SUMMERTIME CARE AND SAFETY TIPS

If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be the most safe and comfortable.

If you bring your dog with you to an event, do not leave him in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air, and it creates an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.

Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog's collar in case he gets out. Talk to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure your veterinary clinic and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their databases.

Don't leave dogs outside. If you cannot bring them inside, cover their outdoor crate or kennel with a blanket to offer them some protection from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dog's sense of hearing is acute -- on average four times more sensitive than humans'.

Create a special den-like area in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him.

Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don't use a crate, remove any items in the room your dog could destroy or could hurt him if he chewed them.

Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door and become lost.

Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.

Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and to help him to relax.

If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.

Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.

Beat the Heat

Remember that a parked car can become dangerously hot in only a few minutes. Dogs are not efficient at cooling themselves. They cannot perspire and can dispel heat only by panding and through the pads on their feet. Panting and drinking water helps to cool them, but if they have only overheated air to breathe in a parked car, dogs can suffer brain and organ damage after just 15 minutes.

Your light-colored dog's coat can invite damage from the sun's ultraviolet rays, leading to sunburn and possible skin cancer. If your dog is light-colored and/or he lacks black pigment around the eyes, ears, and nose, keep him out of the bright sun. Ask your veterinarian about sun block for your dog, preferably in a formula he can't lick off.

Dogs should always have access to cool shade and fresh water in the summer heat.

Rules of the Road

An unrestrained dog in a vehicle is dangerous to everyone in the car, including the dog himself. Secure your god in the back seat with a safety harness or in a pet carrier fastened to a seatbelt. Another option is to install a pet barrier to keep the dog in the back area of your vehicle. Dogs riding in the front can be seriously hurt if the airbags deploy.

If you must transport your dog in the bed of a pickup, be sure he is restrained; preferably in a crate or carrier secured to the truck.

Avoid allowing your dog to hang his head out of the car window -- he could suffer eye injury from flying debris.

When stopping the car along the way, attach a leash to the dog's collar before opening the door so he can't escape. Use a leash to walk your dog.

Waterproof Your Dog

Many dogs enjoy swimming, no matter how clean or dirty the water. If your dog has had a dip in a lake or river, rinse him off to avoid ear mites, eye infections, and pesky clinging insects which can imbed themselves into his fur.

If your dog loves to jump into your swimming pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. When a dog falls into a lake or river, his instinct tells him to turn around and get out from the point at which he fell in. However, in a suburban swimming pool, a dog may drown if he follows this instinctive action. Therefore, teach your dog where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in.

Not all dogs like or know how to swim. If your dog appears eager to give swimming a try, let him get used to it gradually. Refrain from throwing a nervous, inexperienced swimmer into the water.

Fear of Thunderstorms

Fear of thunderstorms is common in dogs. Many dogs can sense a storm coming from the rapidly falling barometric pressure. Thus, your dog may show anxiety even before the storm can be heard.

Dogs can sense fear or discomfort from people, so it is important that you develop a calm attitude toward storms. Let your dog stay close, and try to distract him with play. Do not try to comfort him in a sympathetic voice; this will sound like praise and may increase his nervousness and confusion.

Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes. Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.

Provide your dog with a safe place to be during storms, whether inside or out. Create a special den-like area in your home where your dog always feels safe and secure. If a storm is brewing, lead your dog to his special place to help him feel calm and protected.

Utah Corgis wishes everyone a safe and happy Summer and Fourth of July!