HOT Diggity DOGZ!

With summer right around the corner I thought I would put together some tips to help your canine pal enjoy the hot months ahead with you while remaining happy and healthy. Dogs do not sweat like we do, they pant. This is a way to help cool them off but they are still prone to dehydration and overheating.

To assure you do not dehydrate or over heat your dog:

1. Always leave plenty of water accessible to your dog at ALL times. (I leave a bowl upstairs, down stairs, outside and in their crates)
2. On scorching days, add ice cubes to your dogs water bowls, this will help cool him down just as it does us humans. Doggie pops are a fun summer day treat as well (combine chicken broth and some kibble in a Styrofoam cup, freeze, peel the cup away from the doggie pop and Voilà!)
3. Try to re-arrange your schedule so that you could take your dog on a walk early in the morning or in the evening, avoid walking during the heat of the day (OR call Active Pawz to help out, Krystal will be sure to schedule a walk with your pal during the coolest parts of the day)
4. If there is no way around a mid day walk on a hot day, be sure to allow your dog to walk on the grass, in the shade, and make it a short one… just enough time to go potty and stretch her legs.
5. Always take water along for your dog (and for yourself too… hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!)
6. A couple fun ways to cool your dog down if he enjoys water would be; spray him down with the hose before and after your walk, take a dip in the pool (Wal-Mart sells kiddie pools for around $10) or for the more prissy canines rubbing water on the belly and paws with help cool her down significantly.
7. NEVER leave your dog in the car! I cannot stress this enough. Even if it is a comfortable 60 degrees outside, a closed-car interior can reach 100 degrees on a sunny day. Cracked windows will not reduce the heat enough to keep the temperature where it needs to be.

If you ever feel your pal may be dehydrated (some signs would be; heavy panting, de-coloration of the gums, skin on the neck does not bounce back quickly when pulled away from the body, not drinking water, etc.) take a towel and lay it over his/her back and poor water over it repeatedly. Take him/her to your veterinarian right away.

It is of the utmost importance that we do not let our dogs overheat in these temperatures.  Keep them well hydrated and well shaded, do not over exercise them and never EVER leave them in the car. I hope you find these tips useful, Stay cool!