Top 5 Summer Tips for Dogs

Top 5 Summer Tips for Dogs

Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in a hot car

Okay, youve probably heard this one before, but its so important that we still decided to list it first. It can take minutes yes, MINUTES for a pet to develop heat stroke and suffocate in a car. Most people dont realize how hot it gets in parked cars. On a 78 degree day, for instance,    temperatures in a car can reach 90 degrees in the shade and top 160 degrees if parked directly in the sun! Your best bet is to leave your dog home on warm days. If youre driving around with your dog in the car, bring water and a water dish and take your dog with you when you leave the car.

 

Make sure your dog is protected from parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes

If not protected, your dog is at risk for heart worm, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and a host of other nasty and dangerous conditions. And dont forget, many of these diseases can be caught by people too!

 

Keep your dog's paws cool

When the sun is cooking, surfaces like asphalt or metal can get really hot! Try to keep your pet  off of hot asphalt; not only can it burn paws, but it can also increase body temperature and lead to overheating. It’s also not a good idea to drive around with your dog in the bed of a truck –   the hot metal can burn paws quickly (and they can fall out to be injured or killed in an accident).

 

Your dog should always have access to fresh drinking water and shade

Our dogs get much thirstier than we do when they get hot, and other than panting and drinking,   they really have no way to cool themselves down. Keep your pet in the shade as often as possible. While dogs and cats like to sunbathe, direct sunlight can overheat them (especially dogs) and cause heat stroke.

 

Give your dog his very own "kiddy pool”

Dogs who love the water, naturally love it even more during the hot months, and getting wet keeps them cool. Providing a small, kid-sized pool will go over big.

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