A Quiz? In The Summer? Get Summer Pet Safety Savvy With A Quiz, Eight Tips & A Pet First Aid Kit Giveaway

A Quiz? In The Summer? Get Summer Pet Safety Savvy With A Quiz & Eight Lifesaving Tips

7/8/2015

Bonus Pet Safety Tip: Do not leave pets unattended around BBQ's

Typist: Bethany
When at the vet a few weeks ago with Huxley, the collie relaxed on the floor after having his swollen eye examined for debris. I expressed to the vet relief as well as surprise that the eye problem was likely only conjunctivitis since this dog has a propensity to stick his face in every tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that he comes across. The veterinarian and I discussed how nice it must be to live a life oblivious to all of the dangers in the world. I smiled as my giant fluffy dog enjoyed the cool tile floor in the exam room and relayed to the vet how diligent I know I must always be to protect my dogs and all of my pets from all the dangers that they are not aware of. Staying constantly alert to how to keep my pets safe isn't easy, especially when new dangers arise with every change of season. Even though summer is supposed to be full of amazingly fun pet friendly adventures, there's always some pet hazard lurking. Besides time with pets leisure, summer also isn't supposed to have any quizzes. I know. But this summer safety for pets quiz is an excellent way to make sure every pet stays out of danger this season. Try it:

Bonus Pet Safety Tip: Always Secure Traveling Pets - Triton Cockatoo Leo is buckled in for a road trip

Bonus Pet Safety Tip: Traveling Pets In A Crate Or Harness Should Always Be Buckled Up

In any season, make sure pets always have access to plenty of fresh water.

Five Summer Dangers for Pets Infographic

Bonus Pet Safety Tip: Avoid Foxtails and Check Pets Feet, Ears, Nose, Eyes, Mouth and Fur for Stuck Foxtail Seeds After Every Outing

Most pet summer safety seems like common sense. Anyone who knows anything about dog, cat, parrot, etc care would take precautions to ensure their pet doesn't get lost during a thunderstorm, would never leave a pet in a car even with the windows cracked or go for a summer hike without water, right? Well, with 1 in 5 pets going missing after being scared by loud noises, a news story about a pet dying in a hot car at least once a day and even I, a pet adventurer with decades of experience, am guilty of forgetting or running out of human and pet water on a summer outing pet safety isn't always simple. Then there is my biggest summer safety fear; foxtails. Surprisingly few people seem to be aware that this common weed that can be deadly to pets. Maybe I am so foxtail paranoid because I have a dog who sticks his face in every tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that he comes across as well as being covered in fur that loves to collect every bit of tree, bush, shrub and mass of weeds that we pass. Wait. Make that three dogs with velcro fur! Diligently keeping pets safe is never easy. And keeping up on pet safety knowledge goes beyond simply using common sense to feeling like an all consuming, full time job. Like me, I hope that all pet adventurers will never stop learning about pet safety and sharing the knowledge to keep all pets safe. Even if it means taking a quiz in the summer.

Too Hot For A Dog Walk? If You Cannot Hold The Back Of Your hand On The Ground For 5 Seconds, Stay Home!

Bonus Pet Safety Tip: If You Cannot Hold the Back of Your Hand on The Ground For 5 Seconds, It Is Too Hot For A Dog Walk

How did you score on the quiz? Did you learn anything new about summer safety for pets? Is there a summer pet safety tip we forgot? Please let us know in the comments.

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37 Comments

When The Cat Is Away link

7/7/2015 03:34:36 pm

Thank you for this long and informative post! I've never heard of foxtail, I need to check this out before I go next time to the garden with my cats.

I scored ok on the test, but I went against my common sense when I clicked "sunscreen protection". I would have never thought of sunscreen, but I read on a lot of cat blogs that people put sunscreen on their cats' nose.

