WITH the weather reaching record-breaking heats over the last few weeks, it is important to make sure we take care of our dogs to prevent our beloved dogs getting heatstroke.
Heatstroke affects tens of thousands of dogs every year in the UK, this can result in your pup being out of action for a few days, unplanned veterinary bills and in worst instances even resulting in the loss of a loved one.
Here are some top tips, researched into by Heat Insulation, to keep your pup safe and comfortable in hot weather.
Get to know your dog!
Knowing the needs and requirements of your dog is always important, especially during the summer! Dogs don’t sweat all over and instead use respiration such as panting to cool down, unfortunately, snub-nosed dogs such as pugs have sweat glands in their feet and cannot pant as efficiently as dogs with longer snouts. Black dogs, due to their colour are more heat absorbent and therefore have a larger risk of heatstroke as well as dogs with thicker coats.
Hydration
If you take your dog out, make sure you have some water in a bottle or container to make sure that your dog does end up dehydrated. You should also make sure that at home there is water for your dog and it can even be a great idea to have multiple bowls. On hotter days placing ice cubes in the bowl can be a much nicer alternative for your dog so it doesn’t have to drink hot water.
Ice treats
Keeping in mind of allergies and what your dog can and cannot eat there are many little snacks you can make for your dog to ensure they’re happy and cool!
Frozen treats for your dog can be as simple as freezing fruits, meat, and bones! Most dogs love ice and there are plenty of toys made to fill and freeze which you can grab to help keep your dog cool while playing and exercising during the summer!
Pool party
Little paddling pools are great cheap ways for dogs to cool down. Dogs shouldn’t be left alone with pools, however, there are many ways to make it fun for the both of you! Why not grab some toys to throw and watch them bundle after or even grab a hose or water pistol and watch them darting about trying to catch the water
Keeping a cool house
Having a cool house gives your dog an area to keep shaded and cool down, not everyone has aircon but luckily the best spot for this is in the northernmost room in the house due to it getting the least amount of sun during the day.
Avoid exercising during midday
Exercising at the hottest points of the day is a big no, no. Firstly, at the hottest points of the day the sun has been heating the floor up which can make it unbearable for your dog to walk on and even severely burn their paws. Secondly, if the heat is uncomfortable for you it is also uncomfortable for your dog, especially if you’re getting them to run around playing and exercising.
Dress For the weather
You can get many different styles of boots, shoes, and socks to help protect your dog’s paws and keep them clean, however it is important to make sure you research the attire before putting it on your dog as some shoes are purely aesthetic and can cause your dog more pain than comfort! There are also protective and cooling jackets. Some jackets are made to hold on to water and help cool off your dog in a similar way to us sweating.
Sun cream
It is also a good idea to use things like moisturisers or waxes to help protect your dog’s bare paws to help protect them from injury and keeping them in tip-top condition, as well as regularly checking them to make sure any injuries are cleaned out to ensure they are as least painful as they can be.
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