Summer provides some unique challenges for pet owners. While summer presents many opportunities for owner and pet to enjoy the outdoors, it can be helpful to view summer conditions from a pet’s perspective. A major consideration is the heat. For your pet, overheating can be very dangerous, however, it can almost always be prevented. In caring for your pet, they should have plenty of water and a cool shady spot to rest during the hot summer months. For most pets this is enough to keep their body temperature regulated. However, if your pet is overweight, has a big thick coat, or has other medical issues that could hinder his breathing, pay special attention to your pet’s condition. Some dogs will continue playing/exercising even when they should stop and cool off. So be sure not to over exert your pet during this season. Also, it is worth repeating the warning to never leave your pet in a hot car. Even a short time in a hot car can be very harmful to your pet.

Summer presents other concerns. Insects that can infect your pet in several ways. Keeping insects off and away from your pet can save you and your pet a lot of grief later on. Prescriptive Heartworm preventatives should be given to all outdoor dogs in mosquito-laden areas. Also discuss prescriptive flea and tick medications with your vet. Medications aren’t right for all pets, but many benefit greatly from such treatments. Checking your pet for fleas and ticks is also needed whether they are on medication or not. Not all treatments and repellents are fool proof, so inspecting your pet should be done routinely with out door pets.

Finally, summer tends to be the time for allergies and skin problems. This can be due to seasonal allergens such as grass and pollen. Allergies from fleas and ticks also act up around this time. For some pets, particularly dogs, contact with things such as ponds and burrs may lead to problems they don’t usually have to deal with the rest of the year. Finally, heat can spark or aggravate skin problems too. For seasonal allergies using a hypoallergenic shampoo may help, but consulting your vet regarding treatments is often your best option. The heat can often spark hot spots for dogs. This can be driven by matted fur, or a collar that build up heat moisture causing an infection. Some dogs are simply more prone to hot spots during the hot weather. Avoiding each of these potential irritants can be difficult in some cases. However, keeping your pet clean and well groomed often helps reduce the occurrences of these problems.