Oceanside CA— School is out and summer is finally here! Summer means long, sunny days at the beach or poolside, family BBQs, and 4^th of July fireworks. While two-legged family members enjoy these summer activities, they can cause some anxiety and even potentially dangerous situations for our family pets. With a little preparation and planning, we can keep summer fun safe and sane for the entire family.
While you wouldn’t consider wearing a fur coat on a 90-degree day, it helps to keep your dog or cat cool. Your pet’s coat helps to regulate their body temperature against both cold and heat, just like the insulation in a house. While a summer haircut can make grooming easier after summer activities, leaving it at least an inch in length will help to retain your pet’s natural cooling abilities. Frequent brushing to remove loose fur will keep them even cooler. When spending time in the sun, apply a sunscreen labeled for pets to their nose, ears, and any other exposed skin. Avoid sharing your own sunscreen or letting your pet lick you after it’s been applied, as many of the common ingredients in sunscreens for people are toxic if your pet ingests it. If your pet swims in a pool or at the beach, be sure to rinse off afterwards with fresh water to reduce itching caused by salt or chlorine, and treat their ears with a drying-action cleaner to prevent swimmers ear.
Limit outdoor activity to the cooler morning and evening hours, and watch for any signs of heat stroke. The most common signs are constant panting, excessive drooling, reddened tongue and gums, trembling, and uncoordinated movement or wobbly gait. If your pet shows signs of heat stroke get them to a cooler spot immediately, offer them water, and contact your vet. When they are outdoors make sure they have access to plenty of shade and fresh, cool water. Providing a wet towel to lay on can help them to keep cool on the hottest days. Pick up one of the new fun, freezable dog toys designed to help keep them cool, and make icy treats a part of your summer routine; fill a Kong with wet food and freeze it for your pup, or make a frozen ice ball for your cats to play with (click here to watch our quick how-to video). When heading out for a walk, use the 5 second test to determine if the ground is safe for their paws—if you can’t comfortably hold the back of your hand on the surface for 5 seconds, it is hot enough to cause burns on their paw pads. Stick to shady, grassy areas for a cooler surface, and consider a set of dog booties for even more protection.
Family get-togethers and 4^th of July fireworks (not to mention occasional summer thunderstorms) can be incredibly stressful for some pets, and can trigger behaviors you’d rather avoid. Prepare a quiet get-away space for your pet ahead of time where they can retreat, or be safely tucked away, with water and their favorite toys when the noise gets to be too much.
Ideally, pets should be kept indoors for safety while barbequing, but that isn’t always realistic. If your dog will be joining the festivities, take a few extra steps to reduce the chance of accidents. To prevent burns (and stolen food) never leave the grill unattended. It’s a good idea to talk with a dog trainer about avoidance conditioning around grills or fire pits ahead of time. Make sure that food and drinks are kept well out of reach, especially those containing grapes, onions, chocolate, alcohol, or the sweetener xylitol. Finally, hang a note at gates reminding guests to be sure the gate is latched firmly behind them so Fido doesn’t slip out.
Do loud noises such as fireworks and thunder send your pet into a panic? There are a variety of over the counter calming aids available that will reduce their anxiety; your local Kahoots associate will be happy to help you choose the right one for your pet. When the panic strikes, our instinct to soothe by petting them and saying, “It’s okay,” but these actions may reinforce the panicked behavior, as dogs typically associate them with rewards. Instead, pay attention to what your dog chooses to do–if he tries to hide, let him hide; if he presses against you, return it with a gentle, unmoving pressure or employ a Thundershirt for continuous help; if he’s racing in frantic circles, lead him to a smaller, more confined space such as a dimly lit bedroom or bathroom. Supporting their instinct of how to escape the “danger” will help calm them in the moment and may help reduce further panic.
Now that we’ve taken steps to make sure that our summer will be safe for the whole family, let’s get out there and have some fun in the sun!