Summer means getting outdoors, getting on the road, and getting your barbeque on—but it can also be hazardous for your pet. Here are some tips to make sure you and your furry friend have the best summer ever:

• Heat kills! Never leave your pet in a car, even for a quick trip. On a sunny 70-degree day, your car can heat up to over 100 degrees in minutes. Hot asphalt will scorch your pet’s paws—so if it’s too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for your pooch.

• Cookouts are tasty, but cooked meat bones often splinter and become hazardous if swallowed. Nix the corn cobs, too—they can cause intestinal blockage.

• Even if your pet is on a tick preventative, it’s a good idea to check for these little dudes after being outdoors. Our region of the country has a very high incidence of tick-borne illness, including Lyme disease—and ticks can easily jump from pets to people.

• Fireworks are fun for us, but the racket is terrifying for many pets. Keep them inside, with calm music or white noise on. If your pet has an extreme reaction to the noise such as heavy panting, drooling, shaking, hiding, or trying to escape, we may be able to help with medication or herbal remedies.

• Beware the booze! It can dangerously intoxicate your pet and result in serious illness and in severe cases, respiratory failure. Yes, this includes beer—fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to both dogs and cats.

• Timber rattlesnakes are Vermont’s only venomous snake, but they’re endangered and non-aggressive. That said, they will bite when threatened or surprised, so it’s important to keep your pet leashed, on trails, out of marshy areas, and no sniffing where you can’t see.  

And About That Day at the Lake…

We’re lucky to live near a beautiful lake that both people and pets love, but it’s important to make sure you keep your pet safe in and around the water.

Most people think dogs are natural-born swimmers, but that isn’t always true. If you’re not sure, keep your dog on a leash when in water and get in with him or her until you are sure your pet is able to swim confidently.

A dog life jacket is also a good idea for pets in and around the water. You’ll want to watch and make sure that your pet isn’t getting too fatigued as well.

Later in the summer, blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is also a concern at Lake Champlain and other bodies of water. Be aware of advisories and never let your pet drink lake water.

Make sure you know how to identify an algae bloom: foamy, scummy, thick-looking water with green, blue-green, or brownish-red cells suspended in the water.

Serious, life-threatening symptoms from algae poisoning can develop quickly and kill your pet within 24 hours. If your dog goes into water you suspect or know is dangerous, don’t hesitate to call us at (802) 985-2525!