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Summer tips for you and your pet

Companion Animals and Cars

• Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. On warm days, the temperature in your car can rise to 120 degrees in minutes, even with the windows slightly open. Also, an animal left alone in a car is an open invitation to pet thieves.

• Though numerous car commercials depict it as the ultimate joy in a dog’s life, allowing your canine companion to stick his head out the window is asking for trouble. Doing so can subject your pet to injury by flying debris.

• Dogs should never ride in the back of pick-up trucks. If you are forced to make a sudden or evasive driving maneuver, your dog could be thrown from the truck and seriously, or even fatally, injured.

Safe Fun in the Sun

• It is important to make sure that your pet has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh water. Heat stroke can be fatal for pets as well as people.

• Leaving your pet outside unattended even for a few minutes places he or she at risk of theft or harm.

• Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On hot days, save longer walks and games of catch for the cooler mornings and evenings. Be especially careful with short-nosed dogs like pugs and bulldogs. Their facial conformation makes it difficult for them to cool their bodies by panting.

• Don’t chain or tether your dog. It allows no opportunity for exercise and socialization, and when done for long periods of time can lead to behavior problems. Instead, set aside time every day to walk or play ball with your dog.

• Keep your cat indoors. Though your feline friend may wish to explore the outdoors, cats who are permitted to go outside are at an increased risk of disease and injury from vehicles or other animals

Parasite Patrol

• Take care in choosing flea and tick control products, as some can be harmful to pets and children

• Dogs and cats are at an increased risk of contracting heartworm during the summer. Transmitted by a bite from an infected mosquito, heartworm disease can be fatal if not treated. Check with your veterinarian for the best schedule for heartworm testing and preventive medication for your pet.

Spaying and Neutering

• Important all year-round, the need for spaying and neutering is brought home during the spring and summer months when animal shelters are filled to capacity with litters of unwanted puppies and kittens.

• Spaying and neutering helps to reduce the pet overpopulation problem

• There are also numerous benefits to spaying and neutering, including a greatly reduced risk of cancer and reduced potential for aggressive behavior in your pet.

Water Safety

For a lot of families, summertime means swimming time. If your pooch will be joining you on your adventures, be it lakeside, oceanside or poolside, please read our following tips:

• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool.

• Not all dogs are good swimmers, so if water sports are a big part of your family, please introduce your pets to water gradually.

• Make sure all pets wear flotation devices on boats.

• Try not to let your dog drink pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals that could cause gastrointestinal upset.