You know how warm you feel on a hot summer day. Now imagine how your pet feels covered in fur in those temperatures! There are lots of ways to help your pet enjoy the summer, while staying safe and cool.
Never leave your pet alone in the car. Not even for a minute. Not even with the air conditioning on or with the window down. Temperatures inside a car can soar to over 100 degrees in minutes. And that can be extremely dangerous for your pet. Keep your pet at home, where they can nap in air conditioning.
Consider getting your dog a hard plastic kiddie pool! Always supervise them when they are playing in it. If you take your dog swimming in a large pool or body of water, consider using a life jacket, and be sure to rinse off chlorine, salt and sand afterwards.
Exercise your pup in the early morning or evening, so that they aren’t running around outside during the hottest part of the day. Hot pavement can hurt their paw pads, and the high temperatures can lead to heat stroke (a dangerous condition requiring immediate veterinary care when a pet is too hot).
If your pet is playing outside, make sure they have shade to lay in, a bowl of cold water (add a few ice cubes to make it more fun!), and a towel to lay on.
Keep up with grooming, to ensure your pet doesn’t get too hot in the summer, and to remove any mats or knots.
SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE IN A DOG
- Heavy panting
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive thirst
- Acting tired & not wanting to move
- Dizziness & a lack of coordination
- Lots of drooling
- Vomiting
What should you do if you think your dog is suffering from heatstroke?
- Get him into shade or air conditioning.
- Give a bowl of cold water and ice.
- Call your veterinarian right away.
