Summer Safety Tips

The Fourth of July – harbinger of summer days (finally) and time to relax and celebrate with good friends and family — including the four-legged members of the household. But this time of year also brings some particular hazards!

Planning for the Heat

Never leave your pet in the car. Period. This has to be one of the biggest summer no-nos! During warm weather, the inside of your car can reach 120° in a matter of minutes, even if you're parked in the shade. Remember that dogs don't handle heat as efficiently as humans. Their only way to cool down is to pant. A closed car in the sunlight can be fatal to a dog, even when it is as cool as 75 degrees outside. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
What do you do if you suspect a pet is suffering from heat stroke? Read this excellent press release from the Washington County Animal Services Division and find out!
Always provide plenty of fresh water and shade while they enjoy the outdoors.

Planning for Summer Events

The 4th of July is the busiest time of the year for animal shelters in the USA. More animals are displaced at this time of year than any other. Make sure all your animals are micro-chipped and are wearing identification tags.

Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep furry friends safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof indoor area at home, with a little "easy-listening" on the stereo to mask the noise. You’ll have a better time at the holiday celebration, and they’ll be better off at home!
If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays and the days prior to, during and after this holiday, when extra noises and sounds are more prevalent.
Unattended outdoor pets are at risk during the 4th of July period, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death. Dogs have been known to dig/jump out of a fenced yard in fear from fireworks noise.
Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.
Not only is it dangerous, it is against Oregon law to allow an animal to ride unsecured in the back of a pick-up truck. Dogs should ride either in the cab (in a crate or wearing a seat belt harness designed for dogs) or in a secured crate in the bed of the truck.

Summertime Cautions from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended! Pets are attracted to almost anything you leave within reach. Alcohol has the potential to poison them. Animals can quickly become intoxicated and severely weak, resulting in coma, respiratory failure or even death.
Only apply sunscreen or insect repellent products to pets that are approved for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to severe neurological problems in pets.
Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of pets’ reach. Matches can contain chlorates, which could damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing or kidney disease. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal distress and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems may occur.
No matter what Fido says, BBQ's are for people, not pets! A good rule of thumb is that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to a pet. Keep a handful of healthy pet treats on hand at the BBQ.
Do not adorn your pet with glow jewelry or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation is possible with ingestion, and intestinal blockage from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers is a danger.
Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in animals.