Keeping cats and dogs safe in summer
Heatstroke, burning pavement, water, grass seeds and parasites — what the warm months actually throw at a cat or a dog, and what to do about each one.
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Everything in this collection
Can you take your cat to the beach? An honest guide
Most cats should skip the beach, and a few can go safely. The honest, vet-checkable guide to heat, sun, saltwater, harnesses and who stays home.
Foxtails: the summer grass seed that burrows into pets
Foxtail grass seeds catch in fur and travel one way—inward. Here's how to spot them on a cat or dog, and stop them.
Fleas, ticks and worms: the parasite basics
The parasites every cat and dog owner meets, what they actually do, and why prevention beats treatment every time.
Cat on holiday or leave it home? An honest guide
For most cats the kind answer is to stay put. Here is how to choose between a sitter, a cattery, and packing the carrier.
What actually goes wrong in summer
Summer trouble is mostly heat and timing. A dog cools by panting, and panting stops working once the air is already hot and humid — so the dangerous window is the middle of the day, not the hottest week of the year. Walk early or late, test the pavement with the back of your hand, and never leave an animal in a parked car, not even briefly with the windows cracked. The second cluster is seasonal and physical: grass seeds work their way into paws, ears and noses from June onward, and ticks and fleas peak right now. Check for both after every walk through long grass — two minutes of looking saves a vet trip.