07/06/2025
🐶 Vet-Approved Summer Pet Safety Tips 🐾
1. Hydration is Key
💧 Make sure your pets always have access to clean, fresh water. On hot days, refill water bowls often and consider ice cubes or pet-safe frozen treats for extra cooling.
2. Limit Outdoor Activity
🏖️ Walk your pets during cooler times—early morning or evening. Avoid midday heat, which can quickly lead to heatstroke.
3. Paw Pad Protection
🔥 Asphalt and concrete can burn paws! Test the ground with your hand—if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for them. Use booties or stick to grassy areas.
4. Never Leave Pets in Cars
🚗 Even with windows cracked, cars heat up dangerously fast. Pets can suffer heatstroke or die within minutes. It’s never safe—not even for a quick errand.
5. Watch for Signs of Heatstroke
🌡️ Symptoms include excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, or collapse. If you notice these signs, move your pet to a cooler area, offer water, and call your vet immediately.
6. Provide Shade and Ventilation
🏕️ If your pet is outside, ensure they have access to cool, shaded areas—not just a doghouse, which can trap heat. A ventilated space with airflow is ideal.
7. Keep Up with Preventatives
🦟 Summer means fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Stay on top of your vet-recommended parasite preventatives.
8. Be Mindful of Pools and Lakes
🏊♀️ Not all pets can swim! Supervise water play, use pet life vests if needed, and rinse pets off after swimming to remove chlorine, algae, or bacteria.
9. Avoid Over-Grooming
✂️ While some trimming can help, never shave pets with double coats (like Huskies or Goldens)—they rely on that coat to regulate body temperature.
10. Be Cautious with Summer Foods
🌭 No BBQ scraps! Keep pets away from alcohol, onions, grapes, chocolate, bones, and fatty meats. Always check that treats are pet-safe.
