Your Dog Needs Protection This Summer Too
Woo Hoo! Summer is finally here! Time for camping, swimming, lounging in the sun, fireworks, and lots of other fun summer activities.
While you are planning for the outdoors, it would be a good idea to stop and think about your dog.
Summertime can present dangers to your four-legged best friend too.
Sun Burns: Yes, dogs are prone to sunburns too.
If you have a dog with light colored skin you should be putting sunblock on them as well.
Dogs with lighter colored skin are more likely to get skin cancer if they are not protected from the suns harmful rays.
A good sunblock to use on them would be Bull Frog stick sunblock.
I have also used Water Babies with much success.
The most important area to cover with sunblock is the dogs nose.
It is exposed to the sun more than any other part of the dog.
Heat Stroke: Do Not! I repeat, Do Not! Leave your dog in a closed vehicle for ANY length of time.
A car can get very hot very fast and this can be and is deadly to dogs.
I have seen it all too often when a person leaves their dog in the car to run in for "a few minutes" and comes back out to find their best friend dead or close to it.
Heat kills so please be aware of this.
Make sure your dog has plenty of water at all times and a shaded area that they can lay in to be out of the sun.
Swimming: Many dogs love to swim and they are so much fun to watch in the water.
If you have a swimming pool and you allow your dog to swim in it there are several things you should be aware of.
First, always remind your dog where to find the steps so they can get out when they are ready.
Always supervise your dog in the pool.
Just like with kids, you can't leave your dog alone in the pool.
Especially small dogs who have a harder time getting out of the water.
Second, if you have a fence around your pool, keep it closed and/or the dog in an area away from it when you are away from home.
It is sad to come home and find that your dog has drowned in the pool while you were gone.
Last, learn to recognise the signs of your dog wearing out.
It is always important to know when to say, enough is enough, it's time to take a break.
Summer time means, Fourth of July, and that means fireworks.
While they are fun to watch, they can be very frightening for all animals.
If you will not be with your dog during the fireworks show your should make sure they are in a place they will feel secure.
Keep them locked in a crate indoors where the walls can muffle the sounds.
Tranquilizers are available from your vet if you have a dog that gets really scared of the noise.
Don't leave your dog outside tied up or loose in the yard.
So many dogs go missing over this holiday because they were left outside and ran away scared.
One of the busiest times for animal shelters getting reports of lost and found animals is the day after holidays with fireworks.
If at all possible the best thing to do is to be with your dog on this night.
Summer is a fun time for everyone and with the proper precautions and a little fore thought it can be filled with happy memories for everyone including your best friend.
While you are planning for the outdoors, it would be a good idea to stop and think about your dog.
Summertime can present dangers to your four-legged best friend too.
Sun Burns: Yes, dogs are prone to sunburns too.
If you have a dog with light colored skin you should be putting sunblock on them as well.
Dogs with lighter colored skin are more likely to get skin cancer if they are not protected from the suns harmful rays.
A good sunblock to use on them would be Bull Frog stick sunblock.
I have also used Water Babies with much success.
The most important area to cover with sunblock is the dogs nose.
It is exposed to the sun more than any other part of the dog.
Heat Stroke: Do Not! I repeat, Do Not! Leave your dog in a closed vehicle for ANY length of time.
A car can get very hot very fast and this can be and is deadly to dogs.
I have seen it all too often when a person leaves their dog in the car to run in for "a few minutes" and comes back out to find their best friend dead or close to it.
Heat kills so please be aware of this.
Make sure your dog has plenty of water at all times and a shaded area that they can lay in to be out of the sun.
Swimming: Many dogs love to swim and they are so much fun to watch in the water.
If you have a swimming pool and you allow your dog to swim in it there are several things you should be aware of.
First, always remind your dog where to find the steps so they can get out when they are ready.
Always supervise your dog in the pool.
Just like with kids, you can't leave your dog alone in the pool.
Especially small dogs who have a harder time getting out of the water.
Second, if you have a fence around your pool, keep it closed and/or the dog in an area away from it when you are away from home.
It is sad to come home and find that your dog has drowned in the pool while you were gone.
Last, learn to recognise the signs of your dog wearing out.
It is always important to know when to say, enough is enough, it's time to take a break.
Summer time means, Fourth of July, and that means fireworks.
While they are fun to watch, they can be very frightening for all animals.
If you will not be with your dog during the fireworks show your should make sure they are in a place they will feel secure.
Keep them locked in a crate indoors where the walls can muffle the sounds.
Tranquilizers are available from your vet if you have a dog that gets really scared of the noise.
Don't leave your dog outside tied up or loose in the yard.
So many dogs go missing over this holiday because they were left outside and ran away scared.
One of the busiest times for animal shelters getting reports of lost and found animals is the day after holidays with fireworks.
If at all possible the best thing to do is to be with your dog on this night.
Summer is a fun time for everyone and with the proper precautions and a little fore thought it can be filled with happy memories for everyone including your best friend.
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