Dog Days of Summer

Summer is the best part of the year to get over winter isolation! The key to enjoying summer with your dog is making sure you and your four-legged buddy stay cool!

Dogs have a difficult time cooling themselves due to the fact that they do not have sweat glands like humans(only on paws and nose), and they have thick fur coats. Dogs cool themselves by panting and drinking water.  Be sure to keep plenty of fresh water around for your dog in the summer time.  If you have outside only dogs make sure there is plenty of shade so they do not overheat. Having a dog house in the shade for them to relax in is a great idea; there are plenty of cooling products that can be put in a dog house like a “cool bed.”

A tip to keep your dog from overheating is to make sure you take walks in the morning or evening. If the concrete is too hot it will burn the pads of your dog’s feet and cause them tremendous pain. If it is too hot to touch with your hand it is probably too hot for your dog. Do not be afraid to cut the walk short if you need to. Your dog will understand and most likely tire sooner on a hot day anyway.  As always be sure to take water with you on your walk to keep your dog cool!

Don’t have air conditioning? There are plenty of other ways to keep your pets cool during the peak heat of the day. The easiest and most effective is a kiddie pool!! Just find a shady spot and fill it up, then relax and watch your pups rumble in the water. The sprinkler is another option to keeping your pets cool, although some dogs may not be a fan of the sprinkler you never know until you try. A little known fact is that dogs cool from the bottom up, so rubbing their paws and belly with a cold damp towel can go a long way to helping them feel more comfortable in the heat.

A quick note on summer heat: Please never leave your dog in the car when it is warm outside this chart illustrates what I mean!

These are just a few tips, and there plenty more out there. What it comes down to, is be conscious of the heat and HAVE PLENTY OF WATER AVAILABLE FOR YOUR PETS!!

Keeping Dogs Calm on 4th of July

The 4^th of July can be quite the celebration, but for our dogs it can be quite the nightmare. With barbecues, and fireworks there is plenty to keep us humans busy, the only downfall is the way our dogs respond. Most dogs don’t do well with the flash and bang of Fireworks. This can be a stressful night for our pups.

More dogs are lost on the 4^th of July than any other day of the year, so be sure they have Identification on them! Even if your dog is not an escape artist the stress of the Fireworks can make even the calmest dog bolt. “If you know anyone who makes their dog stay outside, please urge them to keep the dog indoors on the Fourth of July in order to prevent him or her from escaping or getting injured.”[1]   

One keep tip to keeping your dog calm is to wear them out. On the 4^th be sure to get your dog plenty of exercise during the day, this way the will be tired and a lot calmer when the fireworks go off.

The key to keeping your dog calm when the fireworks start is to keep yourself calm, and keep them distracted. Whether this is just being near them and petting them, or giving them something to chew on. This is a great time to use frozen raw bones, because they will keep your dog distracted for a good period of time and they are very appealing to most dogs!!

Having a place where they can hide and feel safe is always a benefit. I usually keep my dogs kennel in the same room as me and cover it with a blanket. I do not close her in, but her kennel is her safe spot so this is where she likes to hide. By covering it with a blanket she feels more protected from the flash of the fireworks.

If none of these tactics work you may try a thundershirt which has a calming effect, or try some calming pheromones (comfort zone) which may also help.

These are just a few tips, and there are many other ways to help your dog through the 4th of July. Enjoy Independence Day as I know I will, and be good to your pets!!

[1] http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2012/07/03/easy-ways-to-help-dogs-cope-with-fireworks.aspx

[2] http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/seasonal/fireworks