Consider the Following Summer Dangers to Your Pet
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed
You almost certainly think of on the safety of your family. Please do not forget your Pets. This is a key part of pet care. Summer is especially difficult and dangerous for your pet. The two main things to watch for are the results of warmer weather and holidays.
Lets commence with the effect of the hot weather on the animal. They are like us – they will need more water, keep it on hand at all times. If you regularly 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 number of people who do this to their animals. This can murder a pet, temperatures in the sun, can rapidly rise to over 100 degrees. Putting the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.
Just like ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need fewer calories to maintain your weight in the summer. If you, or your pet, keep consuming the same, you certainly will increase your weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Increasing weight in summer, will slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your animals weight.
Also be careful with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most rapidly go off as its temperature gets near to blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not consume moist food within thirty minutes, remove it. Dry food is perfectly safe, as long as it does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery animal, little and often should be the principle. Watch out for condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.
Whilst playing with dog in the heat, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, watch out, he may suddenly want to jump into some water, with company – you if you do not let go of the lead. Even more risky is the jump into a river, if he is not on a lead. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, regularly you see people being hauled in! Not helped by Dogs chasing the ducks. In summer there are often more animals around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.
Summer, is additionally the time of the long vacation. So if you are having to find a pet sitter, try to find a professional company 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. This is often the best option for the animal, they prefer to be in their home area. If not, and you have to board them, check the kennels out. Preferably a personal commendation, as always there can be great and pitable. The animal may not like it, but they are secure.
What about taking your animal on vacation with you. This is the most risky choice for an animal. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The trip in the automobile is risky for ourselves as well. Certainly consider 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, or a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be very vigilant 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 pet. The biggest one is escape, particularly in motels, rooms opening out onto a busy road and cars. Do not forget 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 find their way 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. Make sure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.
I wish you and your animals have a happy, event free holiday.
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