With it being Summer , we need to remember our furry friends need us to look after them and make sure they are safe. Here are some tips on how we can look out for them:

1. Careful of foods your fur baby eats - Don’t let your pets anywhere near alcohol, avocado, chocolate, coffee, cooked bones, fruit cake, grapes, gravy, ham, lollies, macadamia nuts, marinades, onion, pork, raisins or sugarless gum. For more info see my blog on “Foods to Avoid Feeding your pet”

2. Provide plenty of fresh, cool water - Be sure to provide multiple sources of water. Ensure the containers are in the shade and even add some ice to the water to keep it cool.

3. Provide Cool areas - Make sure your pets and livestock have access to shade during hot weather. Check your animals are protected from the sun throughout the day. Small pets are particularly susceptible to heat. If no access to cool area, please bring these animals indoors during hot weather.

4. Don’t leave your pet in the car - During the entire Australian summer, we can expect car interior temperatures to reach fatal or life-threatening levels in a very short timeframe.

The biggest heat increase happens in the first 30 minutes. Studies have also found that cracking the window makes less than 5 degrees of difference in the temperature and after 30 minutes, cracking a window makes no difference at all. If you see an animal locked in a hot car, immediately phone police on 000.

5. When you walk your fur baby - Walking your fur baby when the ground is too hot can cause serious damage to their paws. Instead, walk your dog in the coolness of the early morning or evening. A quick way to test that its cool enough, press your hand to the pavement for 5 seconds, if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your fur babies’ paws.

6. Watch out for snakes, spiders and ticks – Around the home keep your gardens tidy and lawns moved short and when walking your fur babies watch out for snakes, spiders and ticks.

7. Ear and skin infections - A trip to the beach or local park can mean an infection if you don’t rinse your dog down from head to toe afterwards and clean their ears regularly.

8. Have an evacuation plan - With the hot summer weather comes the increased risk of fires. Be prepared and have a plan to ensure you will be able to safely evacuate yourself and your pets in the event of an emergency.

If you have any tips you would like to share, please leave a comment.