Pets Summer Saftey Tips

Summer should be a fun time for all, but according to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) preventable accidents are the number one cause of death of pre-senior dogs and cats. The approaching summer will present its’ own set of challenges.

BARBEQUE GRILLS RECIPE FOR DISASTER

1. Start with a hot, unattended grill.

2. Mix in meat of your choice.

3. Add the family dog.

Grills are very hot! Furthermore, cooked bones are not an appropriate treat. They can splinter causing intestinal damage as well as present a choking hazard. Likewise, corncobs cause the same problems. You should be aware of the seasoning used on the leftovers you give your pets. For example, onion is poisonous.

BEACH

Shells can cut and hot sand may burn pads. Provide fresh drinking water because salt water as well as discarded food will cause gastro-intestinal distress or worse!

CAR SAFETY

More injuries and fatalities occur in the interior rather than the exterior of the vehicle. We have all seen what a pebble can do to a windshield. Imagine the damage that pebble could do the soft corneal tissue of an eye. Keep your pets’ head in the car. A kicked up object travels at twice the speed of the vehicle. Pet restraints are widely available. In the event of an accident, an unrestrained pet can face or cause serious injuries. Airbags deploy at more than 200mph. A pet in the front seat risks having its’ tongue amputated by a deployed airbag. They can bleed out in 20 minutes. EMS protocol is “people over pets”. They are equipped and have the option to put down your pet if your pet will not allow access to you. Do not put EMS in a position to make a decision regarding your pet. Cats should always be in carriers to prevent unauthorized escapes.

PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PET UNATTENDED IN YOUR CAR FOR ANY REASON. It doesn’t matter if you leave the A/C on, as it is a mechanical device. Mechanical devices are subject to breakdown. The interior temperature of a car in 78 degrees can reach 150 degrees in 15 minutes. It doesn’t matter if it is parked in the shade, the color of the car or if the windows are open or closed. It doesn’t matter because those factors are not influenced by the suns’ shortwave radiation. Rather, the interior components of the vehicle such as seats and dashboard are heated. They give off the long-wave radiation that heats the interior of the car. This could result in heatstroke. In turn, this could result in your pets’ death. I covered this topic in greater detail here.

Mary Oquendo, Author

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