and get her to the vet as soon as you possibly can.

Keep it cool indoors. Turn on the AC in your home, especially if you'll be out of the house for several hours. If it's too warm for you, it's too warm for your pet. A lot of times, when protecting your pet, just use a little common sense blended with tips that you pick up along the way.