Bethany

7/7/2015 03:52:29 pm

I have also read a few articles that say a human sunscreen that is safe for babies is safe for cats. However, any product that is not safe to be ingested, is not safe for our licking themselves dogs and cats, even on their face. It is the safest and best policy to either avoid the sun (stay in the shade or fashion sun protectant pet clothing) or use a sunscreen specifically formulated for a cat. There are not as many cat specific sunscreens available as formulas for dogs, but they're out there. Thanks for your comment and I hope you find that your garden is foxtail free!

M. K. Clinton link

7/7/2015 04:11:27 pm

7/7 WooHoo! I am going to share several safety posts but the first will be staying hydrated.

Bethany

7/7/2015 04:50:04 pm

Hooray! Bentley and Pierre are such lucky and SUPER SAFE dogs.

Hawk aka BrownDog link

7/7/2015 05:59:01 pm

Hi Y'all!

Summer time, especially here in the southeast, is the time I don't get to do much of anything and don't really want to go anywhere anyway.

Y'all come on by,
Hawk aka BrownDog

Bethany

7/9/2015 06:52:27 am

Summer is usually not too hot to do anything here in Cascadia but this summer has been an exception. We finally got out and about a few days ago and everyone commented on how long it had been since they'd seen us!

MyDogLikes link

7/7/2015 09:08:35 pm

I had no idea about the Foxtails. Took the quiz and only got the question about the car wrong (I overestimated) how fast it gets hot in the car! Better to be safe. Great post.

Bethany

7/9/2015 06:55:19 am

I thought a car got hot much faster too but the reason for spreading awareness about the 100 degree marker is that it is a deadly temperature immediately.

Elaine link

7/8/2015 12:00:20 am

You have so many great tips here! Checking the pavement to make sure it's not too hot is something a lot of people forget to do or they think the dog's paws are rough and tough enough to handle the heat. Great article, sharing!

Bethany

7/9/2015 06:57:45 am

Thanks for your comment and for sharing Elaine. With two low riding dogs, I am always hyper aware of how hot the pavement or sand is but it is easy to just look at the outside temp and assume it is fine to go for a walk. Sometimes, even at night, the ground has not cooled off enough not to hurt our pups paws!

Talent Hounds link

7/8/2015 01:13:45 am

I never knew the back of the hand trick for seeing if the ground is too hot. Thanks for sharing!

Bethany

7/9/2015 06:59:54 am

I recently learned that back of the hand trick too! I have always just tested the ground with my feet or floated my hand above the ground. The back of the hand actually makes a huge difference in determining the true temperature. I'm glad I could help spread the word!

GROOVY GOLDENDOODLES link

7/8/2015 02:10:07 am

That was so much fun. I learned I'm not as smart as I thought I was. Super cool way to heighten everyone's awareness. Kudos for a great post!

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:02:38 am

Like I said in the post- never stop learning! I am glad you tried the quiz and learned... I often scoff at things like this because I know everything about my pets safety. And always right after I say that, another trip to the vet! *sigh*

Lisa link

7/8/2015 03:17:40 am

I am always on the bully-pulpit concerning hot surfaces such as asphalt and sand. Many pet owners just don't think about it. Not only are burned paw pads painful, but they also interfere with the pet's ability to cool down. Thanks for the reminders.

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:06:00 am

I have always thought that if I wouldn't walk barefoot, neither should the dogs. But when I see photos of burned dog pads all over the internet every summer, I wonder what those dog owners were thinking. Hopefully this five second rule will become more common knowledge thanks to people like you!

Sweet Purrfections link

7/8/2015 09:09:39 am

That was very interesting. I missed two questions. I honestly have never thought about the hot pavement.

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:07:21 am

Well, cats don't go for walks as often as dogs. But when I had part time outdoor cats, I wouldn't let them out if the concrete was too hot.

