Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick off to summer. It’s filled with gatherings of friends and family, barbecues, and the relief mind-set that we have survived the winter and will now be rewarded with the sensation of warm sun on our skin.
But it also can be the beginning of one of the most dangerous times of the year. Much like it’s cold weather counterpart of Thanksgiving through New Years, Memorial Day through Labor Day comes with a darker downside. Think of it as the Snow Miser – Heat Miser Yin-Yang of risks that can occur when everyone around us is in celebration mode.
So before you jump into the pool of festivities, take a moment to remind yourself of Heat Miser’s Yang risks….. especially for our pets. In other words, don’t forget the lurking dangers of Pet Memorial Day.
- Where Did Our Routine Go?
Pets thrive on consistency – knowing when to expect. They are at their best when their family gets up, lets them out to relieve themselves, feeds them breakfast, returns home from school/work, takes them out to go to the bathroom again, feeds them again, lets them run around, makes time for couch snuggle time, and then go to bed at the same time every day.
But Memorial Day can be the start of that routine getting tossed out the window until September. Maybe its vacation from the school schedule, the addition of summer sports obligations, or just the freedom families feel during the summer when they are motivated to be out doing things away from home more now that the weather is so nice.
Regardless of the “why”, it can throw of the good groove out pets have gotten into up until then. It will help them stay at their best if we can somehow find a happy medium between enjoying our own summer hours and still giving our pets some type of routine they can count on. Maybe it’s different from the rest of the year, but we can still make an effort to keep their modified summer schedule consistent within itself for them.
- Hey, It’s Hot In Here!
Many pets love to go for rides in the car with us – the open road and the wind on their snout. But even spring and fall temperatures can creep up inside a closed car to become uncomfortable. Summer temperatures that start out warm can then become dangerously hot, even deadly, for a pet left inside a car during this time of the year.
Now some people can be extreme in their advocacy, to the point that any pet witnessed inside a car incites judging onlookers ready to break a window and call protective services. Keep in mind not every dog in a car situation equals neglect and abuse.
Sometimes you have to get your pet somewhere, so never having them in the car for three whole months is not an option. And sometimes you might even have to make a stop along the way – maybe for gas or to buy them a bottle of water. Sometimes the car may be left running with the air conditioner on so they stay comfortable.
The bottom line is that we should make every effort to never leave our pets alone in the car during warm weather. If you have to, it’s never more than a few minutes and you either leave the A/C on or park in the shade with every window rolled down enough for a cross breeze (but not enough they could jump out), you never take your eyes off the car, and you have water for them. Life is not always black and white, so it’s smarter to plan for the gray times than wing it.
And for the times we do come across a pet locked in a hot car, before we smash a window and judge the owner, let’s go through some pre-freak-out steps. Look inside and take note of the dogs condition – do they seem awake and alert? Do they appear in distress? The answer to this question should dictate how long we spend on each of the next steps.
Wait there next to the car for 5 minutes. Does the owner come right back? Depending on the temperature and what you observe of the animal’s behavior, write down the license plate number. If you see a down turn of the pets appearance, call 911 and give the location, make/model of the car with license plate number, and description of the animal. If help has not come and you assess the situation as critical, then break out your inner Hulk and get into that car.
I’m just saying that we can’t always differentiate an acceptable situation from a case of abuse based on the first initial glance, and we as a society tend to err to the extremes. We either don’t speak up or try to help at all, or we immediately judge and then express that opinion all over social media. Sometimes we need to take a breath and exist in the gray for a few moments to fully assess the scene.
With that being said, respectfully help educate people not to leave an animal in a hot car.
- What the Heck Just bit Me?
Warm weather brings with it a myriad of creepy crawly and flying bugs that harbor and potentially expose our pets to bacteria, viruses, and parasitic enemies. I was horrified and filled with paranoia learning in vet tech school all of the internal and external parasites that could view my sweet pets as a their target. And I quickly learned that taking some steps to minimize exposure and prevent an issue is much easier than dealing with the aftermath once a pet is exposed.
So what can we do to protect them?
