found on truck beds can increase your pet’s body
temperature and prevent your pet from sufficiently
cooling himself or herself. If you can’t leave your pet at
home during shopping trips, take him or her with you
and bring along water and a bowl for frequent breaks.
Know your yard
Pets love to investigate grassy areas, and humans like
these spaces too, so often green spaces are treated with
pesticides to keep away pesky insects and fertilizer to
keep the spaces nice and green. While pesticide and
fertilizer can be great for your yard and your human
experience, it can cause real problems for your pets. In
the areas where your pets play, a better solution is to
keep the grass cut short to reduce the presence of ticks
and other insects. You can also remove standing water
to deter mosquitoes. If you use fertilizer and other
lawn products, make sure to check the labels for pet
warnings. There are some organic, pet-friendly options
available if you do some research.
Apply sunscreen
Just like your other family members, some pets,
particularly those with short, fine hair and pink skin,
can be susceptible to sunburn or skin cancer. If your
pet is prone to sunburn, make sunscreen application a
regular routine whenever your pet is outside in the hot
summer sun for long periods of time. The sunscreen
should be fragrance free and non-staining, and should
contain UVA and UVB barriers similar to sunscreens
made for humans. However, it is important to make
sure the sunscreen you use is safe for animals. Some
sunscreens can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive
thirst and lethargy in pets. Consult your veterinarian
for a list of products that are safe options.
Practice water safety
Just because dogs instinctively know how to swim,
it doesn’t mean they’re good swimmers. If your dog
jumps or falls into your swimming pool, he might not
be able to get out without help and could easily drown.
Additionally, ropes, inflatables and other pool toys
could trap your pet and make it difficult to escape.
Keep a close eye on your pet around the water and
make sure your animals can’t get into the pool if you
are not around. For more adventuresome summer
water activities like boating, consider using a life jacket
made for animals.
Talk to your veterinarian
Ticks, fleas and mosquitoes can carry diseases and
drive your pets crazy during the summer. Take the
offensive approach by getting your pet on a regular
schedule. Talk to your veterinarian about the best ways
to protect your pet from fleas, ticks, and other insects
that are more prevalent during the summer months.
TCM
To create a summer healthcare plan for your pet,
visit Vidalia Veterinary Clinic today.
The
Doctor
Is In
COMPREHENSIVE VETERINARY
CARE FOR YOUR PET
Examination • Dental • Vaccinations
Spay & Neuter • Surgery • Pain Management
Welcome
Sheryl
Sheppard,
D.V.M.
Accepting
New
Patients
303 WEST 1ST STREET | VIDALIA, GEORGIA
Call for an appointment! 912.537.1069
Hometown Living At Its Best 81