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You and your pet may be looking forward to enjoying quality time together outdoors this summer. However, summer’s arrival brings potential hazards that may put your pet’s health and safety at risk. Let’s discuss some pet summer safety tips and how you can care for cats and dogs during hot weather.
Fresh, cool water can be one of the most important summer pet care tips to follow. Lack of water can put pets at risk for dehydration, overheating, and other serious health conditions.1
You may consider putting ice cubes in dog water bowls to help keep it cooler when it’s especially warm or set up a water fountain for cats. Also, make sure there’s water inside and outside for pets who spend time outdoors.
Hot pavement may pose a significant burn risk to your pet’s paws. When temperatures are hot, the asphalt is even hotter. If you can’t leave your hand on the pavement for more than 10 seconds, your pet’s paw pads could be damaged.2
You may be able to reduce your dog’s risk of paw burns from hot asphalt by taking them on walks during the cooler parts of the day or by walking on grass instead of pavement.
Heat stroke (aka hyperthermia) is a potentially life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when a pet’s body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Common scenarios that increase the occurrence of heat stroke include being left in hot cars and playing or being left outside when it’s too hot or humid.2
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help prevent your pet from overheating — like limiting outdoor time, keeping them cool with shade, fans, or cooling mats, avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, and knowing the signs of heat stroke so you can take them to the vet if necessary.1,2,3
Avoid excessive activity during the hottest part of the day (typically 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.). It’s also a good idea to keep pets inside when there are heatwaves and it’s abnormally hot or humid outside.2,3
Pets can get overheated and dehydrated if it’s too hot outside. Providing them with plenty of shade and places to cool off can help prevent overheating and dehydration.1
You might set up a fan or air conditioner (A/C) to blow cool air around, go for walks in shaded areas, provide a shelter for them to escape the direct sunlight, or utilize cooling mats to help regulate body temperature.
It’s also a good idea to check for areas an outdoor cat may go to find shade but could get stuck in and potentially overheat.3
Signs of heat stroke may include heavy panting, drooling, whining, looking for shade, increased heart and respiratory rates, and not wanting to play. If you begin to notice these signs, wetting your pet with cool water and placing them in front of a fan or in a room with A/C may help.1,2,3
If symptoms continue, or new ones arise — like trouble breathing, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, confusion, seizures, or collapsing — see a vet as soon as possible for emergency medical care.1,2,3
Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like pugs, bulldogs, boxers, and Persian cats have a harder time panting to help cool off. These pets, along with seniors, those who are overweight, and those with lung or heart problems should be kept as cool as possible to help avoid heat stroke.1,2
A hot car is an extremely dangerous place for pets. It’s also not considered safe for pets to be left alone in a running car with the A/C on. And in some states, leaving a pet in a hot vehicle is illegal — even if you leave the windows cracked.1,2,4
If you see a pet in a parked car, you can try to find the car’s owner by asking nearby businesses to announce that there’s a pet in a car. If you can’t locate the owner, record the car’s make, model, and license plate and call the non-emergency police line or animal control as you wait by the car until they arrive.4
While some states allow you to legally rescue pets from hot cars, check your local rules before attempting to do so.
Fur can provide sun protection and natural cooling. For dogs who need regular grooming due to the type or length of fur they have, it’s not recommended to completely shave them during the summer. Trimming their coat to around one inch in length is fine, however.1
For dogs — and cats — who don’t require extensive grooming, brushing their fur more often to remove excess hair can help prevent overheating.1
Like humans, pets can get sunburned and develop skin cancers — especially those with lighter-colored or thinner fur. Pet-safe sunscreens can be used on ear tips, the nose, the belly, and other vulnerable areas to help provide sun protection.1,3
Summer brings out animals and insects of all kinds, and they can pose bite and sting risks to pets. Snake bites, whether venomous or not, can be painful and vet care should be sought quickly.
Bee and wasp stings could cause allergic reactions in some pets, or may just be uncomfortable for others. Mosquitos could cause more than just an itchy bug bite, since those infected can give your pet heartworms. Fleas and ticks are also summer pet parasites to watch out for since they could cause infections, Lyme disease, and other health issues.5
Heartworms in dogs and cats can be fatal, and fleas and ticks aren’t a walk in the park either. Getting your pet on regular preventive medication and keeping them vaccinated can help protect them against harmful parasites and diseases. MetLife Pet can provide coverage for heartworm prevention, alongside flea and tick prevention and vaccinations, with our optional Preventive Care plan.
Be mindful of the areas where these kinds of insects and animals could be living. Do your best to mitigate your pet’s interaction with them or invest in animal-safe pest control.1,5
Cooling off in a pool or natural body of water can be a great idea when it’s hot, but it’s important to monitor your pet around water. Keep these few tips in mind:1
Most cats don’t like water, and while many dogs do, some could be afraid. It’s a good idea to introduce your pet to water gradually, so they can learn how to safely cool off.
Pets face a variety of poisoning risks and potential summer hazards.
To help keep pets safe when you’re having a gathering, grilling, or setting food outside, be mindful of which human foods dogs can eat and those that could be toxic foods for cats. Curious pets may want to get into things that smell tasty but can be harmful — like meat bones, onions, grapes, and more.1,5
Common insecticides and lawn chemical and care products may also be toxic for pets. Do your best to keep these items out of reach and monitor your pet when they’re around them. There are also outdoor plants that can be toxic to pets — like sago palm, lilies, azaleas, and clematis. If you have any toxic plants outside, keep a watchful eye on your pet so they don’t try to eat them.1,5
Setting off fireworks may be a celebratory event for humans during the Fourth of July and warmer months, but they can be toxic to pets and could cause burns if pets get too close. Not to mention, they may be anxiety-inducing and/or disorienting.1
You can’t always prevent your furry companions from having a run-in with a summertime hazard. But a MetLife Pet Insurance policy may be able to help you with unexpected expenses if your pet needs a trip to the vet — whether it’s diagnostics when your pet is sick or emergency care for injuries and accidents.
Policyholders can get up to 90% back on covered costs, and we even have a 24/7 vet chat in our mobile app for on-demand pet care advice in the moments you need it.7,8 Get a free quote from MetLife Pet today to explore your plan customization options.
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