When it comes to being a pet owner, there’s a lot you need to keep track of over your pet’s health. Is your dog chewing something they shouldn’t be? Has your cat ran off with a crisp packet again because it’s crunchy? Is your rabbit eating enough, with plenty of access to water? Is your goldfish’s tank the perfect temperature? And these are just one off questions you need to ask yourself from time to time; there’s so many more long range queries to think about on a daily basis!
So when you have a pet, there’s going to be some problems you’ll have to tackle. And one of the main ones is how they react to the weather outside. Seeing as it’s summer right now, with the sun seemingly never straying from the sky, there’s plenty of heat outside that can be very dangerous, so let’s go through some tips about handling that.
Never Leave a Pet in the Car
It’s the golden rule of pet safety in hot weather; if you’re out and about with your animal, and the sun is blaring down on you whilst you’re travelling, make sure you take your dog with you when you leave your vehicle. It’s oft quoted and drilled into every pet owner’s head, but there are still so many incidents to do with overheating every year when summer rolls around.
And it’s not just hot cars that are a problem: conservatories and other glass buildings, or out-houses without any kind of ventilation or air conditioning can be just as dangerous. Temperatures can soar in minutes, and when your animal is just panting away, they’re just going to add to the heat in the enclosed space.
Always Have Water Available
If you’re taking your pet for a walk on a hot day, make sure you take a water bottle along with you that they can drink from. Even if they’re a picky type that won’t use the accompanying bowl attached to the bottle, you can pour it into your hands or simply rub their lips with water to get them interested in taking a drink.
Water is the most important component of a summer time outing with a pet, and if you don’t have any with you when you’re outside, head to the nearest shop or restaurant and get some. Most town centers and metropolitan areas will offer bowls of water for pets during hot weather seasons, so make use of these bowls at all times.
Check the Pavement Temperature
If you want to take your pet outside, or you dog is scheduled for their daily walk, always check the pavement before you take them out. Rest the back of your hand against it and if you can’t keep it there for five seconds, you can’t take your dog out. They can very easily burn their paws if you take them out anyway, and that can lead to a very serious case of heatstroke. Simply put, if you’re not comfortable, they won’t be either!
But if you still want to walk your dog, make sure you take them out in the early morning or the evening when the sun isn’t overhead and there’s a stronger breeze outside. You’ll both appreciate the exercise available at these times!
Lock the Windows That Are Open
During the summer, you’re going to have your windows open. But when you’ve got some very mischievous animals that are attracted to the blue skies outside, this isn’t very practical. If you have a cat that would very much like to explore the outside world when it’s too hot out, or your cat is an indoors only animal, get a lock or use the locking mechanism on your window to keep the window from opening too much.
You’ll still have some good ventilation flowing through your house, and you won’t have to worry about losing a pet when you’re not around either. It might seem like the more open a window the more cool air you let in, but it all seeps in anyway, no matter the gap; simple!
So, You Ready to Take on the Weather?
The summer time is a very difficult time to be a pet owner, but it isn’t impossible to get through. Just take some simple steps to make sure your four legged friends are always safe and happy, and that you’re never forcing them into uncomfortable situations simply because it’s convenient. It can happen very easily, so just try to be extra vigilant.
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