Summer Dangers for Dogs: Tips to Keep Them Safe
The summer is a fun, but perilous time for dogs. The following are some of the summer dangers that dogs face, and some tips to keep them safe.
Over heating: This is one of the main concerns for dogs in the summer, especially if you take them with you in the car. A dog can quickly and easily get dehydrated, especially if they have a lot of hair. So, keep your dog in the shade, do not leave them in hot cars, and make sure they have plenty of water available to them all summer long. If you can, keep pets indoors between 10am and 4 pm.
Foreign bodies: The dry summer months bring about a hazard for dogs that are not as risky during the cooler, wetter, months. One of the biggest concerns for dogs is foxtails, which are a type of grass with sharp points. The points make the grass move forward, embedding in dog paws, ears, eyes, nose, etc. It almost always leads to irritation and infection, and is difficult to remove because of the barb. To keep dogs safe from this summer danger, try to keep them out of fields of dry grass, and regularly check their ears, paws, etc. for foxtails, so they can be removed before damage occurs.
Stings and bites: Just like an insect or spider bite can irritate a human, they can also be a danger to a dog. Insects and spiders seem to be in abundance during the summer months. In addition, there are bites and stings from bees and mosquitoes. Dogs can have allergic reactions to stings and swell up just like humans can. So, make your yard as insect free as possible by eliminating pools of water, woodpiles or places that tend to harbor spiders, and by ridding eaves, etc. of wasp and bees nests. If there are bees in your yard, keep your dog away from them if possible.
Burns: Do you like walking barefoot on the asphalt during the hot summer months? Neither do pets, hot sidewalks and parking lots can be painful for pets, and can burn their paws. Also, dogs with light skin, or not a lot of fur, can get sunburned. So, help protect your dog from burns by keeping them indoor during the hottest parts of the day, and not forcing them to walk on hot surfaces.
Otitis Externa: This is another name for ear infections, which are common during the summer months due to water getting trapped in dog's ears. If your dog likes to play in the water during summer months, then talk to your vet about what you can do to prevent infection. There are typically ear cleaning products that can be used to keep the canal dry, and prevent infection.
Near Drownings: In addition to ear infections, water also creates the risk of drowning or near drownings. If your dog is playing by water, keep an eye on them as to ensure they do not have trouble and drown as a result.
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