Summer is a time when we all like to spend more time outdoors, and that includes your pets. While you’re out having fun in the sun, you can keep pets safe with these summer care tips.
Especially now that my family lives in sunny Florida where the afternoon temperatures are already in the mid-90s, there are some things I’ll be doing to keep my dog safe in the heat. Keeping Winston cool and hydrated, protected from summer insects, and feeding him a healthy diet are just a few things I’ll be sure to do this summer.
This post is sponsored by Rachael Ray™ Nutrish®. All opinions are my own.
Keep Pets Safe with these Summer Care Tips:
Take walks during the cooler hours of the day. On hot days limit walks to the very early morning hours or evening hours after the asphalt has had a chance to cool. Asphalt gets very hot during the summer months and can easily burn your pet’s paws.
Make sure your dog has access to shade when outside. Pets can get sunburned too, so when spending time outdoors you may want to apply sunscreen to his or her nose and ear tips.
Make sure your pet has unlimited access to fresh water. Fill water bowls often, especially those outdoors. I keep a collapsible water bowl and bottled water in my car to make sure Winston has something to drink when we visit the park.
Related Article: Ways to help your local animal shelter or rescue.
Never, ever leave your pet in the car. Just minutes in a hot car can cause your dog heat stroke, heat exhaustion, brain damage or even death. Please, don’t ever do it. Not even for a minute. And, if you see a pet sitting alone in a hot car try to get some help.
Be wary of garden fertilizers. Summer is a time when people fertilize their lawns and work in their gardens. Take extra care to make sure the chemicals you use are not harmful to your pets.
Feed your pet a healthy diet. Even more so during the active summer months, pets need a healthy diet. Dogs more than cats are beggars. I know it is tempting to treat your dog when you’re grilling burgers and hot dogs, but it is a good idea to keep this to a minimum. Instead, feed your pup something like Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® PEAK Open Range Recipe™ with Beef, Venison & Lamb or Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® PEAK Northern Woodlands Recipe™ with Turkey, Duck & Quail. They are a natural food for dogs with added vitamins & chelated minerals. These nutrient-dense recipes which satisfy your dog’s instinctual cravings are available right where you shop for your family’s groceries. These protein-rich, grain-free recipes will satisfy your dog’s cravings, and they’re made with real U.S. farm-raised beef or turkey.
These recipes are made with ZERO grains, glutens, fillers, poultry by-product meal, artificial flavors, colors, or artificial preservatives. Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® PEAK dog food is for dogs of all sizes. I’ve been feeding my pets Rachael Ray Nutrish for several years now. Learn more about Rachael Ray™ Nutrish® PEAK.
Give your pet a summer cut. Long haired dogs can easily overheat during the summer months. Talk with your groomer about a shorter, summer cut that will help your dog stay cool. I keep Winston’s fur much shorter during the summer months.
Keep your dog free from fleas and ticks. Both fleas and ticks are pesky summertime threats to your pets. Be sure to use a flea and tick preventative as recommended by your vet. Also, be sure your pet is on a heartworm preventative, since the disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which are out in full force during the summer months. A pet safe insect repellent will also help keep mosquitoes away from your pet.
Rachael’s Rescue® is another reason I LOVE Rachael Ray Nutrish!
Rachael’s Rescue® was created for all of the forgotten pets – the ones who might not have someone who loves them as much as they deserve. A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need through Rachael’s Rescue. Through December 2016, Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $17.5 million dollars to pet charities and other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food, medical supplies, treatments, and more for animals in need. Many more animals around the country need help, and through Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends.
Stay connected with @nutrish on Instagram. Will you be spending time outdoors with your pets this summer?
You might enjoy making this fun sailboat craft using recycled Rachael Ray Nutrish wet dog food containers!
Tracey says
May 18, 2017 at 10:22 AMThese are great tips. I think sometimes pet owners are unaware of what their pets can handle and what is safe for them in the summer heat.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
May 18, 2017 at 12:00 PMThese are great tips. You always want to make sure your dog has all the water he wants on a hot day. Thanks!
Jen Rattie says
May 18, 2017 at 12:06 PMI love this post. You have to make sure you take care of your pet on every level. Awesome tips, here.
Pam Wattenbarger says
May 18, 2017 at 1:56 PMThese are great tips for keeping your pet safe and happy during the summer. Especially the one about not leaving your pet in a hot car.
Cynthia R says
May 18, 2017 at 3:50 PMMy cats love Rachel Ray but we haven’t tried her new line of cat food yet. I’m sure they will love it as well!
Cacinda says
May 18, 2017 at 7:01 PMIt is so important that we keeps our pups cool! We always make sure they have shade and water when outside.
Hannah C says
May 19, 2017 at 12:05 AMI really like these tips. They are all so important in keeping your pets safe during the summer.
