Make sure your dog is protected from parasites like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes – be sure that your dog’s prescription matches his weight for the correct dosage!
Never, ever, EVER leave your dog in a hot car: Also important to remember is that your car insulates heat. So, if the outdoor temperature is 85 degrees and it’s cloudy outside and you’ve got two windows open about 1 inch each – your indoor car temperature will soar to 108 degrees after only 10 MINUTES!
Your dog should always have access to fresh drinking water and shade
Keep your dog’s paws cool: dip foot pads into cool water to help bring down body temperatures after an outing. I usually fill a kiddie pool with a few inches of water for the dogs to step into before and after outings. Hosing down the dogs helps too!
Exercise during the coolest time of day – early morning and evening: Walk along shady sidewalks, grass or dirt paths and NEVER on blacktops.
Dehydration Symptoms: Dehydrated dogs display a dry nose and mouth, eyes that are sunken and dry, and loose, flabby skin that doesn’t snap back into place when gently tugged.
Heat Exhaustion Symptoms: Swollen tongue, cloudy eyes, excessive panting and white or gray gums are all signs of heat exhaustion. A dog left in a car for only five minutes can suffer heat stroke. If left untreated, the dog will die.
Great Must Haves:
Cool Wrap Bandanas: https://www.amazon.com/Novel-Brands-Cooling-Collar-Medium/dp/B01DMG6QWE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527790781&sr=8-1&keywords=k9+chill+cooling+collar
Portable, Collapsible Travel Bowls: https://www.amazon.com/Ansi-Home-Portable-Collapsible-Expandable/dp/B0746HSRKK/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527790864&sr=1-6&keywords=dog+travel+bowls
Floatable Fetch Balls: https://www.amazon.com/YUSEN-Floatable-Retrieve-Virtually-Indestructible/dp/B06W59YRTH/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1527790998&sr=1-7&keywords=floatable+dog+toys
And Last but Not Least…Snakes:
Snakes naturally avoid large predators such as humans, cats, and dogs and will only strike if they feel threatened. If you come upon a snake, give it plenty of room and it will usually move on. Do not allow your pet to approach the snake. Keep your pet on a leash and on open paths and avoid holes, tall grass and rocky areas, as these are natural habitats of snakes. Cottonmouth lives in marshes, streams, and ditches so be vigilant in these areas.
Preventing heat exhaustion or stroke is key to keeping your pups safe in the summer heat. Avoid the hottest times of day and take your pup on several short walks instead a really long one. Remember to provide plenty of cool water in cool well-ventilated areas and keep dog crates away from direct sunlit windows.
Exercising your pups is important but not at the expense of safety. So, alternatives to a hot walk are a visit to the lake, a short, shady early morning hike and even a trot on the treadmill!
Have a wonderful, Safe Summer!
Woof! Elaine