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Sunny, warm days bring the welcome opportunity to change up your routine and spend more time outdoors with your beloved pets. However, soaring temperatures bring risks from heat and sun exposure, making your furry friends rely on you to help keep them healthy and safe.
Make these warm-weather adjustments to keep your pets in top condition and ready to enjoy all the season has to offer with these safety tips from PetSmart experts:
Keep Them Hydrated
Dehydration and heatstroke can be fatal to pets, so access to a clean water bowl both inside and outside is critical in the summertime. While you’re on the go, be sure to bring water for your pet in a suitable drinking container.
Serve Up Healthy Meals
Warmer weather invites opportunities, such as enticing picnic spreads, for pets to nab tasty treats. Protect your pet’s health by preventing them from ingesting food intended for humans, and opt instead for food and treats that fit their special needs and preferences. The varieties offered by Natural Balance, which is now available at PetSmart, span dry and wet food made with premium quality ingredients in formulas such as limited ingredient, grain-free and weight management.
Never Leave Your Pet in a Parked Car
Studies show that on a hot day, the temperature inside a car can reach more than 160 degrees in five minutes. Leaving the windows cracked for fresh air or parking in the shade doesn’t keep temperatures from soaring in record time, either. Leaving pets in the car “just for a minute” is never a good idea.
Groom Regularly
One of the best ways to keep a dog’s coat healthy and help prevent matting and summertime skin irritation is regular grooming. The right grooming tool can dramatically reduce shedding by removing the undercoat and loose hair without sacrificing the healthy top coat.
Provide Skin Protection
Just like humans, dogs can experience sunburn and even skin cancer. To prevent sunburn, apply a sunscreen where hair is thin and skin lacks pigment (nose, ears and sensitive areas) every day your dog is outside.
Keep water safety in mind. Even if you consider your dog a good swimmer, a life jacket is very important if you take him with you on the boat or trips to the beach. Find more ways to keep your pet summer safe at www.petsmart.com.
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