7 Tips for Keeping Pets Healthy in the Summer Heat

10 Jun 7 Tips for Keeping Pets Healthy in the Summer Heat

With the heat and humidity of summer days, family vacations, and warm-weather pests, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association offers some tips to keep your family’s pets happy and healthy.

  • Be weather aware. If it is warmer than 90 degrees, it may be too hot to play with your dog in the yard. Veterinarians are seeing instances of heatstroke in dogs from too much exercise or play for the weather conditions.
  • Use appropriate flea and tick control continuously throughout the season. Dogs and cats may still pick up a tick even on a preventive, but their chances are greatly reduced. Infections such as Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme Disease can be expensive to treat and deadly if not diagnosed quickly, so prevention is the best course of action.
  • Be careful when choosing flea and tick preventives. Those labeled for dogs should not be used on cats. Dog medications can cause severe neurological issues in cats. Please talk with your veterinarian if you have questions.
  • Protect your pets from heartworms with monthly medications as well as the use of mosquito, flea and tick preventives such as Advantix or Seresto collars.
  • When traveling with pets, a valid health certificate (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) is required if crossing state lines.
  • If your pets spend time outside, be sure to provide fresh, cool water and shade.
  • It goes without saying, never leave your pet in a car in the summertime. Even with windows cracked, temperatures can quickly exceed 120 degrees. Read more about how to assist a pet that has been left in a hot car in this blog.