As the mercury rises- it’s more important than ever to keep out pets cool
At midday, the sun is at its peak and while that might be pleasant for you in your hat, shorts, and sun cream the tarmac you’re both walking on will be at its hottest, so it’s much less fun for your furry friend.
Before you leave for your walk put the back of your hand or barefoot on the pavement for 7 seconds. There’s a good saying to remember here: if it’s too hot for your hands, it’s too hot for their paws.
Just like humans, pets need much more access to water in hot conditions in order to stay hydrated. Sometimes they’ll need a little nudge to encourage them to drink more, so a second water bowl away from their food bowl might be the solution.
It’s worth mentioning that some pets prefer running water, especially when it’s warmer as stagnant hot water can’t be too thirst-quenching! Luckily, there are plenty of water fountains for dogs available on the market.
We’ve all seen the videos of windows getting smashed because neglectful owners have left their pets in a stationary car, that’s because this is a dangerous thing to do.
If it’s 22c outside, it can reach 47c inside a car within an hour, even if a window is cracked. At this temperature a dog could develop heatstroke and become seriously ill or die, so don’t take any chances and take them with you.
There are plenty of accessories out there such as cooling coats, mats, and even toys your pets can enjoy while keeping cool, calm, and collected this summer.
Animed Direct has a selection of cooling products for your dog that would be helpful for cooling your pups down
Pets with less hair or with white coats are just as susceptible to sunburn as you are, but plenty of pet owners don’t realise this and therefore aren’t prepared. The sad reality is that sunburn in pets can lead to skin cancer, so best to be on the safe side and keep them indoors during these times.
If this isn’t possible, there are sun cream brands you can get for your pets to protect them from the sun.
If at any time you are concerned about your pet’s wellbeing, be sure to get direct advice from your vet in order to look after them.
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Brilliant advice thank you!
As the owner of a double coated dog I would also add to NEVER shave their coat to cool them, maintained/brushed regularly the coat cools them down naturally by allowing air to run through the hair, plus it protects them from the sun whereas if shaved they have no protection!
So glad you found it helpful, and I absolutely agree about not shaving certain breeds. The coat of some dogs defo helps keep them cool