Introduction

Summer is a great time of year for dogs. They have more freedom to be outdoors and play, but the summer months also present many dangers for your pet. Before you let your dog out into the yard or take him on a walk, make sure you know these tips for keeping him safe during the warmer months:

Never leave your dog in a parked car.

You should never leave your dog in a parked car. Dogs can’t regulate their body temperature as well as humans, so they are vulnerable to heatstroke when left in hot vehicles. If you see a dog alone in a parked car, call the police and animal control or try to find the owner of the vehicle. The Humane Society recommends that if you must bring your dog with you while running errands on hot days, make sure they’re not panting excessively or having trouble breathing—this could be an indication that they need immediate help.

Know the signs of heat stroke.

The first thing you should know about heat stroke is that, like any other kind of dehydration, it can happen to dogs at any time. In fact, some breeds are more susceptible to heat stroke than others—and small dogs are at a higher risk because they don’t have the large body mass to help them cool down.

As soon as you suspect your dog is suffering from heat stroke, get him out of direct sunlight and into an air-conditioned area immediately. If you don’t have one available, position yourself so that you’re blocking the sun while he rests quietly on his side (it’s easier for them this way). Then use cool water or ice packs on his head and chest until his temperature returns to normal and he shows signs of normal behavior again—this might take up to an hour!

Never use a choke or prong collar on your dog when he’s unattended.

Now that you know about the dangers of leaving your dog unattended, it’s time to talk about how to keep him safe during the summer. First off, never use a choke or prong collar on your dog when he’s unattended. A lot of people don’t realize how dangerous these kinds of collars can be—they cause damage to the neck and throat area that can injure or kill your dog if left on too long.

Second, never leave your dog in a parked car on hot days! Even with all four windows rolled down (which isn’t enough), temperatures inside will still reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 minutes. A heat stroke is likely even if you only go inside for 5 minutes; imagine how hot it would get after 30 minutes! Finally, provide plenty of fresh drinking water and shade for him so he doesn’t overheat from being outside in direct sunlight all day long without any protection from UV rays coming through glass windows nearby where there aren’t any trees around yet…

Provide plenty of fresh drinking water and shade.

• Provide plenty of fresh drinking water and shade. It’s important to keep your dog hydrated during the summer months. Make sure they have a clean bowl of water available at all times, but be sure to change it out frequently so that it doesn’t become filled with bacteria or algae. Additionally, provide your dog with a shady area where they can rest comfortably if they feel overheated or dehydrated. If possible, set up a fan in your home so that hot air can circulate throughout the entire space and cool down everyone who lives there (including humans!). You should also check daily weather reports before leaving for work or taking on any other outside activities so that you know if temperatures are likely to be high enough where they might cause harm or discomfort for your pet; if so, just leave them inside!

Don’t cut your dog’s fur too short.

When it comes to keeping your dog safe during the summer months, one of the most important things you can do is to keep their fur as long as possible. Dogs with short hair are more likely to overheat and become dehydrated easily, which can lead to serious health issues. They’re also at risk for sunburns, especially if they have light colored fur and/or thin skin around their face. In addition, fleas and ticks love to take advantage of dogs with short hair—meaning that with shorter-haired dogs you’ll probably have more flea bites on your dog than someone else’s dog who has long-haired fur (which keeps mosquitoes away). Lastly, people often forget that when a dog has an infection in its skin like mange or ringworm it will show up first on parts of the body where there is little fur coverage such as underarms or backsides—so if your dog tends towards having these types of infections then consider leaving some extra length there so you can keep better track of its health!

Watch out for ants and other insect stings.

In the summer, ants and other insects are attracted to sweet foods. If you have a dog that loves to snack on your favorite candy bar or gulp down a glass of soda, be careful where you walk your dog. It’s not just ants that can swarm around sweet food, bees and wasps can also be an issue in the summer months. If you see one of these insects buzzing around your picnic table or kitchen countertop as you walk by with your dog, try not to panic!

If this happens while you’re eating outside with family and friends, don’t leave any food out for them to eat while they’re around. You should also keep their water bowl full at all times so they won’t be tempted to drink from where there might be bugs nearby.

Don’t overdo it with physical activity on hot days.

Dogs aren’t able to sweat like humans, so they can’t cool themselves down by sweating. If your dog is overheating, you should never attempt to force him to drink water; this can actually cause more harm than good. The best thing you can do is allow your dog to rest in a cool place and keep an eye on him for signs of distress such as panting heavily or vomiting.

If it’s hot out, here are some safe physical activities for your pup:

• Taking short walks or jogs around the neighborhood (not too long though!)
• Playing fetch inside with objects that don’t need much supervision – like balls or Frisbees – rather than sticks which could hurt them if they got stuck in their mouth during playtime!

Keep herbicides and pesticides away from your dog.

If you’re planning on using herbicides or pesticides in your yard this summer, make sure to keep them out of reach of dogs. Dogs can be poisoned by eating these products, which can cause nausea and vomiting. If your dog does eat a pesticide, call the vet immediately. Pesticides can also be harmful to humans as well!

Ask your vet about flea, tick and heartworm prevention methods.

Fleas, ticks and heartworm are important things to keep an eye on. Ask your dog’s vet about the latest prevention methods that are appropriate for your pet. Flea and tick prevention products are available over-the-counter or by prescription. These products work differently than treatments for fleas only but can be used together with other medications if needed.

Heartworm preventive medications work well in keeping heartworms at bay when given every month, just like any other medication for dogs! The good news is that there are several options available for preventing fleas, ticks and heartworms in dogs.

The summer months present many dangers to dogs, but you can help keep them safe by following these simple tips.

The summer months present many dangers to dogs, but you can help keep them safe by following these simple tips.

Summertime is the time of year when dogs are most likely to be left unattended. This is because many owners take their dogs on vacation during this season and leave the animal at home alone for long periods of time, sometimes even for days at a time! In addition, it’s also important to remember that your dog will need more water during the hot months due to increased activity levels and sun exposure. Heading out with Fido? Make sure his leash has reflective material so that he’ll be visible in low light conditions or nighttime use (and don’t forget his ID tag!)

Another danger that occurs during this season is overheating; whether it’s running around outside all day or playing fetch on hot summer days (especially if they’re wearing heavy coats), dogs can quickly overheat if not properly supervised or hydrated throughout play sessions with humans or other animals. If you notice signs such as excessive panting/breathing difficulties along with lethargy/listlessness – seek medical attention immediately!

Conclusion

We hope you found these tips useful for keeping your dog safe and healthy during the summer months. If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health, please talk to your vet today.