There are many things cat and dog owners can do to assure the safety of their pets, and in hot weather, there are even more reasons to be mindful of pet safety. By perusing several pet safety websites, we have uncovered many suggestions for maintaining the general and hot-weather health of our four-legged friends. Here are some tips, in no particular order.
Pet owners should visit their vet regularly to get a checkup for their pets and to receive needed vaccinations and tests for common diseases and conditions. In fact, Lee County requires a regularly administered rabies vaccine for all dogs and cats.
All pets should have identification attached to their collars and/or they should be microchipped so they can be returned to their owners if lost.
Pets need plenty of fresh clean water, especially in hot or humid weather. In fact, if you go out during extremely hot weather, consider leaving two bowls of water for your pet in case one is knocked over.
Be sure rubber bands and strings are kept away from pets. These are particularly dangerous for cats and, if ingested, may need to be removed surgically. If a cat or dog swallows string but some is still visible, contact your vet to have it removed; don’t try to pull it out yourself.
Indoor and outdoor plants should be chosen carefully to avoid those that are toxic. If cats or dogs chew on poisonous plants, they will get sick. Similarly, rodent poisons as well as lawn and garden insecticides and pesticides are noxious for pets, so always keep them out of reach and don’t allow pets to play on lawns that have been treated.
Food and drink commonly found at barbeques and parties can also be dangerous for pets if ingested, so keep pets away from these items. Alcohol is particularly harmful, as is chocolate (primarily for dogs). Also be sure to keep cigar and cigarette butts away from pets as chewing on them can cause nicotine poisoning.
Many dogs love riding in a car with the windows open. Just be sure to keep your pet’s head and paws inside the car and make certain your pet is properly restrained.
In hot weather, all these suggestions, especially the one calling for plenty of water, continue to apply, but there are also some additional suggestions for safeguarding your pets.
Never, ever leave your pet in a hot car. It takes only minutes – MINUTES – for a pet to develop heatstroke and/or suffocate in a car.
Pets should not get too much exercise in extremely hot weather, and many should be kept indoors for much of the day. Being outdoors should be confined to the cooler hours of the day. And don’t forget that surfaces like asphalt or metal can get hot and burn your pet’s paws.
If your pet has a thick coat, consider a summer haircut. But keep the hair at least an inch long to avoid sunburn. Yes, pets can get sunburn!
Your pets should not be unsupervised around a pool. Not all are good swimmers and drinking pool water with its chlorine and other chemicals isn’t a good idea.
Most importantly, always pay attention to your dog and cat, but particularly in hot weather. Most pets show signs of discomfort or pain, so if you notice something seems different, you will be able to seek treatment from your vet in a timely fashion.
One final aspect of pet safety that is sometimes overlooked is the use of a leash when outside. Keeping a dog (or cat) on a leash is not just good common sense to assure the welfare of your pet, but it is often what the law requires. In Herons Glen, our Covenants state that: “No pets are permitted to run free. If the owner fails to honor such rule, the pet may be removed or a fine or other penalty may be imposed by the Board of Directors … Household pets shall at all times whenever they are outside a Unit be confined on a leash held by a responsible person.”
And it isn’t just Herons Glen that mandates a leash for dogs. Under the statutes enacted by Lee County, all dog owners are prohibited from allowing the dog in their control from becoming stray or roaming at large on public streets, sidewalks, school grounds or in the vicinity of school vehicles, beaches, parks, or the private property of others without the property owner’s consent. For a dog to be considered under direct control, it must be within immediate and continuous physical control of its owner at all times, and statutes dictate that any leash, cord, or chain used to control the dog must not exceed 8 feet and must be of sufficient strength to restrain the pet.
Pet owners generally want to keep our furry friends safe from harm in the summer and all year long. By following these tips, you can maximize your pet’s safety.
