Heat Safety And Your Dog: Keeping Cool
The summer heat can bring with it a whole new set of risks for your furry friend. Heat related conditions are totally real and common in canines. Injury, sickness and death due to extreme heat are almost always avoidable. Here are some tips to keep your dog cool and out of harm’s way in the dog days of summer.
Do
Do walk your dog in the evening, or early morning when it’s not too hot and your pet won’t suffer from heat related conditions. Your dog will rapidly get dehydrated in the heat and the pavement can get painfully hot on their paws. If you’ve got no option other than to take your dog out during the heat, do not stay out for long and take frequent stops for water. Stay in the shade as much as feasible and pay attention to your dog for indications of discomfort.
Do maintain regular grooming. Your pet will be much more comfy and less susceptible to heat related illness if they’ve a nice cool haircut. If you have a long-haired dog, a long, ungroomed coat can feel a bit like wearing a parka in the middle of the summer. On the flip-side, be careful not to trim the fur too short or your dog can get sunburned.
Do be on the lookout for insects, especially the ones that bite and sting. Many dogs will chase bees and wasps and end up on the wrong end of a stinger. Keep an emergency kit on hand and supervise as much as possible when outside. Fleas and ticks are particularly present during the summer months so it’s really important to be up to date heartworm shots and flea and tick prevention.
Do Not
Do not leave your dog alone in the vehicle. This is a gigantic no-no and yet each year you hear about more cases of dogs suffering and dying due to this sort of negligence. It’s a generally known fact it takes only minutes for your parked car to turn into an oven. Even with the windows cracked it can be particularly unhealthy and even deadly for your pet. It’s best to leave your dog at home in the air conditioning. If you have to go out without your pet leave them in a cool part of the house. You can use extra wide pet gates or freestanding pet gates to create a penned area or block a wide opening in your house to keep your dog cool.
Do not let your dog ride in the back of a pick-up truck. This is risky for your pet at any time of year. A single bump or jolt can send your dog flying, resulting in injury or death. In the heat of the summer, the sun beating down on your dog, exposed in the back can be lethal. It is never worth the risk.
Pamela Noble writes articles on pet care for BabyAndPetGates.com. You can find more information on pet safety products on the Baby and Pet Gates website.
