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Everyone looks forward to summertime, even your dogs, but to ensure that they too have an enjoyable and healthy summer one needs to make sure that certain precautions are taken. Hot weather could be dangerous for dogs but in order for dogs to enjoy what they normally do and to maintain a normal exercise regime one needs to plan the care of their furry pets more carefully.
The heat and the risks
As warm weather is the time when insects such as ticks and fleas come out, you should speak to your local veterinarian to find the right treatment for your dog in order to prevent these parasites. Just like humans, dogs might tend to eat less in the summer time, so you should feed them twice a day, but not after exercise. As dehydration is also rampant this time of year, a good idea is moisten your dog’s food a bit more and always make sure that they have access to a clean bowl of water at all times.
Oscar Pet Foods have also urged owners to learn the symptoms of a heat stroke in dogs. When dehydrated they will pant excessively, their saliva will increase, they will become sluggish and in extremely bad cases they may suffer from diarrhoea and vomiting. If your dog shows signs of any of these symptoms, you need to get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Elderly, sickly and overweight dogs also tend to be more at risk during hot weather. In order to keep your dog healthy, you need to make sure that they have access to shade and cool areas and they shouldn’t be left out in the sun for long periods of time.
How to help your dog
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A great way to exercise your dog without exposing them to too glare of the sunlight is to get a paddling pool. But first make sure that you train your dog to be able to get in and out of the pool successfully. This a good way to make sure that your dog gets the exercise that they need while still having fun. If you are planning to take your dog for a walk it is a good idea for you to do it in the early morning and evening when it is still cool or else take your dog for walks in shaded places like forests or places with ponds for your dog to splash in. In order to make this summer extra special for both you and your dog you need to take these precautions into consideration and work out the ideal way to adapt your pet to this change in climate.
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