We all love spending the long, sunny days of summer outdoors with our furry companions, but it’s important to remember that like any season, summer comes with its hazards. To make sure you’re prepared for whatever comes your way this summer, check out this list of summer safety tips 

Regular Grooming is important to your pets health year round, but in the summer regular grooming helps to keep your pet cooler and more comfortable.

Keeping your pets coat well brushed and trimmed, free of under coat and matts is crucial to keeping them cooler in the summer months and prevent health problems caused by excessive heat. And be sure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is labeled specifically for use on animals.

• Visit the vet for an early-summer checkup. Make sure your pets get tested for heartworm if they aren’t on year-round preventative medication.
• Give pets plenty of fresh, clean water when it’s hot or humid outdoors as pets can get dehydrated quickly. Make sure your pets have a shady place to get out of the sun, be careful not to over-exercise them and keep them indoors when it’s extremely hot.
• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomit along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees.
• Never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle. Not only can it lead to fatal heat stroke, but it’s illegal in several states!
• Know that animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively. These pets, along with the elderly, the overweight and those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.
• Do not leave pets unsupervised around a pool, lake or ocean. If you plan on spending time near a pool, lake or beach with your pet, make sure you give them fresh water and avoid letting them drink from the pool, or ingest ocean or lake water. When swimming, introduce your pets to water gradually and make sure they wear flotation devices when on boats. Rinse your dog off after swimming to remove chlorine or salt from their fur.