5 pet safety tips for common summer dangers

Summer has begun-the season meant for fun, sun, and spending time outdoors with pets. But your veterinary clients need to know that summertime dangers lurk outside. So clients and their pets can enjoy the season fully, petMD.com has put together a list of the top five safety tips for pets this summer:

• Apply sunscreen. Like their owners, dogs and cats can become easily burned by the sun if they are outside for more than a few minutes, especially if they have light skin and a short or thin coat. Applying fragrance free, non-staining, UVA and UVB barrier sunscreen or a special sunscreen made for pets can help prevent pets from being burned.

• Provide plenty of water and shade. Pets enjoy the warm weather as much as humans and may become dehydrated after extended play outside. Providing plenty of fresh water to your pets, as well as encouraging them to play or take a break in the shade, can help prevent the consequences of having a dehydrated dog or cat.

• Don't leave pets in the car. Just as with children, leaving a pet in the car for even a few minutes can cause it to have heat stroke. Even on a 70-degree day, a car in direct sunlight can heat up to 100 degrees within minutes.

• Be wary of where pets roam. Many people use fertilizers and pesticides on their lawns in the summertime, which can be poisonous to cats and dogs. When clients walk their pets, they should avoid grassy areas that have been treated or find a safe spot, like a dog park.

• Avoid antifreeze. Antifreeze is poisonous to dogs and cats, yet many pets are attracted to its scent and taste. When walking dogs, clients should be alert to any spills, leaks, or containers of antifreeze that pets can accidentally ingest.