Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog! Let’s not get TOO hot, dog!
- Provide a constant supply of fresh water.
Dogs and cats can quickly dehydrate, so make sure your pet has plenty of fresh, clean water at all times. If your pet will be outside in the heat, he should have access to complete shade and a generous supply of drinking water.
- Schedule exercise sessions for the coolest part of the day.
Exercise your dog in the morning or evening during the coolest temperatures of the day, and stay in the shade whenever possible.
- Don’t over-exercise your pet in the heat.
Long periods of exercise in hot weather, even after the sun goes down, can bring on heatstroke. This is especially apparent in flat-faced dogs (i.e. Bulldogs) that typically pant less effectively than other breeds.
- Never leave your pet alone in a parked vehicle on a hot day.
Your vehicle can become a heat trap very quickly, even with the windows open; it can cause a fatal case of heatstroke in your pet.
- Make sure your dog can swim before he goes in the water.
Not all dogs instinctively know how to swim. Introduce your dog to water gradually, always under supervision, and always wearing a floatation device.
- Keep your dog cool if he must be outside in the heat.
Have a sprinkler on for him to play in or hose him down with cool water if he must stay outside on a hot day.
- Keep your pets off hot surfaces at all times.
Don’t subject your pet’s feet to hot pavement or access to your hot BBQ. This can result in burns to their tender paws.
Although simple, these steps can ensure that your pets stay happy, healthy, and COOL this summer.
Written by Breah Russell, CCR
