There’s more to summer safety for pets than ensuring they are not walking on scorching hot sidewalks and drinking enough water. The Veterinary nutritionists at Hills Pet Nutrition have some more solid advice to keeping pets safe and healthy in the hot summer months.
Fight seasonal allergies in peak bloom: Thanks to science-led innovations, therapeutic pet foods exist that soothe sensitive stomachs and skin.
Stay hydrated: In the hot summer months, it is vital to keep your pet hydrated. Make sure your pet has access to clean and fresh water at all times. You can also add ice cubes to their water bowl to keep it cool.
Avoid feeding hot meals: Avoid feeding your pet any hot meals during the summer. Choose lighter meals that are easy to digest such as grilled chicken, vegetables and fruits. Keep in mind that pets love cold treats like ice cream, but generally are not good for pets.
Limit outdoor feeding: Avoid feeding your pets outside where there’s a high risk of them ingesting unwanted things such as insects, grass and other plants that may cause upset stomachs.
Store pet food properly: Ensure that pet food is stored in a cool and dry place. Avoid keeping pet food open outside and be sure to tightly seal the food bags after every feeding.
Watch over older pets: Mobility is an issue for senior pets when the temp heat up. Older dogs may experience increased joint pain and stiffness during the summer months. This can be exacerbated by hot and humid weather. Conditions like osteoarthritis or other age-related changes in the joints may be affected. Consider using new weight-management pet food formulations to help with weight loss, maintenance, and by extension joint health.
Every pet has unique nutritional requirements at all stages of their lives. It’s important to ensure your pet food checks all the boxes for your pet’s individual needs. And, as nutritional requirements change seasonally as well as pets age, it’s worth a talk with your veterinarian to see whether it’s time to transition to something new.
