Sunshine, summertime, & pet safety

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Summertime means lots of sunshine, pool days, beach trips, and backyard celebrations with family and friends. Nevertheless, please keep your furry, four-legged friends in mind on these scorching summer days and make sure you are keeping them as safe as possible.

Did you know that the Fourth of July is one of the most common weekends for dogs to get lost?

The overwhelming sounds and senses our dogs perceive from the Fourth of July fireworks can be absolutely terrifying for them. Often dogs try to run away to escape the noise and unfortunately there is no escaping all the festivities going on. To help keep them safe and happy, leave your pets at home with a calming background noise to help them feel at peace.

All dogs should have ID tags on their collar with current information; your pet’s name, your name, address, and a phone number. Additionally, it is best to have your pet microchipped because it provides a permanent and embedded microchip beneath their skin that can be linked to your information if your pet becomes lost. When your pet’s chip is implanted, you will have the option to register your information with the manufacturer. MCAS offers microchipping for pets for only $20!

We all enjoy getting together with family and friends and having a nice BBQ along with other delicious foods. However, keep in mind your pet’s safety when it comes to some of those foods because they could be deadly to your pet. Here are some foods that animals should not consume.


Xylitol-containing products (xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can often be found in sugar-free candy, sugar-free gum or other sugar-free products)

Chocolate

Coffee

Caffeine

Onions

Garlic

Grapes and raisins

Fatty/fried food

Macadamia nuts

Avocados

Raw/undercooked meat, fish, eggs, and bones

Dairy products

Yeast dough

Make sure that pets have access to plenty of water and shade if they are going to be outdoors, keeping in mind that our pets cannot sweat like us and it’s much harder for them to cool down. This time of year in Texas, it is not recommended to keep your dog outdoors all the time because they can become overheated. When dogs become overheated, it is best to take them inside to a cooler area and give them water and patting them down with a cool cloth. Don’t wrap them in a cool towel because this will keep the heat in, but just pat them down with a cool cloth and make sure your pet is able to cool down as quickly as possible.