Drew and Mattie stay cool inside on a hot Okanagan day.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

Most of us are well aware that you should never leave a pet alone in a vehicle during the hot summer months, but the B.C. SPCA is also warning pet owners of other hazards animals can face during the scorching heat.

Just like us, it's also important for our pets to stay cool during the summer.

The SPCA is advising pet owners to make sure our furry friends always have access to fresh clean water, along with some shade.

Owners are also being advised to take their pets for a walk early in the morning or later in the evening when the temperature is cooler and the pavement and sidewalks have cooled down, according to a B.C. SPCA media release.

The SPCA reminds people to never leave to leave a pet in a vehicle alone, and although that may seem like common sense the organization had received over 450 calls by the beginning of July concerning dogs in distress in hot cars.

When taking your pet on an outdoor trip make sure their vaccinations are up to date, they're wearing a collar and have an identification microchip and register them with the B.C. Pet Registry. If you're going for a long hike with your dog bring food and water for them too.

Make it a routine habit to regularly check your pet for ticks.

Pets won't show symptoms for tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, for seven to 21 days after the tick attaches itself. If you find a tick remove it straight away or get a veterinarian to do.

If your pet sniffs around a wasp or hornet and gets stung remove the stinger as soon as possible, but don't try to squeeze it out and apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling. Some pets can be severely allergic to stings. If they start vomiting within five to 10 minutes of being stung your pet could be going into anaphylactic shock and you'll need to get them to a vet immediately.

Some people put sunscreen on their pets but the SPCA advises the benefits may outweigh the risks and owners should talk to their vet first. If owners do decide to use sunscreen, always use product designs for pets or babies. Be careful what you put on your lawn and garden and chose non-toxic options so dogs and cats don't ingest fertilizers and products that may be bad for their health.

The SPCA advises not to feed your pets from the picnic table.

Meat bones can become a choking hazard; while onions, garlic and grapes can cause gastrointestinal problems - chocolate should also not be on your pet's menu. Animals have their own special food for a reason, and its best to stick with it.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2018