I’d really like to get a pug, but some websites say they are more prone to health complications such as like Entropion, obesity, heatstroke, granulomatous meningoencephalitis, and other things. Pug owners, is this true?

You  in all probability think of on the safety of yourselves and your family. Please do not forget your pets. This is a crucial element of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and different for your animal. The two areas to watch for are the effects of warmer weather and holidays.

Lets get going with the effect of the heat on the animal. Just like us – they will want more water, keep it available 24 / 7. If you regularly go dog walking make sure they have the opportunity to have water, every hour or so, or even more regularly if you are of the energetic 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 shame the number of people who do this to their animals. This can kill a pet, temperatures in the sun, can rapidly rise to over 100 degrees. Leaving the window slightly ajar, is next to useless.

Pets are similar to ourselves, with the same amount of activity, you need less food to sustain your weight during summer. If you, or your animal, keep eating the same, you certainly will increase your weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Putting on weight in summer, is likely to slow the pet down in winter and this can then lead to more weight gain, so think of reducing the food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your pets weight.

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

Whilst walking the dog in the heat, you may have done it for the last six months without a problem, however, he may without warning want to leap into some water, with company – you if you do not let go of the lead. Probably more dangerous is the leap into a canal, if he is not on a leash. In London, if you are by the Serpentine, regularly you see people being pulled 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 additionally the time of the long holiday. So if you must find a pet sitter, choose a professional company such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A professional pet sitter, will even check out all the dangers as part of their contract. Pet Sitting is often the best option for the animal, they prefer to be in their normal area. If not, and you have to put them in kennels, check the boarding out. Ideally a personal commendation, as in everything there can be good and poor. The pet may not like it, but they are secure.

You may be wanting to take your pet on holiday with you. Without doubt the most risky choice for an animal. Prepare and plan well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the automobile is dangerous for ourselves as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you use one, for good reason, so ensure your pet has one. The problem of dehydration, so plan for water stops for you and your pet every hour, perhaps a bit longer if you have air conditioning – on. Be very vigilant on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a run for it (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a strange location. So check it out thoroughly for any risks to your pet. The biggest one is running away, particularly in motels, rooms opening out onto a main highway and cars. Do not forget that digestion of fruit and particularly {raisins and grapes} is dangerous to dogs, so keep them away from the fruit.

Pets, will struggle to find their way back to your motel, if lost, we all know of good cases and happy endings when pets get lost near their normal home. This is not the case on vacation. Ensure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a lead.

I wish you and your pets have a happy, event free holiday.

You probably think of on the safety of your family. However do not forget your animals. This is a key element of pet care. Summer is particularly difficult and dangerous for your pet. The two main things to watch for are the results of warmer weather and vacations.

Lets get going with the results of the hot weather on the pet. They are like us – they will need more water, make it accessible at all times. If you regularly go dog walking ensure they have the access to have water, every sixty minutes or so, or even more often if you are of the active type.

Whilst you would not think or leaving your children or baby in a locked car in the sun, it is astonishing and a shame the amount of people who do this to their pets. This can kill an animal, temperatures in the sun, can swiftly rise to over 100 degrees. Putting the window slightly ajar, does not help that much.

Pets are similar to ourselves, with the same amount of activity, you need less food to preserve your weight during summer. If you, or your animal, keep eating the same, you without doubt will increase your weight. Pet obesity is increasing everywhere. Putting on weight in summer, will slow the pet down in winter and you get a vicious circle, so think of reducing the intake of food, or as a minimum, keep an eye on your animals weight.

Also be careful with leaving moist / wet food out. The food will most quickly go off as its temperature approaches blood temperature of ~100 degrees. If the animal does not eat moist food within thirty minutes, remove it. Dry food is very safe, if does not become moist. So if you have a slobbery animal, little and often should be the principle. Also be careful about condensation, or drops of water from the air conditioner.

Whilst walking the dog during the hot weather, this may not have caused problems, however, he may suddenly want to leap into some water, with company – you if you are holding onto 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, regularly you 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 long holiday. So if you must choose a pet sitter, choose a professional business such as London Pet Sitting, who vet and train their pet sitters. A professional pet sitter, will even identify all the risks as part of their contract. This is often the wisest option for the pet, they prefer to be in their home area. If not, and you have to put them in kennels, check the boarding out. Preferably a personal recommendation, as in everything there can be great and not so good. The pet may not like it, but they are safe.

What about taking your animal on holiday with the family. This is the most dangerous choice for a pet. Plan and prepare well. Food, water, toys, blankets etc. The journey in the automobile is dangerous for ourselves as well. Certainly consider using a pet restraint, you wear one, for good reason, so buy one, if you don’t have one for your pet. The risk of dehydration, so stop for water stops for you and your pet every sixty minutes, perhaps a bit longer if you have air conditioning – on. Be particularly careful on the stops, there are often cars moving about, and the pet may want to take a runner (you might as well).

When you arrive you will be in a new location. So do a thorough review for any risks to your animal. The greatest one is escape, particularly in motels, straight out onto a busy road and cars. Did you know that digestion of fruit and particularly {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 hotel, if lost, we all know of good cases and happy endings when pets get lost near their normal home. This is not the case on vacation. Ensure you have good name / phone tags and keep them on a leash.