Cathy Armato link

7/8/2015 10:14:57 am

Fantastic quiz! Wish I had it earlier today when we visited some kids at a Summer program and talked about what therapy dogs do and also how to care for your pets and keep them safe. I got 2 wrong on my first try (for shame!!) and then went back and got them right the second time. I wasn't aware of fox tails being dangerous, thanks for the warning
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:10:47 am

I did make some of the questions kind of tricky, Cathy. I am glad you knew how to correct your errors and that I could help you with foxtail awareness. I had a friend with a husky that had to have massive head surgery for a foxtail removal from way up it's nasal passage... it was not pretty. The poor dog was lucky to have survived but it was never quite the same again.

Linda Szymoniak

7/8/2015 10:50:23 am

I got 7 out off 7 right!

Linda Szymoniak

7/8/2015 10:56:11 am

I'm always sharing information about pet safety with people, but this summer I'm especially talking to others about how bad it is to leave a dog in a car. I'm going to order a windshield sunvisor that has information about that right on it, so anyone who parks near my vehicle will be able to see it.

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:12:36 am

Nice job on the quiz Linda and what a fantastic idea for spreading hot car awareness with your sunvisor. I love that literally every store I have been to in the last month has a sign in the window about not leaving dogs in the car. Someday everyone will know!

Ellen Pilch link

7/8/2015 01:05:28 pm

I scored an 85, I only got the hot car one wrong. I wouldn't leave my cats in the car at all so I guess we are safe :) Excellent and informative post.

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:14:43 am

I also would think that the car would get hotter faster. It does heat up fast but 100 degrees is the extreme danger point so no pet can be in a car even one minute in 100 degrees even a heat loving cat. :)

Clowie link

7/9/2015 12:51:35 am

There's lots of useful information here! It's important to be aware of the dangers around us.
Those foxtails are nasty! My bipeds check me carefully after every walk, but even so one punctured a paw and gave me problems once.

Bethany

7/9/2015 07:16:57 am

Even with diligent checking, Brychwyn had an abscess from some sort of seed, likely a foxtail, on his paw a few years ago. Those golden foxtal "hairs" look so gentle but those barbs are nasty and the seeds move fast!

Kimberly Hilbert link

7/9/2015 09:24:29 am

I will remind people that grapes and raisins aren't good for dogs. I was surprised when I learned, I thought only chocolate was the bad food.

Becca link

7/10/2015 04:22:17 am

I would like to share the fact about placing the back of your hand on the ground to see if it's too hot to walk your dog.

Daniel Scott

7/10/2015 08:27:20 am

Its funny, I used the back of my hand trick today. Another safety suggestion would be to watch your pets around water, not all dogs are natural swimmers. Dogs can drown if they fall off a boat or other water toy, please put a pet life jacket on them.

Shelley P

7/14/2015 11:43:07 am

I've heard of foxtails but I didn't know what they looked like. Thanks! I like that you shared the back of your hand safety tip and will be using that and sharing it with others :)

Shannon

7/14/2015 07:01:09 pm

The only one I got wrong was the one about asphalt so I will have to remember to share that. I wouldn't attempt walking them on asphalt on a hot day but I live in a rural area so it's not something I usually have to consider.

BRIAN E.

7/14/2015 08:34:17 pm

Thank You for the giveaway…scored 6 / 7; have to be careful to keep our dog away from sunscreen & insect repellent during the summer months !

Crystal E Walker

7/15/2015 03:28:20 am

I will tell my family on what foods a pet cannot eat from a cookout and how to keep them from overheating

Holly Thomas

7/15/2015 03:35:06 am

Too hot for a dog walk is important to share.

Lana Bradstream link

7/15/2015 05:10:52 am

I will let them know about the back of the hand tip.

laurie murley

7/15/2015 02:16:30 pm

I like the back of the hand tip didn't know that one

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Cascadian Nomads
Pet Adventurers

Cascadian Nomads adventurous dogs and parrot with pet and travel blogger, Bethany Clochard.

Cascadian Nomads canines and psittacine on a road trip with blogger Bethany Clochard.

Pet travel blogger Bethany Clochard shares a lifetime of budget travel experience, camping, and enjoying outdoors & Pacific NW adventures with pets. She currently hits the road with three dogs, a cockatoo & a cat.

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