Pet safety for summer

Keeping your pet safe is always the number one priority, but in summer there are a few different dangers to keep front of mind.

Poisonous animals
Your pet eating poisonous creatures such as jellyfish, blue bottles and sea slugs is more likely during summer when spending more time at the beach. If you think they’ve swallowed something or are showing signs of poisoning, get to the vet as quickly as you can.

Dehydration
Ensure your pet always has enough water to drink. More time spent in the hot outdoors means more hydration is needed. There are some great travel water bowls and bottles you can find for road trips.

Burnt Paw Pads
In the heat of summer, the ground warms up and can burn your pets paws. Hold your hand to the pavement to test it, if it’s too hot for your hand, it is too hot for paws.

Sunburn
Humans aren’t the only ones who get sunburn. Dogs with short fur and lighter skin are at greater risk, as are hairless cats. Find an animal-friendly SPF to coat them in before you head out for long days in the sun.

Heat stroke
If your pet’s core temperature rises above 40.5 degrees, it can be at risk of heat stroke. If not cooled quickly, serious complications can be caused. Be sure to look for warning signs including excessive panting, dizziness, disorientation, unsteadiness, obvious discomfort, or vomiting.

Fireworks
In summer people like to celebrate, which can mean more use of fireworks. Keep a close eye on your pets when fireworks are nearby.