Barbecues, ice-creams, paddling in the sea; hot lazy days that stretch into balmy, light evenings – summer is almost here, and we really can’t wait! It’s only natural that we want our four-legged pals to join in the fun, but the warmer months can be challenging for our pets, with some summertime hazards that we need to watch out for. So pour yourself an iced tea and read on for our top tips to keep your pets safe this summer!
Keeping cool in the warmer months can be challenging for our furry friends. They can’t take off their thick coats for starters; and unlike us, they have very few sweat glands, so they rely on panting to try and cool themselves down.
This makes them prone to heatstroke; a condition that occurs when the body can’t cool down quickly enough, and the body temperature gets dangerously high. Symptoms of heatstroke include panting, drooling, an increased heart rate and red gums, and can quickly progress to disorientation, seizures and collapse. Untreated, it can be fatal.
Most owners are aware of the dangers of leaving pets inside hot cars. Even when parked in the shade with the windows open, temperatures inside cars can soar frighteningly quickly, and dogs can die of heatstroke in as little as 15 minutes.1 There’s actually an even more common cause of heatstroke in UK pets, though, accounting for almost three quarters of UK heatstroke cases.2 It’s called “exertional heatstroke”, and occurs when our furry pals exercise in hot weather.
If this all sounds a bit alarming when all you wanted to do was enjoy a bit of sunshine, then fear not, as armed with this knowledge we can take some practical steps to help keep our pets safe when the sun comes out!
There’s nothing like the smell of sizzling sausages on a sunny day to signal that summer’s really arrived! But just like young children, our pets have no concept of the risks involved, so follow our top tips for a stress-free al-fresco feast!
As the weather gets warmer, it’s natural that we want to spend more time in the great outdoors, but we’re not the only ones that come out to play in the summer months! Pesky parasites become more active as the temperatures rise, and chances are our pets are going to meet at least one of these creepy crawlies when they’re out on their adventures:
Getting out into nature is one of the best things about summer, so don’t let parasites put you off! Fipnil Plus is a simple spot-on, available for both dogs and cats, that kills both fleas and ticks, and is recommended for monthly use. Combine this with Prazitel Plus tablets for dogs, or Prazitel tablets for cats, to kill the intestinal worms commonly found in UK dog and cats.
Keeping up with regular parasite treatment gives you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can to protect them against these pesky critters, letting them get on with their summertime adventures!
A cool dip on a summer’s day can be irresistible when the sun is blazing, but water hides a multitude of dangers so follow our safe-swimming advice to help keep your four-legged friend out of trouble!
There’s nothing like a sunny day to make our spirits rise, and there’s no reason that our four-legged friends can’t enjoy the warmer weather too; just slow down the pace, take things easy and keep cool, and you can enjoy these glorious days safely together!