Summer Safety for Pets

Days get longer. Drinks get colder. And the outdoors gets a little more stifling. Welcome to summer, where pet parents must take extra precautions to keep their fur babies safe from the season’s sweltering heat. Like people, dogs and cats do sweat; however, their sweat glands are on the padding of their paws. They sweat to give their feet traction, not lower their body temperature. And while panting does help pets cool off, this can only do so much in terms of getting rid of body heat. The good news is, Pet Supplies Plus offers a wide range of products that can help protect your dog or cat from the dangers of hot summer days.

Assume nothing. You might think shaving your dog is a good idea, but having a thinner coat could make them more vulnerable to overheating and sunburns. If you want to do something about your pet's fur, talk with your groomer first. And even if you have an indoor cat, they can still overheat or get sunburnt laying in front of a sunny window. A splash pad or dog pool are great for providing relief from the heat if the water is cool or lukewarm. Don’t use ice-cold water because it can cause your pet’s body temperature to rise instead of fall. Furthermore, over-bathing your pets can do more harm than good to their skin. Speaking of the wet stuff, always make sure your pets have access to fresh, cool drinking water. They’re not keen on slurping up hot water regardless of how thirsty they are.

Know what’s normal and what’s not. A dog’s body temperature is usually between 101° to 102.5° F, while for cats it should be between 99.5° and 102.5° F. If their body gets any warmer, your pet could suffer a heatstroke. In addition, a dog normally needs to drink about one ounce of water every day for each pound of body weight. For cats, it’s four ounces of water for every five pounds of body weight. Since hot weather causes pets to lose more water than usual, your pet needs to hydrate more frequently. Dehydration can lead to kidney failure or other organ failures.

Ensure your pet’s summer is safe and fun. While there’ll be days when it’s best that both people and pets stay indoors, you can’t run away from the heat. Summer is supposed to be hot. And Pet Supplies Plus has the products that’ll help make your dog or cat more comfortable. These products aren’t meant to “cure” heatstroke or dehydration. They’re intended to help pets lower their body temperature or stay hydrated before a situation takes a turn for the worst. If your dog or cat is struggling with the heat, please contact your veterinarian at once.