Linda Ciprella with Camp Bow Wow Oak Park brought an adoptable dog into our ABC7 studio to give us tips to keep our pets safe this summer.
Linda's Tips:
1. Pets Need Sunscreen
Places that are easy to forget, but prone to burning are: inside the nostrils,
tip of nose, around your dog's lips and the inside of ears for dogs with standup
ears.
2. Summer Style
- Giving your dog a lightweight summer haircut helps prevent overheating.
- Shave down to a one-inch length, but never to the skin, so your pet still has
some protection from the sun.
- Brushing cats more often than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive
heat.
3. Pets Need Extra Water - But don't let them drink just anything
- Give your dog extra water during the summer, but be sure not to leave the
water out for too long.
- Change the water often to prevent your pet from getting sick from bacteria
that can grow in hot water.
- Puddles of what may look like water on the ground can be mistaken for
dangerous chemicals, so keep an eye out when your dog is looking for something
to sip on.
4. Make a Safe Splash
- Buy a kiddie or dog swimming pool and fill it with water for your pet. But do
not leave pets unsupervised around a pool - not all pets are good swimmers.
- Introduce your pet to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation
devices when on boats.
- To remove chlorine or salt from the fur, rinse your pet after swimming.
- Be sure to also keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains
chlorine and other chemicals that could cause stomach upset.
5. Pets at Outdoor Summer Events
- Warm temperatures and outdoor fun go hand-in-hand, but when the temperatures
hit record highs, refrain from taking your pet to crowded summer events like
concerts or fairs.
- The loud noises and crowds, combined with the heat, can be stressful and
dangerous for pets.
6. Exercising in the Heat:
- Pets need exercise even when it is hot, but show extra care to older and
overweight pets that are more at risk from high temperatures.
- Limiting exercise to early morning or evening hours can help.
- Extra caution should also be taken with short-nosed dogs, and those with thick
coats.
7. Watch for Heatstroke
- Dogs can develop heatstroke fairly quickly.
- Signs of this include excessive panting, staring, anxious facial expressions,
warm skin, refusal to obey commands by owner, vomiting, collapse and rapid
heartbeat.
- If you suspect that your pet is suffering from this, lower the animal's body
temperature by applying towels soaked in cool water to the hairless areas of the
body.
- Often the pet will respond after just a few minutes of cooling, only to falter
again with his temperature soaring back up or falling to well below what is
normal.
- If this happens, take the dog to the vet immediately - don't try to solve this
yourself.
8. Tips for Smart Exercising with Pets in the Summer Heat
a. Walking:
Stay on dirt or grass paths, as too much walking or running on concrete can
stress joints and irritate your dog's foot pads.
In warmer temperatures, concrete emanates heat which can increase the body
temperature of your pet relatively quickly.
Under these conditions, be sure to keep Fido properly hydrated.
b. Jogging:
Choose a breed that is suited to distance-running.
Your jog with Fido should include five minutes of warm-up, 20 minutes of
jogging, and five minutes of cool-down.
During the summer, avoid jogging during the hottest times of the day and stop if
your dog is lagging behind you. (See running safety tips below).
c. Swimming:
Be sure to keep an eye out for fatigue at all times.
You may also want to consider having your pet wear a doggie life vest.
d. Frisbee:
You can play a game in your own yard or join a "Disc Dog" team.
Participating in competitions may give you and your dog greater motivation to
practice regularly.
e. Hiking:
Like walking, you'll need to maintain a brisk enough pace to elevate you and
your pet's heart rate.
As always, be sure to keep you and your pet properly hydrated, especially during
extended excursions.
f. Pets Need Sunscreen:
As skin cancer in pets is a serious concern, purchasing pet-friendly sunscreen
can go a long way in protecting the health of your pet.
Places that are easy to forget, but prone to burning are: inside the nostrils,
tip of nose, around your dog's lips and the inside of ears for dogs with standup
ears.
g. Senior Pets:
Senior dogs in particular need adequate exercise, but adjust his or her routine
to their abilities.
A mere 15 minutes of massaging and stretching every day will raise your dog's
sense of well being.
