Dog Days of Summer:
Tips to Keep Your Pet Cool
by Patricia Feeser, DVM
Greenville Veterinary Hospital
No doubt about it, the heat has arrived in Pitt County. The following are suggestions for keeping your pet cool.
Shelter: The absolute most comfortable situation is for your pet to be kept inside in the air conditioning. If your pet must stay outside, please provide your pet with lots of shade. A doghouse just isn’t enough in the summer to provide shelter. Most doghouses end up more like ovens or saunas than shelter. Those blue plastic tarps provide great shade. Be sure to check that they are positioned so that there is shade throughout the day as the sun moves around.
Water: Water is essential in the summer. During a heat wave, your pet may drink 2-3 times more water than normal. If your pet is outside, be sure to secure the water container so that it can not be tipped over. Replacing the water 2-3 times each day will increase the likelihood your pet will be willing to drink enough to stay well hydrated. Sometimes adding chunks of ice to the bowl will encourage your pet to drink. Some people want to add electrolytes to the water in the summer. If you do, provide this in a separate container from your pet’s normal water and be sure plain water is always readily available.
Food: Some days it is just too hot to eat. It is relatively common for outside pets to decrease their food intake during the hot days. An occasional missed meal is not cause for alarm, but if it continues or your pet loses weight, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. To increase the chances of your pet eating, feed outside animals, early in the morning and late in the evening when it is cooler.
Exercise: Exercise is also best done early in the morning and late in the evening. Watch your animal closely - they may not be up to their normal exercise if the humidity level is too high. Short-faced dogs such as Boxers, Pitbulls, etc. are much more susceptible to overheating so be careful. Do not walk dogs on hot pavement. If the sidewalk or street is uncomfortably warm to your hand, then it is too hot for your dog’s feet.
In general, if it is too hot outside for you, your pet feels the same way. Watch them closely for distress and if you feel your pet is overheating, call your veterinarian immediately. NEVER, NEVER leave your animal in a car during the summer - even "just for a minute" - that minute may be your animal’s last minute.
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