Top Tips to Protect your Pet During the Summer Vacations

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Top Tips to Protect your Pet During the Summer Vacations

Saturday, August 8th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

You in all probability think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. Please do not forget your animals. This is a crucial element of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and different for your animal. The two areas to watch for are the results of warmer weather and vacations.

Lets commence with the results of the hot weather on the animal. They are like us – they will want more water, keep it accessible 24 / 7. If you are a regular dog walker make sure they have the opportunity to have water, every sixty minutes or so, or even more regularly if you are of the energetic type.

You would be justifiably locked up for leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is surprising and a disgrace the number of people who do this to their pets. This can murder an animal, temperatures in the sun, can rapidly rise to more than 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.

Pets are similar to ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need fewer calories to maintain your weight during summer. If you, or your pet, keep eating the same, you without doubt will increase your weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Increasing weight in summer, will slow the pet down in winter and this can then lead to more weight gain, so consider reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your animals weight.

Warning with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most rapidly go off as its temperature approaches blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the pet does not eat wet food within half an hour, remove it. Dry food is perfectly safe, as long as it does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery pet, little and often should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.

Whilst playing with dog in the heat, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, watch out, he may without warning want to bound into some water, with you if you do not let go of the lead. Probably more dangerous is the jump into a canal, if he is not on a leash. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, you can often see people being pulled in! Not helped by dogs chasing the ducks. In summer there are often more animals around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.

Summer, is additionally the time of the great holiday. So if you are having to choose a pet sitter, try to find a professional pet sitter, who will even identify all the dangers as part of their contract. This is often the wisest option for the pet, they would rather be in their normal area. If not, and you have to board them, check the kennels out. Ideally a personal recommendation, as always there can be great and poor. The animal may not like it, but they are secure.

You may be wanting to take your animal on vacation with you. This is the most dangerous choice for an animal. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The trip in the car is dangerous for us as well. Think about using a pet restraint, you use one, for obvious reason, so ensure your pet has one. The danger of dehydration, so plan for water stops for you and your pet every hour, perhaps a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be particularly vigilant on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the animal may want to take a runner (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a new location. So do a thorough review for any risks to your animal. The biggest one is running away, especially in motels, rooms opening out onto a busy highway and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and particularly {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep an eye on them.

Pets, will struggle to get back to your hotel, if lost, its not as likely as if they were at home – and the neighbours know them. This is not the case on vacation. Ensure you have solid and visible name / phone tags and keep them on a lead.

I hope you and your animals have a happy, event free holiday.

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