no matter where you are in the world, if you’re experiencing hot weather, we’d like to remind you of a few things to keep your pets safe in summer.
The pavement is often 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. Yesterday in Seattle, it was 87 degrees. The pavement, however, got up to 110 degrees. If you’re out walking your dog, please stick to grassy areas and stay in the shade as much as possible. Walk in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. Do not leave your dog on a concrete patio without shade. The temperature in cars is often also 20 degrees hotter, even with the windows rolled down or in the shade. Do not leave your pets in the car in warm weather.
Make sure pets who are indoors have plenty of access to clean water. They will need extra hydration in the heat. If you don’t have air conditioning, leave a fan running on extra hot days. Do not leave your pets outside without access to lots of shade and lots of water.
Watch your animals for signs of heat exhaustion. If you have a high energy dog that needs exercise, do it in the early morning or the late evening when temperatures have cooled. Signs of heat exhaustion can include excessive hard panting, dry, hot noses, unsteady gait and thick saliva when they drool. Short nosed breeds like pugs and bulldogs can overheat very easily and must be watched closely. If you think you see signs of heat exhaustion, move your dog to a cooler location immediately. You can use a cold washcloth to help bring their body temperature down. If symptoms persist, call your vet.
A kiddy pool is a great way for dogs to cool off. You can fill it with just a bit of water in the bottom so that the dogs can lie down and cool off when they need to. You can also spray your dog down with the hose if they like that. Some dogs like to catch the spray too. If your dog needs some more exercise, running through the sprinkler with your family may cool all of you off!
You can also make ‘dogsicles’ out of low-sodium chicken broth. Just put the broth in an ice cube tray and then feed as treats on those sweltering days. Summer is a great time to spend lots of time with our pets and by following these few simple guidelines, you can make sure it’s happy, safe summer for everyone!
