Keeping Your Dog Or Cat Healthy During Summer

Making sure your pet stays happy and healthy during hot summer months.

We spend so much time focused on keeping cool during the summer, it can easy to overlook our pets. Every pet owner knows how important it is to keep fresh water available for our furry friends to stay hydrated, but did you know pets can suffer from other effects of the heat as well?

Here are some things to keep in mind when your pet is spending time outdoors in the heat:

Sunburn

Dogs and cats can easily be burned despite having a coat of fur on their bodies, even pets with thicker coats are vulnerable. To help prevent painful sunburn, make sure a shaded, protective area is accessible to your pet anytime they are outdoors. Pet shade can be created if no structure is available, with an umbrella, canopy, or even a covered pet bed.

Heatstroke

Too much time in the heat without adequate water or coverage can result in heatstroke, which can be very dangerous for animals. Lethargy, sunken eyes, and excessive panting are some of the signs of heatstroke. But don’t let your pet reach that point – simply keep them out of the sun and well hydrated at all times.

There are several products out there that are great for keeping your dog and cat happy in the heat. It’s a great time to be a pet owner with so many fun and useful products being created every day.

Here are some examples of the latest:

Covered pet canopies

Made by the same manufacturers who make canopies for people, these offer shade and uv protection for pets of all shapes and sizes. The portability and versatility of these canopies make it a must have for summer.

Drinking fountains

The basic models have been on the market for awhile, but newer, better styles are now available. Choose from a variety of options including stainless steel, dual fountains and oscillating. There’s a drinking fountain for even the most finicky pet.

Dog boots, sunglasses, and other protective gear

These accessories may look silly, but they do provide valuable protection when temperatures soar. Dog boots keep delicate paws protected from scorching cement surfaces. Sunglasses for pets stay secured to a dog’s head with comfortable elastic and keep delicate eyes shielded from harmful uv rays, not to mention they make your dog look like the coolest pooch around.

Tagged advice, canopy, care, drinking fountain, heatstroke, hot, safety, summer, sunburn