Dog Days of Summer Safety
Posted by Candace Woods on Aug 2nd 2016
It's August again and summer is in full swing! By now, the pools are all warm and the humidity is sky high. The kids are getting ready to go back to school, but they still want to enjoy the warm weather while they have the chance. Down here in Georgia we still have a good 2 months of really hot days! Brady, the Bulldog, definitely doesn't want summer to end. It's a good thing we moved to the south. But first, there are some rules we have to follow in order to keep Brady safe for the next couple of months and for many years to come.......
- Never leave your dog unattended in your car! Not even for 2 minutes! You'd never leave your child in a hot car so why would you do that to your pet? He's part of the family and that means you have his back no matter what he chews up! Leaving your dog in the blistering hot car can cause him to have a heatstroke and can lead to death in the worst case scenario.
- Use preventative flea and tick medications. Be sure to read the warning labels! These medications can be toxic!
- Use pet-safe sunscreen in
the summer months. Also, don’t forget the tips of their snout and on their
tummy too! It’s easy to forget how hot it gets especially if your dog is outside for long periods of time. If you have a short-haired dog keep in mind they are prone to such sunburns.
- Protect your dog’s paws. Hot concrete can do more harm than you think to your dog’s foot pads.
If it’s too hot for your feet, it’s too hot for their feet. Carry your dog if
the surface becomes too hot (yes, even you Great Dane owners.....) or
buy dog booties to wear on walks.
- Water beds or mats made for pets are fantastic ways
for Brady to cool off this summer.
- Here are some signs that your dog is suffering from heatstroke and what you should do if this situation arises: heavy panting, rapid heartbeat, lack of coordination, lethargic behavior, vomiting, excessive salivation, dark red tongue and gums, and loss of consciousness. Yikes!
What to do if you think your dog may be showing signs of a heatstroke?
Well, get him out of the sun if the first obvious thing. If there is a water hose nearby, that will work wonders for cooling off your pet. Try and get your dog to drink some of that water if they're able. The trick is to slowly cool him off because if you try too quickly it can send him into shock! Walking at a snail's pace is a good idea so that the blood can keep pumping to his heart. Lastly, take your dog to the vet as soon as possible just to make sure everything checks out okay.
Please share with us any tips I have missed and be sure to join us on our Facebook page PoopBags!! Join us for all the exciting new contests and giveaways we have coming up! Help us save the earth one poop at a time!
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