Summer Safety!

It is great to see so many people out and about and it is great to see them enjoying the beautiful weather with their canine companions. The staff at PetWell knows how fun this can be but unfortunately we all have experience dealing with the negatives associated with fun in the sun. Things like heat stroke, sunburn, solar-induced cancer and dehydration. These types of things happen more than we’re aware of, and the reality of the issue is that they can all be fatal.

The good news is that they are all preventable!

It’s as simple as considering your furry family members and their needs prior to venturing out into the sun – Needs that your dog may not be aware of themselves.

We strongly recommend limiting your dog’s exposure to sun and heat during the months of May through September.

This does not mean that they can’t go outdoors, but it does mean that you must use discretion prior to assuming that your pups can handle long hours in the sun just like you.

Please consider providing plenty of water for your dog whether in the yard or at the park.

Please consider using a dog-safe sunscreen, especially on the lightly haired regions of the body like the abdomen, the ears and the nose. This is especially important for white dogs and dogs with thin or sparse fur.

Dogs with dark or thick fur get hot more quickly and cannot cool down as well, and therefore should spend even less time in the sun.

All dogs should avoid heavy exercise during the day and into the evening. We recommend exercising in the morning prior to the heat of the day. Also, on this topic, please consider that your dog likely took the entire winter off from exercising too, so start out with some short periods of exercise prior to jumping right into a 10K!

We’ve all heard about the risks of leaving your dogs in the car. We strongly recommend NOT leaving your dog in the car for even one minute. If you must leave your pup in the car, then keep it running with the air conditioning on.

Finally, please consider that asphalt gets hot! Do your best to avoid walking on hot asphalt with your pups. Burns and blisters on the foot pads are common this time of year and can be easily avoided with a little forethought.

At PetWell we encourage you all to have fun in the sun. After all this is the greatest time of the year! Taking these tips into consideration can help ensure that your summer is safe and fun. Please feel free to call or email with any further questions or concerns!