7 Summer Dangers to Your Dog

Dogs

At long last, the dogs days of summer are here - and in many places in the U.S. the heat has come with it.

Summer is a great time to be outdoors and enjoy the company of your dog, but it’s also a time where you have to be more protective of him.

Beyond basic tick and flea prevention, many dog owners don’t think much about how the summer sun affects their canine. Sure, if you see him panting in the sun you know it might be time to take him back inside. But there are a lot of summertime dangers. From heat stroke to poisons introduced by landscaping, there are hazards everywhere.

Here are seven common summer dangers our veterinarians see. Understand how to spot these and make a plan to keep your dog from getting sick this summer.

1. Heat stroke and dehydration

We want our dogs to enjoy the summer with us, but the fact is, the sun and heat can be dangerous to them, just like it can be to humans. In fact, because of how they sweat, they are not as good at cooling themselves off as you are.

With that in mind, you need to be thoughtful of how to keep your dog cool all summer. This means taking common sense steps to watch out for heatstroke and dehydration. Never underestimate the heat and be especially aware of the humidity. If it feels warm to you, it’s likely quite hot for your dog.

If your dog is an outdoor dog, make sure he has plenty of shady, cool places to lay and that there is always water available to him. Many pet owners put out two water bowls on hot days — one with water for now and another with ice that will melt during the day to provide cool water.

One note for all pets in the summer: If you need to take them somewhere, do not leave them inside the car. A car’s temperature can reach 104 degrees in less than 15 minutes on a hot summer day. This is a formula for heat stroke.

2. Asphalt and Sidewalks (They get Hot!)

On hot days, it’s not uncommon to see the road steam. It’s likely you would never think to walk barefoot on such a hot surface, but your dog doesn’t really have a choice. Sure, he’s a little more accustomed to the rough surfaces than you are, but it can still be too hot for him. Remember he is much closer to the ground than you are, meaning that he really feels heat radiating off surfaces.

He likely knows how to avoid the hottest surfaces, but again, if possible, help your dog waiting to take him out for a walk until the sun goes down and taking him to places with lots of shade and strips of grass to walk on.