Tick, flea. and mosquito repellents come in all shapes and sizes. There are all-natural essential oils mixed into carrier oils you can spray or rub onto their fur; like lemon, orange, citronella, and eucalyptus in almond oil. There are also medical-grade products you can get from your vet, keeping in mind these do contain chemicals. Topical Frontline Plus or Advantix II (Advantage for cats), and orals like Nexgard help fight against ticks and fleas. (I’m not a fan of the 3 month Bravecto because anything that lasts in your system that long is harder to antidote if there is a negative reaction to it. Disclosure: that is just my opinion and hypothesis.) It should be noted that not all products are safe for both dogs and cats, so make sure you speak with your vet about which are safe/not safe for your pet. Other products like Heartgard Plus or Interceptor Plus help fight against potential Heartworm from mosquitos, as well as other internal worms. That being said, regardless of what you use, supervise your pet in the minutes and hours after initiating any treatment and call your vet right away if you notice any acute changes in their demeanor.
You can also tip the odds in your favor by keeping your yard as bug UN-friendly as possible. Minimize standing water since it attracts mosquitoes. You can’t always control puddles, but empty out anything that buils up water after it rains. Keep your grass mowed and your bushes pruned since these are spots ticks frequent as they wait for a warm-blooded body to attach to for their next meal. And do nightly bug checks on your pets to identify and remove any that may have jumped on, before they have a chance to attach.
- Where Did That Car Come From?
There’s something fun about driving around with the car windows down while listening to your favorite music in the summer. Maybe you have your friends with you, or you’re talking to them over the car’s blue tooth phone. But unfortunately it all can be distracting to drivers. Now add in higher numbers of kids on summer vacation, outside playing, crossing streets or running into roads after balls.
There is never a good time for your pet to get loose, but summer poses extra dangers in the streets for a dog who isn’t use to being off leash and doesn’t understand the rules of staying on the sidewalk. Getting hit by a car can cause many types of injuries….. some lethal.
So keep them on a leash at all times. And be extra vigilant about keeping them inside the safety of your house and yard.
- How Do I Get Home?
In that same example above, maximize the chance that your pet finds their way back to you in the event they did manage to get out for an independent adventure and become lost.
Make sure your pet has identification on their collar so a stranger who comes across them has a way to alert you. And microchip them so that if someone finds them and takes them to a shelter or vet clinic, there is a way they can identify who this stray belongs to and contact you.
All of these things can help them reunite with you should they get find their way out…. and the quicker the reunion, the less stressful for both of you.
- Who Are All These People?
Back to the idea of summer gatherings at your house. All these guests in and out who don’t have down the nuances of opening your door without letting the dog out. It increases the risk of your pet getting out where they aren’t supposed to be.
So educate new people to your house on how they can all pitch in to keep your pet safe. Help them understand how to open and close your door without letting your pet out of the house or yard. If you don’t have time to go through it with each person who comes over, tape a sign to both sides of your door.
During these gatherings, take a pause from time to time to locate your pet and make sure they are accounted for, in a safe place, and don’t seem stressed.
These parties that are fun for us can throw our pets off their routine, resulting in anxiety for them. So try making a quiet place for them to retreat to if they get over-stimulated. Bring their favorite bed and toy into a room far from all the commotion. Put their water bowl in their with them. You could even play calming music and diffuse some relaxing essential oils for them in there. They deserve a relaxing spa-like day too!
- What Are All These New Smells To Try?
Still at that barbecue in your yard. Meats cooking on the grill. Desserts on trays at the picnic table. Maybe even plastic cups of alcohol left here or there by a guest who “will be right back”.
Dogs sense of smell is much more advanced than ours, so as good as it all smells to us, they are even more aware of it. They would love to try a bite of that hamburg….. “ketchup only please”. Oh, and a nibble of that cupcake…. “don’t mind if I do”. And what is this strange smelling beverage? Why don’t I lap some up and find out for myself.
Trouble is, not only could over-eating table scraps make for an upset stomach and bathroom troubles, some of it can actually be toxic to our furry friends. Cooked chicken or steak bones can block their airway or tear their esophagus. Onions from that hot dog can alter their red blood cells. The chocolate in that cookie has theobromine which can hurt their heart and cause seizures. The xylitol sweetener in that cupcake frosting can also impact their cardiac and nervous system. And the alcohol in that wine or beer can have serious toxicity to pets whose systems work different than our own.
So again, educate your guests. Remind them to keep food and drink away from your pet. Store it up high and don’t leave any unattended. Keep on keeping an intermittent eye on your pet so you can tell if they start to act differently, since the sooner a poisoning is identified and treated, the better chance at recovery. And have an emergency vet, or animal poison control, number handy just in case.
I know this may sound like a little doomsday for a “Welcome To Summer” blog, but sometimes it’s important to remind yourself of lurking dangers so that you can be aware enough to prevent them. A little mindfulness goes a long way. So now that all of that has been said……
Happy Memorial Day!