Summer Health For Pets

Pet Holidays Leaflet

As the UK's leading veterinary charity, PDSA treats thousands of sick or injured pets every day. Sadly, some of them are pets whose holiday have not gone according to plan.

That's why PDSA has produced a new essential guide to making holiday time happy and safe for you and your pet. Download your free copy of PDSA holiday health for pets (PDF - 1.41 MB).

In the new leaflet, PDSA holiday health for pets, you'll find all the infomation you need whether your pets are holidaying with you or staying at home.

If your looking for a long weekend in the country or a holiday at the coast then take a look at our Holiday Cottages page for a great range of holiday breaks available through cottages4you and PDSA.

BBQ fun can spell danger for pets

With the weather warming up, many people will be stoking up their barbecues. But pet owners should take extra precautions to ensure their pets stay safe when the heat is on.

PDSA advises owners to take a few simple precautions to safeguard their pets:

• Skip the scraps - eating barbecue scraps can upset your pet’s stomach. Undercooked, unfamiliar or fatty food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
   
• Bin it – make sure any leftover food and rubbish is properly thrown away in a lidded dustbin. A very common barbecue-related problem seen by PDSA vets is pets that have eaten corn on the cob cores. These can cause a serious blockage and have to be surgically removed.
   
• Don’t be a ‘fuel’ - lighter fluid contains hydrocarbons (derived from crude oil), which can prove fatal if ingested. So keep it well out of reach.
   
• Flamin’ hot – playing around a barbecue can lead to severe burns, so pets should be kept well away from flames and burning embers.
   
• Slap on the sun cream – pets can suffer from sunburn and heatstroke just like humans, so if you’re enjoying the sun ensure your four-legged friends have access to shade and plenty of fresh water. Special pet sun creams can be used on pets with white fur or damaged skin.
   
• Watch what you drink – make sure that glasses and drinks are not within reach of thirsty pets. Alcohol can be particularly hazardous for pets and glass bottles or cups can be easily knocked over and smash – so plastic cups are a much better option.