As promised, here is the next seasonal update for your pets. The Summertime is a fantastic season to be in Bermuda with it’s warm island breezes and long lazy days. The water temperature is perfect for a swim and barbecues are a weekend necessity.

But there are a few hazards to this season for our pets, so here is a quick reminder of the things to watch out for.

The heat and humidity have increased noticeably in the last few days and the middle part of the day has already become too hot to walk our dogs.

Early morning or late evening now become our only options, making sure you carry plenty of iced water and stay in the shady areas.

The ground temperature gets very hot for their paw pads and if you want to know how this feels for them, take off your shoes and stand with your bare feet for five seconds.

If you are still comfortable after this time, then it’s OK for your dog to walk there.

If not, you will likely burn your dog’s paw pads if you continue. If it’s too hot for you, it is definitely too hot for them.

Many of us cool our pets down with a nice swim in the ocean.

Lots of dogs love this activity, but they can also overheat in the water so make sure to give them regular rests in the shade and lots of iced water to drink.

If they take in too much salty water, it can cause nausea and vomiting so again, give them frequent breaks.

Watch out for jelly fish when swimming in the ocean. Our pups can get a nasty sting from them, which can often result in a visit with the vet.

Even dead jellys can sting so try to prevent your dog poking with them if you can.

The hotter, more humid weather brings more flies, which can be a real problem to our outdoor living bunnies and guinea pigs.

Their fecal matter attracts flies which in turn lay eggs around the rear of the animals, which then become maggots.

This is called flystrike, and can be life threatening if left untreated.

There are excellent products to protect from this so speak with your vet about them.

Also keep their enclosures very clean, removing all waste to reduce the attraction of flies. Prevention is definitely better than cure with this problem.

Be careful with BBQ food. I can’t tell you the number of rib bones and corn cobs I have surgically removed from pets.

Make sure you dispose of food safely so your pets can’t get to them.

Many of us take a holiday over the summer, leaving our pets with house sitters.

It is always nice to keep them in their own home with their usual routine to prevent health issues occurring whilst you are away.

But be sure to let your house sitter know the name and number of your vet should they need them. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

The summer in Bermuda is wonderful, so let’s make sure our animals have just as much fun as we do and stay happy and healthy throughout the whole of the hot season.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda