June 21st is the first day of summer 2014 but we're already experiencing hot weather. Just as we need to watch out for children, the elderly and ourselves in all types of extreme weather we also need to monitor our pets.
My post entitled SPRING INTO SUMMER PET NEEDS bears repeating:
My post entitled SPRING INTO SUMMER PET NEEDS bears repeating:
Spring is the time for us to get our pets ready for Summer.
Dogs and cats need to be groomed more often (brushed and bathed).
Be diligent in your fight against fleas and ticks. Whether you use commercial products or decide to go holistic, check with your veterinarian for an acceptable course of action and stick to it.
Spring and Fall are a good time to take your pets for their semi-annual doctor visit. Pets age faster than we do so a visit every 6 months will help you uncover health issues before they get out of hand. Older pets need their teeth, eyes, hearing, joints, blood and emotional well-being monitored as they age.
Dogs need heartworm pills to keep them heart-healthy and this is especially critical after a mild winter. We give Annie her pills year round. No treatment is available for cats so in Buddy's case we made sure he stayed inside most of the time.
Dogs and cats both like to be outdoors during spring and summer. Make sure you monitor their time outside and provide plenty of fresh water. If putting your cat out in a cage make sure it is in shade as well as sun. Dogs should have access to a yard with shade and sun. Buddy would spend a half hour outside in mild weather, no more than 10 to 15 minutes in warm weather, zero time outside in hot weather. Annie would spend up to an hour outside in mild weather, no more than 10 to 15 minutes in warm weather, zero time outside in hot weather. I would check on both of them every 10 to 15 minutes.
Finally, be thorough when taking your pet on vacation. I will be writing about what to consider in another post.
Enjoy the warm weather and make sure your pets enjoy it too!
No comments:
Post a Comment