Summer safety tips for your pet

This summer, ensure your pets are safely geared up for summer heat, traveling and outdoor activity. Whether they’re lounging around at home alone while you’re slaving away at the office – 54 percent of us leave our pets home alone while we’re at work according to a recent U.S. survey – or hitting the road, keep these tips in mind to ensure furry family members enjoy a safe and fun summer.

Keep cool and hydrated
With temperatures warming up and pets spending more time outdoors, make sure they stay hydrated with fresh water throughout the day. For longer car trips, store a travel water bowl in your vehicle.

For longer walks, tuck a collapsible fabric travel bowl in your pocket – it can easily be filled at any public fountain or restroom, or put to good use while you’re relaxing and rehydrating on the outdoor patio. Or you can rely on the kindness of strangers by asking shopkeepers for a bowl of water for Rover.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may want to invest in a pair of doggie sunglasses or “doggles” as one manufacturer calls them. Whether you’re camping, traveling, or swimming, take a look at some of these summer pet essentials.

Keep Fido afloat
If you’re spending time a lot of time in or around the pool, lake or beach, dogs are like toddlers and need to be kept safe. Should a dog become exhausted or fall into the water, it’s important that the pet remains visible from the shore and boats, and a quality flotation device does the job.

Other wonderful inventions include special doggie steps that attach to the side of the pool, allowing pets to safely exit the pool. A specially-designed ramp-style boat ladder, which clamps onto the boat’s swimming ladder, allows your pet to easily climb back aboard after a cooling dip.

Buckle up on the road
When you hit the road this summer, make sure pets are properly restrained to prevent driver distraction and to keep pets, passengers and other drivers safe. According to the American Automobile Association, unrestrained pets cause more than 30,000 accidents annually.

With the average dog enjoying about five car trips per year, it’s crucial to keep pooches properly secure and comfortable. Before setting out, check out travel products like the Roadie seat belt for pets. The vet-approved adjustable device is made of the same type of webbing used in human seat belts, and easily attaches to any vehicle’s seatbelt system.

Keep pets away from the grill
With all the delicious scents in the air, make sure pets stay clear of hot grills and food. Instead, use an outdoor tie-out to ensure the dog is not sniffing around under the hot barbecue, and distract them with some of yummy treats of their own.

Load up on toys
Keep pets busy and entertained during long days and car travels by keeping plenty of toys on hand. Hint: For a relaxing trip, you may want to choose an ultrasonic squeaky toy that only your pet can hear. And don’t forget to get a few human summer toys of your own – like a state-of-the-art barbecue or a new chaise for the patio.