Hot Tips For Cool Pets! … Part 1: Water

Now that the ‘dog days of summer’ are almost here, I thought I’d write a blog series to share some ideas of how to help keep our pets cool and safe during hot weather, and all year long. I know there’s a ton of “summer safety” articles out there, so I hope to bring a little bit of a new twist to mine; I also hope you’ll like and learn something from this blog series… Please feel free to add comments, suggestions and ideas!

We All Need Water:

Of course it’s important to provide plenty of fresh water for our pets every day, but during hot weather it’s even more so, since pets tend to drink more when it’s hot. You might want to put out extra water bowls during the summer months. Make sure outside water bowls are out of the direct sun; the water can get very warm, especially in a metal bowl. Many pets tend to dislike warm water and may refuse to drink it, even when they are very thirsty.

Don’t give a really hot dog (or anyone) really cold water. Cold water can be a big shock to the system of an overheated body. Of course, it’s important to keep our pets from getting overheated in the first place, but sometimes it does happen. If your pet does get overheated, give him small amounts of cool, not cold, water every few minutes. Get him out of the sun and into a cool place. Wrap him in a cool wet towel or pour cool water over his body to help reduce his core body temperature. If an animal shows signs of heat stroke, vomiting, fainting, seizures, etc., wrap him in a wet towel and get him to a vet immediately.

When going places with your dog, remember to take water, and a bowl, for him too. While many dog parks have doggie water fountains and dog friendly places usually provide water for their K9 patrons, it’s good to have your own… just in case. Notice I said, “and a bowl?” That’s because it’s really difficult for some dogs to drink from a bottle, fountain, hose, etc. They often don’t get enough water, may choke, and, since they can only lap at it, it’s a waste of water. Most animals do better drinking from a bowl instead. There are many varieties of portable water bowls on the market. Some have a bottle for water attached to a bowl, such as the Water Rover, and others are foldable. Of course, you can always use any bowl you want J

Pools Are Great Summer Time Fun…

Many dogs love water; they love to play, wade, lie, and swim whenever possible. If you have a swimming pool, you may find it difficult to keep your dog out of it. A pool can be a great way for dogs to cool off, get exercise and have a blast!

But remember dogs can and do drown in swimming pools every year. Follow all pool safety rules with your fur kids too. Make sure your pets don’t have unsupervised access to any pool, even kiddy pools. The first time he gets in any new pool, be sure to teach your dog where the stairs are, how to find them and how to get out.

BEWARE OF POOL COVERS… children, pets and wildlife have been killed because they were able to slip between the edge of the cover and the side of the pool, and then weren’t able to get back out from under the cover.

Most dogs instinctually know how to swim, but some breeds, such as Bull Dogs, are usually unable to. There are floatation devices for dogs, which you might think about purchasing if your dog can’t swim and he’s around water a lot. Some dogs don’t feel comfortable* going into a pool, although with lots positive reinforcement you might be able to change his mind. Also, not every dog has access to a swimming pool. So a wading pool can be a great way for those dogs to cool off on hot summer days. A couple inches of water will be enough for your dog to be able to lie down, splash around, and cool off in.

* Unless you absolutely know your dog will enjoy it, don’t push or throw him into a pool. If he is frightened by the experience, he may never want to go swimming again.