Gone to the Dogs

by Left, a cat

Summer Heat for Cool Dogs

Well you survived winter with all the snow and cold, now as the temperature soars during the long hot summer, it’s up to your person to help make sure you stay cool and comfortable. Here are a few tips that will keep you comfy and more important, healthy, so be sure to show this to your person before you go outside.

Always make sure they keep your bowl full of clean, cold water. Sassy just sits by her bowl and stares at it if she wants it filled, works every time. There’s nothing more refreshing than a chilled drink of water on a hot day. On really hot or humid days, have your person toss a couple ice cubes in your bowl to keep the water cooler. If you are an outside kitty, have your person add a frozen water bottle to keep the bowl cool a little while longer. It’s especially important to change the water daily to prevent the growth of bacteria and algae. Nothing like yucky green water when you are hot and thirsty.

Some dogs love a game of indoor ice hockey. On a smooth floor, bat an ice cube toward your person, then when he returns your serve, swat it back to him. Continue the volley until he looses interest and wanders away, or the ice cube melts. This is a great way to keep cool and bond with your person at the same time.

High humidity combined with high heat can put you at risk of heatstroke, yes, dogs can get heatstroke too. On humid days, have your person keep the home cool with fans or air conditioning. Outside you can use an inexpensive water mister which will give the feral's a little relief too.

Have your person give a little more TLC to special needs dogs. Senior dogs, very young puppies, and sick or debilitated animals are more sensitive to hot weather. Keep everyone cool at all times and have your person watch closely for signs of heat related illnesses. Even if you appear healthy, try to schedule the dreaded veterinary appointments and outside activities for early in the morning or late in the evenings so you won’t have to travel in a sweltering car in the hottest part of the day.

Speaking of cars, never let your person leave you in a car even for just moments. Quick trips to the store always take longer than expected, and leaving the windows cracked a little won’t help keep you keep cool either. On a summer's day of only 85 degrees, the inside temperature of your persons car can shoot up to 120 degrees (F) in a matter of minutes even with the windows slightly open. That is dangerous for cats, dogs and human kittens alike.

Have your person check the screens for tears and a secure fit. Kitties like to stay cool by laying on the windowsill, especially during warm weather and if you are an escape artist like I am, it isn't a far jump from sleeping on the windowsill to wandering around outside. Dogs can just lean against a loose or improperly fastened screen and fall right out the window, not too bad on a first floor, but this can be life threatening depending on the height of the building. Use safety screens on all open windows. I myself like to work the bottom of the screen loose and slip out that way, mom doesn't seem to catch me quite as quickly and I get to stay outside a little longer.

Have your person monitor you for symptoms of heatstroke. This is a real medical emergency if it happens, so if your person suspects you have heatstroke they must act quickly. Have them move you to a cool place, then contact your veterinarian.

Symptoms of heatstroke include:
* Panting
* Drooling
* Red tongue and lips
* Dullness
* Collapse/ weakness
* Convulsions
* Vomiting

Remember, summer is a fun season for one and all. With just a few precautions, you can be sure you and your person can beat the heat.

Do you know, how to tell when you are overheated? Your tongue gets wider! That is a little bit of trivia to think about.

Did you know that it isn't good to get a "summer haircut" because your coat helps protect you from the heat. All your person really needs to do is be sure you have plenty of shade and cool water.

Is it okay for you to drink from the birdbath? NO!!! Birds carry fungal diseases that can infect both you and your person. Have your person give you your own bowl outside, but make sure it isn't anywhere that the birdies can get to it.

And one last thing that doesn't have much to do with anything:

Can eating a toad kill you??? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. So stay in the shade, don't eat Toads and I will see you next time.

Back | Next