With summertime comes pool parties, barbecues, trips to the mountains and weekends at the beach. You and your pets can enjoy all the summertime activities, here are a few safety tips:
- Central Valley Summer Heat: Temperatures in the 90’s to 100’s can lead to heat exhaustion, hyperthermia and death. Keep plenty of cool, fresh, clean water both inside and outside for your cats and dogs. Fans, misters, and shady spots will aid in keeping your pets cooler. Branchycephalic dogs (Bulldogs, Pugs, French bulldogs, and Bull Mastiffs) are more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Extra care needs to be taken to keep them cool and prevent them from overheating. In the summertime the inside of cars can reach temperatures of 120 degree’s rapidly. Leaving your pets inside the car can quickly lead to heat exhaustion. It is best to leave your family dog home in a cool air-conditioned home.
- Backyard pools, Lakes, and Streams: Many of us enjoy cooling off in a backyard pool, nearby lakes, or mountain streams. As with children, pets must be supervised while in/or around water. Dogs need to learn how to swim and the location of the pool steps so they can get out of the pool. Leaving pets around pools, streams, or lakes, without supervision can lead to tragedy.
- Summer Picnic: Barbecues and picnics at the beach or in the mountains are part the summer fun. Watch the food, so that the family dog does not enjoy the picnic meal with you and ruin the summer outing. If your canine family members enjoys the picnic meal, vomiting, diarrhea,and pancreatitis can occur. Intestinal obstructions can occur if bones or corn cobs are eaten.