Today is the first full day of summer (woohoo!), and after what felt like the longest spring ever, we are certainly ready for it. Here in Southern Maine, the temperature is in the mid-eighties, so we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to take a minute to remind of you of some ways that you can help keep your pets safe this summer. You may be thinking, wait a minute, isn’t Norris Inc. a security, life safety, and communications company? And yes, we are, but we are also a company full of animal lovers with employees whose pets range from cats and dogs to horses, so naturally we had to share some of our top tips on how to ensure that you and your pets have a safe and happy summer.

  • No Hot Cars – While this is probably one of the most well-known tips about pet safety in summer, many people don’t realize just how hot a vehicle can get and how quickly it happens. For example, when it is only 75 degrees out, in just 10 minutes a car can heat up to 94 degrees, and within a half hour that jumps all the way to 109 degrees. Even rolling the windows down is not enough to keep your pet out of danger and prevent heat stroke or worse.
  • Know the Signs of Heat Stroke – In high temperatures, especially coupled with high humidity, heat stroke is a big risk for pets, with very young, old, out of shape and short muzzled pets having the highest risk. The signs of heat stroke typically include excessive panting, rapid heartbeat, glazed over eyes, an unusual lack of coordination, salivation, and vomiting. If heat stroke is suspected, it is important to immediately get your pet out of the heat and run cool, not cold, water over them to help reduce their internal temperature.
  • Skin Cancer Risk – Sunburns and skin cancer are concerns that you might not consider when thinking about your pets, but surprisingly enough, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer found in dogs, and the second most common in cats. They make special sunscreen for pets that can be applied to areas with little fur such as their stomach and ears, but limiting sun exposure and providing plenty of shade also reduces the risk.
  • Consider Plants Carefully – Summer gardens are beautiful, but some common flowers, like lilies and azaleas, are toxic to pets. The pollen in lilies can cause acute kidney failure and be fatal in cats and azaleas can cause extremely low blood pressure and heart irregularities. Before purchasing plants, ensure that they are not toxic to your pets. Also make sure to keep plant food and insecticides out of reach so that they will not be ingested.
  • Prevent Paw Burns – While limiting exercise during the hottest part of the day can help reduce the overall risk of heat-related issues, one often overlooked danger is hot ground surfaces, like pavement. The pads on the paws of dogs and cats can be severely burned in a matter of seconds on hot pavement. Studies have shown that at 86 degrees outside, the pavement can be as hot as 140 degrees. By comparison, the pavement only has to be 131 degrees to fry an egg in five minutes!
  • Check for Ticks – Always check your pet for ticks whenever they have been outdoors, if you find one and your pet displays loss of appetite, lethargy or vomiting, make sure to take them to your vet as soon as possible. The easiest way to remove a tick on a pet is by applying rubbing alcohol to the area and then grasping the tick with a pair of tweezers as close to the pet’s skin as possible and pulling straight up in one smooth motion. Avoid twisting and pulling which is more likely to leave part of the tick’s body embedded in the animal’s skin.

While you may have known some, or all, of these tips, one thing that certain in our line of business is that a review of safety best practices is never a bad thing. Summer is an awesome time for people and pets alike, and we hope that you and yours have a wonderful time enjoying the warm weather and stay safe while you’re at it!

 

 

Photo: graphicphoto/Bigstock.com