If you don't want a 'hot dog' or you want to keep your cat 'cool,' a K-State veterinarian says pet owners should be alert to the dangers of summer. According to Dr. Kathy Gaughan, veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine, heat exhaustion is one of the most common ailments of pets during the summer months, so pet owners should be cautious.
Sunburn is also something to be concerned about, especially with light-colored animals.
To keep dogs cool, some owners opt to shave their pet's furry coat. Gaughan said, depending on the breed, a dog's coat can actually keep the animal cool in the summer. Gaughan said that not only are pets outside more often in the summertime than in the wintertime, but fleas, ticks and other insects are also prevalent in the summer. There are several flea and tick products on the market. Mosquitoes, which transmit heartworm disease, are certainly more in abundance in the summertime and having your animal on a heartworm preventive is probably the best method to ensure your animal is not exposed to heartworm disease.