28 Jun Tips for Keeping Pets Healthy This Summer
With the heat and humidity of summer days and the arrival of summertime bugs, 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.
- Watch the temperature of sidewalks and roadways! Asphalt can quickly heat in the sun and can burn sensitive paw pads.
- 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 veterinarian-recommended products to repel mosquitos.
- 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 become deadly, at more than 120 degrees.
- If you are concerned that your pet has overheated or is showing signs of heat stroke, do not wait! Call your veterinarian immediately.