Now that summer is finally here, you and your pet can spend more time outdoors enjoying all that the season has to offer. Like the other three seasons, summer presents unique safety challenges for our companion animals. The good news is that you can enjoy a wonderful summer with your pet by taking a few simple precautions recommended by our Bedford Animal Hospital veterinarians.

While dozens of potential issues could arise in the warm weather season, here are the ones that pet owners encounter most frequently:
 

Fireworks season:

Independence Day may be only one day, but the fireworks used to help celebrate it can last for weeks before and after the actual 4th of July. Many communities have other festivals that include fireworks throughout the summer. Unfortunately, the constant loud booms can terrify some dogs and cats. We encourage you to shop in our online store for a Thundershirt to help reduce anxiety or to ask us about medication options if your pet is especially fearful and anxious of loud noises.
 

Outdoor barbeques:

Cooking food outside is practically a rite of summer. From a pet’s perspective, the heavenly aromas may be too strong to resist. This can cause an otherwise well-mannered pet to try to grab meat off the grill, dig through the garbage, swipe food from guests, or become food possessive. It’s best to help your pet avoid temptation by keeping her in the house or kennel.
 

Lost Pets:

The sound of fireworks, having the kids at home all day, and more people coming to the door are just some of the things that can make a pet feel over anxious or excited. This can cause him to dart out the door at the first opportunity. Without a microchip, statistics are not in favor of your pet returning home. Even a tag and collar can slip off or get caught on an object such as a fence. When a pet has a microchip, the person finding your pet can take them to the nearest veterinary clinic or animal shelter for scanning. Since the chip registry holds information you’ve provided, you’ll want to ensure that your contact information is current.
 

Increased Risk of Tick-Borne Diseases:

According to the website Pets and Parasites, the population of ticks is especially high this year and it increases the risk of companion animals contracting a serious disease. This includes Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Prevention just makes sense. We carry several tick prevention products in our online store. Our veterinarians are happy to help you choose the most appropriate one for your dog or cat.
 

These are just four potential summer hazards that your pet faces this summer. Please let us know if you have additional questions or schedule an appointment today by calling 540-586-0372. We wish you a fun, happy and safe summer!
 

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