Top Ten Ultimate Hot Weather Safety Tips for Pets

As the weather warms up, it is essential to have a plan for our furry friends. Fortunately, these hot weather safety tips for pets provides a checklist for pet owners to factor in when spending time outdoors. Whether you are planning a beach getaway or a long weekend, make sure you are prepped for hot weather for all your family members. 

Top ten essential hot weather safety tips for pets

1. Limit time outdoors

If it’s too warm for you to enjoy, then it’s definitely too warm for your best friend to enjoy. Consider enjoying the sunshine in increments or take breaks indoors. That way the entire family can enjoy their time outdoors.

2. Plan walks accordingly

It is important to plan your walks, that way you’re not walking at the hottest part of your day. For example, typically earlier in the morning and early evening are cooler times of day to walk. Further, consider shortening your walk to keep your pet from over-heating. If you have any concerns or questions, reach out to your veterinarian on the best course of action for your furry friends.

3. Stick to the shade

The pavement, asphalt, and sidewalks can heat up very quickly on a hot day. To illuminate this further ~ the asphalt can reach upwards of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If you place your hand on the asphalt for 15 seconds and it is too warm for your hand, it is definitely too warm for your pet’s paws. Consider walking your dog in the grass or toss the ball in the shade. These are certainly beneficial hot weather safety tips for pets and humans alike!

4. Provide cool pet care accessories

If you are spending time with your furry friends outdoors, make sure to provide options as a way for your pets to keep cool. Consider a cooling vest for your pets, such as Ruffwear Cool Gear, or keep a portable misting fan with you when you are out. Also, the versatility of a cooling vest allows for multi-uses ranging from the beach to the trails while traveling.

5. Protect your pup’s paws

Paw protection is a must-do for your pets. Naturally, keeping your pup’s paws safe is essential for a happy and healthy pet! Consider dog booties, shoes, sox, or paw pad wax. Keep in mind, a paw pad wax is a great option for prevention but should be used as a supplement with a shoe or bootie. Bear in mind, every pet is different and might not initially take to wearing footwear.

6. Be wary of the sun and UV rays

Beware of exposing your furry friends to too much fun in the sun. Similarly, your pet’s safety is your top priority as a responsible pet owner, so protection is a key factor in exposure to UV rays. For instance, pet sunscreen might be a beneficial option for your pets with shorter fur. Consider talking with your veterinarian on the best course of action to keep your pet protected.

7. Hydration is essential for your furry friends

A critical point among these hot weather safety tips for pets of all kinds is access to water. Proper hydration is a critical component for the health and safety of our furry friends. In addition, consider supplying room temperature water as ice-cold water might be a bit hard on pet’s stomachs. Keeping water with you at all times allows for your pets to grab a drink even while on the go.

8. Pick pet-friendly activities during hot weather

Pets are family. Naturally, we want to be able to spend quality time with our furry friends during the summer months. Consider planning pet-friendly activities, such as lawn games, a family walk, or a dip in the pool. For instance, a dog pool gives your pup the opportunity to stay cool and hydrated while being outdoors with the family.

9. Provide a cool and relaxing pet-friendly home environment

As the temperatures rise, a relaxing pet-friendly home environment is a must-have for pet owners and their furry friends. In addition, consider keeping bowls of water in multiple rooms, as well as a proper circulation of cool airflow throughout your home. Essentially, a pet-friendly home should always have places for your pet to play, roam, and relax!

10. Never leave your pets in the car

The most important of these hot weather safety tips for pets is to never leave your pets in a hot car. When pets are left in the car, they can experience heat exhaustion, dehydration, heat stroke, or worse. If you would like your pet’s company throughout your day, check within your local community on pet-friendly accommodations. Further, by keeping your pet at home, they can experience quality pet enrichment in the comforts of your own home while you are away.

Hot weather safety tips for pets: safety measure for the entire family

Hot weather safety tips provide a resourceful guide for new and seasoned pet owners alike. By keeping cool, staying in the shade, limiting time outdoors, and providing hydration you are steps closer to a fun-filled family and pet-friendly summer season.

