It's August, and the temperatures seem to be reaching a boiling point across the country. While we humans take all kinds of precautions to avoid sunburn, dehydration, overheating, and other adverse effects of the summer's heat, it's important to also remember to take special care of our pets during the summer months. Your dog or cat can't always tell you when they're feeling overheated, so we've put together some tips on how to take the best care of your pet this month.
Never, ever leave a pet in a parked car in the summertime. Even if the windows are cracked, the glass windows act like a greenhouse in the sun and can increase temperatures inside the car to extreme, oven-like conditions.
Take your long walks and runs with your pets in the early morning and late evening, when the sun isn't at it's peak intensity. If your dog lives outdoors, make sure there is ample shade at all times of the day. If your yard isn't graced with plenty of large trees to provide shade, build a couple simple shed-like contraptions that will provide at least some amount of shade at all times of day. (Keep in mind that the sun moves position throughout the days, so try to ensure that your cat or dog has the option of shade at any given time.)
If you're a backyard barbecue master, fire pit partier, or spend a lot of time with citronella candles, make sure to keep dangerous and flammable items safely away from where pets can get into them. Be sure to dispose of all matches, lighter fluid, insect candles, and anything that could potentially harm your pet in a trash or location that can't be accessed by your furry friends.
Avoid insecticides and lotions that haven't been approved for the safety of dogs and cats. Some pesticides are extremely harmful to dogs if ingested, so steer clear of spraying the yard with something that could potentially hurt unsuspecting pets. And, as always, make sure your pet has access to plenty of cool water.