Summertime is here! Rover is sure to be as excited about it as you are. Sunny days are full of opportunities for you and your dog to have a great time together. Whatever activity you decide on, it is a wise idea to avoid doing it in the hottest times of the day. Here are a few more tips to make sure that you and Sandy make the best out of your summer fun, in a safe way.
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- Take your dog swimming – Most dogs take to the water naturally. One fun idea is to take a kiddie pool and fill it with water for your dog, putting it in a shaded area. This will provide relief from the heat and will be fun for him to run in and out of. You can also set up a lawn sprinkler for Fido to run through. If you take him swimming in an adult-sized pool, never leave him unattended.
- Keep your dog cool – Try freezing water in 2-liter bottles and putting them in your dog’s crate. You can also buy him a cooling mat, which will be refreshing for him to lay on. Feed him frozen dog treats. Cool him off by spraying water on him or placing cool towels on his head and chest.
- Watch out for hot pavement – During the hot part of the day, play with your dog in the grass, rather than on the hot pavement where it is hot enough to fry an egg.
- Look for signs of heat exhaustion – Don’t overdo it when it comes to exercise. Some dogs are so excited about playing fetch that they won’t stop playing until they may suffer from heat exhaustion. Signs of heat exhaustion include red gums, panting excessively, being tired-looking, dehydration and excessive thirst.
- Give your dog plenty of shade – Many people don’t realize that dogs can actually get a sunburn. It typically happens on their nose and ears. Apply sunscreen that is specially formulated for dogs and provide shade for your dog if they are in an open kennel.
- Prevent dehydration – Whether outdoors or indoors, provide your dog with plenty of fresh, cold water. Go ahead and put out several bowls in different places. You can put ice cubes in the water or freeze chicken broth to get your dog to take in more fluids. Another way to do this is to feed your dog wet food during the summertime.
- See if your dog needs a trim – If you have a longhaired dog, give them a trim or consider shaving them if they are a breed that calls for it.
- Keep dogs away from fireworks – Dogs and fireworks just don’t mix together. This is important to remember as the Fourth of July approaches. More than 20% of dogs experience severe adverse reactions when fireworks are present. There are more dogs that run away on July 4 than on any other day of the year.
- Take him along on family outings – Perhaps you are going to a summer concert where you will be laying out on the grass in the park. Or, you are going to your child’s soccer game or on a family picnic. This is the perfect time to bring him along. Be sure to bring along a crate if your dog isn’t obedience trained.