Healthy Reminders to Prepare Your Dog for Summer
While most people love summer for all it represents – warmth, long days and loads of fun – it can also be a serious season when it comes to extreme temperatures and the dangers that could evoke, especially when it comes to our pets. Summer can be a wonderful time for both you and canine, however do not take the freedom of summer for granted. It is important to plan for a comfortable environment for your dog and to stay on top of the weather patterns and forecast. One missed step could lead to a serious health risks with your beloved pet. Look at some of these healthy tips to keep your dog safe, cool and enjoying the summer months as much as you do!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
When it is hot outside, you sweat out a lot of your hydration and need to refuel your body – the same goes for our pets. It is extremely important to always have fresh, cool drinking water available for your pets, but even more important during the heat of summer. By keeping your dog hydrated, you can help beat off heat exhaustion and keep his internal organs running smoothly.
Shade is Necessary
If your dog must be outdoors in the summertime, it is important to have a place for him to hide away from the sun’s UV rays that are beating down on him. This can be the shade of a tree, a covered patio, a pergola or even a makeshift tent made of a sheet. Just allow your pup a shady place to retreat and cool off! This would be the ideal place to leave your dog’s food and fresh drinking water to help it remain cool as well!
Know the Forecast
It is important to stay on top of the forecast so you know what type of weather elements your dog will be dealing with outside. Will it be 100+ degrees or 98 percent humidity in the air? By knowing what to expect you can make a better judgment call as to if your dog really needs to be outside or if you need to make a trip to doggy daycare if you must be away from home for an extended time. Knowing the forecast is extremely important if you have a flat-faced dog as they have trouble regulating their body temperatures in extreme weather conditions.
Flea & Tick Prevention
The summer months provide more opportunities for getting out. Make sure you act appropriately to protect your dog from insects like fleas and ticks – you will be glad and your dog thanks you ahead of time!
Non-Toxic Lawn & Garden Products
If you are trying to improve the look of your landscape do your research ahead of time to ensure you are not using any products like fertilizer, pest control or weed killer that could end up being hazardous to your pup. Also, make sure that your plants are also dog friendly as some can be dangerous to Fido.
Remember Your Pet
If you like taking your dog for trips in the car make sure you only take him when you can actually bring your dog inside on the errands you are running. Cars are notorious for becoming extremely hot in the summertime. Even with the windows down, the car can become so hot it begins cooking whatever is left inside. Be good to your dog and leave him at home, or take him in.
This post is brought to you by the Dog Blog Party Campaign hosted by the dog containment systems people.
This post authored by: Susan Wright, DMV is a practicing veterinarian with more than a decade of experience. Susan’s heart goes into providing quality care to family pets. Dr. Wright is a writer and expert on wireless dog fence.
