Pet Be Cool on Pet Sitter Watch

Help Your Pet Be Cool This Summer

Your pets need to stay cool while you are away and your pet sitter is watching them too!

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It's great to enjoy summer with your pet. It is also a time when we travel on vacations and your favorite pet sitter is coming to your home to care for your beloved pets.  This is the greatest time when your pets have the greatest risk of injury due to heat-related health problems. As a pet sitter I find that sometimes people turn off everything and lock up tightly before leaving with Fio in the house.  So here are some tips on keeping things cool for your pets this summer.

Find A Cool Spot. For indoor pets, keeps the air circulating with a child-proof fan or air conditioner. Provide shade for outdoor pets. And a gentle sprinkle from a hose is always appreciated.
**Plan and provide a cool spot for your pets even when you are away!
Watch out for Signs of Heatstroke.  

·         Rapid panting

·         Hot skin

·         Twitching muscles

·         A dazed look

Wrap pet in a towel soaked with cool, not cold, water. In severe cases, place them in the bathtub. Heatstroke can be fatal.
Never Leave Your Pet In a Parked Car. Not even if you crack the windows or park in the shade. On a 70¯ day, the car temperature can rise above 150¯ in minutes. It's extremely dangerous. And the Number One Cause of heatstroke.

Keep Vaccinations Up-To-Date. This is the time when most pets come in contact with other animals, at parks, campgrounds, etc.

Always Provide Plenty Of Fresh Water. Dogs can only sweat through the pads of their feet and by panting. Evaporation from the wet surfaces of their mouth and nose helps lower body temperature.
Stop External Parasites Before They Bite. Fleas, ticks and ear mites thrive in warm, humid environments. See us for a preventive program.
Also Avoid Internal Parasites. Be sure your dog has been heartworm tested and is on preventive.
Watch For Hot Pavement and Beaches. Sensitive paws burn easily.

The Streets Aren't Safe. Don't let your pet roam. Just in case -- make sure your pet is licensed. We see twice as many fight injuries and bite wounds in summer. And, of course, your pet is no match for a car.

The Yard Isn't Always Safe, Either. Be cautious of pesticides and herbicides. Read the precautions for lawn chemicals carefully and keep pets away from newly-treated yards. If pets come in contact with chemicals, wash their feet, abdomen and chest thoroughly, then contact us.
Brush Regularly. Frequent brushing provides early warning of parasites and skin infections by lifting the coat, permitting a view of the skin below.

It's Allergy Season. People sneeze. Pets scratch. Common pet allergies include pollen, grass and weeds. If your pet scratches excessively or chews at its paws, take your pet to your veterinarian. They can design a program to help.

Watch The Exercise. Don't encourage exercise and dog walking during the hottest part of the day. Short low to the ground dogs internal organs are very close to the hot pavement and your dog’s paw pads can be painfully damaged.  

Watch the Diet.  Let your pets eat less. Overeating can lead to overheating.

Not Every Dog Paddles Well. Animals in the water for the first time should be eased in, never thrown or chased in. Don't let them drink from pools, streams or the ocean. And, if they swim, rinse them off. Salt and minerals can damage a dog's coat.

Sunburn Is No Day At The Beach. It hurts; Short-haired pets and those with pink skin and white hair are especially susceptible. Limit their exposure.

Submitted by:

Debbie Laughlin “Top Dog”

House Calls Pet Sitting and Home Care Services