How to Keep Your Pets Safe and Comfortable in the Summer
Our animals are our best friends and an extension of us. We love them and would do anything for them. With the brutal heat of the Texas summer, it can be hard to keep your pets cool and comfortable for four months of the year. Outside of keeping your home cool, and never leaving them in a car or outside without shade, what are some other tips to help protect your pets this summer?
Water
It sounds simple, but there are a lot of things to consider when giving your pets water. Depending on if your animals are outside or inside dogs, always keep their water bowl in the shade and refill it with cool, fresh water regularly. Water can heat up incredibly fast even in the shade, so ensuring it is always fresh and cool is crucial. Also, make sure the water bowl is attached to something or secured. If your animals are outside animals and their water gets spilled while you are gone all day, that could spell huge trouble. If it is a particularly hot day, use cool water, not ice cold, to give them a rinse down. If you want to go a step further, get them a kiddie pool that is always filled and in the shade.
Walking
It is important to exercise your dog regularly, but when the heat is on, you may have to make some changes to the routine. Walking your pets in the early morning or late evening will ensure the pavement isn’t too hot for their paws. When walking your pets always check their paw pads to see what condition they are in. The hot asphalt can tear them up and cause blisters and bleeding, so ensure you are walking them at the right times or avoiding asphalt or other hot surfaces like concrete.
Grooming
It is important to groom your dog routinely, but even more so in the summer. If you have a dog with long or dense fur, consider shaving them or trimming their coat down so that they don’t have all of their extra layers of fur preventing them from getting cool.
Cool Treats
Everybody loves a cool treat like ice cream or popsicles, so why not make some for your pets! Freeze fruit or peanut butter in ice cubes or makeshift popsicles to cool their insides. They are healthy snacks, and your pets will love you for it!
Those were a few cool tips for keeping your dog energized this summer. If you have more that you’d like to share, tell us on Facebook so we can add to the list!
