The heat is hard for people and just as difficult for your dog. Just as you can suffer a heat stroke so can your dog. This is why it is important to know how you can beat the summer heat and keep pet safety at the forefront of your plans.
Provide Plenty of Water
The first and most important thing to do when you are outside with your pet is to give them extra water. This is important because the heat will dehydrate a dog just as fast as a person. Just as you need to drink extra water, especially if you are active or out in the sun.
Have Several Ways for Your Dog to Cool Off
Being able to cool down is imperative to pet safety. You need to give your dog several ways to do this. Adding ice cubes to their water or freezing a Kong Ball with peanut butter inside are great options. Having fans and shade are also important.
Don’t Leave Your Pet in the Car
Leaving a pet or child in the car is not only dangerous, it’s illegal. This is because within just a couple minutes the temperature can soar to dangerous temperatures. Even if you leave the windows cracked, the heat will continue to build. This is why you should leave your pet at home or use various alternatives. Even leaving them alone with the air conditioning on is not good for pet safety as there are other issues that can arise.
Walk at the Right Time
Another great way to beat the heat wave and keep pet safety in mind is to walk when the weather is not so bad. This means take walks earlier in the morning and later at night. Sure your dog may need to relieve themselves before this but make this a quick trip and save the longer walks for when it is not so hot.
Don’t Leave Your Dog Outside
Sure dogs love to be outside and depending on the year this may not be a bad thing. However, when the weather is hot you do not want to leave them outside for extended periods of time by themselves as they can overheat, even if there is plenty of shade in your backyard.
Know the Barefoot Rule
The barefoot rule is that if the sidewalk is too hot for you to walk on barefoot, then it is too hot for your pet’s paws. The alternatives for pet safety here are to either keep your pet in the grass where it is not so hot or put your dog in shoes.
