The summer is hot, so here’s 5 heat safety tips for you and your dog!
There’s nothing quite like a bright sunny day to inspire you to get outside and enjoy the weather. Whether heading down to the beach, going for a hike or relaxing in the shade, there’s something for everyone to do when the sun’s out.
While on most sunny days your dog can accompany you, some days are just too hot.
To help you keep your dog safe on those kind of days, check out these heat safety tips for you and your dog:
1. Keep your home cool
It’s important to keep your home cool for your dog so that they have somewhere to escape from the heat. Air conditioners or central air are both great ways to keeping your home cool. If you don’t have either, you can create a space for your dog in a cool part of your home, like the basement.
If you have a bed or blanket in their crate, you can take that out to help them stay cool.
Another popular solution is to get your dog a cooling mat. These mats are designed to stay cool, even when your dog lies on it. Our dogs didn’t really take to the cooling mat, but I would say it’s worth a try! You can usually find these mats at pet stores and some superstores.
Whatever solution you choose, your dog will be grateful to have a place they can relax in comfort.
2. Water is key
I’ve mentioned this before in my previous blog about hot weather tips, and I’ll say it again- water is key!
Dehydration is common for animals and humans alike when the weather is hot. It’s so important to make sure your dog stays hydrated, especially since they can’t tell us when they’re dehydrated.
Make sure their water bowl is always full. You can even throw some ice cubes in the bowl to keep the water nice and cool.
When you take your dog out, bring a water bottle and a collapsable bowl or small plastic container. Every 15 minutes or less, offer water and rub some on your dog’s belly to keep them cool. When walking Isla, I watch for when her tongue hangs out of her mouth and make sure to offer water right away.
The American Kennel Club has a great article about the signs of dehydration in dogs, and how to check to make sure your pup is hydrated.
3. Check the weather report
When the weather network issues a heat warning, you can be sure that it’s too hot to be outside with your dog. We have the option to keep cool by wearing lighter clothes, but keep in mind that dogs are stuck with the fur they’ve got!
If you have a yard, try to keep outdoor time to that area. This way, your dog has easy access to your cooled home and water.
Walks should be restricted to early morning and late evening, because of the heat from the sun and the heat of the pavement.
As a kid, I remember the pain of accidentally stepping on a hot sidewalk in the summertime and it didn’t feel very nice. When going for a walk, check the sidewalk before heading out with your dog by placing your palm or bare foot on it for 5 seconds. If it feels uncomfortable, avoid walking until a later time in the day.
4. Keep activity at a low
When the weather is hot, it may be tempting to go out and play a game of fetch with your dog.
While this sounds nice, it poses a real risk of overheating. Some dogs can get really excited about games and don’t realize they’re overheating until it’s too late.
Instead of a game of fetch outside, try some lower impact activities like a scavenger hunt or obedience training. If your home is a cooler temperature, you can also take playtime indoors instead.
5. Leave your dog at home
While we all love to spend time with our dogs, sometimes the best thing to do is leave them at home. It’s sad to leave them behind, but when it comes to hot days, it’s usually for the best.
It’s really important to keep an eye on your dog on hot days, and when going out (especially to an event), that becomes more challenging.
Instead of putting you both through the stress of safety in the heat, you can leave your pup at home with a tasty cold treat to enjoy in your absence.
While it may be too hot to go out today, there’ll always be a cooler day to enjoy with your pup soon! In the mean time, make sure you employ some heat safety tips to keep cool.