Summer Dangers Every Pet Parent Should Be Aware Of

Summer is a great season for dogs, and it also comes with a handful of hazards that catch people off guard every year.

Heat You Can't Always See Coming

Pavement gets far hotter than the air around it, hot enough to burn paw pads in minutes. Press your hand to the ground for five seconds. Too hot for you means too hot for them. Cars heat up dangerously fast too, cracked windows or not, so it's never worth leaving a dog in one, even for a two-minute errand.

Danger Hiding In Plain Sight

Cocoa mulch smells great to dogs and contains the same toxic compound as chocolate. Foxtail grass can burrow into paws, ears, and noses on a normal walk. Fireworks around the holidays send more dogs bolting in fear than almost anything else all year.

Keeping Everyone Comfortable

Fresh water, real shade, and walks outside the hottest part of the day go a long way. Watch for heavy panting, drooling, or sudden lethargy, early signs something's off. A little planning turns the whole season fun instead of stressful.