The Good Pet Owner’s Guide to Summer

The weather over the last few months has on the whole been glorious. May was particularly warm – being the sunniest and driest calendar month on record. 626 hours of bright sunshine were recorded in Spring 2020 for the UK. With this in mind as we approach the Summer, one cannot help but wonder what is in store. If we do have a warm, sunny summer as many are predicting, pet owners need to start making the appropriate preparations. Use our easy to follow checklist to make sure the animals you love and care for have a safe and enjoyable summer. • Check the temperature of the pavement before you take your dog out for a walk. If it is too hot to touch with your hand, it will certainly be too hot for your dog’s paws. • Exercise your animals in the cooler parts of the day.

This may mean that your routines change slightly to accommodate this. But going out in the cooler mornings and evenings will be much better for your dog or horse. • Think carefully about the environment your pet is in, more specifically the temperature of it. Vehicles, caravans, tents and conservatories can become extremely hot places during warm weather. Never leave pets in these places, as they can easily overheat and die. • Pet-safe sun cream can now be purchased from a range of shops and online. Consider apply to exposed skin during the warm weather. • Shade and fresh water are essential for the health and safety of humans during sunny days. Animals are no different. Ensure your pets have access to a shady

area with plenty of fresh drinking water available. • Check that any hutches or enclosures you have in your garden are not in any direct sunlight. Also make sure they have good ventilation. • If you keep rabbits or guinea pigs, it is recommended that they are checked regularly for ‘flystrike’. The

RSPCA suggest checking twice a day during the summer months. • Water can heat up quickly in the summer, so be mindful of any fish you have as pets. Keep fish tanks out of direct sunlight and top up the water levels in ponds. • Damp towels are perfect for pets to lie on when it is hot. Ice packs can be wrapped in towels if temperatures begin to increase, and the damp towels aren’t enough of a coolant. • Most dogs treats can be kept in the fridge and will therefore provide your dog with a great way of cooling down. You could always make ice lollies using dog friendly ingredients. • Adding ice cubes to a pet’s water bowl is a quick and easy way of keeping them cool. Don’t forget Kongs can be put in the freezer • Why not fill a paddling pool or spray a hose for your dog to play in (always supervised)

If you need to contact our Branch (North Bedfordshire) for any reason we can be reached by the details below, or for an animal welfare issue or emergency, contact 0300 1234 999. Lines are open 7 days a week 24/7. Email: info@rspcabedsnorth.org.uk Tel: 01234 266965 / 01234 930304

WORDWHEEL Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel. TARGET Excellent: 32 or more words Good: 25 words Fair: 22 words

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