The dog days of summer are upon us. This time of year, it’s important to be especially vigilant about your pet’s safety. Heat and humidity are not our animal companions’ friends! Below, your Anderson, IN veterinarian offers a few key tips:

Proper Hydration

Rule number one for hot summer weather: keep your pet properly hydrated. Provide your dog or cat with a full dish of cool, fresh water at all times, whether they’re spending time indoors or outside. Check the bowl periodically, and refill or refresh as needed. On especially hot or humid days, you can try adding a few ice cubes to give your companion an extra cold treat.

Exercise Tips

Don’t exercise your pet outdoors in the middle of the day, when the sun is directly overhead and temperatures are at their peak. Instead, try exercising your pet in the cooler morning or evening hours, when it will be a bit more comfortable. You can also provide your four-legged friend with exercise indoors—try romping around with a favorite toy or playing fetch in the hallway.

Outdoor Safety

When your pet does venture outside, it’s best not to keep them out for long stretches of time. Heat and humidity can lead to dangerous dehydration and heatstroke, which you don’t want to deal with! Bring pets indoors frequently where they can cool off in the comfort of the air conditioning.

Pets can experience sunburn just like humans can. If your pet will be in direct sunlight for longer than a half hour or so, you’ll want to try a canine- or feline-formulated sunscreen on areas of skin that aren’t completely covered by fur, like the ear edges or bridge of the nose. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.

Pest Control

Another major danger of summer is the outdoor pests that come with the season. Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and more are just waiting to wreak havoc on your pet’s health! Avoid the issue entirely with proper preventative medications; for most pets, a flea-and-tick preventative and a heartworm medicine will ward off all the pesky critters that could do them harm. Talk to your vet right away if your pet isn’t already set up with pest preventatives for the summer.

Would you like more great tips on keeping your pet happy and healthy as the summer months roll on? We’re always here to help! Contact your Anderson, IN veterinary clinic today.