With rising temperatures, it is critical to keep your four-legged friend’s safety in mind and take some precautions to keep him happy and comfortable, and to avoid the risk of heatstroke this summer.
Here are some important things you need to check
Follow your pet’s lead
The number one sign that a dog’s temperature is getting high is fatigue. If you find your pet looking out for a shady spot to lie down, then he is certainly feeling too hot. You should carry him back to a cooler location and check his body temperature right away.
If the temperature is too warm for you, it’s too warm for your pet as well
If you can’t sit out for a long time outside because of the heat, then it’s too hot for your pet as well. Don’t force your pet to be outdoors for extended periods in hot/warm weather. Pets get too hot even at temperatures as low as 80 degrees.
Change your walking time
Of course, exercise is important for our pets but in the summer, walks are best taken in the early hours of the morning, or after sunset.
Related Blog: Are you walking your dog right?
Groom with care
Grooming sessions are important for our pets to keep them clean and healthy. But remember, the hair on their body helps them regulate their body temperature. So never shave your pet or cut its hair too short, even in the summer.
Offer them some ice
Humans indulge on ice cream and other cool treats during summer and pets enjoy cool treats too. Put some ice cubes in your pet’s water dish or offer her an ice cube as a treat on a hot day.
Related Blog: 5 Ice Treat Recipes Your Dog Will Love
Pet-friendly insect repellents
If you’re headed outdoors and want to protect yourself and your pet from insects, it’s best to use repellents that don’t contain chemicals that are harmful to your pet. Talk to your vet about what to avoid and consider using botanical oils and other natural substances to ward off horse flies, mosquitoes and other insects, common during summer.
Don’t go for walks in extreme temps
Your pet isn’t going to enjoy a walk if it is too hot, too wet, or too cold outside. Consider the temperatures and conditions and either skip your daily walk, shorten it, or take it at a different time of day when the temperature and conditions are more comfortable.
Never leave your dog in a parked car
Parked cars are the worst culprits for causing heatstroke in pets. The temperature inside a car or RV will quickly rise to as much as two times higher than the outside temperature, even with a window open or in the shade. Never leave your pet unattended for any length of time in a vehicle in which the temperature can’t be controlled and monitored.
Related Blog: Why not to leave your pets alone in an RV?
Allow water playtime
It can be fun and beneficial for your dog to set up a baby pool in which she can cool off or to allow her to cool off in the sprinklers on a hot day. Where it is safe to do so, you can also let your pet cool off in a stream or pond. Use good judgment here of course and never allow your pet to get into swiftly moving water or stagnant/standing water where she could contract a waterborne illness such as giardia.
Cool the tummy
When your pet is hot you will notice he seeks out cool surfaces to lie on. That’s because keeping his tummy cool makes his entire body cooler. If your pet is too hot, allow him access to a cool surface to rest – or place a cool towel on his tummy to help him cool off. Of course, the best way to care for your pet is to never let him get overheated in the first place.
Follow these tips and keep your pet comfortable and safe and cool all summer long.
