It is now summer, and we are already in full swing with travel, beach days, cookouts and pool time.

However, all of our favorite summer activities can be harmful to our pets if we are not careful. 

What You Need To Know

  • Summer activities can be dangerous for your dog

  • Cars can heat up fast to dangerous numbers, putting a pup at risk

  • Cookout items we love can be deadly to your family pet

  • Pavement heats up quickly during the day and can damage a dog's paw pads

I know my dog loves to travel with me in the summer, but cars can be a deadly place for a dog. Cars heat up quickly and get much hotter than the area surrounding it, even on a cloudy day.

Never leave a pet in a vehicle, even when the window is partially down. Your best bet is to keep the car running with the air conditioning or leave the pup at home. 

Once you have made it to your choice destination, be sure to check out any areas of water. Ponds, lakes and slow-moving rivers can get blue-green algae. This is deadly for animals if ingested, so be sure your dog is only playing in clean water. 

Another summer staple is cooking out. Many of our yummy favorites are not good for dogs to ingest, so we need to be extra mindful of what our dog is doing and where they are when we're cooking food.

From bones in meat we grill to onions and spices in salads, these items can make your dog very sick, so be sure to stick to dog treats when grilling near the pup. 

When the heat kicks into gear, walk your dog in the mornings or evenings. Pavement heats up fast and can burn their paw pads. If you find the pavement is too hot for you to keep your hand on or walk barefoot, it is too hot for your dog as well. 

Enjoying the summer with a dog makes it so much better, so have fun and keep your furry family member safe.