Keeping Your Dog Healthy This Spring and Summer

Summer is one of the best times to have a dog. More time outside, longer evenings, new places to explore together. But the same season that makes everything feel easier comes with a few real risks that are worth knowing about, most of which are completely preventable.

Start the season with a vet visit

Before summer gets going, check in with your vet about heartworm prevention. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, which makes summer peak risk season. It's easy to prevent and serious if you don't. If your dog isn't already on a prevention protocol, now is the time.

Ask about flea and tick prevention too. There's a wide range of products out there and not all of them are equally safe. Your vet can point you toward something that works without the concerns some over-the-counter treatments carry.

Heat is harder on dogs than most people expect

Dogs can't regulate heat the way we do. They can't sweat it out. They pant, they seek shade, and they rely on us to read the situation.

A few things that make a real difference on hot days:

Walk them early or late. Midday heat is hard on any dog, especially older dogs, short-nosed breeds, and dogs with thick coats. Morning and evening walks are cooler and a lot more comfortable for them.

Check the pavement. If you can't hold your hand on the asphalt for five seconds, it's too hot for their paws. Stick to grass when you can.

Keep fresh water available. Not just at home. Bring it with you. Dogs dehydrate faster in the heat than most owners expect.

Shade matters more than people think. If your dog spends time in the yard, make sure there's somewhere genuinely cool to retreat to. A sunny yard with no shade isn't safe on a hot afternoon.

For dogs with pink skin, thin coats, or white fur, sun exposure carries a real risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage. A dog sun shield t-shirt rated UPF 50 blocks 98% of UV rays and is one of the more practical additions to a vulnerable dog's summer routine.

Check ID tags before summer gets busy

Summer means more time outside, more travel, more chaos at backyard gatherings. More chances for a dog to slip away in an unfamiliar moment. It happens to careful owners too.

Make sure your dog's ID tag has a current phone number before the season picks up. If the tag is worn or the number has changed, replace it now. Five minutes of effort that can make all the difference.

If your dog isn't microchipped, ask your vet about that this visit too.

Dogs and trucks

Dogs should never ride in the open bed of a pickup truck. It's illegal in many states, and even where it isn't, the risk of injury from flying debris or a sudden stop is real. They ride inside, or they stay home. Short trips don't make it safer.

Loud events and fireworks

Most dogs would honestly rather skip these. If you're heading somewhere loud and crowded, leaving your dog at home is usually the kindest call. We covered fireworks in depth in our 4th of July safety guide, which is worth reading before the holiday weekend.

A little preparation at the start of the season means you spend the rest of it actually enjoying it. That's the whole point of summer with a dog.