Ensure Your Pets Safety This Summer With These Savvy Tips Perfect For National Pet Preparedness Month!!

I am so excited that summer is finally here and in full swing. While it is the perfect time to get outside and get active with your furry family members, it is also the perfect time to take a look at your summer safety and pet preparedness plans for use while at home and while traveling so that you can ensure that you and your pet are safe, healthy and happy. This is why I have teamed up with Purina to remind pet owners that safety should always be top priority for both you and your pet as there are many things that can impact a pet’s health and safety during this time of year. These include the extreme heat, travel, natural disasters and other stressful situations.

As you can see there are several things that can cause stress for your pet during the summer months such as thunderstorms and fireworks. Dr. Callie provides lots of tips that are the perfect solution to help your furry family member deal with these situations, including:

1) Creating a safe space such as a crate or even a favorite pet bed. My pup is crate trained so this is already the perfect safe space for him.

2) Close the windows.

3) Shut the blinds.

4) Play calming music.

5) Bring in a special treat or a favorite toy in an effort to create a more positive association. 

6) Purchase and use a calming wrap.

7) Stay calm ~ Your pets feed off of your energy so by staying calm, this will help your pet to stay calm.

8) Feed your pet a diet with anxiety-reducing nutrition.

Any and all of the tips above are perfect ways to keep your furry BFF safe, comfortable and calm during stressful situations.

Another way to keep your furry family members safe this summer is preparing for travel with your pet.  

Summer is the time of year for vacations, and that can include taking your pet along with you. When flying with your pet, it is important to do some research and plan ahead. Make sure you understand the airlines policies when it comes to travelling with your pet before you decide to bring them with you, for example you might have to take a look at petcarrierverdict.com to find a new carrier that meets their size and weight regulations, to ensure that your pet will be allowed to board the flight. It is equally important to understand your pet’s needs so that they are comfortable and secure while flying. Similarly, preparing for your pets needs and planning ahead is important before traveling by car. Car travel is the perfect way to bond with your pet which is why we always bring our furry family members along with us on our road trips!

Another focus for National Pet Preparedness Month is disaster preparedness, as the summer season can bring natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and even wildfires. Understanding how weather impacts the area you live in allows you to plan and ensure that you and your family, including your furry family members, have the necessary resources in the event of a natural disaster.

Although it can be near impossible to predict when or where a natural disaster will occur, preparing for the worst-case scenario for you and your family, including your pets, can make all the difference when every minute matters.

Another focus for National Pet Preparedness Month is ingredient safety. We love enjoying delicious fruits all summer long and your pet can enjoy them as a delicious treat, too, BUT you need to do your homework and make sure that you are only allowing your pet to enjoy fruits and ingredients that are safe for your pet to consume.

Fruits and berries contain vitamins, fiber and antioxidants all while being low in sugar which is why they can be a healthy treat and snack option for your pets – just as they are for us. Still, some of these fruits and berries can be harmful to our pets so knowing which ones are safe and which ones are not is super important. Blueberries, strawberries, mangoes and peaches are OK for your pups, but grapes, raisins and cherries are a big NO! Also keep in mind the 90/10 rule…. in that only 10% of your dog’s daily calories should come from treats and 90% should come from complete and balanced foods.

I also want to mention summer heat safety and water sport safety as the hot days can take their toll on humans and pets alike, so making sure that you and your pets stay hydrated is of the utmost importance. It is important that your pet knows how to swim and has a life jacket when taking part in water sports and activities. Make sure your pets are always supervised, that they have plenty of drinking water and a nice shady spot to enjoy when cooling off.

Purina has more than 500+ pet nutritionists, behaviorists and veterinarians on staff who understand and care about the safety, health and overall wellness of our furry family members, which is important to me and one of the reasons that Purina is my go-to brand of choice for my pets. I love that they educate pet owners with helpful advice from the experts that allow you to make the most of the summer with your pets. For more information and advice for keeping your pets safe and healthy this summer, please visit www.Purina.com/Expertise.

Do you have any additional tips that you would like to add to the list or that you use to ensure your pet’s safety during these hot summer months (or anytime of the year)? Leave a comment below and tell me all about it as I always love new tips and tricks and would love to hear all about it.