Tips on keeping your furry pal safe this summer

With temperatures rising, here are some tips to keep your furry companions safe during the summer.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends:

-Visiting the vet for a checkup to make sure your pets get tested for heartworm.

-Provide plenty of water and make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun.

-Know the symptoms of overheating which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, mild weakness, bloody diarrhea, and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.

-Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, but it is illegal in several states.

-Do not leave your pets unsupervised around a pool. Not at dogs are good swimmers. Introduce your pets to water and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from his fur, and try to keep your dog from drinking the pool water, which contains chlorine and other chemicals.

-Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed. Open unscreened windows pose a real danger to pets who often fall out of them.

-Trim longer hair on your dog but never shave your dog.

-When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog linger on hot asphalt. Being so close to the ground can make your pooch’s body heat up quickly.

-Commonly used rodenticides and lawn and garden insecticides can be harmful to cats and dogs if ingested, so keep them out of reach.

-Leave pets at home when you head out to Fourth of July celebrations and never use fireworks around pets. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and even unused fireworks can contain hazardous materials.

For more information visit https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/hot-weather-safety-tips