Canine Safety In Summer

Lisa Vaught
May 23, 2015
2 min read

* not to worry~ there's a Frax photo below!*

With Summer upon us it is important that we think a bit about our dog's safety as we do for the rest of the family. The tips are pretty self-evident, however it never hurts to remind folks. The AVMA is a great website and has wonderful resources for every type of dog owner.

There are eight primary things recommended that owners remember every day to do for their dog: 1. never leave their dog in a car 2. make sure they have water available always 3. If your dog is outside for any amount of time make sure there is some shade available along with the water 4. Walk and play outside with your dog during the cooler parts of the day (it's better for you as well!) 5. Don't walk your canine on hot pavement...his pads are tough, but not that tough! You wouldn't walk barefoot on asphalt this time of year either! (for working dogs, walk you pup on grass, better yet invest in some dog 'shoes' the best I've found is an Australian company based on aboriginal dog shoes. Made out of leather which breathes (nylon doesn't), they will soften the more often worn, and if you condition the leather frequently. 6. Make sure that if you are hot, that your pet isn't hotter (the fur suit you know!) pets and humans need to have means to cool off when it gets very hot. 7. Now's the season for fleas, ticks and heartworms ask you vet what he recommends and get them on it. 8. If you are thinking of shaving your pet for comfort please check with your vet to make sure it's the best for your dog. Many experts in your particular breed will have websites up where you can ask that question as well. There are some serious considerations of not doing that~ it can make certain breeds hair grow in awry resulting in a poor insulating coat for the winter and even can cause ingrown hairs as the hair grows back. 9. If you have a dog that is balding (some do as they age), or if you have a dog that is naturally hairless, just like us, they need sunscreen.

I found some yummy frosty dog treats you can make for your best friend as well, just click on the link. You can also freeze goodies in Kong toys, that is a wonderful yummy way to cool down. Even a child's swim tub for outside is a great cool-down for most dogs that don't hate water the way Frax does.

https://www.avma.org/Pages/home.aspx

https://www.avma.org/public/PetCare/Pages/summer.aspx

http://www.villagepetoutfitters.com/shoppingcart/products/Aussie%252dStyle-Leather-Dog-Boots.html

http://dogvacay.com/blog/5-frosty-homemade-summer-treats-for-dogs/