Summer Pet Safety

It’s a hot one.
Heat stroke can be fatal for pets. Never leave your pet in a parked car. Even on mild days, cars trap heat inside—the temperature inside a car can soar to 100 degrees within minutes, even with the windows cracked. If you need to make stops, leave your pet at home.

When summer heats up, make sure your pet stays cool. The summer heat is especially harsh on dogs with smaller facial features, such as boxers and bulldogs, whose panting is less effective.

Cool pool.
If your dog does spend time outside in the heat, make sure you provide lots of fresh drinking water, as well as a shady resting place — preferably not a dog house, which can also trap heat. The American Kennel Club recommends keeping a kiddie pool outside with fresh water for your dog’s use.

Other hazards.
Sizzling temperatures aren’t the only summer hazard for your dog or cat.

• Yards. Check your yard for poisonous plants and keep pets away from compost piles.
• Road Hazards. Hot asphalt can burn paws, and puddles may contain highly toxic antifreeze.
• Sunburn. People aren’t the only ones susceptible to sunburn and skin cancer. Put sunscreen on your pet’s sensitive nose and ears before extended time outside. Just be careful with application, as too much sunscreen can be toxic to your pets.
• Screens. Be aware of open windows with loose screens. Every year, pets are injured or killed in falls.
• Pests and Diseases. Make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and flea control.

American Home Shield is providing the information for general guidance only. Due to the general nature of the property maintenance and improvement advice in this material, neither American Home Shield Corporation, nor its licensed subsidiaries assumes any responsibility for any loss or damage which may be suffered by the use of this information.