So before you and your pet head off for your next adventure, keep these tips in mind when it comes to summer safety for pets…

Heatstroke

The warm weather of summer is the perfect time to be outdoors with your pet, but when the heat gets too intense, your pet’s chances of suffering from heatstroke increase dramatically. In order to continue having fun outdoors with your pet, follow these simple precautionary measures:

  • Provide a continuous source of fresh, clean water in multiple locations throughout your home and yard, as well as on the go
  • Have a shady spot where your pet can rest and escape the sun
  • Limit your pet’s time outdoors
  • Never leave your pet in a parked vehicle unattended, even with the windows down; the temperature inside a car can reach extremely high levels and be life threatening within a matter of minutes

Signs of heatstroke include:

  • Laziness and fatigue
  • Discolored gums
  • Excessive panting
  • Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
  • Seizures

If your pet shows symptoms of suffering from heatstroke, please call us for emergency care immediately.

Elevation Sickness

If you take your pet hiking on the Western Slope, or to any of Colorado’s fourteeners, you will want to be mindful of elevation sickness. Like us, pets are susceptible to the thin air of these elevations, and, if not taken seriously, elevation sickness can lead to pulmonary edema in your pet.

Signs that your pet is suffering from altitude sickness include:

  • Bleeding from the nose
  • Dizziness
  • Excessive drooling and panting
  • Sudden collapse
  • Pale gums
  • Refusal to obey commands

If you take your pet to any of Colorado’s extreme elevations, be sure to listen to what your dog is telling you. If he or she wants to stop hiking and refuses to go any further, there’s a reason and you should be respectful of that.

To stave off elevation sickness, take the same precautions as you would for your self – keep your pet hydrated before, during and after the hike, take your ascent slowly so that the body can acclimate to the elevation change, pressure, and thinning air supply, and (again) be sensitive to what your pet is trying to tell you and stop if it’s necessary.

If your pet does show signs of elevation sickness, stop your ascent, give him or her water immediately, and start a slow descent. As soon as you’re in cell range, call us for advice immediately and take your pet into the nearest emergency veterinarian for oxygen therapy.

If you are planning on tackling our fourteeners this summer, or on an extended stay at elevation, please give us a call before you go so we can help you with the finer points of planning for your pet’s safety.

Protecting the Paws

As the air temperature increases during the summer, so does the temperature of many surfaces that your pet comes in contact with, such as pavement, wood, sand, and asphalt. The heat that these surfaces absorb from the hot summer sun can cause severe damage to your pet’s paws. Consider taking these extra precautions before walks to protect your pet’s paws:

  • Check the pavement by placing your bare foot or hand on the surface; if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet
  • Stay on the grass whenever possible
  • Avoid the hottest times of the day
  • Purchase some pet booties

You and your pet may not be able to avoid all hot surfaces, though; if you find your pet limping, licking or chewing at the feet, not wanting to walk, or displaying blisters on the paws, bring your pet to the veterinarian for immediate treatment.

Common Sense Safety for Pets

There’s a lot to be aware of when it comes to keep your pet safe during the summer months. And while these tips are certainly worth bearing in mind, there are other considerations you should make as well.

No matter what you and your pet do this summer, you’ll want to make certain that he or she is current on all of his or her vaccinations and parasite preventatives. You’ll also want to be sure that your pet is microchipped and wearing his or her ID tags whenever you go out. And, even if your pet is great off leash, be sure to keep a leash with you wherever you go, so that should you come upon a wild animal, a rattlesnake, a mine shaft, or any other hidden danger, you can gain control of your pet until the danger has passed.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about taking your pet out this summer. We’d rather you err on the side of caution than have to treat your pet in an emergency. Likewise, please call us for an appointment if you pet needs to be microchipped or brought current on his or her vaccinations and parasite preventatives.