You most likely think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. However do not forget your pets. This is a key part of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and dangerous for your animal. The two areas to pay attention to are the results of warmer weather and holidays.
Lets commence with the results of the hot weather on the animal. Just like us – they will need more water, keep it available at all times. If you frequently go dog walking ensure they have the opportunity to have water, every hour or so, or even more often if you are of the energetic type.
Whilst you would not think or leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is surprising and a disgrace the number of people who do this to their animals. This can kill an animal, temperatures in the sun, can quickly rise to more than 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.
Pets are similar to ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need fewer calories to maintain your weight during summer. If you, or your pet, keep consuming the same, you without doubt will put on weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Increasing weight during summer, is likely to slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your pets weight.
Danger 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 eat wet food within thirty minutes, through it away. Dry food is perfectly safe, as long as it does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery animal, often and little should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drips from the air conditioner.
Whilst walking the dog during the hot weather, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, watch out, he may without warning want to jump into some water, with company – you if you are holding onto the lead. Probably more dangerous is the leap into a river, if he is not on a lead. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, you can often see people being hauled in! Not helped by dogs wanting to say hi to the ducks. In summer there is often more wildlife around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.
Summer, is often the time of the long holiday. So if you are having to find a pet sitter, try to find a professional business such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A good pet sitter, will even identify all the dangers as part of their agreement. This is often the wisest option for the animal, they would rather be in their home area. If not, and you must board them, check the kennels out. Preferably a personal commendation, as in everything there can be good and pitable. The pet may not like it, but they are safe.
You may be wanting to take your pet on holiday with the family. This is the most dangerous choice for an animal. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the automobile is dangerous 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 problem of dehydration, so plan for water stops for you and your pet every hour, perhaps a bit longer if you have air conditioning – on. Be very vigilant during the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a run for it (you might as well).
When you arrive you will be in a new location. So check it out thoroughly for any dangers to your pet. The greatest one is running away, particularly in motels, rooms opening out onto a main road and cars. Did you know that digestion of fruit and particularly {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 in a strange place. Ensure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a lead.
I wish you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.
Mail this post