Summer is here! The warm weather promises weekly BBQs, unlimited ice lollies, dodgy tan lines and seasonably hotter weather. Although hot weather is welcomed by us humans, for our four-legged friends it can be slightly less desirable. Luckily there are many ways in which we can help make these toasty days more bearable for our dogs.
The first easy way we can do this is to avoid walking our dogs when the sun is at its hottest, to avoid putting your dog at risk of heatstroke. Common symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include confusion, diarrhoea, vomiting, pale or bright red gums, foaming at the mouth and weakness/ collapsing. If your dog is displaying any of these symptoms, immediately move them to a cool/ shaded area and contact your vet. The Met Office say that the hottest time of day is between 11.00am and 3.00pm, so it’s best to avoid outings with your dog between these times. Instead, try and take your take your dog for a walk first thing in the morning or later in the evening when it’s cooler – the perfect start and end to the day. Think of it this way, if you wouldn’t feel comfortable walking on a hot pavement bare footed, why would you want to make your beloved pet do the same thing?
Keeping hydration levels high over summer is essential for both us and our pets! Make sure your dog always has access to plenty of fresh water, but especially on hot days. If a dog doesn’t get access to water, it can cause dehydration which can cause symptoms including lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea and, most commonly, lack of skin elasticity. It sounds complicated, but skin elasticity can be tested at home, simply by gently pinching the skin of your dog’s shoulder blade. Once the skin is raised, release it and let it fall back to its original position. If the skin instantly returns to the original position your dog is well hydrated, but if it takes a while to resume the original position, your dog may be dehydrated, and you should encourage them to drink.
On a hot day there is nothing better than a frozen sweet treat (I’m more of a fruit pastille ice lolly girl myself!) Now, while your dog cannot indulge in our go-to frozen snacks, it’s very easy to make dog friendly paw-psicles. There are a range of easy ways to ensure your four-legged family members don’t miss out. You can give them regular ice cubes, or if you’re feeling fancy, you could even add their favourite snack into the cubes! Another easy treat is to freeze their favorite Kong before you give it to them (this should also keep them entertained long enough that you can eat your own ice cream guilt free!!)
My final suggestion is for all my water loving dogs out there! You know what’s coming … paddling pool! We at Moss Croft all love our paddling pool which makes an appearance in the Hayfield over the summer months. It’s a great way to cool your dog down and can be a fun experience for everyone involved. However, I know that for some dogs water can be daunting, so for the more hesitant amongst them, something as simple as a damp towel on the ground to lie on will have a similar effect.
So, there we have it, four easy ways to help look after our beloved pets in the summer heat. Everything I have mentioned here are simple, yet effective, solutions to make these hot days more pleasant for our furry friends without breaking the bank. I don’t know about you but I’m off to the shop - all this talk about ice lollies has gone to my head (any excuse for a fruit pastille lolly!)
Until next time,
Beth
