How to keep your dog safe this summer

23rd June 2015

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It is very important to keep your dog cool, especially in a car! If it’s 22 degrees outside, then it can reach 47 degrees inside a car within an hour!

Put your pet first this summer by taking some essential advice from Pool House Veterinary Hospital in Lichfield:

Make sure your dog always has the opportunity to move to a cooler place if it’s feeling hot;
Don’t leave your dog alone in a car, glass conservatory or caravan - even leaving it for short periods can be deadly;
If you are leaving your dog outside, make sure it has a shady spot to sit.
Ensure your dog has plenty of access to water and in a weighted bowl to ensure it can’t be knocked over;
Groom your dog on a regular basis to remove excessive hair. Ideally long haired breeds need a haircut before the start of the summer;
Walk your dog in the morning or later in the evening when it is cool. Never exercise your dog during excessively hot weather;
Apply pet safe sun screen to your dog – they can get sun burnt too.

Dogs can suffer from heatstroke, just like us and it can be fatal.

Here are some of the symptoms to look out for:

Heavy Panting
Profuse Salivation
Rapid Pulse
Red Gums/ Tongue
Vomiting
Loss of Consciousness
Diarrhoea
Lack of Coordination

If your dog is showing any signs of heatstroke, move it straight away to a shaded and cool area, keep it hydrated with cool water (not cold) to lower its temperature gradually, and ring Pool House Veterinary Hospital immediately.

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