Summer Holidays are a Dangerous Time for your Pet

Posted by: My Dream Vacations Post date: August 30th, 2009

You almost certainly think of on the safety of your family. However do not forget your pets. This is a crucial element of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and different for your animal. The two areas to watch for are the results of the heat and holidays.

 

Lets start with the results of the heat on the pet. Just like us – they will want more water, keep it accessible 24 / 7. If you are a frequent dog walker ensure they have the ability to have water, every hour or so, or even more often if you are of the lively type.

 

Whilst you would not think or leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astounding and a disgrace the number of people who do this to their animals. This can murder an animal, temperatures in the sun, can rapidly increase to more than 100 degrees. Putting the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.

 

Pets are similar to ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need less food to sustain your weight during summer. If you, or your animal, keep consuming the same, you certainly will increase your weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Increasing weight in summer, will slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the food, or as a minimum, monitor your animals weight.

 

Warning with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most quickly go off as its temperature gets near to blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not eat moist food within half an hour, remove it. Dry food is perfectly safe, as long as it does not become moist. So if you have a slobbery pet, little and often should be the principle. Also be careful about condensation, or drips from the air conditioner.

 

Whilst walking the dog during the hot weather, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, watch out, he may suddenly want to bound into some water, with you if you are holding onto the lead. Perhaps more dangerous is the jump into a canal, if he is not on a leash. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, regularly you see people being hauled in! Not helped by them chasing the ducks. In summer there is often more wildlife around for them to chase, so be watchful and controlling.

 

Summer, is additionally the time of the great vacation. So if you are having to find a pet sitter, choose a professional pet sitter, who will even identify all the dangers as part of their contract. This is often the wisest option for the animal, they would rather be in their house. If not, and you must put them in kennels, check the boarding out. Preferably a personal commendation, as always there can be good and not so good. The pet may not like it, but they are secure.

 

What about taking your pet on vacation with the family. This is the most dangerous option for an animal. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the car is dangerous for ourselves as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you use one, for obvious reason, so buy one, if you don’t have one for your pet. The problem of dehydration, so stop for water stops for you and your pet every sixty minutes, perhaps a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be particularly careful on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a runner (you might as well).

 

When you arrive you will be in a strange location. So do a thorough review for any risks to your animal. The greatest one is escape, especially in motels, straight out onto a busy road and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and especially {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep an eye on them.

 

Pets, will struggle to get back to your motel, if lost, its not as likely as if they were at home – and the neighbours know them. This is not the case in a strange place. Make sure you have solid and visible name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.

 

I hope you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.

 

 

 

 

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