Crystal says
May 19, 2017 at 1:42 AMOur pug Hazel doesn’t do well with heat. We have to make sure she’s cool even when we’re away. Now that my kids are taking more responsibility, I need to share these with them.
shelly peterson says
May 19, 2017 at 6:11 AMThese are great tips. I don’t have any pets but will pass this info on.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
May 19, 2017 at 8:42 AMReally awesome tips! I will definitely use these tips for my pets. Thanks for sharing!
Divya says
May 19, 2017 at 9:26 AMIt breaks my heart when I see animals suffering over the summer months because of people not knowing the proper way to care for them. These are great suggestions here 🙂
Janet W. says
May 19, 2017 at 10:34 AMThese are great tips! It’s amazing how much water my dog drinks during the summer months!
Seattle Travel Blogger says
May 19, 2017 at 11:29 AMThese are some good tips for our pets.
With the Summer months approaching, it is good to give them some extra thought.
Nellwyn says
May 19, 2017 at 2:28 PMThis is great advice for pet owners. A lot of businesses in my neighbourhood leave water bowls outside for pets in the summertime which is so important!
Amanda Love says
May 19, 2017 at 3:02 PMIt’s really important to bring water every time and to have water available to our pets. Summer can really be harsh and they need all the nutrients that they need especially from the food that they’re eating.
Carol Cassara says
May 19, 2017 at 3:05 PMI make sure that Riley has everything he needs especially access to some cold water. I don’t like it when he plays in the yard during the summer because the heat can really be harmful.
Neely Moldovan says
May 19, 2017 at 3:28 PMI feel like these tips are awesome. To me they are part of peoles families and should be treated as such!
Trish says
May 19, 2017 at 8:27 PMThese are great summer tips! I live in the city and am very careful about when and where I walk my dog in summer because of the heat.
Wendy Polisi says
May 19, 2017 at 9:26 PMYes, cool fresh water is vital! Just like we don’t want to be without water during a hot day, neither do they!
Beeb Ashcroft says
May 19, 2017 at 9:37 PMThese are wonderful tips! People forget that dogs and pets need out of that sun too!
Our Family World says
May 20, 2017 at 1:17 AMWe take our dog to the groomers to have his fur trimmed short. We also make sure he has a flea and tick collar to avoid infestation. Water, particularly ice cold water is always made available for our fur baby. It is going to be another long summer!
Sarah L says
May 20, 2017 at 1:43 AMVery good tips for people to keep in mind.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
May 20, 2017 at 6:39 AMThese are all great tips to care for our pets. I take my dog to the groomers every 2 months for a trim, but this time, he’s going to get a “puppy cut.”
Julie Wood says
May 20, 2017 at 9:09 AMThese are excellent tips! Making sure to keep my dog from getting sick from the heat is so important. Never leave a dog in a hot car! It is so cruel. And I love this brand of dog food. So healthy!
Brandy says
May 20, 2017 at 9:17 AMThese are great tips to keep pets safe this summer. I often feel bad as our big doggy loves to go on rides but this week it hit 100 most days and I knew it would be too hot in the back of the van (as the back windows don’t go down) to take him in the van too long.
Tami says
May 20, 2017 at 9:18 AMMy dog always dumps his water out. I make numerous trips out to his area to replenish his bowl. Silly dog.
Amy Orvin says
May 20, 2017 at 9:47 AMThese tips are all awesome and are what I live by in the summer already for my fur babies.
[email protected] says
May 22, 2017 at 6:41 AMThese are all great tips! We definitely have to remember to give Odin our pup water during the summer. We never gave him water in the winter cause he ate snow…
Shawna says
May 22, 2017 at 4:29 PMGreat tips for keeping pets safe in the Summer! It gets incredibly hot where I live in the Summer and it bothers me so much when I see people leaving their dogs in the car when the temps are so high. I have literally gone door to door to find pet owners who have left their animals in the car to tell them it’s unsafe. Thank you for this great post!
Dana Rodriguez says
May 26, 2017 at 10:57 AMThese are all great tips. I think people need to be reminded of this every year when the weather starts getting warmer.
Rosie says
May 31, 2017 at 9:26 AMI’m hoping to have a little doggie some day, and I’m trying to learn the best care before hand. Thanks for the tips!
sendy ponce says
June 5, 2017 at 10:55 AMThis post is so helpful about things i need to know to take care of my dog in the summer. I will definitely keep these tips in mind.
Justin tan says
June 19, 2017 at 12:54 PMthese are all great tips and reminders. Should never ever leave pets in the car while you go shopping. the car is too hot!!
Robin Creager says
June 26, 2017 at 8:44 PMGreat tips!Also, if you have skittish pets during the 4th of July keep them indoors with calm music playing. The poor things probably think the world is coming to an end with all that noise.
Sarah Leach says
July 20, 2017 at 8:45 AMExcellent prompts! My dogs would always suffered at summer if I didn’t cut their hair every spring. They are just too shaggy to endure the heating sun. I definitely recommend to do this procedure for every dog owner.