Summer is coming and it’s time to think about how you will keep your dog cool this summer.

He has a coat of fur and he’s on a chain that’s connected to a dog house in the back yard. You can imagine how he must be feeling. He can see the shade but he has no way of getting to it. He needs a drink but what little water he has has been out in the sun all day and it’s warm enough to take a bath in.

A dog house is not enough protection against the summer sun. The temperature within a dog house can exceed outside air temperatures. If no shade tree is present, a tarp can be spread over a kennel for protection against the afternoon sun.

Animals that are outside need cold water to drink. Empty plastic containers filled with water and placed in the freezer will provide large ice chunks to put into your pets water bowls throughout the day. Many people have their dog shaved during the hot summer months to help keep them cooler (it will grow back before winter).

Remember that leaving a dog in a vehicle, even if it is 60 degrees and only for just a minute, is never a good idea. Did you know that a vehicle can heat up 40 degrees above the outside air temperature in only a matter of minutes. A dog’s body heat automatically acts like a heater within a closed space. Even in the shade, dogs need to inhale cooler air than their normal body temperature (102 degrees). When you make a local milk run, leave your pet home.

That also includes human summer activities; leave your dog at home. Don’t subject your pet to the heat or the stress of the activities. Go and enjoy the ball game that you want to see, and don’t worry about your dog. He will be fine at home. If your dog shows signs of distress or heat stroke, it is imperative that you get your dog help. If he is experiencing seizures, foaming at the mouth, having trouble walking, or has wide eyes and intense rapid panting, call a veterinarian (better yet, just get in the car and go to the nearest vet office). If you are able, cool your dog down by placing him in a tub of cool water (do NOT submerge his head) or spray him down with a hose. Heat stroke is an emergency from which many pets do not recover. Don’t let your dog be a statistic.

We would love to entertain and keep your pet cool this summer? We can come to your home, walk your dog and keep everyone comfortable.

Are you in need of a pet sitter? Give us a call at 321-794-4477.