KEEP US PETS COOL!

It’s mid-July and summer is definitely here. The heat and humidity can cause problems for me and your pet. Do you ever wonder how we survive these sultry summers with a full coat of hair? We pets dehydrate quickly, so make sure we have plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot outdoors. Provide a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful to not over-exercise us, and keep us indoors when it’s extremely hot. Symptoms of overheating, heat exhaustion or heatstroke include lethargy, excessive panting and salivation, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and collapse. If you suspect your pet has heatstroke, wet it with water from a hose, put it in cool - not cold - water, or wrap it in a wet towel. Call your veterinarian immediately. Heatstroke requires veterinary care.

Here are some tips to keep us pets cool and safe this summer:

- Leave us home when you run errands. Even with the windows down,
your car can quickly turn into an oven.
- Exercise us in early morning or late evening, when it’s cooler.
- Let us stand on grass or shaded surfaces when outdoors. Asphalt
and concrete absorb heat, and hot surfaces can burn footpads.
- Take plenty of cold water when traveling with us.
- Grooming is very important during the summer to keep us cool,
clean and bugless. Long tangled hair traps heat, and matted fur
makes us more vulnerable to the festering of bacteria fungus—
and, of course, the enemy flea and tick.
- We can get sunburn and skin cancer, especially when hairless and
light. Use a natural sunscreen for pets if we’ll be exposed to the sun.
- Provide shade and fresh water if you take us to the beach and rinse
saltwater from our coat.
- Fill a child's pool with water for us to play in.
- Play indoor games for exercise on the hottest days rather than a walk.

A quick note about me… My tummy is getting bigger and mom lovingly calls me pudgy! I’m taking shorter walks and can’t beat mom up the stairs anymore. A little over two weeks until my bundles of joy arrive!

See ya next week…