Summer Care For Your Pet Dogs

By Staff

Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 14:53

Summer can pack in loads of fun and frolic for you and your dog, as it means lots of time outdoors. However the mid day heat can make your stuffy doll sick. Here are some dog health care tips that will ensure that your dog remains safe in the heat. Follow these tips to keep your pet healthy and cool.

Summer health care tips

To prevent your dog from overheating, never let your dog exercise in hot weather. If you would want to run with your dog, make sure to do it in the cool hours of the early morning or late evening.

Your dog may burn its paws after a walk in the hot pavement or sandy beach. Therefore, as a basic safety rule, if the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk barefoot on, it is too hot for your dog too. During summer regularly check its pads for sores, cracks, or burns.

Dogs with dark fur or dogs with flat faces, such as Pugs or Bulldogs need extra care and protection during summer. They overheat quickly and are at higher risk for heat stroke than other dogs.

Never leave your pet alone in the car when the vehicle is basking in the mid day heat, while you are away for shopping. Vehicles heat quickly in the sun, and animals left in them can succumb to 'heat stroke' in a very short time. Heatstroke is life threatening for dogs. Watch out for these signs, a staggering gait, heavy and loud breathing and a bright red tongue or gum tissue. If you suspect you dog is under heat stroke then, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on his belly, or in severe cases completely wet him down so that his hair is soaked. Always remember, such condition is a medical emergency. Seek veterinary medical attention immediately.

Make sure that all your pets vaccinations are up to date. According to the latest research Parvovirus, an illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that have not received their vaccinations. Your dog should also have rabies vaccinations, as during this season, pets often spend more time outdoors, and the chances of encounters with wildlife increase.

Provide your pet a cool, shady place to sleep and plenty of clean, fresh water to drink at all times. Be extra sensitive to the needs of older animals during the hottest hours of the day.

Dogs can get sunburned just like humans, therefore never leave your dog out in the sun for too long.
Keep you pet friend free from fleas and ticks during summer, with the help of all-natural flea and tick treatments or holistic flea and tick solutions.

Avoid feeding dogs corn cobs in summer as they cannot digest corn cobs and they will often need to be surgically removed from their stomach. Raisins and grapes ingested in large quantities can cause kidney failure in dogs.

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Article Published On: Tuesday, December 16, 2008, 14:53 [IST]

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