Spring has sprung and the weather is heating up fast. As the temperature rises, so do the risks associated with dogs. Here is a list of things to think about concerning your dog’s health in the heat.
GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR:
This is one that you hear a lot. Unfortunately, many dog owners still do it. We cannot stress it enough: you should never leave your dog in the car in the heat, no matter what the temperature is, no matter how long you will be away from the car, no matter how many windows are cracked open. In the summer, especially in cars parked out in the sun, cars can reach over 100 degrees in less than half an hour.
Not only is it unwise to keep your dog trapped in the car, it is also considered abusive and is illegal in more than 15 states.
If you see a dog in a hot car, call 911 or Animal Control immediately. That call could save a dog’s life.
BEWARE OF TICKS
These little buggers are perhaps the most common, but also the most dangerous, threat to dogs. Ticks are disease-carriers, and the ailments they carry, namely Lyme Disease, can be deadly. Make sure to inoculate them with a monthly dose of a tick control product and keep them up to date on their shots. Also, be careful where you let your dog wander off to. You never know what could be hiding in the plants he wants to run through.
WALK YOUR DOG IN COOLER HOURS
The scalding heat of the mid-day sun is not the best time to walk your dog. If possible, try to go out in the early morning or later in the afternoon to dusk, when the sun isn’t so direct. This is not just for your dog’s benefit, but also for yours.
WATER, SHADE, AND AIR CONDITIONING
Make sure that, while your dog is outside, he has plenty of fresh water and a cool, shady place to curl up and hide from the heat. When he is inside, try to keep the house as cool as possible.
BE CAREFUL WITH DOG TOYS
Several years ago, there was a social network post that quickly went viral. The person who posted it claimed that their dog was poisoned by a pet toy that was abandoned in his favorite dog park. There have been several similar stories over the years. Whether or not they are true, the moral of all of them is this: never let your dog bite, pick up, or touch in any way a toy that is not yours. Any abandoned toys should go in the trash immediately.
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