4 Tips for Taking Care of Pets in Summer

Summer might mean beach days and ball games for us, but pets and summer don’t always go hand in hand. It can be a time of heightened stress for our pets. Whether it's thunderstorms, fireworks, or a backyard get-together, loud sounds and routine changes can cause stress or anxiety in cats and dogs.

But, you can follow these simple pet summer safety tips to enjoy a stress-free summer with your pets.

1. Distract & calm during storms & fireworks

These common summer occurrences are a frequent source of stress for pets and can lead to anxious behaviors like excessive vocalization, inappropriate elimination, pacing, and hiding.

Here are a few ways to help your pets remain calm:

• Provide a quiet, comfortable space where they can feel safe

• Keep windows and curtains closed

• Distract pets with white noise, TV or radio

• Give pets a tasty, long-lasting treat
  
  

SEE MORE: How To Calm Your Dog During a Thunderstorm

2. Prepare for road trips

Planning a road trip with dogs? Make sure that their ID tags are up to date and that you pack essentials for your trip. Your travel kit should include food, medication, toys and treats. Dogs are creatures of habit so a favorite toy can make a car feel like their home away from home. Don't forget to take frequent bathroom breaks when taking road trips with pets so that your dog can stretch their legs!

3. Avoid dangerous heat 

Just like us, pets can overheat from strenuous exercise and long days outdoors; summer pet safety is so important. Symptoms of overheating typically include excessive panting or salivating, difficulty breathing, confusion, rapid heart rate, and general discomfort. Keeping dogs cool in summer is simple. Keep your pet calm and cool by providing access to shade and fresh water, giving tasty frozen treats, taking walks during cooler periods, and never leaving them alone in a parked car.

It’s also important to keep your pet off hot surfaces like pavement or sand that can burn their paws. You may want to apply a natural wax to their paws or use booties to protect them from prolonged exposure to hot surfaces throughout the summer.

4. Use clinically proven calming supplements

Can’t find the trick that will actually keep your cat or dog calm? Calming supplements like Calm & Confident can help your pet relax during thunderstorms, outdoor adventures, and vet or grooming visits. Calm & Confident is a fast-acting calming supplement that's clinically shown to work within 30 minutes and last up to 4 hours in dogs. You can even double or triple your pet's dose to achieve the desired calming effect! 

Before your next adventure, give them a tasty Calm & Confident chew to support calm behavior no matter what summer has in store for you!