Pet Advice: Summer Pet Safety

Summer Pet Safety

Summer is all about fun times, outdoor adventures, beach visits, poolside lounging and backyard BBQs. But during those longer days, it gets hot out there! Not just for you, but for your pet as well. While summer is the ideal season to spend outside, it is important to be mindful of your pet’s health and wellbeing during those hot months. Staying cool with plenty of drinking water, shade and ventilation or avoiding the heat indoors is pivotal to your pet’s safety in summer. We know your pet’s safety is your priority so we’ve got you covered with the tips you need for looking after pets in the summertime.

How to Keep Dogs Cool in Summer

Dogs and summer are a great mix. Longer days for extra walks and splashing in the water at the beach are what dog dreams are made of. While they are enjoying themselves, they rely on you to look after them. Ways that you can keep them cool this summer include:

• Water: It may seem obvious but it is essential that your dog has access to plenty of clean and fresh water to drink. Put down extra drinking water sources in case one spills over. Pet owners can also look for non-spillable drinking containers and put down several.
• Shade: Access to shaded and well-ventilated areas is vital for your fur babies to escape the heat.
• Summer dog bed: Provide several beds or blanket spots throughout the house that follow the shade of the day.
• Indoors: Bring your pets into the cool indoors on very hot or humid days.
• Dog cooling mats: For those dogs that are feeling extra hot, provide them with a cooling mat, that they can choose to go on or off.
• Early walks: Walk your pet early in the morning or later in the evening, when it is cooler and the sun is not as strong.
• Summer pet grooming: Keep your dogs well groomed, to free them of excess fur and keep them cooler.
• Cool treats: Treats, water or stock frozen in ice cube trays can be a refreshing treat for your dog.

Things to Watch out for to Keep Your Pets Safe

• While it's easy to get caught up in the carefree vibe of summer, it is important to be aware of potential dangers for your pet:
• Heatstroke: Just like humans, pets can get heatstroke too. Look out for signs of heatstroke in dogs, which can be fatal. If your pet is showing signs of heatstroke or you suspect they have heatstroke, start First Aid treatment then go to your vet immediately, as heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Find out more about heatstroke from the RSPCA. You can also read the RSPCA's Heatstroke Guide for Dogs and Cats for information about causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment.
• All animals are susceptible to heat stress. Pet owners need to take safety precautions and be aware of the risk factors for heatstroke. Find out more here.
• Dogs burning paws: Avoid being out or walking during the heat of the day, as the hot ground can burn their paws. Check the heat of the footpath with the back of your hand, if it is too hot to keep your hand there, it is too hot for their paws.
• Dog and cat sunburn: Pets can get sunburned, just like humans. This is particularly a concern in white-haired dogs and cats. Take precautions such as walking in the morning or evenings and spending time in the shade. Your vet can recommend pet-appropriate sunscreen.
• Dehydration in dogs: With high temperatures, your dog can get dehydrated more easily. Make sure they have access to plenty of cool drinking water.
• Hot cars and pets: Never leave your pet alone in the car, as internal vehicle temperatures can soar rapidly. Learn more here.
• Dogs, snake bites and paralysis ticks: Learn about snake safety for your pet. If your dog gets bitten by a snake, see a veterinarian immediately, as snake and tick bites could be a life-threatening emergency.
• Other animals: Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, ferrets, rats, etc - these animals are often confined to cages and hitches and are unable to move to cooler places to escape the heat. In hot weather, they need to be moved into well-ventilated area indoors (e.g laundry). For more information on heat stress in rabbits, you can ready this article.

Leaving Water out for Wildlife

Beyond pets, our native wildlife still feel the heat. If you’re able to, you can leave water out for wildlife and native birds in shallow dishes in shaded areas that are safe for these animals. If you want more info on how to support local wildlife during a heatwave, visit the RSPCA here.

Pet Advice: Spring Pet Safety

With the weather getting warmer, Spring truly has sprung! The joy of springtime includes hotter days, more sunshine and beautiful springtime plants and flowers. We all know that us humans, tend to suffer from allergies and hay fever this time of year. While your pet may not have the same symptoms, springtime can also pose some health risks to your pets. From ensuring you have a cat and dog safe backyard, to identifying plants that are toxic to your pets, we’ve good all the Spring pet safety tips you need.

Flea and Tick Prevention

Keeping your cat and dog’s flea treatment up to date is always essential but more so if they are spending more time outside. Whether you’re out bushwalking, playing at the park with your dog or letting your cat out for a wander, it is a good idea to check your pet over for fleas and ticks. Check for fleas by taking a closer look at their skin. Separate their fur to get to observe their skin and make sure no nasties ae trying to hitch a ride home with them.

How to Make Your Backyard Pet Safe

There’s nothing more your pet loves than to rummage around and explore their backyard. It is important to safeguard your backyard so that your pet doesn’t encounter anything dangerous. Things to look out for include for a dog and cat safe backyard:

• Fertilisers and Pesticides: Avoid using harmful chemicals. Opt for natural cat and dog friendly lawn fertiliser or consider hiring a pet-friendly lawn care service.
• Ponds and Pools: Ensure you have a cat and dog proof pool fence around these areas to prevent accidental drowning.
• Poisonous Plants: Be aware of plants toxic to dogs and cats in your area and remove them from your yard. Some common ones include lilies, daffodils, and oleander.
• Lawn Care Equipment: Store sharp and heavy equipment safely to prevent injuries.
• Garbage and Debris: Clean up any rubbish or debris that could be harmful to your pet.
• Outdoor BBQ: Keep grills and charcoal out of reach to avoid burns or accidental ingestion.

