Happy Solstice! Today is the first day of Summer, and the longest daylight of the year – a perfect time to get out and enjoy a walk with your dog, or sitting in the shade with your cat. Or let your bunny hop around the yard!
While summer is a wonderful time of the year, especially to enjoy our pets, there are some safety considerations. Foremost, summer is usually HOT. Pets might not pace themselves while having fun in the sun, and so be aware of the signs of Heat Stroke and Heat Exhaustion.
Learn More About Hot Weather Pet Safety
Some Cool stuff for the hot days! Treat your pups to an icy treat, made just for them. Boss Dog Frozen Yogurt treats are like ice cream for your dogs, but healthy and in flavors dogs love. Or, try a Pooch Pop – toss them in the freezer and then just squeeze them out for a chilling indulgence. You don’t have to tell your pup that these delicious treats also have electrolytes to help with hydration too. Does your dog love to play in water? Rainbow has 60 inch plastic pools for only $24.99 – Get them while they last!
Signs of Heat Stress
Seek emergency veterinary care if you observe any of these signs:
- Anxiousness
- Excessive panting
- Restlessness
- Excessive drooling
- Unsteadiness
- Abnormal gum and tongue color
- Collapse
Of course, it wouldn’t be summer without some 4th of July celebrations! While we are enjoying hot dogs, apple pie and fireworks, our pets may not be enjoying any of that at all! Now is the time to prepare. Make sure your pets have up-to-date identification tags and/or microchips. Do a safety check on fences, yards and anywhere you will be containing your pets to be sure they can not escape.
If your pet has been anxious in the past about fireworks, consult with your veterinarian about sedation options. There are both over-the-counter (ask at Rainbow!) and prescription medications that can help, and some pets respond well to a ThunderShirt or other “swaddling” technique (find these products at Rainbow too!) Check out this article, July 4 Safety, courtesy of the American Veterinary Medical Association for more tips on enjoying the Independence Day holiday – and having Fido and Fluffy be okay with it too.
One unfortunate aspect of Summer is wildfires. Being prepared to defend your property doesn’t have to be “high tech!” Rainbow has a big selection of firefighting hand tools – Pulaskis, Mcleod fire rakes, water pumps, fire hoses, fire hose nozzles, backpack sprayers (cordless or manual pump) for putting out hot spots and even the toughest fire hoe ever built! Having a selection of these tools around to grab in a hurry can make a lot of difference if wind-blown embers are landing on your property, or a fire sparks nearby. Hand tools are also easy to toss into the truck, take camping and store in the garage. Come in and get prepared today!
Trivia! Our June winner is Barbara Lamb, with the correct answer that the most common problem with foxtails in cats is getting them in their eyes.
Ms Trivia Person is taking a month off. The Trivia Contest will return in July!