The Dog Days of Summer are here.

What exactly does that mean? “The sultry part of the summer, supposed to occur during the period Sirius, the Dog Star, rises at the same time as the sun: now often reckoned from July 3 to August 11. A period marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence.” (source: dictionary.com). We have already seen several days well over 90 degrees so during these Dog Days, don’t forget about your furry friends. Most of you are going to be spending more time out of your home than in, and spending time with your whole family including your pets. Here are a few tips to keep your pets healthy and happy.

We seem to remember to keep out of the sun, hydrate, and maybe not take long walks in the heat of the day. But what about your dog? You know the asphalt gets very hot and you may even do the hand test to make sure its not too hot for their little paws, but did you know that since they are lower to the ground (where it is hotter) they may overheat faster than you? They can suffer from heat exhaustion just as much as a human can, and perhaps more. If you do go out, make sure it’s a shorter walk and don’t forget to use sunscreen on your white or hairless dogs. Even a dog that has white ears is susceptible to sunburn. Lather him up! Make sure you bring plenty of water for you and your dog and don’t let them drink from puddles and natural water sources. You have no idea what is in them!

We all like our dogs to come along for a ride, but remember that even a somewhat cool day to us can get very hot in the car. On even a warm (not hot) day, even parking in the shade with the window rolled down may be too hot. Err on the side of caution and leave them at home. You will both be happier in the long run.

Make sure to treat your pets for flea, heart worm, and ticks. You may think that ticks are just in the forest but they are everywhere.
If you have a second story window or higher, make sure they have screens or at least that your cat can’t get on the windowsill. Try to keep your cats indoors year around. There are a lot of hazards out there and it will help to keep the vet bills down!
We hope you can get some use from these tips. Just remember, consult your own veterinarian because we are Realtors not Vets! This advice is only tips to help keep you out of the emergency room and more time in your own home!