As the weather gets warmer we must remember to think about our furry canine friends. Though 80 degrees may not seem that hot to us, it is for our dogs especially breeds with a lot of fur or larger breeds. There are a few simple things we can do to make exercise in the heat possible and safe for our dogs.
1. If your dog is in the car, make sure you are parked in the shade, all windows are down and there should be a fan on your dog. A cooling pad or bed would be a good idea as well. Your dog should not be left unattended in the car for more than a few minutes, if you are going to be on a long shopping trip at the mall or market, leave your dog at home.
2. When you take your dog out for a walk or hike or any other activity, make sure you have plenty of water for your dog.
3. After a walk, play session, hike or any other outdoor activity in addition to water you may want to put a cooling vest on your dog or have them lay on a cooling bed or pad.
These are just 3 simple ways to make your dogs more comfortable, there are certainly a lot more and we will cover more as the weather heats up. Remember, dogs with thick coats of fur we really must be sensitive to about the heat, keep a cooling pad ready to go.
