Happy Pet Blog

One thing to always keep in the back of your mind is: Your dog is NOT a toy, he is not a stuffed animal, he is a living creature motivated by life around and about him. Be your dog’s protector. Look out for him. That is your duty as a dog owner. Take a real good look around your yard, your house, your garage, your car and then ask yourself if it is a safe environment for your pet.

1. Heat exhaustion

All types of pets can be susceptible to heat exhaustion on very sunny days. This is more likely to happen if the animals are forced to spend time in direct sunlight especially enclosed places with windows. The best ways to prevent heat exhaustion in pets is to:

· Provide plenty of fresh water
· Provide a place for the animal to shade
· Keep cages out of direct sunlight and avoid leaving animals in cars or conservatories
· Use sunscreen if possible
· Walk dogs in the mornings and evenings when the weather is cooler

And, one of the most important tips to keep in mind: Don’t take your dog in the car on a hot day. It takes only a few minutes for the car to heat up enough to kill your dog. Even with the windows down a few inches you will be placing your precious four legged buddy in danger. Keep the dog at home on a hot summer day, unless he gets out of the car when you get out!

2. Yard and garden hazards

It may seem like a kind and caring notion to allow your pets to have free run of the garden during the summer months, but there are hazards that you should be conscious of. Minimizing the chances of your pet coming into contact with yard and garden hazards can be easy as long as you are fully aware of what to look for. Examples of hazards are:

· Toxic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides etc.
· Toxic plants
· Rodent and pest poison and slug pellets
· Cocoa mulch
· Small children’s toys left lying about that can be choked on

3. Top 5 plants most hazardous to your pet’s health

Unfortunately there are many household, garden and wild plants that could be hazardous to pet’s health if ingested and as animals often eat grass and plants it is best to be aware of the dangers. The top 5 plants that are most hazardous to a pet’s health are:

· Lilies
· Azaleas
· Ivy
· Daffodils
· Tulips

4. Sunny days

Most of us may look forward to hot, sunny days but they can be somewhat less pleasant for our pets. Over exposure to heat added to normal exercise is not beneficial to your pet. The possible ill effects that can occur during sunny days can include the following:

· Sunstroke
· Sunburn
· Dehydration
· Extra irritation from fleas

5. Accidents out and about

*Even the top trainers say NOT to take your dog out without a leash, no matter how well trained your dog is. It takes a second for a dog to behave like a dog … to run to someone, or after something. Remember, your dog is your pet, not a stuffed toy always performing on command. Be a protector to your dog, not an instegator to hurt, or worse yet, to death!

There are potential dangers in most situations and simple walks or journeys with your pet can end with an injury if you are not careful about the safety of your pet. Traffic is the most serious and common cause of pet accidents but injuries are not limited to this. Instances of injury or illness that can occur out and about include:

· Pet getting loose from leash or cage and being run over by a car
· Pet’s collar becoming caught in a fence or other object resulting in neck strain or even strangulation
· Pet eating toxic or harmful substance on the ground
· Pets traveling unrestrained in cars can suffer from serious injuries if a car accident should occur
· Pet being left in a car with no open windows can suffer serious illness or death

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