Pet Safety Tips for Spring/Summer

Spring and Summertime brings beach trips, hiking, and visits to the park--not only with family but also with pets. This also means that one must find ways to keep a pet safe and cool during those outings. In addition to outings, those pets who stay home must also be looked after on hot days, since they can be deadly if you are not well prepared.

Springtime Cleaning Hazards

Spring cleaning is customary during the months of March, April, and May. But this can also be a precarious time for inquisitive pets. Be sure that all cleaners and chemicals are kept out of your pet's reach. Many of these cleaners, even the "all-natural" ones can have harmful ingredients for your pets. All the cleaning also moves around dust and pollen, while many pets are perfectly fine with this, there are those that will experience allergic reactions. Even your decorative lilies are harmful. Here is a list of toxic and non-toxic plants for your home and garden. Furthermore, with spring cleaning comes home improvements.

Home Improvement Safety

Paints, paint thinner and mineral spirits can be toxic and cause severe burns to your pets. Make sure to read labels in regards to pet safety. Tools can also be a physical hazard to your pets. It can be recommended to keep your pets in a separate room while you complete your home improvements. If you let your pets out during this time you should also be aware of heat stroke, pets wandering off and getting lost, and injuries while out of the house.

Sun Protection

As the temperatures rise, just like people, pets can also get sunburned. Sunburns can cause pain, peeling skin and even skin cancer. It’s best to minimize your dog or cat’s exposure to the mid-day sun, when the sun’s rays are most powerful. If you plan on being outdoors in the sun for an extended period you can apply a pet-specific sunscreen to your dog or cat to minimize the exposure. Don’t use human sunscreens unless directed to do so by your veterinarian. Many human sunscreens can be toxic to pets if ingested.

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke

First and foremost, all pet owners should know that heat stroke is a medical emergency. If your dog or cat has been exposed to high-heat conditions and suspect your pet has heatstroke, bring them to your nearest hospital immediately. If your local hospital is not open, bring your pet to an emergency clinic.

Recognizing the symptoms of heatstroke in dogs and cats Your pet can’t tell you when something isn’t right, but knowing how to identify behavioral differences as heatstroke signs could be life saving. Common signs of heatstroke in dogs and cats include:

• Exaggerated panting

• Brick red gums

• Rapid heartbeat

• High fever

• Collapse

• Vomiting

• Staring/anxious expression

In the event that you need to take your pet in for emergency care, you can help to lower your pet’s temperature on the way to the hospital by applying towels soaked in cool water to hairless areas of your pet, especially the feet. If possible, put your pet’s face near a fan or cool air vent.

Spring/Summer Car Safety for Dogs and Cats

The most important advice for pet owners is to never leave your pet in the car, especially during the summer. Even when it doesn’t seem that hot outside, and even with the windows cracked, temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in a matter of minutes.

Aside from this primary car-related summer danger, pet owners should also know how to keep their pets safe when the vehicle is in motion on spring or summer road trips and other joyrides.

If your pet is traveling with you in a truck, it’s safe to say that you should never let them ride loose in the truck bed. Instead, put them in a kennel that is secured to the vehicle.

Even inside the vehicle, it’s ideal to secure your pet to prevent them from hurting themselves or causing too much distraction while you are driving. Also, as fun as it is to see a dog taking in the sights and smells with his tongue flapping in the wind, it’s best not to let your pet stick his or her head out the window. This could cause irritation to the eyes, or even an injury from rocks or other objects that may kick up into your pet’s face while driving.

Exercise Precautions

Dogs and cats need exercise all year long, but when temperatures rise you may need to alter your pet’s routine. To avoid over-exertion, shorter, more frequent activities may be better than long runs or hikes. It’s also best to exercise your pet early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler.

Water Safety

Not all pets like to be near water, and not all are great swimmers. If your summer plans include oceans, lakes, rivers, or pools, you should introduce your pet to water gradually so they get used to it slowly.

It’s also important that you never leave your pet unattended around a pool or body of water. Do your best not to let your pet drink from the pool, lake, pond, etc. While sources of seemingly endless summer fun, all of these can cause health issues including stomach upset or transmission of parasites such as giardia.

• Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.

• Pets can get dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them, and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.

• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight, and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, it is illegal in several states!

• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool—not all dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.

• Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets, who often fall out of them. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed, and make sure adjustable screens are tightly secured.

• Feel free to trim longer hair on your dog, but never shave your dog: The layers of dogs’ coats protect them from overheating and sunburn. Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

• When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground, your pooch’s body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

• Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach. Keep citronella candles, tiki torch products and insect coils of out pets’ reach as well. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect your animal has ingested a poisonous substance.

• Remember that food and drink commonly found at barbeques can be poisonous to pets. Keep alcoholic beverages away from pets, as they can cause intoxication, depression and comas. Similarly, remember that the snacks enjoyed by your human friends should not be a treat for your pet; any change of diet, even for one meal, may give your dog or cat severe digestive ailments. Avoid raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate and products with the sweetener xylitol. Please visit our People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets page for more information.

• Please leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations, and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and even unused fireworks can contain hazardous materials. Many pets are also fearful of loud noises and can become lost, scared or disoriented, so it’s best to keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area of your home. Be prepared in the event that your pet does escape by downloading the ASPCA Mobile App. You’ll receive a personalized missing pet recovery kit, including step-by-step instructions on how to search for a lost animal in a variety of circumstances.

Spring and Summer can be a fun time with pets but remember that like very small children, they require lots of attention and care to prevent harm and untimely

Did your pet eat chocolate, xylitol, or another potentially poisonous substance? Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

#petsafety