  Pet tips for SUMMER SafetySUMMER is here, and that spells special care for pets.
Heat stroke remains the biggest threat. As a precaution, never lock your pets in the car in the midday sun, and never let them out in the hottest period of the day.
At the seaside, if your dog has been lying in the sun for a long time, be sure to sprinkle him with water before taking him for a swim - otherwise he'll run the risk of temperature shock. After swimming, wash him in plenty of fresh water, as salt can irritate his skin. Don't forget to make sure he has plenty of water to drink.
When walking your pet in the countryside, beware of burrs and grass seeds. Burrs lodge themselves in your pet' skin and fur and can cause irritations and itches. Grass seeds may lodge themselves in between the toes of your pet and may even get inside you pet's ears. Long-eared breeds are at risk.
Ticks lurk in high grass, bushes, scrub, fields, gardens and rough scrubland.
Then there are the fleas! In the warm summer months fleas not only breed inside the home but can also breed outdoors.
The new adult fleas wait in their cocoons until they sense a friendly host - your cat or dog - nearby. The adult flea hatches and feeds on the blood of your cat or dog.
Don't forget that the warm weather also encourages fleas to breed inside your home. When you are on holiday and your home is shut up, any immediate fleas lurking in the home will rapidly develop into pupae, which will wait until they sense a suitable host before hatching.
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