Take Care of Your Pet in the Summer

It's summertime and that means a number of things for the average American. For the students, it is a time of respite from the ever-pressing pressures of mid-terms, papers, and peddling professors. Businessmen and women may be able to utilize some of their vacation time, and family plan excursions to far-off lands and magical places. But in the midst of all this "fun in the sun," what are our dogs doing or thinking about as the change of seasons happens.

The average dog is probably thinking about how he is going to show his love for his owner when she gets back from a long day at work. Or perhaps, he could be thinking about how much fun he is going to have in the grassy lawn at the park.

In the midst of all this playful banter, it seems appropriate to talk about pet care and safety, especially during the hot and humid summer months. As temperatures soar, it is important to understand that Rover can actually hurt himself if he spends his time in the back of a pickup truck. In fact many burn-injuries sustained by family pets come from sitting or standing in the back of an excessively hot truck bed.

It is not uncommon that am animal gets a heat stroke due to unintentional improper care. As dogs age, their bodies become less tolerant to the high temperatures. Also, it may take a while for the animal to acclimate properly to a sudden change in temperature. In fact, sometimes it's better to just leave Rover at home when temperatures become excessive.

Though, you might think that letting him hang his head out of the window while you are driving down the high way is in a way cooling him down, it actually dries up his eyes and tongue, not to mention the fact that debris could in fact harm the animal much more that is desired. If the animal must absolutely be left outside, it must be provided with water and shade.

Potential signs of trouble are excessive panting, disorientation and vomiting. If your dog is experiencing any combination of these symptoms it may be advisable to seek the medical aid of a licensed veterinarian.

It's very likely that our pets love summer just as much as we do. They would love it even better if we took care of them properly. If you would like more information on how you can take care of your pet better, visit www.miamiveterinarianclinics.com.

Joseph Devine