Summer Safety Tips

Horray –  summer has officially begun! To celebrate the start of the season here are some summer safety tips from the Oakland County Daily Tribune:

Never leave a pet unattended in the car on a warm or sunny day. Cars quickly heat up to a dangerous temperature, even with the window slightly open.

Be sure to keep pets up-to-date on their vaccinations and preventative medications. Fleas and ticks stay busy in warm weather and summer is the prime time for heartworms. Check with your veterinarian about the best way to keep pets healthy.
Keep cats indoors to keep them safe. Cars, other pets and wild animals can all pose risks to cats’ safety. By providing playtime, cat trees and other enrichment, a cat will be happy and content to stay indoors.

Beware of cocoa mulch and other gardening products. Cocoa mulch can be deadly if ingested and has an appetizing scent to some animals. Pesticides, fertilizers and other harsh chemicals can be quickly fatal if ingested.

When taking a dog for a walk on a hot day, plan for shorter walks midday, when temperatures peak, and longer walks in the morning and evening when it’s cooler. Hot sidewalks can burn the pads on a dog’s paws, so walk on the grass when possible.

Pet rabbits should be kept indoors because they don’t tolerate heat well. Keeping a rabbit indoors will provide protection from predators that might try to attack a rabbit in an outdoor hutch.

Never leave a dog outdoors unattended on a chain or tether. Long-term chaining during the hot summer months can result in countless insect bites, dehydration and heat stroke. Even short-term unattended tethering can pose risks such as theft or attacks by people or animals.

When driving with pets, be sure to keep them properly restrained and inside the vehicle. Special seat belts and secured carriers can protect pets during accidents and prevent them from distracting the driver. The back of a pick up truck is never a safe place for a pet to ride.

Be mindful of pets around our wild neighbors. When going for walks or playing in a fenced yard, don’t allow pets to harass birds, rabbits, squirrels or other wild animals.

The summer months are the peak season for dog bites because so many kids and dogs are playing outside. Training, socialization and dog spaying or neutering a dog can reduce the risk of dog bites. Kids can learn to stay safe through good manners around pets and humane education.