Top tips to watch out for in Summer with your pets

It is a great time of year for being outdoors and allowing your pet time to enjoy the sun and roam safely in the garden or on long Summer walks. However, please be aware of some hidden dangers and things to watch out for your pets with the hot weather.

Sunbathing and plant nibbling | Cats

You may not think that cats can suffer from getting burnt in the summer sun but areas wear their skin is exposed and has less fur can get damaged. Areas such as the tips of their ears and noses can get burnt especially if they have light coloured skin or fur. We use Filtabac sunscreen which can be bought from vets or pet stores and is also suitable for dogs and horses as well as cats.
Many summer blooms, such as lilies, are poisonous to cats and can be fatal if your cat has eaten them. All parts of lilies are toxic to cats, including the pollen which can get onto a cat’s fur. If you suspect your cat has eaten any, contact your vet straight away. If your cat is bored or playful consider growing cat-friendly plants such as catnip, mint or cat thyme for them to nibble on safely.
See our blog, ‘Which plants are dangerous for cats’ for a full list.

Burnt paws | Dogs

Hold the back of your hand on hot pavement for at least five seconds, if it proves too much for you, imagine your dog’s paws! Best to leave walking the dog first thing in the morning or very last thing at night when temperatures are much cooler. Be sure to take water with you on walks as dogs lose moisture much quicker than us humans. Also, consider playing with your dog with a sprinkler or paddling pool to help keep them cool.

Flystrike | Rabbits

Pets which cannot easily clean themselves can suffer from Flystrike, where flies lay their eggs in dirty fur. It is ones of the biggest dangers for rabbits in Summer as this is when flies appear especially bottle flies. Rear ends and tails of rabbits are most commonly affected. It can be prevented by regularly checking your rabbit at least twice daily paying special attention to their diet, cleaning bedding and housing and their fur.

Overheating affects all pets

All our pets, like ourselves, can suffer from overheating and with all that fur it can be a difficult time for our furry friends! Temperatures can rise quickly within indoor environments such as conservatories, sheds and cars. You may be able to give your pet a damp towel for them to lie on in really hot weather or alternatively cool mats or coats are available. Make sure they have cool water to drink from, dogs especially love ice cubes. Remember dogs who have a shorter nose i.e. Pugs, French bulldogs, Bulldogs, will struggle with their breathing when the temperature rises. Be mindful of this if going for a walk or going out for the day. Sadly many dogs lose their lives to heatstroke every year…which is preventable if we are mindful and sensible.

Top Tips:

• check your pet regularly for ticks – Be Tick Aware – see our infographic
• provide fresh clean water and shade
• grooming can help get rid of excess hair and leave a thinner summer coat, it also great for checking for ticks and grass seed which can get stuck in coats, paws and ears
• More ideas can be found on our summer blog