Summer may be a bit more low-key this year, but as things heat up it’s important to keep your pet safe. Here are a few tips to help:
- Heat kills! Never leave your pet in a car, even for a quick trip. On a sunny 70-degree day, your car can heat up to over 100 degrees in minutes. The high humidity in our area makes the heat especially dangerous.
- Hot asphalt and metal pick-up truck beds will scorch your pet’s paws—so if it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for your pooch.
- We know that there may not be many large-scale July 4th celebrations this summer, but people still love fireworks and will likely be setting them off more in neighborhoods. Keep your pets in a quiet room with calm music or white noise on. You can also try compression clothing like a Thundershirt or lavender oil aromatherapy. If your pet has an extreme reaction to the noise such as heavy panting, drooling, shaking, hiding, or trying to escape, we may be able to help with medication or remedies.
- Cookouts are tasty, but cooked meat bones often splinter and become hazardous if swallowed. Nix the corn cobs, too—they can cause intestinal blockage.
- Don’t let your dog drink seawater, lake water or river water. Water from the ocean can bring on vomiting and dehydration, while lake and river water are often full of bacteria that can cause illness.
We’re here to help if you have any questions about summer safety, need sedative medications for fireworks, or want to make sure your pet’s shots and parasite protection are up to date. Just give us a call at 504-467-6431 or book an appointment online.
