Knowing how to take care of your pet during the summer can help keep these family members healthy and happy during the hot months. Our pets are like people when it comes to taking care of them. And, during warmer months, animals can become dehydrated and exposed to many of the same risks that humans are.

Caring for Pets During Summer Months

So, knowing how to take care of them will ensure that they stay healthy all year long.

• Protect against pests.  Many of our pets are at risk of getting fleas and ticks. These pests can cause serious health problems when not prevented. So, if your pet has fleas or ticks, it’s time to get rid of them. And, if your furry family member doesn’t have bugs, now is the time to make sure to protect against them. Talk to your vet about heartworm prevention, as well as flea and tick prevention. Both will keep your pet from suffering the many dangers that bugs can bring.
• Get to the vet for immunizations and checkups. This might be a bit of a pain. But, making sure that your pets have been checked out and gotten their immunizations will help to protect against the many illnesses. Oftentimes, they get these diseases from spending time outside.
• Make sure to keep pets indoors during hottest times of the day. Pets can suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke just like people. So, make sure that you don’t leave your family member outdoors without shelter during the hottest part of the day. Plenty of fresh water is very essential, too. This will help keep your animals feeling great even in hot weather.
• Bathe and brush as needed. It’s always important to bathe and brush pets regularly to help them stay healthy. But, in the summer, this step is even more important because pets get hot and sweaty. They can get irritated skin when they are outside in the yard. Plus, brushing helps to remove buildup of old winter coats that pets are likely shedding when the weather turns warm.
• Never leave pets in the car in the summer. When the weather is cool or cold, it might be okay to leave your pet in the car. But, when the weather heats up, pets can easily overheat and even die when left in a baking hot car. Even with the windows rolled down, cars often become sweltering hot boxes.
• Give pets plenty of exercise. Remember that animals love to enjoy fresh weather outdoors. So, getting them outside during the cooler hours of the day will be beneficial for both you and your furry family member. Make plenty of time for play so your pets don’t feel cooped up and start acting out.

Take Extra Special Care of Your Pets in the Summer

Caring for pets during any time of the year can be a bit challenging. In general, you should take care of your furry family members the same way that you would take care of yourself in the summer.