In the sweltering heat of the summer season, humans head to beaches or lakes, enjoy cold drinks, ice cream, fans, air conditioning, or anything else they can find to keep cool. While our pups have the same needs as humans to stay hydrated, safe and cool in the warmer weather, they may not always be able to tell us, so we need to watch over them carefully. But beating the heat through the dog days of summer can actually be fun for your pet.
Here are a few ways to keep your pet cool and happy, and also active despite the high temperatures…
Keep Dogs Cool Outdoors
After being cooped up all winter, humans and their pups can’t wait to venture outside – even on the hottest of days. If you must get outside on the extra steamy days, make sure you bring your pup plenty of cool, clean water to rehydrate, access to shade to get out of the hot sun, and time outs from chasing the ball to avoid overheating.
It’s also important to check the temperature of the sidewalk/street before you head out. If it feels too hot when you press the back of your hand against it, it’ll be too hot for your dog’s paws.
While some dog breeds just can’t get enough of the water, when the sun is shining most dogs will find their way into the wet to keep cool and refreshed. From small pet-sized pools to a sprinkler or splash pad, there are lots of fun ways for pups to keep cool and beat the heat. Wearing wet bandanas or t-shirts, dog cooling vests or snoozing on a cooling mat are also great choices, and there are many additional options out there!
Cool Them from the Inside Out
What pup doesn’t appreciate a treat? While the heat is on, take advantage of all the great recipes to create delicious cold or frozen treats for your favorite four-legged friend to keep them cool. Check out some of our favorite frozen treat recipes here to get you started or create your own pupscicles using some of their favorite healthy ingredients.
Caring for our pets is a daily act of love, but it is important to keep an extra eye on our pups during the hot days of summer. While you may not immediately sense how the weather may be affecting your pet, a good GPS pet location and activity tracker can notify you of extreme temperatures with alerts as an added safety feature.
Heatstroke can make dogs very sick, very fast, so it’s important to know the signs to look out for. If your dog is lethargic, panting excessively or generally not acting like themselves, it’s time to cool them off, give them small sips of water and monitor. If they don’t start to improve, contact your vet immediately for advice.
While most pups would never say no to playtime, humans need to take the lead and pause the play for them with frequent breaks. For additional information on keeping your pet cool and safe in the summer, check with your local vet, or visit the ASPCA for more.
