Keep Your Pet Healthy and Happy This Summer

Rosedale Veterinary Clinic’s Summer Pet Safety Tips

The heat is on in most of the country right now, and not only are we feeling it, our pets are too. In fact, with the risk of dehydration and heatstroke, the heat can be especially dangerous for dogs. However, some good common sense and protection from the heat will reduce the risk of a pet developing a heat-related illness that requires a trip to our Essex veterinary clinic to see our emergency vet.

The most important thing for dealing with a pet in the heat is to keep them cool. Always have fresh, cool water available for a pet to drink. Although not recommended, if a pet needs to be outdoors, make sure it has a shady spot to lie under. When walking a dog during the summer, choose early morning or evening when the temperature is cooler and the sun is lower.

Avoid having a pet's paws be exposed to prolonged hot asphalt or sand, which may burn the paws. In the summer, dog houses may trap the heat, so they are generally not a good idea to use on very hot days. Most importantly, never leave a dog in the car unattended or without air conditioning — even if you have the window open. The temperature in a car can soar over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.

If you suspect a pet has heatstroke, try to cool it right away by hosing down with cool water, providing ice chips, placing ice packs in the groin area, and applying alcohol to the paw pads. If a pet is still showing signs of discomfort, bring the animal into our clinic right away

Comprehensive Pet Wellness Care in Dundalk, Essex, Nottingham, and Parkville

In addition to providing heatstroke care, our animal clinic provides micro chip identification, routine exams, emergency care, vaccine administration, and much more. Of course, we provide wellness care for dogs and cats, but we also care for birds, reptiles, ferrets, rabbits, and horses.

What are some unique ways you and your pet try to beat the heat together?