Pet Summer Safety | Cal OES News

Summer is a great time to get outdoors and play with your pets but with the temperature increasing so does the risk for your furry friends. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) wants to keep everyone safe especially our pets.

When playing with your pets outside, it is important to know the signs of overheating.

Look out for:

Excessive panting
Difficulty breathing
Excessive Drooling
Mild weakness
Vomiting
Elevated body temperature

Overheating can be very scary and dangerous for your pets, knowing the signs and how to prevent over heating can help keep your pet safe.

When outdoors with your pet:

Exercise your pet during the morning or evening when the sun is not at it peak. If the ground is too hot for your feet, it’s probably too hot for theirs.
Older and at-risk pets may have difficulty handling the extreme heat.
Ensure your pet has lots of fresh clean water, as temperatures increase so does the amount of water your animal might need. Make sure this water is not left in the sun, this could cause the water to be too hot for your pet.
If outdoors, take shade breaks and try to keep off the asphalt.
Visit your vet to know your pets risks this summer.

Summer Pests:

The warmer weather brings more than just fun for our furry friends, each of these pests can ruin your pet’s day or worse:

Ticks
- When returning indoors, check your pets for ticks. If one is found it can be easily removed. To avoid ticks, check with your vet for tick collars.
Fleas
- To avoid a flea infestation, bathe your pets regularly. Wash pet and human bedding often and vacuum carpets frequently.
Mosquitoes
- Keep windows and doors closed. Replace your pet’s water daily to ensure their water does not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and ask your vet about pet safe bug repellent.

Hot weather tips for pets:

Sunburn
- Pets can get sunburned too. When you pet is outside, make sure they have access to shade, cool water, and the ability to go indoors.
Car Safety
- Never leave pets alone inside of the car. With the extreme heat, it is illegal and dangerous in the State of California.
Water Safety
- If taking pet to the water, make sure your pet knows how to swim or has a lifejacket. Not all pets are good swimmers and leaving them unsupervised can become dangerous very quickly.