It's Summertime, and the Livin' is Easy for Dogs: With Your Help
Heat safety:
This is the biggest concern when it comes to dogs health and safety in the summer months. They can easily become dehydrated, or over heat if you are not careful. To protect them, start with some basics such as trimming their coat, and providing them with plenty of fresh water everyday. In addition to that, take safety precautions such as bringing them indoors during the hottest hours of the day, as they could easily over heat. Those hours are from 10 am to 4 pm. Create an outdoor area for them where they will have plenty of shade. In addition, never break the cardinal rule of not leaving a dog in a car that is not running during summer. Even if it is just for a few moments, it can be fatal to a dog. The temperature inside your car can be 50% hotter than outside, which means that your dog might suffocate from the heat, even with the windows down it is not safe. Lastly, think about their comfort. A hot sidewalk might burn their paws, running around when it is close to 100 degrees might leave them exhausted. If you think about the heat, and how it affects you, then magnify it because the dog has a fur coat, you will be more conscious of how to treat the dog.
Water safety:
Most dogs won't drown, but you still want to be careful around water that your dog does not get in over their limit, or overdo it for their energy levels. Often in the summer dogs will over heat, and could suffer heat exhaustion while in water. Just be careful and your dog should be fine.
Bug safety:
Dogs can get bitten and irritated by mosquitoes, horseflies, and other bugs and flies just like humans can. Keep your dog away from places that spiders and other creepy crawlies tend to hang out, such as woodpiles, low brush, etc. The biggest problem is that with the fur covering the skin, you may not see a bite, and it could be very irritating and can even become infected.
General safety:
One of the things you need to worry about with your dog is foxtails and other foreign objects getting in their ears, nose, eyes, etc. They can cause irritation, and put your dog in a sour mood, they can also lead to other problems like infection, which can make your dog sick as well as miserable. Foxtails tend to be in tall, dry grasses, and in fields. So, don't let your dog run wild in fields, and if they do, check their nose, ears, and eyes carefully for foreign objects when you are done. If they have a foxtail, be careful how you get it out, as they tend to burrow because of the way the barbs are pointed.
More Learn About Dogs
« Dog Days of Summer and Your Dog's Health | Only Dog Beds | Safety Tips for Your Four-Footed Friend in the Summer »