Will you be traveling this Summer? Are you going to bring your pets with you? VPI has some great advice for keeping your pets cool and safe this Summer. Whether you will be traveling across the country, or to the nearest park, the advice from VPI is very useful for pet owners.
You probably know how to keep yourself, and your kids, safe this Summer. This includes using plenty of sunscreen, and staying in the shade during the hours that the sun is the hottest. It could mean coming back inside to cool off and rehydrate several times a day. It might mean turning on the air conditioner at night so that your family can sleep comfortably. Do you know how to keep your pets safe this Summer?
VPI is one of the biggest pet insurance companies in the United States. They have been around since 1982, and they issued their first pet insurance policy to cover Lassie. They started out as a group of veterinarians who came together with a common goal: to help pets. One way to do that was to make sure that pet owners could afford to get the best veterinary care for their pets. This is how VPI Pet Insurance was “born”.
VPI has created a list of ways that you can help to keep your pets safe this Summer. Pet owners should keep these ideas in mind whether they will be traveling across the country or just to the nearest park this Summer.
Dogs and cats cannot cool off by sweating. They have to pant in order to lose heat and moisture. Make sure that you are keeping your dogs and cats properly hydrated this Summer. Keep a supply of fresh drinking water available to them at all times. Bring water with you when you go for a walk, or for a ride in the car.
Speaking of going for a ride in the car, there is something pet owners need to keep in mind. The temperature inside a car can rise to be much hotter than it is outside. This is true even if your car is parked in the shade. Air cannot circulate in a parked car, (especially if the windows are rolled up). Don’t subject your pets to this danger. Don’t leave your dog or cat inside a parked car, even just “for a few minutes”.
Pets that have light colored skin and hair can get sunburned. Your veterinarian can point out some sun block that was developed to be used on pets noses and ears, to prevent a bad burn. While you are talking to your vet, ask him or her about preventative products that will keep your pet safe from mosquitoes and the diseases they can carry.
Image by GirlReporter on Flickr