Protecting Pets During Hot Summer Months

There’s a lot to love about summer. Longer days and warmer temperatures mean it’s a great time to get outside – especially with our pets. Most owners – and their pets – look forward to summer. But the season does come with certain hazards for pets. Pet owners should be aware of these increased risks during summer months and should know what proactive steps to take to protect their furry friends.

Protect Pets from Warm Temperatures

The first risk many pet owners think of in summertime is heat. Their instincts are right – hot temperatures can pose serious risks to dogs, cats, and other pets. Dogs and cats can get third-degree burns on their paws from hot asphalt or hot sand. Hot temperatures are especially risky when pets are unable to find shade or move to a cooler location. One of the most dangerous places for pets is a parked car in the summertime.

Many pets unfortunately suffer from deadly heat stroke when they are accidentally locked in unventilated cars during summer. It does not take extremely high temperatures or long periods of time for a parked car to go from comfortable and safe to dangerous for pets. On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach more than 100 degrees in just 10 minutes and over 120 degrees in just 35 minutes. These are potentially fatal temperatures for any pet, but young, elderly, and overweight animals are particularly at risk. Dogs with short muzzles that don’t breathe well in the heat and those with thick or dark coats that trap warm air are also at increased risk.

Some pet owners mistakenly think precautions such as leaving a window open slightly can make the car safe for pets in summer. The reality is that even with a window cracked open or the car parked in the shade, pets will not necessarily be safe even for a short time in a parked car during summer. Furthermore, it’s illegal in many places to leave pets in cars during dangerous conditions, including hot weather.

If an animal is suffering from heat stroke after spending time in a hot car or any other poorly ventilated, hot place during summer, they need emergency care from a veterinarian as soon as possible. Signs of heat stroke include skin that is hot to the touch, vomiting, drooling, rapid panting, distress, loss of coordination, collapse, and unconsciousness. Animals showing any of these signs should be removed from the heat and cooled down gradually by hosing them down with cool (not cold) water, and by using ice packs, wet towels, and fans. Overheated pets should never be submerged in cold water. They should be offered small amounts of water only after they start to cool down.

Bites and Stings

In addition to high temperatures, summer also brings the increased risk to pets of stings and bites from other animals or insects. More time outside during summer means pets are more likely to contact other animals, including other pets, wild animals, or insects that may be fearful of or aggressive towards them. Bites and stings from other animals or insects can be dangerous for pets, as they can potentially lead to allergic reactions, infections, and disease spread. Here’s what pet owners need to know about bites and stings from different creatures:

Insect bites and stings - Bites and stings from insects like bees and spiders often occur on the face or elsewhere on the head, as these are the locations that curious dogs and cats typically encounter insects first. Bites and stings may initially be so small that they cannot be seen through the fur and may not become visible until the pet develops an allergic reaction or skin infection in response. If you suspect your pet has an insect bite or sting, apply a cold pack to the affected area to reduce swelling and itching. Look for a stinger, and if you find one in the skin, use a credit card or other flat, rigid object to scrape it out. Do not squeeze a stinger with tweezers or another tool, because this can release more irritating venom into the wound. If your pet develops a great deal of swelling in the head or neck area that could affect breathing, or if you find a stinger in your pet’s tongue or the roof of their mouth, take them to your veterinarian immediately, before they start to have difficulty breathing.

Tick Bites - Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that attach themselves to both animal and human skin. Ticks can transmit dangerous diseases, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Q fever, and Lyme disease. Ticks also release irritating toxins that can harm their hosts. Skin wounds caused by ticks can lead to secondary bacterial infections and infestations by parasitic screwworms. Severe tick infestations can lead to anemia and death. Keeping animals away from tick-prone areas such as tall grass or the borders between wooded areas and lawns, where ticks typically hide, is an effective way to limit their exposure to dangerous ticks. Being sure that your pet is on an oral or topical medication prescribed by your veterinarian to deter ticks is also key to preventing ticks from biting your pet.

Toad poisoning – Most pet owners are aware that ticks and spiders can pose a summertime threat to pets. However, not as many think of toads as a common threat. Dogs and cats may be poisoned by mouthing certain types of toads. All toads produce venom, but the potency of the venom varies with the toad species and the geographic location of the toad. Toad venom is a thick, creamy white, highly irritating substance. It can affect a pet’s heart, nervous system, and blood vessels. There is no specific antidote. Treatment is directed at minimizing absorption of the venom, along with supportive care. If you think your pet has mouthed a toad, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to see what they advise.

Snake bites – Deadly snakebites are more common in dogs than in any other domestic animal. Because many dogs are relatively small in proportion to the amount of venom a snake can inject, the bite of even a small snake can be fatal. Due to their large size, horses bitten by venomous snakes seldom die, but bites on their muzzle, head, or neck that cause swelling and difficulty breathing can potentially be fatal. A venomous snakebite is a true emergency. Rapid examination and appropriate treatment by a veterinarian are paramount.

Chemical Hazards

Summertime insect bites and stings have plagued pets for centuries, but other summertime hazards have become problematic to pets much more recently. For example, chemicals like herbicides and insecticides commonly used to treat lawns and other outdoor areas in the summer pose potential toxic threats to pets walking outside on these treated areas. Using these chemicals in proper quantities and disposing of them appropriately can significantly limit the risk they pose to pets.

Summer is a special time for pets and their owners. With a little bit of knowledge and the right precautions, pet owners can ensure a safe and healthy summer season for both themselves and their furry friends.