Keeping Your Best Friend Safe During the Warm Summer Months
Whether it’s enjoying cookouts in the backyard, taking a refreshing swim after work, or going for a relaxing, leisurely walk; summertime activities present us and our canine companions, a multitude of options to enjoy the beautiful weather.  However, it is important to learn how to keep your dog safe during these warmer months as they are easily susceptible to heat.
Although the warm weather does provide us with ideal conditions for a variety of fun and recreational outdoor activities, it can potentially set the stage for a host of dangerous situations for your pet. To get the most fun out of your summer, and keep your dog safe from these potential pitfalls, check out this list of tips to make sure both you and your pet have a fun and safe summer season.
Tips to Keep Your Dog Safe for Summer Fun:
- Use caution when traveling with your dog in the car. Never leave him alone in the car for any period of time. The high temperatures that are reached inside a car during the summer months are extremely dangerous for your dog, especially for the shorter-nosed breeds, such as Pugs and the various Bulldogs.
- Try to walk your dog either in the early morning or later evenings, so that he is not over-exerting himself during the extremely hot portions of the day. If you must be outside with your dog, make sure you have plenty of water for him and give him the opportunity to take frequent breaks in the cooler shady areas. Also, be wary of the hot ground you’re walking on as it can burn your dogs pads.
- Always keep an eye on your dog when she’s around any body of water. Make sure you have appropriate life-vests on your dog and keep gates around backyard pools closed and locked.
- When taking your dog for a walk, always try to keep him away from investigating puddles of water that may have collected on streets, roads and fields. They can be full of bacteria, pool, lawn or automotive chemicals, and other potentially dangerous contaminants.
- Summer weather usually brings out the do-it-yourself-er in all of us. Remember to keep pool, lawn and garden chemicals, paints, solvents and all other toxic substances off floor-level and out of your dog’s reach.