By taking these precautions, you can help create a safe and enjoyable outdoor space for your pet.

Toxic Plants for Pets

Your dog and cats love to be outside and explore new things too. They often do this by tasting, smelling, rolling in things they shouldn’t. Some common temptations for pets are flowers and plants. Many common plants can be harmful to your furry friends with ingestion possibly leading to serious symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, or even death.

Common Plants Toxic to Pets

• Lilies (especially for cats)
• Onions and garlic
• Avocado
• Grapes and raisins
• Sago palm
• Oleander

Other Common Plants Hazardous to Dogs and Cats

• Grass burrs: These tiny, barbed seeds can become lodged in their fur, ears, or paws, causing discomfort and potential infections. Signs of grass burrs include excessive scratching, shaking of the head, constant licking, redness, swelling or abscesses.
• Grass allergies: Some pets may also experience allergic reactions to grass pollen. Symptoms of cat and dog grass allergies include watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and itching.

Cat & dog allergic reactions can occur with symptoms including excessive scratching, licking, chewing and fur loss. Be sure to have your regular vet practice or veterinary emergency hospital details at hand just in case.

Tips on keeping your pet warm

When the weather gets cold, your fur baby may be feeliing the chill. While it’s easy for us humans to rug up with a hot chocolate and blanket on the couch, keeping your pet warm in in cool in cool weather, requires as much thoughtful care. To help your dogs and cats feel nice and toasty, here are some handy tips:

How to keep dogs warm outside and inside

Do dogs get cold at night? While they’re not like us in every way, dogs can feel the Winter chill. Whether your dog is an inside or outside dog, there are a few ways you can keep them warm and comfortable:

• Warm bedding – A soft pet bed and warm blankets placed in the kennel or a warm part of the house is ultimate pooch comfort.
• Cozy clothing – Dress them in a warm coat! Not only will your dog be serving looks but they will be one comfy dog.If you don’t have a coat for your fur baby, give them soft blankets and bedding to snuggle into.
• An insulated kennel – If your dog is sleeping outside, it is essential that they have a sturdy kennel, protected from wind, rain and other elements. Adding soft blankets or a kennel mattress,  to keep them off the cold floor, is important.

How to keep cats warm in cool weather

Cats can feel the winter chill too. Check out the essentials for keeping your cat warm below:

• Warm bedding – Just like their woofing counterparts, warm plush bedding is essential. Whether it’s a basket, hammock or soft bed, they’ll be cozy.
• Some heat pad – cats love to cuddle up to something warm. A  rubber hot water bottle covered in a thick towel is the perfect bed companion. Safety tip: don’t use boiling or hot water in case your pet feels too hot or chews/claws through the container and burns themselves. The bottle should be sufficiently covered for e.g., with a thick towel & your pet should always be able to move away if they want to.
• Exercise – while your cat may love to lay about, exercise can help them stay warm and feel happy too.. Encourage chasing and playing with suitable cat toys.

Getting your Pet’s Bedding ready for cooler months

The easiest way to keep your fur baby feeling warm at home is with a comfortable pet bed. Whether it’s a warm dog bed or warm cat bed, either is required for your pet’s Winter warmth. Make sure the bed is plush and soft for your pet to rest and sleep on. In Winter adding a warm blanket onto the bed gives your pet an extra layer to burrow in and get comfortable. Placing their bed in a warm part of the house is recommended, however avoid placing it close to a heater due to burn or fire risk.If your dog sleeps outside, take the opportunity to deck out their kennel with blankets and a soft dog bed or mattress. Check on their bedding regularly to ensure it stays clean and dry, and they’ll be sleeping soundly.

Pet Clothing & Coats

Anogther way to help your pet feel snug this Winter is with clothing and coats. While you may think your dog’s fur is enough warmth, for some dogs, a coat can add that extra layer of protection from wind and cold. A good winter dog coat will provide full coverage from the base of the tail up to the neck. One that also wraps around to cover their stomach – where their fur is thinner – can be ideal for some dogs. For a cat’s Winter jacket, it is best to avoid something too heavy as their lush coat already provides a lot of warmth. Most of the time a coat may not be required for that reason and a coat may also most restrict your cat’s movement. Overall, pet coats will have your bestie feeling warm and looking cute. Pet coats and clothes should only be worn under direct supervision. 

Pet Food Nutrition in Winter

Maintaining a healthy diet for your pets in Winter is crucial. Not only do you want to feed them something yummy, you want to make sure that they are getting all the nutrients they need. Like humans, our pets can feel hungrier in Winter, as keeping their body temperature warm requires more energy. Consult your local vet to find out how much your cat or dog should be eating in Winter.

Check out ALDI’s range of dog food and cat food.  Suitable for a range of pet feeding needs. Browse our pet food here. If you need help reading our pet food labels in store, check out our Understanding Nutrition Labels guide here packed full of useful information on how to read these labels on packaging.