Summer: The Season That Puts Pets At Risk 🐶🐱☀️🐾🔥
Don't Let The Summer Heat Win: Tips To Keep Your Pet(s) Safe All Summer Long
Although Summer has not yet "officially" arrived, in Charlotte it has arrived for all intents and purposes. This past week we've seen our temperatures reach well into the 80's and into the low 90's. We expect to see high 80's in the coming days and week. We are talking about a weather forecast that is HOT, HOT, HOT! If it's hot for us humans, it's HOT, HOT, HOT for our pets. Our pets are more at risk in the summer months than any other time of the year.
How hot is too hot for your pet? Touch your hand to the ground for 5 seconds. If it's painful or uncomfortable for you, it's too hot for your pet's paws.
ASPCA's infographic below points out the 5 Summer Dangers For Pets, which include sun and heat, fireworks and thunderstorms, hot cars, toxic chemicals, and parties and barbecues. Following the safety tips outlined in this infographic will ensure that your pets (and you!) enjoy a pawsitively winning summer!
5 SUMMER DANGERS FOR PETS: INFOGRAPHIC
NEVER Leave Your Pet In A Hot Car
Every summer we hear stories on the news about pets that have perished in a hot car or were rescued from a hot car. Did you know that hundreds of pets die each year from being left in a hot car or from heat exhaustion?
A car heats up very quickly in the summer heat... don't take chances with your pet by leaving it in the car for even a couple of minutes. If it's 90 degrees outside, your car heats up to 114 degrees within 10 minutes and to 129 degrees within 30 minutes. Cracking your window open will not help keep the car cool enough for your pet. A pet can die or sustain brain damage in just 15 minutes in a hot car. Before putting your pet in the in your car during the hot summer months, ask yourself if you really need to take your pet with you – if the answer is no, leave your pet safe and cool at home.
7 More Tips For Caring For Your Pet During Hot Summer Weather
- Be sure to have plenty of water available for both your dogs and cats when it's hot as they can get dehydrated much more quickly. Be sure to carry water with you when out with your dog.
- Don't leave pets unsupervised around your pool. If your dog swims in your pool, hose it off to remove chlorine and chemicals as soon as possible.
- Keep pets off of hot pavement and asphalt as much as possible to keep their pads from burning.
- Keep your pets protected against mosquito bites by not skipping on heartworm medicine in the summer months.
- Don't shave your longer haired dogs thinking it will cool them off... it might instead cause them to be sunburned.
- If you keep windows open in your home, be sure to install screens securely so that dogs and cats don't fall out.
- Know the signs of heat stroke in dogs and cats.
Staying aware of these summer dangers to our fur babies will keep the coming summer season a happy one for both pets and their parents.
These Summer Pet Safety Tips are provided by Nina Hollander with Coldwell Banker Realty, Greater Charlotte residential real estate expert and pet-friendly real estate agent. I've been opening doors for Charlotte area home buyers and sellers and their four-legged family members since 1999.
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PS: if you're thinking about adding a pet to your household this summer, please:
ADOPT, DON'T SHOP!
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