SEASONAL TIPS - SUMMER, part 1

General Health
- Keep your dog's vaccinations up to date, since they tend to stay outdoors longer and come into contact with other animals more during the summer months.
- Keep your dog well-brushed and clean.
- Fleas and ticks, and the mosquitos which carry heartworm disease, are more prevalent in warmer months. Ask your veterinarian for an effective preventive to keep these parasites off your dog.
Heat Hazards
- Make sure your dog has a shady spot to rest in. Doghouses can trap heat, so they are not a good shelter during the summer. You may want to fill a wading pool with fresh water for your dog to cool off in.
- Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle on a hot day.
- Always provide plenty of cool, fresh water.
- Take walks in the early mornings or evenings, when the sun's heat is less intense. Avoid long exposure to hot asphalt or sand, since they can burn your dog's paws.
- Short-faced dogs, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Japanese Chins, and Pekingese, have an especially hard time in the heat because they do not pant as efficiently as longer-faced dogs. Keep them inside with air-conditioning.
Travel
- By Air: During summer months, many airlines will not ship animals, and some will only allow dogs to fly in the early morning or in the evening. If you do ship a dog, put icepacks or an ice blanket in the dog's crate. Provide a container of fresh water, as well as a container of frozen water that will thaw over the course of the trip.
- By Car: Keep your dog cool in the car by putting icepacks in his crate. Make sure the crate is well ventilated. Bring along fresh water and a bowl, and a tarp or tent so you can set up a shady spot when you stop. Keep a spray bottle filled with water to spritz on your dog to cool him down.
- By RV: If you leave your dog in an RV with the generator running, check it often or have a neighbor monitor it. Some manufacturers have devices that will notify you if the generator should malfunction. Never leave an RV or motor home completely shut up, even if the generator and AC are running. Crack a window or door or run the exhaust fan.