Get Healthy Carson City: Summer safety tips for your pets

Summer can an exciting time to take advantage of Carson City’s and the area’s outdoor activities with your pet. As you are heading out, keep in mind some tips that can keep the furry members of your family safe.
• Do not leave your animals in the hot car. An errand for you can be a life or death situation for them. Temperatures in a vehicle can spike in minutes, leaving them overheated, potentially causing heat stroke or even death. When the temperature outside is 80 degrees, your car can heat to 99 degrees within 10 minutes.
• Make sure to check the pavement and asphalt with the back of your hand before taking your pup on that walk they so want to go on. Hold the back of your hand to the pavement, and if you cannot rest it comfortably there for at least 7 seconds, it is too hot for them to be walking or standing on.
• Make sure to check the time of the day that you are going on walks. It is important as well as checking the pavement, that you pay attention to the time of day you are taking your pet out for a walk. The summer brings extreme temperatures, and the peak temperature times are important to pay attention and to possibly avoid.
• Make sure there is always a source of fresh water for your pet. This is crucial as dogs and cats can get dehydrated quicker when it is warm.
• Do not use any fireworks around your pets. This can cause extreme injury if your animals are exposed to the flames, as well as the loud noises give many pets extreme anxiety.
• Watch out for ticks. If you are going on a hike to a dog friendly trail, make sure you check if the area is common for ticks. Also, there are many different brands of tick repellents that you can buy to put on your pup so it helps protect them.
• Consider buying a life vest for your dog if going to lakes or the river. Make sure your dog is supervised around any body of water. Not all breeds of dogs are good swimmers.
• Do not shave your pet. It is perfectly fine to trim their hair for the summer but shaving your pet’s fur off completely leaves them susceptible to sunburns and overheating.
• Be mindful of summer barbecues. Many foods cooked at back yard barbecues can be poisonous to your pet, especially alcohol. This can cause intoxication, or worse longer term affects like a coma.
• Make sure to keep your dog on a leash unless otherwise noted. There are off leash dog parks you can take your pup to, if you so wish to. Many people assume that just because their own dog is friendly, they are fine to walk on their own. Keep in mind other dogs may not be and approaching them can cause serious injuries for the pets and people involved.
• Look out for signs of heat stroke: heavy panting, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, lack of coordination, deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.
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