Summer is a lot of fun for pet owners and their four-legged companions. Between trips to the beach or lake and morning or sunset hikes, there’s plenty of opportunity for people and their pets to enjoy the season.
With summer, though, comes scorching Texas heat, and there are precautions pet owners should follow to keep their furry friends happy and healthy.
Watch Out for Ticks
Summer is the peak season for ticks, and these bloodsuckers carry nasty diseases that can be harmful to dogs, cats, and humans. Safeguard your pet from ticks by following these tips:
- Make a routine of checking your pets for ticks when they come inside from the outdoors. Ticks especially like to bury themselves around the neck, ears, and feet.
- Regularly mow your grass to remove tall weeds where ticks hang out.
- Check with your veterinarian for tick-preventative medication.
Keep Pets Hydrated
Much like humans, pets can quickly become dehydrated in hot or humid weather. Be sure to offer your pet water after the walk or during a walk if you’re going to be walking for more than 15 minutes. It’s also important that if you have a pet that stays outside for long periods of time, they have the water, they can always access in a shady spot.
Be Wary of Water
Water can be a lot of fun for dogs, but it can also be perilous. Keep an eye out if your pet is swallowing a lot of water when swimming. At the very least, salt water can make them sick, and at the worst, pets can die from what’s called “dry drowning” (swallowing water in the lungs).
It’s also important to watch out for strong currents in rivers, creeks, or at the beach, as these can quickly pull even a champion dog paddler into the danger zone.
Watch for Warning Signs
Your pet is likely not going to tell you it’s over-exhausted during a game of tossing the ball, so it’s important you watch out for warning signs. Excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, weakness, stupor, or even collapse are all signs of heat exhaustion.
Some dogs or cats may even begin to vomit, have seizures, or have bloody diarrhea when their body temperature climbs above 104 degrees.
Limit Outdoor Activity
Pets need exercise, but on hot days, it should be limited in duration and to certain times of the day. A general rule of thumb is if the asphalt is too hot for your bare feet, then it’s too hot for your dog’s too.
On extremely hot days, outdoor activity should be limited to the morning or evening when temperatures are on the lower side. And contrary to popular belief, dogs can get sunburned. Dogs with thinner fur, like dalmatians, greyhounds, pugs, bulldogs, or chihuahuas, are more susceptible to harmful UV rays, but any breed can get a sunburn on the nose, ear flaps, or belly.
Sun avoidance is the best prevention but if your dog does get a sunburn, contact your vet for medicated creams or lotions.
Last but certainly not least, never leave your pet in a parked vehicle. Inside temperatures can quickly climb 20 degrees higher than the outside temp and severely injure or kill your pet.
There’s plenty of fun to be enjoyed around Dripping Springs in the summer. Caliterra residents can stop by our community-exclusive Dog Park which is shaded by live Oaks. If you’d like to learn more about Dripping Springs and the master-planned Caliterra community, contact our team today.