Jogging with your dog may not be appropriate if he or she is arthritic, but
swimming and other low-impact activities are great for dogs with joint pain.
h. Safety Tips for Running with Fido in Summer
- Start Slow
If Fido has never been out for a run with you, don't expect him to be up for a
marathon.
- Be Mindful of the weather
You know how torturous it can be to run on a brutally hot day with high humidity
so don't subject Fido to that as well.
If you absolutely must run that day, go during the early morning hours, between
5 AM and 8 AM, before the sun becomes scorching hot or leave Fido at home.
- Wear proper accessories
If running in the dark, be sure that you and Fido accessorize with some
reflective gear so that you are visible to traffic.
- Watch out for Fido's feet
Pavement and asphalt gets incredibly hot on summer days and can quickly burn
your pup's feet.
Gravel can be dangerous as well, as it can puncture Fido's paws.
To be safe, only take Fido running on dirt trails, grass, or sand.
Stop periodically during your run to check his paws for burns or cuts.
- Hydrate
If you're going first thing in the morning, wait until he's had a bowl or two of
water.
Take a product like a Handi Drink so you can stop and give your pup some water
throughout your run.
- Keep a watchful eye
Dogs are people pleasers and if you want to keep running, dogs will often work
to keep up even if they may be in pain.
- Lather up
If you're running on a sunny day, be sure to apply sunscreen to both yourself
and Fido if your dog has shorter hair or are a lighter color.
- Eating before or after running
Make sure that your dog does not eat one hour before or after running.
9. Safety Tips for Boating with Dogs
a. Pets Need PFD (Personal Floatation Device)
- Your dog may not be the best swimmer. If he can swim, he may be at risk of
exhaustion or hypothermia if he falls overboard.
- When planning a boating trip with your pet, visit your local pet store for
personal floatation devices (PDF) made especially for Fido to ensure his safety.
- In order to guarantee that the PDF will function properly, make sure to try it
on your pet beforehand.
- Allow Fido time to practice swimming while wearing the PDF so that he can
become familiar with the device.
b. Pets Need SPF Too
Just like us humans, dogs can get extremely sunburned, especially if he or she
has light colored hair.
Dog sunburns can cause the same problems as that of people - peeling, redness
and even cancer.
Skin cancer in pets is much more prevalent than one would assume, so purchasing
pet-friendly sun screen can go a long way in protecting your dog's health during
your boating adventure.
Places that are easy to forget, but prone to burning include inside the
nostrils, the tip of the nose, around your dog's lips and the inside of their
ears.
c. TOO Much Fun in the Sun
Excessive sun exposure can cause health complications for Fido, like heat
strokes.
Boat surfaces made of fiberglass are prone to getting extremely hot when in
direct sunlight, and Fido will absorb that heat through the pads in his feet.
Be sure to establish a shaded area where your pet can retreat when he or she is
feeling overheated.
Depending on where you're boating, a dip in the water can be a great way to cool
your pet down.
d. Don't Assume that Fido is a Natural Nautical Pup
Dogs often prefer stationary areas.
Placing Fido on a moving vehicle may be a stressful experience if he is not
properly prepared.
Before the big day, introduce Fido to the boat and allow him to become
acquainted with it while it is still immobile.
Next, start the boat's engine.
The loud noise will most likely be unfamiliar to Fido and hearing it will help
him to adjust.
Next, bring Fido onto the boat and take him on a short ride.
e. Fresh Water for Fido
Be sure to keep Fido hydrated by bringing fresh drinking water onto the boat.
A water bottle that can squirt water directly into Fido's mouth is a good way to
hydrate him during a bumpy boat ride.
As Fido may not know how dehydrated he really is, he might not beg for water on
his own.
If necessary, initiate his water consumption.
f. Fido Will Need to Relieve His Bladder
If possible, designate a spot where Fido can "tinkle" while on the boat.
Pet stores sell wee-wee pads and doggie potties that look just like a patch of
grass.
Having one of these options on board for Fido to use will help him know where to
go, and can offer an easy clean-up for the owner as well.