*Source: Trupanion Pet Insurance blog!

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her online specialty pet boutiques (www.TheGiftedPet.com & www.PamperedPetEssentials.com), and premium pet food business (www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

She is an enthusiastic advocate for animal rights, including wildlife & nature and likes to dabble in creative projects such as photography, digital art, custom greeting cards and more!

Raven is also dedicated to helping pet parents and other humans stay happy, healthy, and balanced with her 100% therapeutic-grade essential oils, oil-infused nutritional supplements, and oil-related lifestyle enhancements via Holistic Oils For Pets & Peeps! (www.HolisticOilsForPetsAndPeeps.com)

For more information, please use the Contact Me! page on this blog or visit her Facebook page to PM her www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps

5 Meds That Are Toxic to Pets

As a lifelong pet parent, I'm always cognizant of keeping anything even remotely upsetting to little pet tums (and their overall well-being) out of reach. That includes toxic foods, medicine, plants, and anything that they may decide is a new toy. 

Most of us should be aware that chocolate and grapes can be toxic for pets, but potential threats can lurk elsewhere in your home. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are among the top reasons people call into poison control hotlines for both kids and pets, and with good reason. Here are the top five medications of concern when it comes to pets and toxicity:

1. Ibuprofen. As the active ingredient in common over-the-counter products such as Advil and Motrin, ibuprofen is unfortunately ingested by pets both accidentally and intentionally by owners unaware of its potential side effects. Cats are particularly sensitive to its effects. The most common clinical sign is vomiting or gastrointestinal ulcers, though it can also lead to kidney damage. Other NSAIDS such as Aleve can also be problematic.

2. Acetaminophen. Speaking of pain medications, acetaminophen-containing products such as Tylenol are also high on the list of pet poisons. Like ibuprofen, cats are particularly sensitive to the effects of this medication, and one pill is enough to kill a cat. Both cats and dogs can experience liver damage as a result of this medication, starting with decreased appetite and leading to yellow skin (a sign of jaundice), swollen paws or difficulty breathing. Acetaminophen is a common ingredient in combination products like cough and flu remedies, so be careful to read the label on your products!

3. Stimulants. ADHD medications such as Adderall and Ritalin can be toxic to companion animals. Sadly, they are more likely to be ingested by pets as they are often prescribed for children who may be less vigilant about keeping the pills out of the reach of the household dogs and cats. Signs of ingestion may include dilated pupils, seizures, shaking or hyperactivity.

4. Antidepressants. Antidepressants fall into several categories depending on their mechanism of action. In the most commonly prescribed medications (such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Effexor) work by increasing the concentration of neurotransmitters in the brain. When overdosed, the brain can be flooded with these chemicals and pets can experience a variety of symptoms such as depression, hyperexcitability, seizures, and vomiting.

5. Vitamin D. As doctors are starting to diagnose Vitamin D deficiency more often, this is a common supplement in people’s medicine cabinets. When there is too much in the body, blood calcium levels also rise, resulting in serious damage to the kidneys. It is so effective at causing damage that it's commonly used in rat poisons such as d-Con. Vitamin D might appear on rodenticide labels as “cholecalciferol,” and should be avoided.

There’s no time like the present to ensure any of these items in your house are safely secured away from prying pet paws. If you suspect your dog or cat has ingested any of these harmful substances, call your veterinarian or a pet poison control helpline ASAP!

~ Pet Poison Helpline ~ www.PetPoisonHelpline.com  

($59 incident fee applies)

~ ASPCA Animal Poison Control ~ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

(A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card)

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Raven is an engaging entrepreneur who encourages others to celebrate pets (and ALL animals) as part of the family, as well as keep them happy, healthy, and spoiled with her Holistic Healing, Animal Intuition, Aromatherapy, Animal Reiki (www.HolisticPetsAndPeeps.com & www.HealingOilsForAnimals.com), as well as her premium pet food business (http://www.PremiumPetFoodStore.com)

For more information, please visit her Facebook page to PM her (https://www.facebook.com/HolisticPetsNPeeps), or email her at HolisticPetsAndPeeps@gmail.com.