Essential Summer Safety Tips For Proper Care Of Your Dog

While summer is great for dogs, hot weather can be hazardous and even fatal. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not handle heat as well as humans do. The single most effective preventative measure for preventing heat stroke is simple situational awareness of your pet's environment.

On hot days, it is fundamentally import to offer your pet a source for shade and a water source for BOTH drinking and cooling. By providing plenty of shade and water for your pet at home, and by carrying water with you on hikes or daytrips, overexposure to heat can be easily avoided.

Do not consider your dog house as an acceptable sole source of shade. Dog houses retain heat due to low (often no) ventilation and will heat up to dangerous and sometimes fatal temperatures. And of course, NEVER leave your pet alone in the car for ANY period of time, even with the windows cracked. The magnifying effect of glass can elevate interior the interior temperature of your care to fatal levels in mere minutes. This cannot be overemphasized. Never leave your dog unattended inside a vehicle for any period of time.

Loving pet owners will recognize the symptoms of heat stress and heat stroke. Pet owners should educate themselves and be able to recognize the symptoms of heat stroke. These symptoms include:

• Frantic, raspy, or excessive panting


• Unusually rapid breathing


• Unusually thick saliva and drooling


• Bright red gums and tongue


• Sluggishness or unresponsiveness


• Poor balance


• Vomiting

What to do if you witness symptoms of heat stroke:

• Cool your pet immediately


• Rinse pet with cool water...apply ice packs to the groin area


• Offer measured amounts of water...excessive consumption might cause vomiting


• Offer Pedialyte if available - it restores electrolytes


• Consult your Veterinarian

Here are some the basic (but essential) heat stress and stroke preventative measures when traveling:

• Restrain your pet as required...some will exercise to dangerous levels


• When you travel, bring your own source of shade and ensure your pet has ready access at all times to that shade
• Have ready available cool water for both drinking and wetting your pet


• If you travel in a RV, motor home, truck or trailer which relies on generator power for cooling, ensure the generator has a "failure alarm". Ensure that a neighbor is ready and willing to execute your pet care contingency plan should you be away during the power failure.

Owners must always use proper restraints when driving, even for very short distances. Also, contrary to the opinions of many, not all dogs are able to swim. Know your pets swimming ability. Secure pool areas and prohibit unsupervised access to natural water sources (oceans, rivers, and lakes). Limit swimming time to prevent exhaustion.

And of course, as always, owners must make sure that pets are up to date on all flea and tick medications. These pests rob your pet of energy and make them more susceptible to the dangers of heat.

About the Author:

Howie Berkowitz owns and operates Pets Pets Pets Pets, Somerset, New Jersey. Established in 1985, Pets Pets Pets is one of the area's leading suppliers of pets and pet products. Visit the store at 2 John F Kennedy Blvd in Somerset, New Jersey, phone 732-545-6675, or learn more at http://www.petspetspetssomerset.com.