Hot Summer Safety Tips for Your Dogs

As daily temperatures continue to climb up well into the 80s, 90s, and even over 100 degrees, making sure to adapt your mutts living situations to the heat should be at the top of your priority list. While we may be cooling off inside our air conditioned rooms inside, our little furry friends may be stuck outside in the backyard with no appropriate place to relax.

Below are some safety concerns to keep in mind as summer arrives:

• A comfortable backyard - be sure to have large, shady spots around the backyard throughout the entire day to give your dogs a place to get out of the sun. Dog houses that are outside are NOT a good option as they can trap heat and make it more miserable for your mutts to lay in. Another idea would be to fill a small, blow-up pool with fresh water so your mutts can jump in and cool off from time to time. 
• Appropriate times to exercise - during the summer, avoiding activities with your mutts during the hottest time of the day is best for yours and their health. Not only is the heat unbearable in the middle of the day, but also when temperatures become extreme, the roads get over heated and can actually burn your dogs paws. So do your best to reschedule your routines to exercising with your dogs in the mornings or evenings when the heat waves are less intense. 
• H2O - giving plenty of fresh, cool water for your dogs that are outside is essential to their health during the hot days. So don't forget to double and triple check their bowls more often than usual to help keep them comfortable.
• Grooming needs - scheduling maybe two or three more than usual haircuts for your dogs can help tremendously with keeping your mutts cool in the summer. Remember, they are the ones with the fur coat covering their entire bodies!
• No leaving dogs in cars - a closed vehicle (or even a car with windows cracked) can rise to over 100 degrees within minutes of you shutting off the A/C. Many dogs have become extremely sick, or have even died, in cars because of the heat. So just keep in mind, if you can't stand to be in there, they most certainly can't either!

Keep your mutts happy, healthy, and hearty!