Health Tips For Outdoor Pets

Posted on: 12 June 2017

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For many pet owners, it seems only natural for their animals to spend most of the time outside. Yet, it can be easy to overlook the health needs of your pet if it is outside where you can not easily see it. In order to protect your pet's well-being, there are several tips that you should be following when it comes to the time your animal spends outside.  

Keep Your Pet Protected Against Common Pests

There are a number of insects and parasites that your pet will be likely to encounter while outside. Regularly applying a topical flea and tick repellent will greatly reduce the severity of the problems that these pests can cause. While it may seem natural for a dog or cat to have fleas, these insects can spread numerous diseases. In addition to protecting against fleas, many of these medications will also prevent ticks from attaching to your pet. There may also be particular species of worms or other parasites, and you will want to meet with your veterinarian so that you know the most common local threats.

Have A Comfortable Area For Your Pet

It is important to make sure that your pet has a comfortable area where they can seek shelter from the elements. Otherwise, you may find that your pet is more likely to suffer overheating or cold-related illnesses. If you do not have an area for your pet to comfortably rest, it may go searching for a suitable spot, and this can lead to your pet getting into trouble. In addition to investing in a small pet house, you should check to make sure that your pet has ample water throughout the day. If you will be gone from your house for long periods of time, you may want to invest in an automatic watering system so that your pet will never go thirsty.

Appreciate When It Is Necessary To Bring The Pet Inside

Unfortunately, there are individuals that will simply assume that their pet will be able to withstand any of the conditions that may be encountered outside. Yet, it is a reality that temperature extremes can pose a serious risk. This can be particularly true during the winter months as the temperature can become dangerously low during the winter nights. Each day, you will want to check the temperature so that you know whether or not your pet needs to be brought into the house. For those that do not want their pet inside their house, the garage may be converted into a comfortable area.

Check with a local veterinary hospital for more advice.