Aug 13, 2008 6:11 pm US/Eastern
Helpful Ways To Keep Your Pets Cool This Summer
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
When the weather gets hot, a lot of us change our habits to keep cool. Experts say we need to make the same accommodations for our pets as well.
Holly Walker's boxers love to be outside in the summer. She found out the hard way that one of her dogs, Bosworth, is allergic to bee stings. "I saw him get stung twice. He ran in the house, did a circle around the house and immediately collapsed, I would say, within 60 seconds."
Thankfully, Bosworth survived, but Holly now travels with an Epi-Pen.
Insect bites are just one of the summer time dangers that pet owners have to deal with, according to Gail Buchwald of the ASPCA. "We are all outside together and we come into contact with things we wouldn't normally come into contact with."
Buchwald says the first concern this time of year is the heat. Keep pets in the shade and always have plenty of water available. Never leave a pet unattended in a parked car, even for a few minutes. Even with the windows open, it can heat up very rapidly and cause heat stroke in pets.
When it comes to cooling off in the water, experts say to be cautious around strong currents and unfamiliar ponds. Be careful around pools as animals might lap up too much chlorinated water. Also, be aware of the other chemicals you keep around your house. Buchwald said, "Pets will go to many lengths to try and taste something new without realizing it could be seriously toxic, even causing death."
That means homeowners must carefully store all fertilizers, bug repellants, and citronella candles.
Holly says these are easy steps to take for two of her best friends. "They definitely give back to me what I give to them, so it's a really small price to pay."
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