Summer Safety Tips

Although summer is officially a few months away, things are certainly warming up, especially in some areas, so I thought this was a good time to post this.

Hot days can be dangerous and even fatal to dogs. Here are some tips on how to keep your dog safe in the sun, fun and heat.

• Never leave them in the car on a hot day, even for a few minutes. On an 82 degree day, the inside of a car can heat up to 109 degrees in a matter of minutes.
• Monitor their time in the sun, especially if they have dark or thin fur. Dogs can get sunburned, heat stroke and heat exhaustion just like humans. Give them breaks in the shade so that they don’t get sick from too much sun. Watch for signs of stress- excessive panting, disorientation, staring, anxious expressions or weakness. If you notice any of these, get them to a vet immediately.
• Always have water with you and offer it to them regularly to prevent dehydration.
• If you’re taking them on a boat with you, have them wear a life jacket. Having them wear booties with grips on the soles can prevent them from sliding around, too.
• When swimming, never leave them alone and if they swim in a pool or ocean, make sure to wash them off with fresh water to get the chlorine or salt water off of them. Bring fresh water with you for them to drink. Any water from oceans, lakes or rivers should not be swallowed because they can make them sick.
• If you have a pool, make sure that they cannot get to it when you’re not around and put the chemicals you use for it in a place that they can’t get into.
• Avoid walks during the hottest times of the day. Take walks or go hiking in the early morning or later hours of the day when the sun is less intense.
• Do not shave their coat (although clipping it shorter is okay). It provides insulation and protection against the sun. Keep them clean and mat-free because their coats work best as protection when well groomed. Good grooming habits also help to repel fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.
• Keep them off of hot pavement to protect their paws. If you do need to walk them on it, put booties on them.
• Be careful around lawns that may have pesticides and other chemicals on them. Avoid letting your dog walk on or sniff these areas.
• Consider having them wear a cooling jacket, collar and/or bandana if they tend to get hot easily.
• Pests like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes thrive in the heat, so take measures to protect your dog from them. I have tips on controlling pests naturally here.

Places to find summer gear-

Ruff Wear- carries booties that are great for hot pavement, boats and rough terrain. They also carry life jackets, collapsable bowls, cooling jackets and hydration packs.

Cozy Horse- custom makes cooling jackets, cooling bandanas and cooling collars.

Outward Hound Express- carries life jackets, cooling jackets, cooling bandanas, cooling mats and collapsable bowls.

Only Natural Pet Store- carries life jackets, natural pest control products, cooling jackets, booties and cooling beds.