Keeping your dog cool
July 21, 2018
All dog owners should know what NOT to do when the weather heats up – leave your pet in the car, go for long walks in the middle of the day, etc – but what about the things you CAN do to make summer fun for you and your dog?
The Edgewood Veterinary Group team has five suggestions for ways you and your dog can safely enjoy the season together. While you’re thinking about it, maybe now’s the time to book a summer health check to make sure your canine pal is in great shape for these activities.
Cool activities for you and your dog
Part of the problem for dogs in summer is that they will get bored during that stretch of day when they can’t go for their usual long walk. But there are many other ways you can keep them occupied and safe from heatstroke or dehydration.
- Many dogs like swimming, so if you can get to a dog-friendly beach or lake, why not head for the water and splash around a bit? Remember to make sure there’s plenty of shade around though.
- No access to natural waves? Our vet Jürgen says even a paddling pool in the garden will make for fun games, such as bobbing for treats (reduce your dog’s normal food allocation by the appropriate amount) or chasing floating toys.
- Freeze various dog treats in different-shaped ice containers. Chewing on a frozen carrot or similar will also be calming for a dog that doesn’t know when to stop in the heat. You can even create a slippery ice brick sandwich for your dog to chase by freezing a layer of treats between two layers of water.
- If you have the room, create an indoor agility course using buckets and broom handles for jumps, a hula hoop, some canes for weaves etc.
If you follow these tips for an active summer with your dog, there should be no risk from the heat, but it’s not always easy to spot dehydration, so if you’re in any doubt, contact us.
