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As the summer months approach, it’s important to keep your dog safe from the heat. With temperatures rising, it can be difficult for dogs to stay cool and comfortable. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to make sure your pup stays healthy and happy during the hot summer months. Here are 10 tips for keeping your dog safe this summer:
- Provide a Cool Place for Hot Dogs: Make sure your pup has access to a cool place where they can relax and escape the heat. This could be indoors with air conditioning or in a shady spot outdoors. Doghouses are not ideal as they tend to trap in heat, so try to find an area with plenty of shade and ventilation.
- Give Your Dog Plenty of Water: It’s essential that your pup has access to plenty of fresh water at all times, especially during the hot summer months. Make sure their water bowl is always full and consider adding ice cubes or cold water to help them stay hydrated throughout the day.
- Avoid Excessive Exercise: During the hottest parts of the day, try to avoid taking your pup out for long walks or runs as this can cause them to overheat quickly. If you do need to exercise them, stick to early morning or late evening when it’s cooler outside and make sure you bring plenty of water along with you on your walk.
- Watch Out For Hot Pavement: When walking your pup on hot days, be aware of how hot the pavement is before letting them walk on it barefoot as this can cause burns on their paws very quickly! If possible, try walking on grassy areas instead or invest in some booties for extra protection against hot surfaces.
- Monitor Their Temperature: It’s important that you monitor your pup’s temperature during hot days as overheating can be dangerous for dogs if left unchecked. You should check their temperature regularly by feeling their ears and nose – if these areas feel overly warm then it may be time for a break in a cool spot!
- Beware Of Heat Stroke: Heat stroke is a serious condition that can occur when dogs become too hot and unable to regulate their body temperature properly – signs include excessive panting, drooling, vomiting, lethargy and collapse so if you notice any of these symptoms then seek veterinary attention immediately!
- Use Sunscreen: Just like humans, dogs can get sunburned too – especially those with light-colored fur or thin coats! To protect against sunburns use pet-safe sunscreen (available from most pet stores) on exposed areas such as noses and ears before heading outdoors into direct sunlight – just make sure it doesn’t contain any ingredients that could be toxic if licked off by curious pups!
- Keep An Eye On Older Dogs: Older dogs are more susceptible to heatstroke due to age-related changes in their bodies so make sure you keep an extra close eye on them during hot weather – provide plenty of breaks in cool spots throughout the day and watch out for any signs of distress such as excessive panting or lethargy which could indicate overheating!
- Invest In A Pool Or Sprinkler: If you have space in your yard then why not invest in a pool or sprinkler? Not only will this provide hours of fun but it will also give your pup a chance to cool down whenever they need it – just make sure they’re supervised at all times while playing near water!
- Know The Warning Signs Of Heat Stroke : As mentioned above , heat stroke is very serious so knowing what warning signs look like is key . These include excessive panting , drooling , vomiting , lethargy , collapse , confusion , seizures , coma and even death . If you notice any of these symptoms then seek veterinary attention immediately !