You most likely think of on the safety of your family. Please do not forget your pets. This is a key element of pet care. Summer is especially difficult and different for your pet. The two areas to watch for are the results of the heat and vacations.

Lets start with the results of the heat on the pet. Just like us – they will want more water, make it available 24 / 7. If you are a regular dog walker ensure they have the opportunity to have water, every hour or so, or even more often if you are of the active type.

You would be justifiably locked up for leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astonishing and a disgrace the amount of people who do this to their pets. This can murder a pet, temperatures in the sun, can rapidly rise to more than 100 degrees. Putting the window slightly ajar, does not help that much.

Just like ourselves, with no change to activity level, you need fewer calories to preserve your weight during summer. If you, or your animal, keep consuming the same, you certainly will increase your weight. Pet obesity is becoming more of an issue. Putting on weight in summer, will slow the pet down in winter and this can then lead to more weight gain, so think of reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, monitor your pets weight.

Also be careful with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most rapidly go off as its temperature gets near to blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the pet does not consume wet food within thirty minutes, remove it. Dry food is very safe, as long as it does not become wet. So if you have a slobbery animal, often and little should be the rule. Watch out for condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.

Whilst walking the dog in the heat, this may not have caused problems, watch out, he may suddenly want to jump into some water, with you if you do not let go of the lead. Probably more dangerous is the jump into a river, if he is not on a lead. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, you can often see people being hauled in! Not helped by them wanting to say hi to the ducks. In summer there are often more animals around for them to chase, so be even more careful.

Summer, is often the time of the great holiday. So if you are having to choose a pet sitter, choose a professional business, who vet and train their pet sitters. A good London pet sitter, will even identify all the risks as part of their contract. This is often the wisest option for the animal, they prefer to be in their house. If not, and you must put them in kennels, check the boarding out. Preferably a personal commendation, as always there can be good and poor. The animal may not like it, but they are safe.

What about taking your animal on holiday with you. Without doubt the most risky option for a pet. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the car is risky for ourselves as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you use one, for obvious reason, so ensure your pet has one. The risk of dehydration, so stop for water stops for you and your pet every hour, or a bit longer if you have the clime on. Be particularly vigilant on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the animal may want to take a run for it (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a new location. So check it out thoroughly for any risks to your pet. The greatest one is escape, above all in motels, straight out onto a main highway and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and especially {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep them away from the fruit.

Pets, will find it difficult to find their way back to your motel, if lost, its not as likely as if they were at home – and the neighbours know them. This is not the case on vacation. Make sure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.

I wish you and your animals have a happy, problem free holiday.