Summer is here and with it arrives the hot weather, so it’s time to talk about some important safety concerns regarding our pets and heat management. The heat can be extremely overwhelming for our dogs because they cannot regulate their body’s temperature as easily as we do. It is especially so for certain breeds like French & English bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, Pomeranians, etc. because these dog breeds have flat noses which may cause them to have some difficulty breathing if exerted or in extreme heat. Consider this and avoid exercising them or playing with them at the park in the middle of the afternoon on a hot summer day. But keep in mind that hot temperatures can affected any dog breed, so even if your dog does not have a flat nose, he can still be affect negatively by summer weather. keeping an eye out for signs of heat stroke and dehydration as well as following these few tips will help you and your four legged friend have a much safer summer!

1-Walk Your Dog Early in the Morning or Later in the Evening

In the morning or evening, the sun is lower in the sky and the temperature outside less extreme. Walking your furry friend during those times will be much more enjoyable for both of you and it will be less likely that your dog will suffer from the heat.

2-Asphalt Can Be Hot For a Dog’s Paw Cushions, Walk in the Shade

Asphalt is black, and everyone knows that dark objects absorb radiated heat from the sun, so pay attention to your dog, if he seems to want to walk faster or is pulling you towards shade, maybe the ground is too hot for him. Look for grass or dirt to walk on & trees to walk under or walk on the side of the street where the buildings cast shadows on the ground.

3-Don’t Leave a Dog Inside a Car With All The Windows Up

Even with the windows down you must try to avoid this situation at all cost! Every summer hundreds of beloved dogs die in hot cars. The inside of a car can become extremely hot extremely fast when sitting under the sun, and your dog inside could die from heat stroke very rapidly. So if you are going shopping, leave your dog at home and if you must have your dog with you take him inside the store if you can or safely tie him outside in the shade.

4-Always Make Sure Your Dog Has Fresh, Clean Water to Drink

Be sure to offer your pooch a drink of nice cold water when you come back from your walk. Dogs tend to drool more in hot weather because they dissipate heat through their tongue. This makes dehydration a real concern so try to refresh his water bowl a few times during the day to keep it cool and fresh.  Dogs tend to drink more if the water in their dish is replaced often.

5-Hose Your Dog Down or Put Him in the Shower

Remember that dogs have very few sweat glands and for that reason it is hard for them to regulate their body temperature. If you notice that your dog is panting more than usual and that his tongue is hanging, he might be experiencing extreme heat and unable to manage it on his own, a little hose down might be just what he needs.

So don’t forget to think about how your pets are experiencing the heat waves in the weeks to come, and be sure to do what you can to help them get through it! Have a great summer season!