Bring on the H20 - Dehydration is a summertime risk for dogs and humans alike. Always have a fresh and unlimited supply of water available for your dog, both indoors and outdoors. If you fear that your dog isn’t drinking enough, you may want to consider adding ice cubes to their water or a bowl of frozen soup to encourage them to hydrate. Sounds weird, but it works.
If your having a BBQ
Enjoy - but make sure your dog has some shade. If you see them panting excessively, take them indoors for a while. Also consider buying a kids paddling pool. Your dog might appreciate a cooling dip during the day.
Stick to the Grass - When possible, walk your dog through grass, so as to avoid their sensitive paw pads suffering from burns brought on by hot cement or asphalt. Alternatively, plan your walks for the early morning or evening hours when you can both enjoy a stroll without the discomfort of direct sunlight.
Avoid Bad Car-ma - Even with the windows left open a little, studies have shown that your vehicle quickly turns into an oven as the sun beats down on it. If you need to make a pit stop, take your dog inside with you.
Even with the best of intentions, heat stroke can still take hold of dogs in the summer. If you fear that your dog may be suffering, please check out a list of symptoms below. If symptoms persist, always seek medical assistance from your vet.
A dog with moderate heatstroke (body temperature from 104º to 106ºF) can recover within an hour if given prompt first aid and veterinary care (normal body temperature is 100-102.5°F). Severe heatstroke (body temperature over 106ºF) can be deadly and immediate veterinary assistance is needed.
A dog suffering from heatstroke will display several signs:
Remove the dog from the hot area immediately. Prior to taking them to your vet, lower their temperature by wetting thoroughly with cool water (for very small dogs, use lukewarm water), then increase air movement around them with a fan. CAUTION: Using very cold water can actually be counterproductive. Cooling too quickly and especially allowing body temperature to become too low can cause other life-threatening medical conditions. The rectal temperature should be checked every 5 minutes. Once the body temperature is 103ºF, the cooling measures should be stopped and the dog should be dried thoroughly and covered so they do not continue to lose heat. Even if the dog appears to be recovering, take them to your veterinarian as soon as possible. They should still be examined since they may be dehydrated or have other complications.
Allow free access to water if the dog can drink on their own. Do not try to force-feed cold water; they may inhale it or choke.
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