Top 5 Summer Pet Care Tips for Pet Owners in Agoura Hills
It’s officially summer in California, and Western Veterinary Center in Agoura Hills wants to help ensure that it’s the best one yet for you and your pets. Read on to learn all of our favorite summer pet safety tips to make the most of the sun this season.
Preparing for Fun in the Sun
As with many things in life, the key to keep your pet safe and having fun is preparation. Being sure that you have taken the steps needed to protect your pets from seasonal hazards is key.
Make sure your pet is ready to enjoy the season by:
- Updating wellness care: Your pet should be protected against heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas, and infectious diseases like parvovirus. If you need to get caught up, it’s time to make an appointment now!
- Put together necessities: Restock basic pet first-aid supplies, parasite preventions, and even anti-anxiety medications for thunderstorms. You might also want to update basic emergency contacts including emergency veterinary services, animal poison control, and your favorite pet sitter.
- Brushing up on training: Basic commands are very helpful when out and about with your pet. For instance, a well-trained dog is much more likely to “leave it” if they encounter a snake.
- Do a little reading: Do you know how to keep your pet cool, spot signs of dehydration? Are you familiar with local poisonous plants? Salt water toxicity at the beach? Are your pet emergency preparedness skills up to par? A little research can help to keep you and your pets safer.
Summer Pet Safety Tips
Are you ready to get started enjoying the weather with your pet? We hope you have lots of fun and stay safe. Our favorite tips for summer pet safety in Agoura Hills include:
- Practicing summer sun safety: Sun exposure isn’t just a concern for people. Pets can experience sunburn especially on more vulnerable places like unhaired skin, the tips of the ears, and the nose. Try to keep your pet indoors when the sun’s beams are at their strongest (usually from around 10 am to 2 pm) and utilize pet safe sunscreen or UV protective clothing.
- Heeding water safety practices: Taking a dip can be a great way to cool off in the summer. When allowing pets to swim, never leave them unsupervised and introduce them to water slowly. Be sure to teach them how to get out, and rinse their fur with fresh water to remove dirt, chemicals, and other irritants. Don’t forget to provide fresh drinking water as well!
- Grooming for success: While it may be tempting to clip your pet’s coat short, don’t forget that their coat provides skin protection and insulation against heat. A clean, well-groomed coat is protective, not overheating.
- Be safe around people: Spending time outdoors with friends and family in the summer can be fun, and often our pets are part of these get-togethers. Keep your pet away from table scraps, alcoholic drinks, and garbage cans to avoid problems.
- Upping your pet control: Parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworm carrying mosquitoes are very active during the summer months. Is your pet protected?
Summer can be a truly enjoyable time to spend with your furry best friends. We hope that you can avoid some of the more common summer pet problems we encounter. If you do hit any snags, though, don’t forget that we are always here to help.