If it’s hot outside, provide your pet with an opportunity to cool down. When leaving your dog at home alone, make sure the room is ventilated or the air conditioning is on. If the dog is kept in an enclosure or outdoors, it has the opportunity to rest in a shaded place or kennel so as not to spend the whole day under the scorching sun.
The dog should always have access to clean water. Many pets do not like stale water, in which case it is wise to provide them with running water from an automatic drinking bowl.
A huge advantage of such drinking bowls is the additional use of special filters that purify the water not only from dust or hair, but also soften it, which is necessary for the prevention of kidney disease.
You can use a special bowl with a cooling effect; in such a bowl, the water will remain fresh longer and the food will not spoil for a long time.
Dogs, unlike cats, can catch colds in their internal organs when they spend a long time on a cold floor, and this can happen even in hot weather. Where do dogs escape in hot weather in an apartment? Most often they prefer to relax on the cool tiles in the bathroom or hallway. Be sure to place a light fleece blanket or a special diaper on the place your pet has chosen.
In hot weather, your dog’s eating habits may change and their appetite may decrease. You should not force feed your pet; pay attention to the serving size. In hot weather, you can increase the number of feedings, but in a smaller volume.
If your dog’s main diet consists of canned food, make sure that there are no leftover food left in the bowl, which can spoil in the heat and lead to poisoning.
On the street
Move your morning walk to earlier hours when it is cooler after the night. This advice is especially relevant if your walk mostly takes place on asphalt or concrete areas. Asphalt and concrete surfaces get very hot under the scorching sun, and your pet can easily get heatstroke.
An evening walk can also be postponed to a later time; in this case, do not forget about repellents, since both you and your pet may be attacked by mosquitoes and midges, which will make the walk not so pleasant.
Hair trimming, contrary to conventional wisdom, does not help your pet in the heat. Since wool protects the dog not only from the cold, but also from the scorching sun. If you do get a haircut, protect your dog when in direct sunlight. Fashionable T-shirts, T-shirts and stylish dresses made of light fabrics will help you with this.
Don’t forget that your pet should always have access to water. When going for walks or travel, take a bottle of water with you for your dog. For convenience, use special bottles or grab compact silicone folding bowls, which will not take up much space, but will allow your pet to drink at any time and anywhere.
Pay close attention to your pet’s health. In hot weather, cardiovascular diseases can worsen, which often affects older dogs, overweight pets and breathing problems.
Particular attention should be paid to dogs of brachycephalic breeds (with a flattened muzzle, the special structure of which creates breathing problems). Regular consultations with a veterinarian and monitoring the condition of your four-legged friend will help avoid complications.
At your dacha you can use special pools for dogs. Your pet will enjoy water treatments, and the cool water will cool you down and prevent your dog from overheating in the sun.
In the car
The main rule for transporting a dog in a car is not to leave your pet in the cabin under the scorching sun, even in the shade and with the windows slightly open. The temperature inside the cabin rises very quickly, and the consequences can be dire.
Before the trip, do not carry out procedures that can cause stress and anxiety in the dog. Hair trimming, claws, washing and combing, if they are unpleasant for the pet, should be done in advance or rescheduled.
Provide your dog with water while traveling. Travel bottles and bowls are very convenient when traveling by car.
If you use a baby carrier during your trip, make sure it has enough ventilation holes. For large pets, you can use bedding, and for smaller pets, comfortable carrying bags.
Heatstroke or sunstroke in a dog. Symptoms
Slow reactions.
Dry and hot nose.
The dog does not respond to commands and has poor control of its movements.
Rapid or difficult breathing.
Weakness.
Changes in the color of the mucous membranes (pale or bluish color of the oral cavity, sometimes the eyes turn red due to burst blood vessels).
Increased body temperature.
Rapid pulse.
Vomit.
Loss of consciousness.
First aid for heat or sunstroke
1. First, move your dog to a cool, dark place.
2. Remove the dog’s equipment so that it does not interfere with breathing.
3. Reduce the dog’s body temperature: wet your pet’s paws, belly, and ears with cool water, or you can wrap it in a damp cloth. It is in these places that the blood vessels are located closer to the skin, and the body will cool down faster. Do not use ice or too cold water right away – sudden cooling is also undesirable.
4. Give your pet cool water, but don’t let him drink too much.
5. Contact your nearest veterinary clinic.
During all manipulations, talk to your pet and calm him down.
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