Summer Pet Safety
Summer Pet Safety
With summer just around the corner, you’re probably starting to plan all the fun activities you’ve been putting off until the weather is better. While you’re making a bucket list of items to cross off, don’t forget to add things you can do with your pets, too!
Fido and Fifi have been waiting all winter to get outside with you and play. Now that the temperatures are rising, activities like frisbee and fetch are in drooling distance!
But the hotter temps you’re looking forward to can be dangerous to your pets. They rely on you to know what’s best for them and to keep them safe from any possible dangers.
You probably already know the basics of pet safety, but with hot temperatures and busy schedules, it can’t hurt to be prepared early! These tips will guide you into the summer so you can enjoy the gorgeous weather while keeping your pets healthy and happy, too.
Hot Temperature Reminders
You’ve been looking forward to the hot weather, but when it comes to dogs, cats, and other common pets, they don’t mind cooler temps. The extra layer of fur keeps them snug in all but extreme cold - but it also makes them hot in warm weather. If you’re hot, they’re hotter.
Keep these tips in mind as the temperatures rise:
Food Safety Tips
It’s never a good idea to feed pets table scraps unless you know the food is healthy for them (healthy for you isn’t the same thing). Since warmer weather usually means more gatherings, like barbecues, your pets have a greater chance of snatching or snaring some random treats.
Those “yummy treats” you think you’re giving your dog may actually be poisonous to them. These tips will help you keep your pet safe at get-togethers and in daily life:
- Dogs and cats don’t handle diet changes too well. Adding new foods to their palate can cause digestive issues. This is upsetting for your pet, and it’s not any fun for you, either.
- Some foods are poisonous to most pets and should never be fed to them. The list includes, but isn’t limited to, things like chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and fruit pits.
- Anything with xylitol in it is also poisonous. Check the ingredients carefully before you feed your pet anything you’re not sure about. Xylitol is used as a sweetener in a lot of products today.
Pests and Your Pet
Summer is the time people swarm the outside, and it’s when the pests do, too. You should always be on guard for critters that could be harmful to your pets, but these tips are extra necessary during the warm weather:
Use Common Sense and These Tips
Your pet’s safety is in your hands throughout the year, but each season brings its own hazards and dangers. Use common sense as best as possible to prevent injury or harm to your pet by following these tips.
In many cases, it’s as simple as leaving a fresh bowl of water out every day or throwing on some protective doggie leggings from Walkee Paws. Plan ahead for any outings you’ll be taking and make sure you’ve made them pet-friendly from start to finish. You and your pet will be glad you did!