Summer Pet Care Tips: Keeping Your Pets Safe & Happy This Season
Summer is finally here — and while we all love the warmer weather, it brings a few extra responsibilities for pet owners. At North East Pets in Hebburn, we've put together our top tips to help you keep every member of your family safe, cool, and comfortable this season.
🐾 Flea Prevention: Peak Season is Now
June through September is peak flea season in the UK. Warmer temperatures allow flea eggs to hatch faster and populations to explode — so now is the time to act, not react.
- Treat your pet AND your home. Up to 95% of fleas live in the environment (carpets, bedding, soft furnishings), not on your pet.
- Use a vet-recommended product appropriate for your pet's species and weight. Never use dog flea treatments on cats — some ingredients are toxic to them.
- Treat monthly throughout summer, even if you don't see fleas. Prevention is far easier than treatment.
- Wash bedding regularly at 60°C to kill eggs and larvae.
- Small animals aren't immune. Rabbits and guinea pigs can also pick up fleas — especially if they spend time outdoors or live alongside cats and dogs.
Pop into our shop in Hebburn and our team will help you choose the right flea treatment for your pets. We stock a wide range of trusted brands for dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals.
☀️ Keeping Pets Cool in the Heat
The UK may not be the tropics, but even mild heatwaves can be dangerous for pets — particularly those in hutches, cages, or cars.
Dogs
- Walk early morning or late evening when pavements are cooler. If the tarmac is too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws.
- Always carry fresh water on walks.
- Never leave a dog in a parked car — temperatures can reach dangerous levels within minutes, even on a cloudy day.
- Watch for signs of heatstroke: excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, or collapse. If you suspect heatstroke, move your dog to a cool area, apply cool (not cold) water, and contact your vet immediately.
Rabbits & Small Animals
- Move hutches and runs into the shade during the hottest part of the day (11am–3pm).
- Freeze water bottles wrapped in a towel for pets to lean against.
- Ensure constant access to fresh water — check bottles and bowls twice daily in summer.
- Damp ceramic tiles placed in the enclosure give rabbits and guinea pigs a cool surface to rest on.
- Watch for flystrike — a serious and potentially fatal condition where flies lay eggs on rabbits, particularly in warm weather. Check your rabbit's rear end daily and keep their living area clean.
As a 5-star licensed rabbitry and home of Hebburn Bunnies, rabbit welfare is close to our hearts. If you have any concerns about your rabbit this summer, don't hesitate to come in and chat with us.
🌿 Outdoor Safety for Dogs
- Grass seeds are a hidden summer hazard. These tiny seeds can burrow into paws, ears, and eyes — check your dog thoroughly after walks through long grass.
- Toxic plants are more abundant in summer. Keep dogs away from foxgloves, ragwort, and blue-green algae in ponds and lakes.
- BBQ hazards — cooked bones, corn cobs, onions, and grapes are all dangerous for dogs. Keep them well away from the grill area.
- Paddling pools can be great enrichment for dogs that enjoy water — just supervise at all times and empty after use to prevent mosquito breeding.
🐇 Summer Enrichment for Small Animals
Longer days mean more opportunity for enrichment — and our small animal section (which takes up 50% of our shop floor!) is packed with ideas:
- Scatter feeding encourages natural foraging behaviour in rabbits and guinea pigs.
- Fresh herbs like basil, mint, and parsley make great summer treats (in moderation).
- Tunnels, digging boxes, and willow toys provide mental stimulation on hot days when outdoor time is limited.
- For birds, misting with a light water spray can help them cool down and doubles as enrichment.
Visit Us This Summer
Our team at North East Pets, Hebburn is always happy to give advice tailored to your pets. Whether you need help choosing a flea treatment, finding the right cooling product, or just want to browse our huge small animal section — come in and say hello. We'll even put the kettle on! ☕
Have a wonderful summer from all of us at North East Pets. 🐾