Summer Care Tips for Your Pets


Car Safety:

  • While taking your pets with you on summer trips can be fun, remember to never leave your pet unattended in a car. Even with windows down, temperatures rise quickly to deadly levels. If you see a pet in distress, call authorities immediately.
Outside Temps Inside Temp of Car After 10 Minutes Inside Temp of Car After 30 Minutes
70
 89 104
75 94 109
80 99 114
85 104 119
90 109 124
95 114 129

Walking Your Pet in the Summer:

Asphalt, concrete, metal, rock, and sand get much hotter than grass or dirt. Walk pets during cooler hours. Test surfaces by holding your hand on them for 15 seconds—if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your pet!

Shelter From the Heat:

While every outdoor pet requires shelter, not every shelter is adequate for the extreme heat. Small, enclosed shelters act as ovens and conducts heat, making it hotter inside the shelter than outside. 

When providing a shelter for the summer months, make sure the shelter provides relief from the sun and high temperatures. While a drafty shelter is ill advised for cold weather, it can allow ventilation and relief during the hot weather, keeping the shelter at a cooler temperature for the pet. For outdoor pets, check their water, leash safety, and watch for overheating or heat exhaustion.

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke:

Pets can overheat quickly in extreme heat. Dogs have a normal temperature of 99.5°F–101°F, and cats 100.5°F–102°F. If their temperature rises above 104°F, they need immediate vet care.

  • Heat Exhaustion (<104°F):

    • Excessive panting, drooling
    • Shaking, weakness, loss of coordination
    • Vomiting, diarrhea
    • Glazed eyes, red gums/tongue

  • Heatstroke (>104°F, Severe):

    • Collapse, inability to stand
    • Seizures, unconsciousness, coma (can be fatal)
    • Dogs cool by panting; Cats and dogs sweat through paw pads. Flat-faced breeds, young, & senior pets are at higher risk. Keep them cool and hydrated!

Livestock Summer Safety:

Livestock need fresh water and shade to stay cool. Without proper care, they become stressed and less productive.

  • Cooling Methods:

    • Provide shelter or shade
    • Use fans, misters, or spray them with water
    • Offer ice blocks or homemade popsicles
    • Limit work during the hottest hours and take breaks

No Chain, It's the Law:

The Safe Outdoor Dogs Act was passed 2021. Under Texas Health and Safety Code Ch 821, the law requires:
  • Adequate shelter to protect dogs from exposure to extreme temperatures
  • Requires access to drinkable water.
  • Prohibits the use of chain restraints.
  • In the State of Texas & City of Schertz, NO dog shall be tied up during a heat advisory or any major weather event. (City of Schertz Ordinance Ch 14-9)

Winter Weather Safety for your Pets:


Hypothermia in Pets:

Cold, dry air and winter weather can lead to chapped paws and itchy skin in pets. Direct exposure to cold also risks hypothermia, with signs like:

  • Rapid then slow heart rate
  • Rapid then shallow breathing
  • Sluggishness
  • Pale gums
  • Dilated pupils and even unconsciousness

If your pet shows these signs, remove them from the cold, warm them gradually, and contact a veterinarian.

Care for Outdoor Pets:

  • Move outdoor animals to shelters that block wind and freezing rain, and ensure they have non-frozen drinking water. 
  • Cold-weather shelters should be draft-free, small with low ceilings, and have raised floors to retain body heat like a warm den.
  • Line shelters with straw or hay, as it doesn’t freeze when wet, unlike blankets that can become saturated and freeze.
  • Feed pets extra in winter for needed calories to stay warm, and check water bowls regularly to ensure they aren’t frozen.
  • Pets need plenty of water year-round, as eating snow depletes their energy and body heat.
  • Check your hood as cats and small animals often hide in car engines or under hoods to stay warm. Tapping your hood or honking before starting the car can scare them out and potentially save their lives.

Winter Dangers:

  • Ice Melting Chemicals:

    • Winter hazards like rock salt and antifreeze can harm pets. Avoid salted areas, and wash their paws and stomach after walks to remove any chemicals.

  • Anti-freeze:

    • Antifreeze is highly toxic and can be lethal to pets, as its sweet smell may tempt them to taste it. Clean up any spills immediately and store antifreeze safely out of reach.

  • Fire Safety:

    • Supervise pets near fireplaces, fire pits, and candles; use barriers to prevent burns, and keep lit candles out of reach.

  • Food Safety:

    • Keep holiday treats like chocolate and candy out of pets' reach, and secure trashcans and countertops to prevent access to unattended food.

See Something, Say Something:

Pets in Schertz cannot be tied outdoors during extreme conditions or below 32°F and must have adequate shelter. If you see a pet in distress, contact Schertz Animal Services. (Texas Health and Safety Ch. 821; Schertz Ordinance Ch. 14)

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering your Pets:


Helping Shelter's with Availability:

By allowing pets to breed, the unwanted litters end up at overcrowded shelters. Spaying and neutering your pets can help prevent litters from ending up in shelters. You also prevent the death of animals already at shelters, as they will not have to euthanize for space as often.

Unwanted Litters:

Owners with intact pets can and will end up with litters. Some owners will illegally abandon them when they cannot find homes for them. Oftentimes, abandoned litters are sick and unsocialized.

Abandoned moms are often scared and protective of their litter. This can lead to aggressiveness from mom, which unfortunately leads to euthanasia in a shelter.

Health Issues: 

Intact pets are at risk for numerous health issues including multiple types of cancer, pyometra, uterine prolapse, & tumors. Intact pets are more likely to fight with other animals, causing injury and illness spread by open wounds and bodily fluids. Spayed/neutered pets tend to live longer than intact pets.

Running at Large:

Intact pets are more likely to get loose as they have the urge to roam and find a mate. Unfortunately, the majority of pets hit and killed by cars are not spayed or neutered.

Behavioral Issues:

Intact pets are more likely to have behavioral issues such as destructiveness, aggression, and escaping their home. Intact males are more likely to attack animals and people, including owners, especially when there is a female in heat in the area.

Monetary Issues:

Breeding your pet is expensive. Instead of caring for one pet, you are now caring for multiple. As the owner, you are responsible for food, housing, & medical expenses associated with your pets.

On top of any health concerns for the mother, the litter may have health complications as well. The litter will also need to be vaccinated, as their immune system is low, and they are more likely to get sick.

Don't forget that all cats & dogs must be vaccinated for rabies by Texas state law. The medical expense for multiple pets is often more expensive than spaying and neutering the pet.

Remember:

  • Texas Penal Code 42.092 Cruelty to Non livestock Animals: Class A Misdemeanor to abandon an animal.
  • City of Schertz City Ordinance Ch 14-15 states it is mandatory for pets to be spayed and neutered once they are found running at large within Schertz.
  • Dogs are at maturity when then are 6 months old
  • Cats are at maturity at 4-6 months