How Can You Help Your Dog Beat The Heat?
As summer temperatures begin to rise, now is a good time to put some safety precautions in place to help your dog beat the heat…
Something that many people may not think about is that when it comes to hot weather, dogs, unlike humans, don’t have a built in cooling system. They don’t sweat through their skin, allowing them to cool down, rather they sweat through glands in their paws. So it’s easy for them to become overheated, get heat exhaustion and even suffer a heat stroke.
It’s up to you to help your pup get through the summer heat comfortably and safely.
Tips to help keep your dog cool when it’s hot outside…
First and foremost, Fido should always have access to clean, fresh water. If you are outside and away from home, you’ll probably take water for yourself, be sure you take some for your dog as well. Without plenty of water, Fido could easily become dehydrated.
- Cool water is definitely preferred over room temperature, adding an ice cube or two can cool it down nicely.
- This should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway…NEVER leave your dog in the car, even if the windows are left open a bit. Your car can be 20° hotter inside than it is outside. If you are going somewhere that you can’t take your dog with you, the safe thing is to leave him/her home.
- If your dog is outside a lot, make sure he has access to plenty of shade throughout the day. If Fido has a dog house, don’t consider that a place for shade and cooling off, inside his dog house, which has no air flow, can get hotter than the outside temperature.
Let your pup do a little splashing…he will not only enjoy playing in the sprinkler, but will also have fun in a plastic kiddie pool. (A word of warning, don’t leave him alone in the pool, be on hand to play with and supervise him.)- Grooming your dog properly during the summer months is an important precaution…many people think if they shave their dog’s coat off it will help keep them more comfortable. But that isn’t the case, too short of a coat may lead to sunburn, and some dogs’ coats actually help regulate their body temperature, acting as insulation and helping restrict excess heat from getting to them. Brush your dog’s coat well to get the winter undercoat off, and maybe just a small trim to remove excess hair.
- If you want to take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood, be sure to check the temperature of the pavement to make sure it’s not going to burn his paws. You should touch the sidewalk with your hand for a few seconds…if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for him.
- We all enjoy a nice frozen popsicle or ice cream now and then, and so will Fido. Treats that are not only cold, but good for him are: dog-friendly ice cream (found at pet stores), banana popsicles, frozen broth cubes, frozen peanut butter and frozen yogurt.
- Bring your dog to BowWow Fun Towne for a nice refreshing swim in our full size swimming pool.
Have a great summer!
We are experts in dog day care, and we care about your dog and take their health and well-being seriously – We have a Puppy Preschool that would be great to enroll your pup in! Our facility features a full size swimming pool for fun and exercise.
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