The dog days of summer are almost over and there are still a lot of HOT DOGS! Most people and pets know how to find fun in the sun, but staying safe, healthy, and hydrated is an often-overlooked component of outdoor fun with our four-legged friends. Follow these tips and you’ll be sure to have a tail wagging good time this Labor Day! Here are important tips to ensure you don’t have to work like a dog this Labor Day to keep your pet safe and sound!
- Labor Day means it’s time to fire up the grill! Next time you call up the neighbors and throw together a picnic or BBQ be sure to know what’s safe to share with your pets and what should be kept at the people-only table!
- Avoid Spicy and Saucy foods like sausages, ribs, or barbeque chicken
- Keep your hot dog happy with an all beef hot dog or a lean hamburger patty; skip the bun!
- Fresh fixin’s are always fair game. Dogs especially love carrots and strawberries!
- Just remember that the Grapes have Wrath and are toxic! To dogs!
- If you don’t like to share your picnic with your pets, fill an appropriate toy with peanut butter or another yummy treat to keep your pal busy while you scarf down a few burgers
- Please note Dog Food and treats are specifically formulated with your pet’s health in mind!
Consult with your Vet to find the best food perfect for your pet!
2.) Flea and Tick Season Tips
- Flea and Tick Season is all year round!
- Dogs are outside more and the creepy crawlies are multiplying!
- As a first line of defense use Planet Petco’s Flea and Tick shampoo
- If your pet is doing double duty as a flea factory be your pet’s champion and give them the tools to fight back with Flea and Tick preventative!
- Remember Fleas and Ticks aren’t the only things lurking in the grass many public spaces are sprayed with harmful pesticides! And Lilies, while they may just be flowers to us are Toxic for cats! So always keep a careful eye on your pets when they go exploring.
3.) Stay Hydrated
- LOTS of H2O! No Dog’s day is complete without constant access to fresh, cool water.
- Keep an eye out for signs of dehydration or over heating such as:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Swollen Gums (The gums are the window into your pets health!)
- Always keep Water Handy Remember Dogs Pant because they don’t sweat, so they need plenty of water on hot summer days!
- Use a Popware Collapsible Water Bowl or the Handi-Drink 2 (a green solution to limit wasted water) to keep your hound hydrated!
4.) Beating the Heat
- Did you know that a shady patch of grass can be up to 10 degrees Cooler than exposure to direct sunlight?
- Remember what’s hot to you is even Hotter for your canine companion. Imagine lugging a fur coat around in the summer heat! No thank you!
- Try the TempAlert Pet Harness – It has a built in thermometer icon that turns clear to indicate when your playful pooch has become a hot dog!
- Remember, things can get hot inside too! Keep cool with the latest in pet-friendly cooling technology, The Dyson Air Multiplier! – This miraculously bladeless fan is safe for all members of the family to use and explore ( the cat’s safe to be curious:)
- Pets can still sunburn on their Noses and ears! Keep them in the shade or apply sun protection!
- Keep cool by putting pet toys in the freezer before playtime
- Check out the Chilly Bone Just wet it, put it into a plastic bag, freeze it for about an hour and prepare for some chill summer fun!
- Never EverLeave your pet in the car, even for a minute.
- The inside of a car can reach 120 degrees (a fatal temperature)in a matter of minutes! And cracking the windows is an ineffective compromise. You either go paws in or you leave the dog at home!
5.)Pets love the great outdoors, and Labor Day weekend is the perfect time to explore with your pet before we all are back to school and work! Traveling with your pet has never been easier with All natural Pet Products to calm your pets during the busy travel weekend! If you’re planning to reach your destination by flying, make sure you research your airline’s pet policies in advance and book early, as many carriers only allow two pets per flight. Nervous about letting your four-legged fly commercial? Consider booking a flight on Florida-based Pet Airways (www.petairways.com), which offers pet-only service to nine major American cities. When driving to your vacation spot, you’ll be able to set your own schedule and make stops based on your pet’s needs. Whichever way you and your pet choose to travel, make sure to find a comfortable, secure and airline approved animal carrier – freestyle lap-sitting is never safe!
Labor Day should be fun for the entire family as long as you keep health and safety in mind you’re bound to make a paw-full of priceless memories! For further information on how to care for your pets visit www.animalfair.com!