WASHINGTON – Summer is a great time for people and their pets.
Whether it’s walking your dog on a sunny afternoon or leaving
your screened windows open for your cat to enjoy a breeze,
there are many ways for pets and people to enjoy the season.
But summer also means that people need to take some extra
precautions with their companion animals.
The HSUS has some tips for ensuring that summer is fun and
safe for your dog or cat. Nancy Peterson, HSUS issues
specialist for companion animals, notes, “Protection from the
heat, parasites, car safety, and sterilizing your pet are some
of the issues that, while important year-round, need extra
attention during the summer months.”
Safe Fun in the Sun
• It is important to make sure that your pet has protection
from heat and sun and plenty of fresh water. Heat stroke can be
fatal for pets as well as people.
• Leaving your pet outside unattended even for a few minutes
places he or she at risk of theft or harm.
• Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and
duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On hot
days, save longer walks and games of catch for the cooler
mornings and evenings. Be especially careful with short-nosed
dogs like pugs and bulldogs. Their facial conformation makes it
difficult for them to cool their bodies by panting.
• Don’t chain or tether your dog. It allows no opportunity
for exercise and socialization, and when done for long periods
of time can lead to behavior problems. Instead, set aside time
every day to walk or play ball with your dog.
• Keep your cat indoors. Though your feline friend may wish
to explore the outdoors, cats who are permitted to go outside
are at an increased risk of disease and injury from vehicles or
other animals. For more information on The HSUS Safe Cats
Campaign, visit www.hsus.org/safecats.
Parasite Patrol
• Take care in choosing flea and tick control products, as
some can be harmful to pets and children. For a list of
chemicals and products to avoid and alternatives to pesticides,
visit www.hsus.org.
• Dogs and cats are at an increased risk of contracting
heartworm during the summer. Transmitted by a bite from an
infected mosquito, heartworm disease can be fatal if not
treated. Check with your veterinarian for the best schedule for
heartworm testing and preventive medication for your pet.
Companion Animals and Cars
• Though numerous car commercials depict it as the ultimate
joy in a dog’s life, allowing your canine companion to stick
his head out the window is asking for trouble. Doing so can
subject your pet to injury by flying debris.
• Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. On warm
days, the temperature in your car can rise to 120 degrees in
minutes, even with the windows slightly open. Also, an animal
left alone in a car is an open invitation to pet thieves.
• Dogs should never ride in the back of pick-up trucks, and
some states have laws that restrict such transport. If you are
forced to make a sudden or evasive driving maneuver, your dog
could be thrown from the truck and seriously, or even fatally,
injured.
Spaying and Neutering
• Important all year-round, the need for spaying and
neutering is brought home during the spring and summer months
when animal shelters are filled to capacity with litters of
unwanted puppies and kittens.
• Spaying and neutering helps to reduce the pet
overpopulation problem. The HSUS estimates that each year six
to eight million cats and dogs enter U.S. shelters and
one-third to one-half of them are euthanized due to a lack of
good homes.
• There are also numerous benefits to spaying and neutering,
including a greatly reduced risk of cancer and reduced
potential for aggressive behavior in your pet.
